My little sister sent this link to me. I thought, "Wow! That's amazing! Where was this information when my boys were that small?!"
So for those of you with infants from 0-3 months, here you go!
Showing posts with label Naps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Naps. Show all posts
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Making the change
There are a lot of milestones in a child's life. Rolling over, sleeping through the night, taking their first steps, saying their first word, potting training, and so on.
The one I want advice on today is: moving to a toddler bed.
When did you move your child into a big boy/big girl bed? Were they still able to take naps after they weren't caged anymore? How was the transition to sleeping in a bed? Any advice or special tricks that worked for you?
S is coming up on his 2nd birthday, so we want to start moving that way soon. I just want to be very prepared! :)
The one I want advice on today is: moving to a toddler bed.
When did you move your child into a big boy/big girl bed? Were they still able to take naps after they weren't caged anymore? How was the transition to sleeping in a bed? Any advice or special tricks that worked for you?
S is coming up on his 2nd birthday, so we want to start moving that way soon. I just want to be very prepared! :)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Taking Naps
I know the word "nap" is a trigger for all kinds of emotions. I think we could spend the rest of our lives talking about nap taking, but I won't bore you to death.
I read an article in a magazine when S was a few months old and it was really interesting.
There are three kinds of nappers:
1. Kids who need a nap at the same time every day, no matter what.
2. Kids who will fall asleep whenever wherever, as long as they're tired.
3. Kids who need a nap every two hours, no questions asked.
As far as I know, there is nothing that specifically determines what kind of napper a child is. They're just born that way.
It sounds so silly; you look at the list and say, "yeah, I know a kid who fits into every category." So why even list them?
When I read the article, it was so helpful to see that first of all, it wasn't strange that my kid's nap wasn't scheduled every day. It just so happens that he is number three, and after two hours, almost on the dot, he is yawning and reaching for his crib. I'm not kidding. His nap time is dependent on what time he wakes up in the morning, not what time I think he ought to take a nap. So it was reassuring to know he wasn't abnormal, just different than his cousins.
It also helped me to know his patterns a little better and I felt more informed and more better able to parent. If I tried to put him down at the same time every day, it wouldn't work! (I tried.) So knowing that he isn't a schedule baby, he's an hourly baby, helped me plan and make sure he got the sleep he needed when he needed it.
One last note. Even though S doesn't have a schedule, he has a routine. And that is really important, especially at night time. He knows that when we do certain things, it's time for bed and for sleeping. Occasionally we have to break the routine if we're on vacation or at a friend's house, but mostly it's helped keep order in our house.
I read an article in a magazine when S was a few months old and it was really interesting.
There are three kinds of nappers:
1. Kids who need a nap at the same time every day, no matter what.
2. Kids who will fall asleep whenever wherever, as long as they're tired.
3. Kids who need a nap every two hours, no questions asked.
As far as I know, there is nothing that specifically determines what kind of napper a child is. They're just born that way.
It sounds so silly; you look at the list and say, "yeah, I know a kid who fits into every category." So why even list them?
When I read the article, it was so helpful to see that first of all, it wasn't strange that my kid's nap wasn't scheduled every day. It just so happens that he is number three, and after two hours, almost on the dot, he is yawning and reaching for his crib. I'm not kidding. His nap time is dependent on what time he wakes up in the morning, not what time I think he ought to take a nap. So it was reassuring to know he wasn't abnormal, just different than his cousins.
It also helped me to know his patterns a little better and I felt more informed and more better able to parent. If I tried to put him down at the same time every day, it wouldn't work! (I tried.) So knowing that he isn't a schedule baby, he's an hourly baby, helped me plan and make sure he got the sleep he needed when he needed it.
One last note. Even though S doesn't have a schedule, he has a routine. And that is really important, especially at night time. He knows that when we do certain things, it's time for bed and for sleeping. Occasionally we have to break the routine if we're on vacation or at a friend's house, but mostly it's helped keep order in our house.
Friday, September 10, 2010
To Nap or Not to Nap?
My 2-year-old is at that stage when he's in between wanting/needing a nap and not wanting/needing a nap. There are days where he CANNOT!!!!!!!!! do without one (also days where I can't handle him if he doesn't nap). And there are days when he will not, with no amount of coaxing, take a nap.
Today, for instance, he was up almost at the crack of dawn and went and played and played and went and, and, and.... Right up until about 6 p.m. when he came to me and gave me the "I'm going to go to sleep now and you've been designated as my pillow" hug. Knowing that I didn't want to be up until the wee hours of the morning with a hyper kiddo who just won't go to sleep, I decided to put him in a bubble bath because he loves them and I knew it would wake him up.
After playing in the tub for about 45 minutes, I pulled him out and took him back into the living room to sit with my DH for awhile. The TV was off for a change, and we started playing. Then came on the terrible two's mood swing (also a precursor to I'm going to sleep and you can't stop me). Trying to get him to hang on for as long as we could, DH turned on the TV and let him watch a Wiggles video. He got bored after about 20 minutes, so we switched videos to another of his favorites...one called You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. After asking me to dance with him (and happily obliging...I hope he still loves dancing when he's older), things wound down a bit, and he climbed up onto the couch beside me.
One second he was kind of singing along and bopping his head, and the next thing I know, the head bops had turned into head drops/jerks as he tried hard to stay awake. By this time, it was 7:30-ish, so I figured he'd be good to go for the night...at least I'm hoping that's the case.
Although I know we have at least a couple more months of this transitioning period where every day is different, some days needing a nap and some days not, I'm caught wondering, when do other kids decide they don't want naps? What do you other moms do to help with the transition? Are other kids as night owlish as mine (sometimes staying up until past 10 and there's nothing you can do about it)?
Today, for instance, he was up almost at the crack of dawn and went and played and played and went and, and, and.... Right up until about 6 p.m. when he came to me and gave me the "I'm going to go to sleep now and you've been designated as my pillow" hug. Knowing that I didn't want to be up until the wee hours of the morning with a hyper kiddo who just won't go to sleep, I decided to put him in a bubble bath because he loves them and I knew it would wake him up.
After playing in the tub for about 45 minutes, I pulled him out and took him back into the living room to sit with my DH for awhile. The TV was off for a change, and we started playing. Then came on the terrible two's mood swing (also a precursor to I'm going to sleep and you can't stop me). Trying to get him to hang on for as long as we could, DH turned on the TV and let him watch a Wiggles video. He got bored after about 20 minutes, so we switched videos to another of his favorites...one called You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. After asking me to dance with him (and happily obliging...I hope he still loves dancing when he's older), things wound down a bit, and he climbed up onto the couch beside me.
One second he was kind of singing along and bopping his head, and the next thing I know, the head bops had turned into head drops/jerks as he tried hard to stay awake. By this time, it was 7:30-ish, so I figured he'd be good to go for the night...at least I'm hoping that's the case.
Although I know we have at least a couple more months of this transitioning period where every day is different, some days needing a nap and some days not, I'm caught wondering, when do other kids decide they don't want naps? What do you other moms do to help with the transition? Are other kids as night owlish as mine (sometimes staying up until past 10 and there's nothing you can do about it)?
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