Pavlov's Dog Bites Back

In the last month, I've made a concerted effort to help organize John's daytime sleep because of the newborn's rule that "sleep begets sleep." If his daytime sleep is better, his nighttime sleep should get better. I've developed some tricks to help John fall asleep for his naps, one of which is to sing "Ten Little Indians" over and over in a slow, melodic voice . . . getting ever slower and quieter. John begins yawning, his body relaxes, his eyes droop. I'd remarked happily to several people that I believed I was getting a nearly Pavlovian response from John because of this song, which I use to put him down for naps probably five times each day. I've tried other songs and they just don't work.

For the last eight days or so, I've had a common cold whose prime symptoms are a sore throat and cough, especially first thing in the morning and from the afternoon onward. Yesterday I just couldn't sing for John. I tried only to fall into a paroxysm of coughing and gasping. To my dismay, I noticed that John, although very tired, was not falling asleep. Even though I held him in the right position and bounced to the right cadence on my exercise ball. Even though the lights were dimmed. Even though I pulled out the big gun: the white noise machine. John's body remained stiff and he was irritable.

I thought to myself, I must soldier on! I must push through this. So, with my froggy voice, I began singing "Ten Little Indians," trying so hard not to cough because my coughing fits make John startle awake. Indeed, John finally fell asleep after a few rounds of his favorite sleepy-time song.

I guess Pavlov's dog bit me back!