Week 33 with Triplets

Interactions between the triplets develop more and more each week.

Communication

One day this week, after an especially long nap by all three babies, Baby A and C woke up first. Giving them time to wake up slowly and quietly, I simply placed them on the daycare blanket with a big rubber ball.

They were well rested and in exceptionally good spirits. While both babies were interested in the ball, mostly it was an exchange of looks and vocalizations.

It was clear to me that they were interacting in a deliberate early exploration of communication. One child would engage with the other through expression and sounds, and then wait for the other to react or respond in some way.

This went on for several minutes until Baby B started to wake and needed my attention. Not to harsh on Baby B, but adding her to the mix sort of derailed the conversation.

Learning to Play

Up to this point interaction between the triplets has mostly been exchanging looks and making sounds in each other’s direction. Touching of any kind usually resulted in cries from the baby being touched.

Lately, however, the triplets have become interested in learning how to play with each other.

It’s not pretty, and consists mostly of touching, patting, kicking and grabbing at faces. The biggest difference is tolerance for physical contact and even giggles when it happens.

Obviously these are boundaries that are tested and explored all through childhood. Like many things with these three, seeing it for the first time is something special.

Frustration

There’s nothing new about the babies expressing frustration, but there was a different element added this week.

If you’re a parent you learn the levels of emotion, each requiring a different response.

The fussy cry comes out when nothing is necessarily wrong but the baby is physically uncomfortable or emotionally off balance. At the the extreme is the painful cry that accompanies physical pain or extreme emotional distress.

These are typically directed at a parent or shouted to anyone who will listen and provide help.

This week I believe something else started to emerge. On several occasions I watched one baby directing frustration at their sibling. This suggests an effort to express disapproval at each other and not necessarily seeking involvement from a caregiver.

A Big Step Forward in Feeding

Last weekend my wife and I were sent a picture from the triplet’s mom showing all three babies holding their own bottles.

Anyone with babies knows this is a HUGE advancement in an otherwise time-consuming part of the day, repeated several times a day.

It was something we’ve been working on for some time, both at home and in the daycare. Their mom sticks with these things better than I do and managed to have a breakthrough moment.

We’re not quite to the point where we can hand them a bottle and walk away, but definitely one step closer to that magic milestone.

Baby B mostly has it mastered. Baby C does well but likes to take short breaks, often holding the bottle inverted and allowing formula to drip out. Baby A is only a little ways behind her brother and sister.

A Girl and Her Dog

It’s been clear for awhile that Baby A has a special interest in animals.

This week her mother was able to capture a very special moment between Baby A and the family’s golden retriever. This relationship has played out for several months but I wanted to share this sweet moment.

It included a couple pictures and a short video (which I’m not currently set up to share on my blog).

Essentially, while the three babies were playing on the floor, the dog laid down right up against Baby A. She reached over, without taking attention away from her brother and sister, and gently patted the dog on her head and nose.

Watching how this bond grows in the coming months and years promises to be a true delight.