Let's gets started

Well it is the 4th night back from a trip to Australia and I've decided that I want to write down how things are going with our jetlaged baby, not only for myself to see what progress or regression we've made but if there are other parent's out there wondering how to get your kid back on track maybe this can be of some help.

I have been researching the Internet to find the secret answer that I just know if out there, and although there is a lot on jet lag, there is not too much out there for babies with jet lag. Here are a few key points I have decided to try and stick with her help the little one adjust. I guess we will see how it goes.

Expect that your baby will take as many days to adjust as the time zones are different. ie: Australia and US- 8 hours= 8 days.

Don't keep your baby up during the day until they are over tired..this is no fun for anyone.

Encourage your baby to eat as much during the day, if breast feeding offer the breast more often that usual as they may not eat as much during every feeding and you want to encourage eating during the day, not at night. This being said if your child seems hungry at night and has usually slept through the night feed them, their appetite also takes a while to adjust properly.

Try not to encourage any bad sleep association habits unless you want to continue them, but remember you both need some sleep and a few days aren't going to hurt anyone too much. (This is my personal opinion).

Don't plan anything too strenuous, appointments etc for the first week at least of boing home, your baby is your priority....this is sometimes easier said than done, especially if you need to go back to work. This being said I would suggest coming home early from a holiday to allow for this time adjustment...for both you and your baby.

Do not expect to much from your child, they are only little and time change is hard for anyone.

If your baby wakes to play in the night initially try to put them back to bed but understand that they may honestly not be tired, but encourage as little stimulus as possible, with low lights, a short book and soft talk.

If your child wants to wake up late, each day slowly wake them up a little earlier, 15 mins or so.

Nap whenever your baby does....remember what you did when they were first born!

Well this all being said, who knows how this will work for us. It is only night 4, so please take what you see with a grain or salt, I am not a professional only a mother trying to get some sleep.