The Whys of Whining
“Moooooooooooom!”
It’s irritating, it’s frustrating and it gets on your last nerve. Though it’s obnoxious and unacceptable, it’s actually an effective for your child to get your attention. It’s whining. But, like other bad habits, you can nip it in the bud early with a few simple strategies to teach your child there are other appropriate, effective forms of communicating with you.
First, try limiting the situations that trigger it. Avoid extra errands when the kids are hungry. Don’t let them get involved in a frustrating game or project prior to bedtime. Pay attention when your child is talking, as sometimes whining is a reaction when a child feels you aren’t giving them your full attention. Praise them for not whining and talking in a normal and understandable voice that allows you to fully understand what they are saying to you.
When the whining begins, don’t overreact. Keep your response simple, calm and neutral. Ask your child to repeat the request in a normal tone. When giving in seems inevitable, don’t delay. If you must finish the grocery shopping so you can put dinner on the table, for instance, and your child starts whining for a snack, offer something healthy right away.
Once a limit has been set, parents should follow through. It’s imperative that both parents are on board with this limit and fully follow through when the whining rule has been violated.
If you have an older child that’s developing a whining habit, suggest they come up with a solution to their perceived boredom or other voiced problem. If you suggest possible alternatives, it might just prolong the child’s whining.
Sometimes whining can be the result of trauma and trouble in their life. A divorce, serious family illness or problems at school may be at the root. Additional positive attention and quality one-on-one time may be just the medicine your child needs at a time like this. Your pediatrician can also suggest alternatives to curb whining should the positive attention and disciplinary actions be ineffective.
Any time parents spend with their kids can be a good time to talk about not smoking cigarettes-and if it seems hard to find the time, maybe it’s a good idea for parents to set a date.
It’s important to set up special times to talk to your kids about critical issues like not smoking, says Dr. Michael Popkin, a parenting expert.
Because he knows how hard it can be to get the conversation started, Popkin supports a new initiative, Pledge to Talk, which provides parents with a ready-made opportunity. Talk Early, Talk Often, Lorillard Tobacco Company’s Youth Smoking Prevention Program, offers free movie vouchers to parents who Pledge To Talk to their kids about not smoking.
“The movie vouchers aren’t just a reward; they will help set the stage for an intimate conversation between a parent and a child,” says Popkin. “Any chance you have to bring up the no-smoking message is a good one, even on your way to and from the theater. Parents who Pledge to Talk at KeepKidsFrom Smoking.com will get movie vouchers that can be redeemed at the box office for free admission.”
Each parent will receive a voucher good for one adult and one child admission while supplies last. Those interested should log on early since quantities are limited.
Those who Pledge to Talk will receive the movie vouchers as well as a special tip sheet with helpful conversation starters.
“Parents often ask me what moment is best for talking to kids about not smoking,” said Dr. Popkin. “Although there are certainly things they can do (and avoid) to make talks more effective, any time is a good time to talk. Talks can happen on the way to school or a movie. They can happen at mealtime or bedtime. The important thing is that they happen-at an early age and often enough for the message to stick.”
Tags: Bedtime, Child Admission, Conversation Starters, Critical Issues, Dr Michael, Free Admission, Free Vouchers, Good Time, Intimate Conversation, Lorillard Tobacco Company, Mealtime, Michael Popkin, Parenting Expert, Pledge, Prevention Program, Smoking Cigarettes, Time Parents, Tip Sheet, Voucher, Youth Smoking PreventionRelated posts
CHALLENGE: Whenever David doesnt get his way he throws himself on the floor, screams, kicks and cries incessantly. What can we do to help him overcome this behavior?
TIP: What is David getting out of this behavior. First make sure that you are not rewarding this type of behavior, positively or negatively because both will help keep it alive. If you eventually give in to this behavior by changing your initial decision (not letting David go out to play, refusing David a cookie), David has learned that tantrums work. Hence, when David wants his way he may think, a good tantrum just may get me that candy bar, it got me out of bedtime last night. Negative attention (yelling, threatening, ridicule, spanking) seldom changes the behavior. Getting you upset may be just as rewarding as giving in to their demands. So again, make sure you are not unintentionally rewarding David for this behavior.
TIP: Be proactive. Think of the situations that invite David’s meltdowns and head them off before they happen. Do questions that require a yes or no answer provoke a tantrum? Instead of “Do you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch David?” try “It is time for lunch David. Would you like PB&J or macaroni and cheese?” Advance notice may help as well. “We will be leaving Grandma’s in ten minutes. Get everything you want to take care of completed before we go.” Is David more likely to throw a tantrum when he is tired? Then you may want to provide an opportunity for him to take a nap.
TIP: Consequence. Be sure to tie the consequence back to the misbehavior. David, remember the last time we went to the store and you threw a fit because I wouldnt let you have that Power Ranger? Remember how you kept putting it in the cart and screaming that you wanted it? Well I am going shopping but you wont be going with me. I just dont feel like dealing with that kind of behavior today. Mrs. Hamblin is here to watch you until I get back. Try to make the best of it. Love ya, bye.
TIP: Move David to a different location. The key is for you to model taking care of yourself. Your ears hurt when you hear Davids screaming. You may not be able to control whether or not David has a tantrum, but you can control where he does it. Tantrums are for the bedroom. Lets go. You may want to give him a choice. Where do you want to be until you can get that under control, the bathroom or the laundry room? If David cant decide quickly, you decide for him. Come on out when there is no more crying and screaming.
TIP: Notice the exceptions. Point out the times when David may have thrown a tantrum but did not. I really appreciate how you came in the house when I asked without throwing a fit. You should feel good about being able to do that.
TIP: Give the behavior a name. This will help externalize the problem, which is to say, it separates the person from the problem. It helps David and the family view the behavior as the problem and not him (the problem is the problem). For example, you could call Davids tantrums the uglies. This can help put David and you on the same side in the battle against the uglies. Questions like can you think of a time when you have beat the uglies David? How did you do it? or how do you know when the uglies are coming? What can you do to stop them? David may enjoy the imagery of conquering the uglies and this can give David a sense of control over the behavior.
TIP: Acknowledge his feelings. This aligns you with David and sets the stage for
him to begin to work through his own problems.
David: Dad, can I get this Power Ranger?
Dad: No, David I am not buying toys today.
David: Eyebrows coming closer together and lip starting to pucker. But it is the last one I need and I will have them all.
Dad: Not today David.
David: Screaming and crying. You never get me anything I ask for. You dont love me.
Dad: Acknowledging Davids feelings. You must feel really sad about not being able to get the Power Ranger. I know I sometimes feel bad when I cant get what I want.
David: Sniffling. Yea, I really want it.
Dad: Tell you what. (Taking pen and paper out of planner) I will write this down as things David wants.
David: Okay Dad.
You can later use this list for surprises or gifts for special occasions.
TIP: Tell David what you are going to do. David, Ill come back down stairs when you get that under control or I will be happy to talk to you when you are not crying and you voice is soft like mine.
TIP: Ignore the tantrum. If your have the will power to outright ignore the behavior you must remember that it may get worse before it gets better. That is, when Davids behavior doesnt produce the desired results, he may turn it up a notch to see if a higher intensity level gets a response. Be careful. If you give in and respond to the higher level or longer duration, David learns that is how intense or how long he needs to tantrum from now on in order to receive attention.
TIP: Direct David toward a different way of expressing how he feels. David, here is some paper and crayons. How about drawing how you are feeling right now. This is a positive, less annoying way of communicating how he feels.
Tags: Advance Notice, Bedtime, Behavior Tip, Candy Bar, Going Shopping, Hamblin, Initial Decision, Last Time, Leaving Grandma, Macaroni And Cheese, Macaroni Cheese, Misbehavior, Nap, Negative Attention, Peanut Butter And Jelly, Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich, Power Ranger, Ridicule, Tantrum, Temper TantrumsRelated posts
The Importance of a Regular Routine to your Child
Regular schedules provide the day with a structure that orders a young child’s world. Although predictability can be tiresome for adults, children thrive on repetition and routine. Schedules begin from the first days of life. Babies, especially, need regular sleep and meal programs and even routines leading up to those activities.
As they gets older, when a child knows what is going to happen and who is going to be there, it allows them to think and feel more independently, and feel more safe and secure. A disrupted routine can set a child off and cause them to feel insecure and irritable.
Dinnertime is a great place to start setting a routine. Sitting together at the dinner table gives children the opportunity to share their day and talk about their feelings. This is also a great time to include some responsibility in your child’s routine, such as helping to set or clear the table.
And regardless of how exhausted you or your children may be, don’t be tempted to skip winding down from the day. This is part of a nighttime ritual and allows both child and parent to decompress after a busy day. It also helps bedtime go more smoothly. This is usually the time of day when parent and child can spend some quality time together, so fight the urge to start the laundry or do the dishes until after the child has gone to bed. If this isn’t possible, consider trading off these duties with your spouse each night to ensure your child has quality time with each parent on a regular basis. Take the time to find out what wind-down strategy works best for your child. Some children are actually energized instead of relaxed by a warm bath, so if that’s the case with your child, bath time should be saved for a different time of day. Whatever routine you settle on, make it quiet, relaxing, and tranquil for everyone.
And though routines are essential, there should be some room to be flexible as well. You might be out late at night on a family outing, have unexpected company show up that may result in a skipped meal or nap in the car while running errands in the evening. In these instances, it’s important for you to keep your cool. If you express frustration or anger about disrupting the routine, your child will as well. Prepare children for such unexpected events and show them that though it can happen from time to time, the routine will return the next day.
Related posts
Raising Bilingual Children: Is It Too Late To Start Now?
After we talked, Ive spoken nothing but French to my one year old for close to seven weeks now. All of his new words are French, and from what I can tell he understands me completely. Not even two months into her campaign to raise her two children speaking French as well as English, Sheilagh Margot Riordan in Forida has noticed a dramatic difference in the progress between her two children: My three and a half year old is much trickier. Even though I speak only French to her, she replies in English, but I guess that she understands about 70% of everything I say. Frankly, Sheilagh worries that its already too late for her over-the-hill three-year-old to become a fluent bilingual.
In our culture it sometimes feels that if you didnt spring for ballet lessons at two or violin at three, its all over. While theres no doubt that the optimal moment to start learning languages is at birth, its not at all impossible to achieve fluency later in life. The more language interaction you provide, the more dramatic the progress, and the easier for the child. Even older children are still kids, and theyll
remain chatty and unhampered by self-consciousness. Still, transitioning into multilingualism will require motivation; here are several tried-and-true tips.
You know how when you announce that its bedtime, your kid says, Why? Youll get the same reaction to your new language program. “Why do I have to say it in Korean if I know how say it in English already?” This is a fair question, and the answer needs to be either one of necessity, fun, or flattery. Not much else will fly. Here are some possible answers: Because I/granny/everyone else here only speak Korean. This book/this game/this song is in Korean. Because you did it sooo well yesterday. So you can teach it to baby Ethan when he is a big boy like you. So you and Greg can have your own secret language.
After the explanation your next step will be to speak only in the minority language yourself (or nanny, or whoever is your childs primary language source). When you get confusion and glazed looks, translate. And, be reasonable; accept replies in the primary language when you first start out.
- When your child answers back in the community language, say “Yes,” and then repeat the sentence in the minority language.
- If you know your child is able to say a particular word, but is struggling to remember it, jog her memory by providing the first syllable.
- Be careful not to dampen her enthusiasm. Dont make speaking the second language an inflexible rule or something that becomes onerous.
- Youll just inspire revolution in the ranks. You might require adherence to the language rules youve set up if you know she has the vocabulary just as you demand pleases and thank yous. For example, when youre child is asking for a glass of milk, you can require that she ask for it in the minority language. But if she’s excited about telling you what happened at the circus, just listen, and then repeat it back in the second language. That way, you provide her the missing vocabulary in a positive
way. - And, as always, praise endlessly. Even when you are providing translations or the child has just issued sixteen grammatical errors in a four-word sentence. In fact, a child simply doesnt understand if you try to correct her before the age of three. Instead, just repeat the words correctly (a process known as modeling). Alternatively, you can make a joke and say, “Oops, that came out wrong!” Laugh and provide the right way of saying it, so you keep it playful rather than corrective.
Countless parents have asked me: “So now, how do we now stay firm with our new language system?” Once the child has the vocabulary to understand the second language, sticking to the language strategy is essential — if you dont, youre back to square one and the community language! Just think of the things you could never let your child do, even if she begs, whines, and tantrums: things such as riding in a car without a seatbelt, not brushing her teeth, or crossing the street by herself. Dont negotiate about using the language any more than you do about these things, and she will get the picture eventually — despite the occasional earful. Give it at least six months, and your persistence will be richly rewarded.
Sheilagh says that she realizes her trouble is well worth it and has stopped worrying about beginning too late: Instead of looking at the things I should have done (speak French since birth), I am looking at the great achievements we have made so far.
Tags: Baby Ethan, Ballet Lessons, Bedtime, Dramatic Difference, Flattery, Fluency, Forida, Half Year, Language Interaction, Language Program, Learning Languages, Margot, New Language, No Doubt, Raising Bilingual Children, Riordan, Secret Language, Self Consciousness, Seven Weeks, True TipsRelated posts
New parents have many responsibilities. Close to the top of the list is to develop and nurture good sleep patterns and sleeping habits for their new baby. Newborns need to transition from sleeping with the mother to sleeping alone, but getting your baby to learn to sleep on his own takes some time. However, there are many benefits for both the baby and the parents when this takes place. There are a seemingly endless supply of tips and helpful hints to assist parents with this tricky task. Research and try as many as it takes to find out what works best for your baby and you. Trust your intuition and never give up until you have found that magic combination. The reward of your baby and you both getting a good night of sleep on a consistent basis is worth the effort.
Most of the advice you will find to help with your babys sleep deals with establishing schedules, habits and associations for your baby just before and during bedtime. Associating bedtime with sleeping is the goal. The sooner you can achieve that association, the more likely the baby will go to sleep without a struggle. Establishing the differences between daytime and nighttime is something that most advisors seem to ignore. Creating the understanding in your baby the change from being awake during daytime and falling asleep at night is a very valuable step. Here are some methods you can try.
Many times your baby has been very active throughout the day and is too stimulated to relax and fall to sleep. Employ one of those sling-type baby carriers that hold your baby close to your body while allowing you to be free to go about your regular activities around the house. Your baby will love being in close contact with you. This will provide ample time for your baby to calm down slowly from that hyped feeling of stimulation and excitement.
Many times the routine of transitioning between thirty minutes or an hour before bedtime is performed by the mother. This may be working against you. Try this with the father. Just before moving the baby into the bed, have Dad hold and cradle the baby close. His voice is generally much deeper than Moms is and often the baby can be more soothed by it. This change in routine can be learned as a triggering mechanism for the baby Dad is holding me, it must be almost time for sleep.
Whether you find it in a listing of baby tips or discover it on your own, one of the methods of transitioning into bedtime is to simply take the baby for a car ride. While this idea may seem to be a perfect quick fix, I would advise against it. In the beginning, it may seem like a good deal. After all who wouldnt trade a little inconvenience for a night of peace and quite and sleep? However, as your baby becomes accustomed to that nightly driving ritual, dependence may develop and it will not take long to become much more than just an inconvenience.
The idea is to begin slowly with these transition techniques. Once you and your baby have found the magic formula and have built an almost automatic routine, then just as slowly transition away from them and into a much more simple bedtime pattern. The goal here is to teach your baby to sleep on its own.
Good Night and enjoy your baby and your rest!
Tags: Ample Time, Baby Carriers, Baby Sleep, Bedtime, Close Contact, Consistent Basis, Endless Supply, Excitement, Good Sleep, Helpful Hints, Intuition, Magic Combination, New Baby, New Parents, Newborns, Nighttime, Sleep Patterns, Sleeping Habits, Sling, Tricky TaskRelated posts
Are you in charge of planning a baby shower? Do you need a baby shower theme? Decorations? Favors? This guide will give you baby shower ideas, whether you are a sister, friend, or coworker.
Baby Shower Themes
The first and most difficult thing to do when planning a baby shower is to decide on a theme. After this has been finalized, much of the rest of the shower will plan itself.
There are several ways to pick a theme.
A baby shower theme can relate to the mother-to-be and what she needs. It can be a color, a nursery theme, or a specific type of item. For instance, if the nursery is decorated in flowers, the theme could be “A Baby’s Garden.” If it is decorated in a sports motif, the theme could be the parents’ favorite sports team. All the gifts would then coordinate with the room. If the nursery is painted with frogs, the theme could be “Green.” This way, the guests can be a little more creative in their giving. Or the theme could be “Bedtime,” prompting guests to bring pajamas, blankets, and crib items.
For a second (or third, or fourth) time mother, the theme can be really creative. For someone who already has almost everything they need, a theme such as “Reading,” in which everyone brings books for the baby (and maybe for the older children as well) would be a nice change of pace.
Some people do not like to attend showers for second time mothers, because they feel that they have already received what they needed for their first child and are just being greedy. If you feel this may be the case for your guests (such as a group of coworkers), throw a baby shower in which the invitation clearly states not to bring a present. Or spend some money on a nice gift (for instance, a gift certificate to a restaurant, spa, or hotel), and ask that guests bring a specific item (diapers, specific baby food) in exchange for a raffle ticket. They can even bring as many items as they would like in exchange for several tickets. That way, people who wish to be generous can still give the mother-to-be a useful gift, and no one feels obligated to bring anything. At the end of the night, raffle off the prize.
Some other theme ideas include:
Look What the Stork is Bringing
Noah’s Ark (good for a shower where the guys are invited too!)
Alphabet Soup
Blue is for Boy
Baby Shower Decorations
The decorations should flow from the theme. A color theme is the most flexible and inexpensive, although a specific theme such as “Teddy Bears” will be easy, as you can buy coordinating tablecloths, plates, and napkins.
Keep the decorations simple. Put a nice tablecloth under the cake and spread some confetti rattles around it. Tie some balloons to the buffet or appetizer table. Add some pastel streamers across the living room, and you’re done. After all, the focus should be on the mother-to-be.
If you are having the shower at work, the decorations can be even easier. Simply put the cake under a white tablecloth and add a bouquet of balloons. A lunchtime event is perfect for the office. Many of the baby shower ideas will work for any location, indoors or out.
Baby Shower Favors
After the shower, give your guests something to remember it by. Candle holders in the shape of a baby item, such as a rattle or booties, are popular and easy to find online or in a party supply store. Other favor ideas include magnets or candies in a pretty gift box. Of course, let the favors flow from the theme. At “Tea Party” themed baby shower, guests might receive tea cups and saucers. At a “Pamper Party,” an idea increasingly popular for mothers who already have several children and therefore most of the stuff they actually need, they might take home spa accessories such as a loofah or bubble bath.
Baby Shower Schedule
Typically, a baby shower will last approximately two hours. If a full meal will be served, be sure to indicate this on the invitation so guests can plan accordingly. Usually, however, some light appetizers, punch, and cake are all that is needed. The following is a general idea of a schedule.
As your guests arrive, serve them some appetizers, and let them sign a guest book. One idea is to make this an advice book, allowing each guest to write down one piece of advice they would give the new mother.
Serve simple appetizers. Two to three dishes is best, along with some cheese, crackers, chips, dip, and fruit. Some ideas for munchies that are easy and can be made ahead of time include:
Deviled Eggs: Add salsa and cheddar for a Mexican twist!
Stuffed Mushrooms
After all your guests have arrived, begin with everyone introducing themselves. This is especially important if this is a mixed shower, with coworkers, friends, and family. Make sure everyone mentions how they know the mother-to-be.
Next, play one or two games. These will serve as icebreakers. Some ideas include:
Baby Boggle – See how many baby related words guests can make in three minutes from a sentence such as “I can’t believe [Mother-To-Be's Name] is going to have a baby!” or something else silly and fun. Everyone reads their list, crossing off duplicates, and the person with the most remaining wins.
Baby Box – Place some common baby items (rattle, diaper) in a box. Cut a small hand-sized hole in the side. Give each guest 20 seconds to touch as many items as they can (no peeking!), then have them write down what they felt. The person with the most correct wins.
Remember, short is good, and have fun!
If there is going to be a full meal, now is the time. Generally, a buffet is best, as the guests can eat while the mother-to-be opens her gifts. If there is not going to be a full meal, give everyone some time to get another round of appetizers, then have the guest of honor open her presents.
After the gifts are open, serve the cake. At this point, the shower is over. Everyone will socialize for as long as they’d like, and the guests will begin to leave. If the time is important (i.e. the host has somewhere she needs to be), be sure to put an end time of the invitations.
Hopefully this gave you enough baby shower ideas to begin brainstorming. Remember to have fun, and you’ll throw a successful baby shower.
Tags: Baby Food, Baby Shower Ideas, Baby Shower Theme, Baby Shower Themes, Bedtime, Change Of Pace, Coworkers, Diapers, Favorite Sports, Nursery Theme, Pajamas, Planning A Baby, Planning A Baby Shower, Raffle Ticket, Several Ways, Sister Friend, Theme Decorations, Throwing A Baby Shower, Time Mother, Time MothersRelated posts
For some babies, teething is a simple affair, with few noticeable side effects. For others, it takes months of pain and anguish to get those first teeth to pop in. Here is some information to help you get through the teething stage, without spending too much time biting your nails.
When will it happen?
Well, that largely depends on when it happened for you and your husband. The timing of the appearance of that first tooth is largely hereditary. The average age is about seven months, though the first tooth can appear as early as three months, or as late as after the first birthday. However, teething symptoms can begin two or three months before the appearance of the tooth, so your child can seem to be teething for months on end. For many children, the painful symptoms are much more pronounced in the first two or three teeth, but then subside somewhat on subsequent teeth.
How do I alleviate the pain?
There are many remedies to help with teething, without resulting to over the counter pain medicines. Homeopathic teething tablets, which dissolve on the childs tongue, were a godsend when my children were teething. I also took those little baby washcloths, wet them down, twisted them into a sort of stick shape and froze them. They are easy to chew on this way, and are colder than a traditional teething ring put in the refrigerator, though these work great for some babies. When things get extreme, a little acetaminophen or ibuprofen before bedtime can help your child sleep better.
Are there other symptoms?
In some babies, there can be other symptoms that accompany the pain of teething. The most common is a stomach ache and diarrhea. This is thought to be caused by the extra saliva that a baby produces during teething. Many babies also run a low grade fever. Another, less common symptom is what we referred to as teething poop. Whenever my daughter was going through a bout of teething, her bowel movements would burn the skin on her bottom, as though it was very acidic. So, in addition to being in pain from the teething, she had a sore bottom, too. We alleviated this pain with oatmeal baths, and with being more diligent about changing her diaper immediately after a bowel movement.
Teething is a normal part of babyhood, and, even if it is painful, it is temporary. Keep on top of the symptoms, and soon youll be seeing a big toothy grin on your baby!
Tags: Acetaminophen, Anguish, Bedtime, Biting Nails, Bowel Movements, Diarrhea, First Birthday, Godsend, Little Baby, Low Grade Fever, Pain Medicines, Poop, Refrigerator, Saliva, Seven Months, Stomach Ache, Teething Ring, Teething Symptoms, Teething Tablets, Three MonthsRelated posts
Disciplining your child is never easy. You probably know from experience and mistakes how important it is to be consistent, firm and to always follow through with designated disciplinary consequences. But when there are two parents involved, it’s crucial they are both on the same page and apply discipline consistently regardless of marital status.
Parents should agree on how to discipline their children. To become reliable to children, both parents must be consistent in dealing with similar situations. In a situation where the parents are separated or divorced, disagreeing with each other over upbringing can create a confusing situation for children. They should make a concerted effort to keep their child’s best interests at heart and sit down with their child and line out the rules and expectations and the consequences for violating those rules. Both should agree that the intended discipline is fair, and apply it consistently in a firm yet fair manner in each home.
In addition, if there are disagreements regarding discipline or other parenting issues, they are best resolved when the child is not present. If the child senses discord, they may attempt to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
When teaching good behavior, parents should “practice what they preach.” Children learn values and beliefs more by examples adults set than by verbal instructions. Screaming at a child to be quiet or paddling a child for hitting is hypocritical and ineffective. Decide what is important and what parental response to use to teach your child. It would be more effective to calmly tell your child to be quiet or use “time-out” when a child is physically aggressive.
And remember what works now may not work later down the road. Situations may dictate a different approach, and time and maturity may demand a child’s rule be modified or abolished altogether. Sometimes your common sense will help you decide when bedtime rules should be modified or table manners relaxed. Some rules will be the same, others will be modified or abolished, and new ones will be introduced. But regardless of the situation, parents should always present a unified front and work together and not against each other in providing effective discipline for their child.
Tags: Adults, Bedtime, Common Sense, Concerted Effort, Confusing Situation, Consequences, Disagreements, Discipline, Disciplining Your Child, Discord, Good Behavior, Marital Status, Maturity, Parenting Issues, Parents, Road Situations, Time Out, Upbringing, Values And Beliefs, Verbal InstructionsRelated posts
If you baby is not napping well during her first few months of life, you may want to try to cut back on the time she is awake by 15 minute increments. If she is getting overstimulated, then she will fight sleep and be difficult to get to nap. The way to prevent this is to watch her sleepy cues to make sure that you put her down when she is beginning to get sleepy.
Some parents believe that letting their child cry will harm him or her. Fifteen or twenty minutes of crying will not harm your child physically or mentally. Babies will learn to self-soothe and fall asleep by themselves, but only if you let her. It is very important that babies learn to fall asleep by themselves so that they can self-soothe if they awake in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you may have a child that will not sleep through the night for years.
Regular sleep patterns are intermeshed with regular eating patterns, so let us look at the stages of a babys life:
Newborn: Your newborn will sleep anywhere from 16 to 20 hours a day, including the naps that he takes between feedings. When your baby has been fed, let him stay awake for a short while and then put him down before he becomes overstimulated.
Two months: At two months and older, your child should be allowed to try to self-soothe during their naptimes and bedtime. Crying is normal when you put your baby down, but it is okay. If he cries for longer than 10-15 minutes, then go in and check on him. Dont get him up, but pat his bottom or lightly rub his back until he calms down.
3-6 months: At around 3-6 months, your baby will stop taking one of his naps. Usually it is the third nap or late afternoon nap that they do not need as much. He may be a little fussy and may want to take a little nap, but you need to try to keep him up if you want him to go to bed at a decent time and sleep soundly through the night.
16+ months: When your child is between 16-20 months, they usually quit taking the morning nap in favor of a longer nap in the afternoons. Babies this age usually sleep between 10-12 hours a night and take a 2-3 hour afternoon nap.
Ground Rules about Naps:
1. You decide when the nap starts and ends, not the baby.
2. When your baby is older than 4 months old, she will wake up crying if she hasnt slept enough. She might have a dirty diaper, be in a position that is not comfortable, or cold/hot. Fix the problem and encourage her to go back to sleep. Babies that have enough rest wake up happy, talking, and in a good mood!
Tags: 15 Minutes, Afternoon Nap, Babies, Baby Sleep, Baby To Sleep, Babys, Bedtime, Cues, Decent Time, Late Afternoon, Minute Increments, Morning Nap, Naps, Naptime, Newborn Sleep, Parents, Sleep, Sleep Patterns, Twenty Minutes