Flight

Layla had her first flight yesterday! She was fantastic, I couldn't even believe it. She usually has a really hard time sleeping in new situations...she is simply too interested in everything going on around her, which then leads to overstimulation and lots of fussing, which makes falling asleep even harder for her. Needless to say, I was a little concerned about our flight to Detroit.

Three things which were lifesavers for us: 1) The Sleep Sheep. 2) The Moby Wrap. 3) Nursing cover. This blog post will inform parents, parents-to-be, and people looking for presents for the aforementioned blocs of the many wonders of these products.

1) The Sleep Sheep.

This thing is truly amazing. Especially if you find yourself with a baby who resists sleep, like ours. And let's be honest, you can try to train your baby, but ultimately she is who she is and you just have to work with her! This thing has four white noise settings: stream, rain, ocean, whale. The name explains the sound. Layla fell asleep to the stream. And stayed asleep. For an hour and a half, in the midst of airport loudspeaker announcements, a crazy family who missed their flight and decided to let the entire airport know about it, boarding, and (yes, get this) take-off. That's right, the sleep sheep kept her asleep till we were at maybe 5,000 feet. And she was much more rested and happy than if she hadn't slept, I can guarantee that!

2) The Moby Wrap.

This thing is super versatile. There's one way to wrap it, but about six different ways for baby to sit in it, based on her age and development. It holds her snug and close, keeping her comfortable and feeling safe. Also it positions her body properly unlike a lot of baby carriers (for example, the baby bjorn) which force their legs too far apart and can cause hip problems. Layla is not one of those babies who would sleep in my arms--just too many things to distract her. The Moby helps her sleep, and lets my hands be free to do things. In my opinion, the downside is that it is extremely warm (because of the body heat and the fabric) so may not be the best choice in hot places.

3) Nursing cover.

These are great for nursing, but they also function as eye blinders. Once your baby's eyesight becomes developed, she will just want to look at everything! Which is awesome, except when what she needs is to sleep. Layla has a hard time zoning out, so we have to help her. The nursing cover limits what she can look at. I highly recommend being creative.

And here are pictures to illustrate! From our flight yesterday...