Parenting Success?

THE New Family Dad is not so naïve as to claim that he has mastered this stage of the twin’s development, but recently he has discovered sufficient tools to deal with whatever the twins might throw at him. For that, he is happy, and the kids are happy too!

Feeding on demand and frequent changing were easily discovered techniques. Temperature control followed. Closely monitored tummy sleeping was more recently found.* These got him 80% of the way to content infants. Still, the twins would have unexplained spells of crying. These loud, prolonged, and intense shrieks made him consider calling 911. He suspected gas and patiently administered standard degasification techniques, but sometimes to no benefit.

Simethicone did not seem helpful. Over-the-shoulder and propping baby on his side while patting his back techniques were ineffective during severe bouts. Pacifiers were futile. Milk was sucked from bottles only to be spit back out again. In desperation, hair was pulled out, what little remained turned grey, skies darkened, dogs lay down with cats, Republicans and Democrats found bipartisanship, hyperbole flowed to excess…

These few fits of wailing did cause Dad much grief, self-doubt, and anxiety. They have now been tamed. Gas is now efficiently evacuated by laying the infant on his knee while seated, belly down, and appendages dangling while patting them on their back. The belch that EJ brought forth after one fit was as satisfying to his ears as it was to baby’s stomach.

With peace restored Dad found hope that successful parenting was possible to attain.

*See this post for a discourse on tummy sleeping.