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| Babies & Toddler Information |
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Solving Baby Sleep Problems - Its Time to Sleep
If you are a parent with a young child then here's a question that may make you yawn what were you doing this morning at 1am, 3am or 5am. Were you sleeping like a baby or were you in fact cuddling and rocking your little cherub in an attempt to get them back to sleep? After all that's what being a parent is all about isn't it?! A lucky few will have been asleep in bed throughout the night, but a large percentage of the parenting population will have been up feeding or pacing the floor with the little bundles of joy. Just as your newborn weaves magic through your heart, the effects of sleep deprivation can cast a spell on your body and mind. One child in three has real sleep issues before they reach school age, but these can be overcome in many cases - and it doesn't have to involve leaving your baby to cry for hours on end. So, Why Don't Young Children Sleep? We all sleep in cycles consisting of blocks of light and deep sleep. If you rock your baby to sleep or let them fall asleep at the breast before putting him down, you are heading for problems. Your baby passes into a phase of light sleep and is more likely to wake as they realise they're alone. They'll cry, you'll go back to them and because you don't know any other way, you'll pick them up, rock them back to sleep and put them back in their cot. And the cycle continues! Common Sense Way Controlled comforting was devised by Australian mother-craft nurse Rhonda Abrahams. It's kinder than controlled crying. 'A baby under 6 months should never be left to cry,' says Ronda 'older babies shouldn't be left for more than 10 minutes crying.' Rhonda based her technique on common sense. 'Babies need to learn to go to sleep by themselves so that if they wake in the night they're able to settle themselves back to sleep,' she explains. To work, the techniques need to be used for all types of sleep, or your baby will get mixed messages. And little ones learn by repetition. So you should adopt this routine for both daytime and nighttime sleeps. Ready or Not? Before starting the programme? Ensure your baby is well. If they become ill just as you start the new routine, stop and start again when they are better. Make sure that you are well it won't do either of you any good to be starting a new routine while your body is under stress. Try to keep a fairly free week to devote as much time and effort as possible to making the routine work. A busy schedule will make it harder, and it will take longer to work. If anyone else cares for your baby, make sure they know what's involved nothing sabotages a new routine as fast as mixed messages. Get a dim nightlight so that your baby can see their surroundings when they wake. It's Just Routine A regular routine is the surest way to get a baby or toddler to sleep independently. Little ones respond to a familiar pattern of events, and sleeping in the same environment each night gives then a sense of security and comfort. Establishing a bedtime routine will benefit not only your child, but also `you and your partner as you can have a bit of adult quiet time'. Encourage patterns in the life of your newborn, as these will turn into routine and babies learn from repetition. Keep in mind that a habit can be formed in just three days! The best way to establish a routine is to use the feed / play / sleep method. During the day when your baby wakes, feed them and then let them play for a while. Watch out for tired signs (yawning, rubbing their eyes, grizzling, hiding their face). When you notice them, you'll need to begin settling them. Have a cuddle before a daytime nap; in the evenings, give them a relaxing bath. Baby massage can also calm your baby. Never over stimulate your child before bedtime or think that the longer you keep them up, the more tired they'll become and the easier it will be to get them off to sleep. An overtired baby is harder to settle, and if you wait until they're tired to begin their last feed then they'll drop off to sleep while you are feeding them. The main challenge with this is that your baby will get a fright when they wake up in the cot by themselves and they'll wonder where you are; after all when they fell asleep they were in your arms! Settling - Newborn 6 Months Unless your baby's unusually co-operative, prepare yourself for some crying it's useful to have someone else there to support you. 1. Wrap your baby firmly, but not tightly, in a small blanket or pram sheet, covering their hands to help them feel more secure and prevent them from catching themselves in the face if they flail around. 2. Place them in their cot on their side so that they're looking away from you (avoid eye contact), and with their feet close to the end of the cot. Remember that this isn't the position that they'll sleep in you'll turn them onto their back once they're asleep. In the meantime, they won't come to any harm, as you'll be in the room with them at all times. Look at the clock and make a note of the time. You're going to give them 15 minutes to settle. 3. They'll probably have started crying by now. Place one hand on their shoulder and gently stroke their back or pat their bottom gently with the other hand. They'll probably continue to cry. 4. If, after 15 minutes, they're still crying and showing no signs of settling, pick them up and give them a cuddle (don't rock them to sleep remember this is what you are trying to avoid). 5. Once they've calmed down, put them back in their cot, facing the other way this time, and try another 15 minute period of settling. Put one hand on their shoulder and pat or stroke them, as before. If they start to quieten, take your hand away the idea is for your baby to settle itself. 6. Once your baby is soundly asleep, roll them gently onto their back, loosen the wrapping and leave them. 7. If your baby is still crying, pick them up, cuddle them, and start again. The most important thing is persistence. New routines take time, but just think how much more enjoyable parenthood will be when you are getting a good nights sleep. Settling 6 12 months Again, it will really help if you have support. With this technique your baby will never be left alone crying for more that ten minutes at a time. Are you ready? Well here goes! 1. Lie your baby in the cot on their back. Ensure that their feet are at the end of the bed and tell them "It's time to sleep now". Leave the room and wait for two minutes. You want to give you baby the chance to fall asleep by themselves. As soon as they realise that they're alone it is likely that they will start to protest. If they don't settle within 2 minutes, then go back in. 2. Roll them on their side, facing away from you. Put a hand on their shoulder and keep patting their bottom or upper thigh gently with the other hand. Do this for two minutes, repeating the words "It's time to sleep now" in a gentle and soothing voice. If the baby us still protesting after two minutes, then leave the room, and wait out side, this time for four minutes. 3. If they still haven't settled, go back in and try settling them, this time for four minutes. Next time, it will be six minutes, then eight minutes and finally ten minutes. 4. In the unlikely event that after the ten minute session they still haven't settled then pick them out of the cot, give them a cuddle, calm them (making sure you don't rock them to sleep), and when they have settled repeat the process. You will notice that your child's crying will reach a peak, and then it will tail off, often very quickly, until they eventually settle themselves off to sleep. As has been indicated throughout this article, the key to success is perseverance. If you follow this routine to the letter then within 3 10 days your baby should be sleeping through the night, and be able to put themselves back to sleep, should they waken. Good luck and happy sleeping! To find out more about the It's Time to Sleep programme then visit www.smileybaby.co.uk Graham Nicoll is a father of one, Toby, as well as being an avid entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast. He enjoys writing and working with people to help them achieve greater success in their life. Whether this be overcoming mental roadblocks or helping them improve their health and wellbeing. Graham spends a large proportion of his time consulting with small and medium businesses, helping them to grow through the development of their people and their business development activities. Graham is an active speaker at business events / conferences across the UK. Graham can be contacted on graham@busylittleones.co.uk
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Alternative Medicine Playing Baby Computer Games The New Parent-Child Tradition? Imagine cuddling up with your small child to look at a picture book together that is interactive, musical, responsive and talks to you? How To Talk To Your Baby And Understand What She?s Saying Back It is incredible, but within a years time your baby will progress from random crying to talking. This is quite an achievement for your baby and in a very short period of time. In this chapter we will look at your baby's development when it comes to language. You'll also discover what you can expect to see every month but it's important to remember that these stages of your baby's development are broad and because every baby is different these are not meant as exact milestones. Triumphing Over Tantrums Before you had kids you probably witnessed an out of control child having a temper tantrum at the store. More than likely you thought or said, "If that was my child, I would ______". Well now here you are with children of your own dealing with these exact situations. Temper tantrums are a normal part of life with toddlers and preschoolers. Almost all young children have tantrums occasionally. If handled appropriately, most children outgrow this stage by four or five. Babys First Days at Home The moment that you have waited for has finally arrived: the day you bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. Like all other expectant parents you will have spent the last nine months preparing for this day. You will have a baby room full of everything a newborn could possibly want. You will have read book after book on a wide magnitude of baby topics from what to name your baby to when you can expect those first words. You will have walked and paced the length of baby's room, imagining your little bundle sleeping peacefully in her crib. Now the moment has arrived. In the crib lies your sleeping baby and the most exciting adventure of life is about to begin. How To Deal With Toddler Temper Tantrums It's one of the few things your child can do that will make your cringe. A high-pitched, eardrum shattering, teeth grinding scream that goes on and on and on. Sometimes to the accompaniment of heels beating on the floor, or fists on the wall. You may have to duck as the toys start flying, because your toddler is having a temper tantrum. Top 3 Must Have Books for Your Baby or Toddler Reading is one of the most important things you will do with your baby or toddler. Make reading to your baby or toddler a part of your daily routine whether it be in the afternoon before naptime or during late evening before bedtime. The Scoop on Giving Your Baby Juice Many moms like to think that as soon as their baby turns 6 months of age, they should start giving them juice. But this could not be further from the truth. In fact, juice is NOT necessary for an infant. Here's why: Language Development In Your Baby From birth to one year your baby will go from crying to cooing to talking. Those are amazing milestones for your baby to accomplishment in such a short period of time as he develops his speech and language skills. Baby Eating Habits Which Approach Do You Take One of the first decisions we make is if we breast feed or bottle feed our baby. This will be an emotional topic which ever option you choose. Nutrition is not just about preparing and serving food its much more complex and our own childhood experiences will have a great influence on this. Most parents will feel that the more their child eats the better. They feel that this is a reflection on their parenting and the more the child eats the more successful the parent. A child whose diet consists of dry cereal and juice will leave their parent feeling frustrated and embaressed, these emotions will not go unnoticed by the child and will have a knock on effect. In the case of a faddy eater this may cause the situation to get worse. The Top Diaper Bags for Stylish and Savvy Moms Forget bears and bunnies. Today's diaper bags are all about mom and her needs: The need to be organized. The need to feel stylish. The need to have daddy lug the thing around once in awhile. Tips and Tricks for Introducing Solids to Your Baby Helping your child move from breast breast milk or formula to solids is a milestone for both you and your baby. However, it can be challenging for some parents. Here are some tips and tricks I've compiled for introducing solid foods to your baby. Do remember, however, that you should follow your pediatrician's advice if you are in doubt. Babies Suffering For Colic About one quarter of babies will suffer from colic from around age 3 weeks - and you will suffer too! All babies cry of course, but those with colic will cry relentlessly for at least three hours several times a week, usually in the evening when your partner gets home from work. This can be a stressful time for you all, but it will go away of its own accord once baby reaches about 12 weeks. In the meantime there are some things you can try to ease her discomfort and the decibel level. IQ, Intelligence, and Brain Development- Another Breastfeeding Benefit Modern parents want to do everything they can to help their children's brain development. Never before have there been so many products and books sold that claim to help parents stimulate their baby's brain, assist in brain development, and give baby an intelligence "edge". Your Baby's Nursery What You Will Need As an expectant mother, you are full of excitement and anticipation for the arrival of your little baby. You are picking out names, attending baby showers, and learning all there is to know about being a mother. One good and productive way to channel some of this excitement is to prepare the nursery in advance. Some items you will need are listed below. How Much TV Is Too Much For Your Toddler At least one third of households have their TV turned on all the time. This I can understand. But would you believe one in four children under the age of 2 have a TV in their bedroom? Baby Safety & the Family Dog I recall how wonderful the baby swing in particular, was for moments of peace and quiet as well as much needed arm rest. A recent article (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/parenting/02/23/baby.swings.dogs.ap/index.html) addresses valid concerns about dogs and mechanical swings. It is important to keep in mind that all dogs react differently and supervision is a must all the time! Choosing Baby Names for Twins Choosing a baby name for your new born can be quite a stressful decision. With thousands upon thousands of names at your disposal, you may begin to feel a little over whelmed. Well, for twins, you can double the trouble! This article is aimed at helping soon to be moms and dads of twins to choose those perfect baby names. Real Nappies (Cotton Nappies) or Disposables - The Debate I'm sure you have heard some of the debate surrounding real nappies, whether you should use them, the environmental impact of disposables and so on. Well, this short summary provides, what I believe to be, a balanced view of the pros and cons of real nappies. Infant Circumcision If circumcision were a choice I had to have made, I would have run frantically from the hospital with my newborn son to protect him from the procedure. His father would have chased me down, insisting his son "look like he did." All I can say is I'm terribly relieved I did not have to live through that. Nor did I have to make the agonizing choice of protecting my baby from pain or disrespecting my husband. It would have been a huge battle of conscience. I was spared and given daughters. Every Baby Shower Needs Great Baby Shower Games! Games for a baby shower help the baby shower hostess make sure that all guests feel at ease.
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