Feeling Jinxed

Baby G's Granma and Grandpa (Hubby's parents) watched him one morning when he was three weeks old. It was the first time since he was in the NICU that I left him in the care of someone other than Hubby for more than a couple of hours.
I knew he'd be okay. My mother-in-law ran a day care out of her home until just a few years ago when she moved away from the area. But they say no one knows your baby better than you, and I had a better idea of what he wanted and when, even at three weeks old. I tried to tell her what to expect (as best as I could given Baby G doesn't really have a set schedule), and told her what he seemed to liked and didn't like. I told her overall, he's pretty good; he usually falls asleep after eating. I don't know how much she really heard because she was too busy standing over Hubby during a diaper change and insisting on pictures being taken while she took over Baby G.

I told her what to expect in regards to feedings (every hour and a half to two hours, but sometimes he'll go through a spurt where he wants food every hour), rocking (I had just started doing this to help him calm down), and swaddling (no, he doesn't like to be swaddled).

We ended up being gone an hour or two longer than we had anticipated. I suffered from separation anxiety, despite knowing Baby G was in good hands. But it was so good to be out of the house with just the Hubby, even if the most romantic things we did were go to the baby store and a fast food joint for lunch.

When we got back Mother-in-Law gave me the run down of how things went. He ate, they cuddled, Grandpa held him for a while, they took pictures. It sounded like things went fine. But then...

"He doesn't nap well."

For the two weeks we'd had him home he slept just fine. He was noisy, as he has trouble passing gas and poop, but I was told all babies are noisy when they sleep. And he would sleep for a couple of hours after feeding when I was home with him. So to me he napped just fine.

From the sound of it, Mother-in-Law was up and down every five minutes to check on him. Something I never did unless his noises escalated into cries. Whether she was doing it because Baby G was crying or she couldn't get enough of her grandson, I'll never know.

I didn't know what to say to her without sounding smug. After all, I hadn't had problems getting him down for naps.

So I moved past the topic with a shrug and apologized that he didn't sleep well. Then I stewed about it for a week.

As the weeks have gone by, Baby G's napping skills seem to be getting worse. I know that newborns sleep a lot during the first few weeks, but I am lucky if I can get Baby G to sleep for more than 30 minutes any place other than on me. Hubby started giving him a pacifier every time he put Baby G in the crib and I have started doing the same if he doesn't stay asleep after I put him down. I so desperately wanted to avoid the pacifier altogether, but sometimes it is the only way to get him to sleep. And there are days where Baby G just won't accept it from me. He knows I have something better to suck on. Those days we're both cranky and tear streaked by the time Hubby comes home from work.

Lately, sometimes, I can't help but think we were jinxed.