Baby Cave

Lydia has always been a very sensitive baby, even from birth.  She has pretty strong reactions to light, sound, and over stimulation.  People had always told me that babies would sleep anywhere... not Lydia!  When she was about 2 weeks old I remember walking her in her stroller for what seemed like hours, hoping and praying that she would fall asleep... No such luck!  One day, I covered the stroller with a blanket and Lydia quickly drifted off to sleep.  Until all light and visual stimulation were removed, sleep was an impossibility.  Until Lydia was about 8 weeks old, we frequently had to rock her to sleep with a blanket over her head because she would get so worked up by her surroundings!  Thankfully, those days are over, but Lydia is still very sensitive to light.

During the day Lydia naps in our bedroom.  We move her out to the living room in the evenings before we go to sleep.  So far, our routine has worked fairly well.  But now that it is getting lighter in the mornings, Lydia is stirring hourly from 4am to 7am.  She doesn't cry, but just wakes up, rolls around, and eventually goes back to sleep.  A few weeks ago I purchased blackout curtains, which didn't exactly live up to their name.  They help a lot, but not quite enough.  

So, yesterday we hung curtains around the alcove where Lydia sleeps, creating what is now known as "the Baby Cave."  

Last night was Lydia's first night in the Baby Cave.  She did great!  She made a little noise at 6am, but then was silent until 7 when I went to wake her up.  

I found her wide awake- just enjoying her own company and thinking about very deep things, I'm sure.

So far, I think she likes the Baby Cave!