When nothing else works, taking Nolan for a walk really does the trick to calm him down and cheer him up. Don't get me wrong, he's a happy baby for the most part. Lately he's had a cold and I think that's interfered a little with his sleep, making him a little crabbier than usual.
It all came to a head yesterday evening at dinner time. He was eating avacadoes, which he normally seems to like a lot. Poor thing was pretty upset though and just kept fussing between every bite and letting out loud yelps when I didn't feed him fast enough. I was getting frustrated with this because it seemed like he was tired, but at 5:30 pm it was a little too early to put him to bed. So, I debated a few more minutes about whether to go through the whole ordeal of putting him in the carseat and driving to the dog park. In the end, I decided to give it a go. I think the fresh air was exactly what he needed. We got the chance to get out and see other people and dogs and to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Nolan was chattering the whole walk and kept a close watch on our black lab Frank, who was running around like crazy. Our dog park is a long trail that follows the Mississippi river. It is amazing to be able to spend time at the river, since it is such an important part of American history. I can see why this experience calms Nolan. It has the same effect on me :)
Do you make spending time outside a regular part of your routine? What are your favorite things to do outside?
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Oh, yes, a stroll in the park can calm most any fussy baby or frustrated mom. Even my colicky baby would be at peace for a while whrn strapped into her stroller and cruisin' the scene with her momma!
ReplyDeleteWe try to get outdoors as much as possible as a family. I guess my favorite thing to do besides taing a walk, is watching my guys chasing butterflies, bugs, and other creepy-crawlies. They get sooo unbelievably excited! It's contagious!
P.S. Stopping by from SITS.
Yes, Yes, and YES! I couldn't survive without our outside time. It truly keeps me sane! We are in Michigan so our winters are LONG!! We try and get outside a ton in the warmer months and the boys loved it.
ReplyDeleteWhen my boys were infants my friend told me that it was like therapy for her when she had young ones. It was seriously the best parenting advice EVER. We did walks almost every night and it was what calmed them during the witching hours!
Good luck with this motherhood thing. I too was/am a first timer but I was 30 and I got a double dose :)