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7 Newborn Sleep Tips From The Baby Sleep Whisperer

7 Newborn Sleep Tips From The Baby Sleep Whisperer

If we had a genie’s lamp, “better sleep for everyone in the family” would definitely be at the top of our wish list.

But until that magical day arrives, we did the next best thing. We spoke to a real-life newborn sleep whisperer – Ingrid Prueher, a pediatric sleep consultant, lactation counselor and founder of BabySleepWhisperer.com. She’s a former Wall Street analyst who became a sleep aficionado after the birth of her second son. He kept waking up every few hours at night, so Prueher used her love of data and research to get him in a good bedtime routine. Now she’s on a mission to help families around the country get in tip-top sleep shape too.

Prueher uses a “five-layer cake” approach. That means laying a solid sleep foundation and then applying a training method, aka the icing. With a little groundwork, good sleep can become a reality.

“My youngest client has been a day old and my oldest client has been 71 years old,” Prueher says. “It’s never too late to get healthy sleep habits in your life and make sleep a priority.”

Here are some of her tips for cracking the code to a better night’s sleep for your newborn.

1. Go back to square one.

Baby’s cranky during the day, waking up multiple times during the night and can’t fall asleep without you. To get sleep back on track, Prueher says to start from scratch. Concentrate on sleep for a good two weeks like when baby first came home from the hospital. Use that time to get nap and feeding times running smoothly, perfect the nursery and eliminate negative sleep associations, like being rocked or fed in order to fall asleep.

“In their first three months of life, you want to help them transition from the womb into our world. After that point, if your child has never slept well, start with some basics,” Prueher says. “Treat it like you’re back to newborn days where you stayed home and focused on all of these things.”

That doesn’t mean never leaving the house or taking an extended staycation. But you might have to press pause on play dates and limit baby’s jam-packed schedule until they’re sleeping through the night. Because baby’s first and second naps are so mentally and physically restorative, Prueher suggests saving errands until second nap is over.

“Change your mindset and make sleep a priority, so you can find what the natural rhythm of the child is,” she says.

2. Know thy baby.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Prueher is a huge fan of analytics! She recommends taking note of everything surrounding sleep, from diet to mood, then looking for trends in the data. Knowledge is power when it comes to figuring out your baby’s best sleep. Be on the lookout for clues. For example, if baby’s really happy, then starts staring off into space, it may be a way of saying, “Hey guys, I wanna go to bed!” Watch for signs of sleepiness like heavy eyes, redness in the face and even hyperactivity.

“Things like tugging on their ear, yawning a lot and starting to get cranky means the child is starting to get in an overtired state,” Prueher says. “But parents aren’t necessarily going to know that right away, so I want them to start logging it because then they start learning.”

3. Designate a sleep zone.

Life is unpredictable, but baby’s sleep shouldn’t be. Until your child’s in a good place sleep-wise, limit zzz’s to one area of the house, like the nursery. No napping wherever baby’s heart pleases. No dozing off in Mom’s arms or the stroller.

“Just for reset purposes, I don’t recommend having the child sleep everywhere,” Prueher says. “Give them a place to rest. A true place to rest. They will become more flexible later on once you teach them to actually sleep.”

4. Make sleep a team sport.

Setting up a routine and establishing positive visual and verbal sleep cues (pulling down the shades, reading a book, coming up with a catchphrase like “It’s time to go to bed!”) are great. But none of it will matter if Mom follows one routine at night, the nanny follows a different one during the day and Grandma does her own thing on the weekends. Get everyone in on the sleep plan – yes, even Grandma! – so that baby’s not caught off guard.

“Anyone who takes care of the child at the parents’ home should be on the same page. You don’t want to do different things because you’re only confusing the child,” Prueher says. “It’s not about everything being exactly the same every single day all day long, but there’s got to be some predictability.”

5. Don’t underestimate the power of milk.

Milk matters. It really, really matters, even when baby starts eating solids around four to six months. They’ll need less milk as they get older. But if baby’s still waking up in the middle of the night to feed, it could mean they’re not getting enough milk during the day.

“A lot of what I see, especially after the doctor has given the okay for the child to start having solids, is that parents just jump into the solids way too fast,” Prueher says. “The child will get to the point where they just eat solids all day long, but then look for milk all night long.”

They might be looking for more than just milk, though. Multiple nighttime wakeups may also indicate a negative sleep association.

“If a child has 10 ounces typically and when they wake up at night they only have two or five ounces, you know they’re not waking up to feed, they’re waking up out of habit,” Prueher says. “And that’s because a sleep association is there – ‘feed to sleep.’”

Prueher advises taking note of how many ounces baby normally consumes or how long they breastfeed, then comparing that to their feeding rituals at night. That’ll help determine if the behavior is driven by a need for milk or a need for you.

6. Practice what you preach.

Infants are like small, very cute detectives. They can tell when parents are wishy-washy about sleep or don’t mean business. “Think about the people you trust in your life,” says Prueher. “They mean what they say and they follow through.”

As babies get older, they could even be affected by your own not-so-great sleep habits. If you don’t take sleep seriously, why should they? “Children learn visually, they will pick up on it,” Prueher says.

7. You do you.

Every baby is different with varying sleep needs, cues and habits. Prueher’s first son was a “stellar sleeper.” Her second son? Not so much. That’s why it’s important to figure out what’s best for baby and you. Even if that means ignoring tips from your well-meaning next-door neighbor.

“When you get advice, you have to take it with a grain of salt,” Prueher says. “It’s all about finding what works for your child.”

If you still need tips for getting your baby to sleep, the Nanit baby monitor offers customized sleep tips based on your child’s sleep patterns. It’s like having a sleep expert in your home.

 

Source: https://www.nanit.com/blog/7-newborn-sleep-tips/

How to keep your children active

How to keep your children active

How to keep your children active

By: Alejandra Jimenez

It is not easy to reconcile the busy day of parents who work, or the housework of stay-at-home parents, with the time and care that children need to stay happy and healthy. Nevertheless, we can’t let our routine make us leave out important details of our role as parents. These tips will help you keep your children active and happy, even if you can’t go outside:

Keep your children active
  • When you go shopping, generally you do not have too much time. And if you have to take your children with you, it will probably be better to sit them on a stroller or a shopping cart. However, little kids need to keep on moving all the time, and if you buckle them up you are depriving them of their natural need of movement. Let them walk next to you at the store and help you push the cart, or have them pick some of the groceries from the shelves.
  • If your kids are always at home or at indoor places only, you are restricting their freedom and exposing them to constant warnings, such as “do not put your shoes on the couch”, “do not run at home”, or “do not shout because you bother the neighbors”, for example. To make sure that your children are doing enough physical activity, visit frequently any safe outdoor place, so they have plenty space to run, jump, climb up and down, and shout as much as they want. If possible, bring in a ball and some toys to keep them entertained for a while.
  • Another excellent way to keep your children active is walking along a trail, at the beach, or at a lake shore, where they can observe some animals, search for treasures, collect  rocks of certain color, count stars, and many other activities.
Keep your children active

It is not easy to reconcile the busy day of parents who work, or the housework of stay-at-home parents, with the time and care that children need to stay happy and healthy. Nevertheless, we can’t let our routine make us leave out important details of our role as parents. These tips will help you keep your children active and happy, even if you can’t go outside:

 

  • When you go shopping, generally you do not have too much time. And if you have to take your children with you, it will probably be better to sit them on a stroller or a shopping cart. However, little kids need to keep on moving all the time, and if you buckle them up you are depriving them of their natural need of movement. Let them walk next to you at the store and help you push the cart, or have them pick some of the groceries from the shelves.

 

  • If your kids are always at home or at indoor places only, you are restricting their freedom and exposing them to constant warnings, such as “do not put your shoes on the couch”, “do not run at home”, or “do not shout because you bother the neighbors”, for example. To make sure that your children are doing enough physical activity, visit frequently any safe outdoor place, so they have plenty space to run, jump, climb up and down, and shout as much as they want. If possible, bring in a ball and some toys to keep them entertained for a while.

 

  • Another excellent way to keep your children active is walking along a trail, at the beach, or at a lake shore, where they can observe some animals, search for treasures, collect  rocks of certain color, count stars, and many other activities.
  • ​When it is not possible to take your children outside, music will always be your best ally to make them happy. Dance, sing along, and play together with any kind of rhythm.
  • Be an example for your kids by showing how physical activity helps them grow healthy and strong. Children’s habits are mostly influenced by their parents’ behavior. Therefore, every time you have the chance, choose walking instead of going by car (if you thing they might get tired, you may take a stroller). Do exercise together at home (yoga, dance). Enjoy together some outdoor activities, such as soccer at the park, fly a kite, swim at the pool.
  • Friends are a great motivation for your children. Invite one of their best friends to spend the afternoon playing at the swimming pool. Take them to a little and safe hill and teach them how to roll over. Let the kids play and exercise together at the park.
  • If you can afford it, enroll them in swimming lessons, a gym or any martial arts. Kids can get a lot of benefit from disciplines like these, even in the early years.

Remember, the main goal is making physical activities fun, so your children stay active without pressure or bad times.

Lee este artículo en español en ParaTiMami

 

Source: www.babycenter.com

Photography credits: Jonas Mohamadi

7 Smart Answers for Big Siblings’ Complaints

7 Smart Answers for Big Siblings’ Complaints

Have you ever wished to have a better answer for your children’s complaints about their siblings? Here are some smart answers to suggest:

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “Why are you going to have another baby? I don’t want anybody else”.
    Instead of: “You’ll see you will love the baby. You’ll have someone to play with”.
    Consider: “This is what you feel? Tell me more. Let me tell you that you will always be my only loved big child”.

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “Who do you love the most?”
    Instead of: “I love you both equally”.
    Consider: “That’s a hard question because you both are special to me. I love each one for being the way you are”.

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “¡Ga ga, gu gu… wa wa… momma”.
    Instead of: “Stop acting like a baby. You’re a big kid”.
    Consider: “Let’s pretend you’re a baby! Come now and sit on my lap”.
  • BIG SIBLING: “You always pay more attention to the baby than to me”.
    Instead of: “That’s not true! I pay attention to you all the time”.
    Consider: “Would you like us to spend more time together? I’d love to spend more time with you too. Do you want me and you to play alone later?”

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “Why are you always on her side?”
    Instead of: “I’m not always on her side. Sometimes you misbehave with your sister”.
    Consider: “That’s what you think? Why don’t you help me understand what you feel so I can be fair to both of you?”

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “I hate my brother”.
    Instead of: “That’s not true! You love your brother”.
    Consider: “Something your brother said or did made you angry”.

 

  • BIG SIBLING: “I wish the baby was never born”.
    Instead of: “How can you say something so unpleasant about your little brother?”
    Consider: “Sometimes you do like your brother, but now you don’t want him here. I know sometimes babies can be annoying, but when he grows up you’ll love to play with him”.

 

When your children argue, remember that family lasts a lifetime. Nobody can’t take your children’s shared story away from them. Nobody else shared all those years at home with their parents. This will be theirs forever, and will make a strong link between them”.

Lee este artículo en español en ParaTiMami

 

Source: www.babycenter.com

How to handle traveling with kids

How to handle traveling with kids

traveling with kids

Do you secretly wish you had the chance to travel as you used to before having children?

 

The fact that now you have kids doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

Some people may think it’s not possible to have a relaxing vacation with kids, but if you plan in advance and consider some helpful creative ideas, traveling with your children can become the best experience in your life.

Vacationing with your kids can be a good way to pause the daily routine and get to appreciate each other more.

However, it’s important to consider that during the trip there will be some moments of impatience, tears, drama, and unfulfilled expectations. But don’t let that disappoints you and keeps you from enjoying the adventure of a lifetime.

These tactics can help you make your trip easier for you and your kids.

 

Tips for road trip with older kids:

  • Books on CD. You can listen to them for some minutes, and make pauses to discuss and comment.
  • Surprises. Stop along the road, or a surprise them with a road game to play.
  • Goodie bag. Load up a bag with different snack options, and some new toys from the dollar store.
  • Pack your meals. You don’t need to spend extra money on restaurants. Pack a loaf of bread and some PB&J, or cheese slices, so you have the excuse to stop and make the sandwiches.
  • Keep the drinks down to a minimum. Keep your kids hydrated, but don’t let them drink too much liquid so you don’t have to stop every 30 minutes.
  • Be flexible. Sometimes, you may need to change your plans and skip a planned stop or add another one. Most of the best memories are made when you go with the flow. Having a plan is important, but keep it adjustable.
  • Bring plastic bags and some ‘clean up’ supplies. You will need them for trash, regular spills, or just in case someone gets sick.
  • Bring baby wipes. Even if you don’t have a baby, they always useful.

road trip goodie bag

Road tripping with an infant:

  • Have an extra set of the necessities. Make sure you have the diaper bag stocked with extra clothing, extra food, extra pacifiers, and extra patience. Since your little one will be out of their routine, you can expect them to be a little fussy and “needy”.
  • Don’t plan too much. Limit every outdoor activity to a few hours so your baby isn’t out there too long. Plan road trips for closer destinations, and take extra time for stops so you can take care of your little one’s needs.
  • Bring snacks for you. It’s not easy to get the nutrition you need while traveling with your little one. Pack some high protein snacks and power yourself.
  • Don’t over pack. Leave most of the baby gear at home and just be sure to have what you need to get your destination. You can buy diapers and wipes when you get there.
  • Plan for naps. Bring a board game, a deck of cards, or a good book to hang out in the hotel room while your little one takes a nap. Try to keep the nap routine the same.
  • Bring a white noise machine. Start using one at home when it’s time to sleep so your baby gets used to it. The noise will help your little one get asleep even in an unfamiliar place.

road trip with an infant

Considering all these tips, you should be ready to get out with your little ones and have the best vacation ever.

Alejandra-Owner

   Alejandra

 Owner: Tip4Mom

 

Lee este artículo en Español en ParaTiMami

 

Source: www.mom365.com

How can I teach my child that making fun of others is wrong?

How can I teach my child that making fun of others is wrong?

It’s very important to teach our children never to make fun of others. Children should learn that behaviors like teasing and bullying are harmful and affect our ability to relate to the people around us.

Making fun of others hurts everyone involved

We don’t often think about a child who makes fun of others as being a victim. But in reality, cruel behavior often disguises weakness and fear.

Making fun of others can be evidence of bad behavior learned at home, or can be a sign that a child is not comfortable in their own skin.

In some cases, children who have been victims of teasing lash out at other children to protect themselves.

Teaching values begins at home. Some parents fail to put a stop to behaviors such as making fun of others, simply because they don’t see them as a problem.

It may be that in their household, it’s normal to make unkind remarks about others. When this is the case, children copy what they see.

Aggression at home

When a child is making fun of others, it’s worth finding out why. A lack of affection or aggression at home can trigger bullying in children.

Kids who grow up in this kind of environment may take out their frustration on others, through verbal and physical attacks on their apparently weaker peers.

All parents should understand that making fun of others can trigger aggressive behavior in their child. It can also affect their performance at school and undermine their ability to form meaningful relationships with others.

In terms of discipline, parents who observe their children engaging in bullying must take action immediately.

Educating children on matters of emotions and relationships is something that takes time. Teaching a child not to make fun of others means helping them see that this kind of behavior is wrong.

Inviting children to put themselves in the other person’s place is one way to do this, by encouraging empathy.

Teaching Your Child not to Make Fun of Others

Making fun of others can lead to rejection, bad grades at school, low self-esteem, increased aggression and insecurity. It also exacerbates aggression and insecurity. It goes against every rule of social behavior.

Show them that others could do the same to them

When a child is making fun of others, they are trying to take control of a situation and get attention. This might be the only way to relate to others they know.

The best way to put a stop to this behavior is by talking to your child. Explain the damage it does to others, and how unpleasant it is to be on the receiving end.

It’s also important to show your child that making fun of others involves a risk. If they continue to do it, others may also decide to make fun of them or be aggressive towards them.

Lead by example

Parents must be a good role model and practice what they preach. It’s also important to reinforce positive behavior by praising the child when they do the right thing.

Love and affection are vital for teaching children not to make fun of others. A child who feels loved is less insecure, and far less likely to resort to aggression.

Respect and tolerance: fundamental values

When the child understands the damage caused by cruel words, they’ll learn to accept other people and respect their differences.

Developing values such as respect and tolerance will help your child to get along with others. As well as giving them a happier childhood, you’ll help them to grow up into a better person in the future.

Parental introspection

To teach your child not to make fun of others, it’s important to reflect on your own behavior.

Parents with low self-esteem who have difficulty forming friendships won’t be able to lead by example. For this reason, moms and dads must know and value themselves to help their children do the same.

What if my child is being teased?

When our children are on the receiving end of teasing or bullying, it’s especially important for parents to teach security and show them not to fear what others say about them. One strategy may include using humor to deflect cruel remarks.

If your child is being made fun of, offer them love and understanding. Reinforce their self-esteem and teach them to be true to themselves, regardless of what others may say.

 

If you liked this article, you can find more interesting topics in our blog www.tip4mom.com

Visita también nuestro sitio en Español www.paratimami.com

 

Janita

Source: www.youaremom.com

Aluminum-Free Deodorants That Really Work

Aluminum-Free Deodorants That Really Work

Become conscious about what you put on your body, especially when it comes to the armpits area. In this article you will find the top-five natural deodorants that really work and keep you safe from those chemicals that disrupt your body.

 

NATIVE

Take Care of Your Body. It’s The Only Place You Have to Live.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

 

 

 

  • Native was founded in San Francisco, California, and all of our products are hand poured in the United States.
  • We never use aluminum, parabens or sulfates in any of our products. We also never test on animals, except humans who volunteer. #NoCompromises.
  • We offer free shipping on every order and we’re so confident you’ll love Native that we’ll cover the cost of return shipping if you’re unhappy (but you won’t be).

 

type:A

Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs whatever we slather onto it. And our underarms in particular are a sensitive area full of nodes, glands, and arteries.

Meet type:A deo. Powered by natural ingredients and sweat-activated technology™ for long-lasting odor and wetness protection.

  • Non-toxic deodorant that won’t irritate your skin
  • Lightweight cream that won’t stain your clothes
  • Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free
  • Free returns, no questions asked

 

 

KOPARI

The Cleaner the Deodorant, the Happier the Pits

Empower your pits and arm your underarms with pure coconut confidence. This aluminum-free deodorant glides on clear. Never sticky, always awesome, it’ll outlast your longest days and leave you smelling like fresh coconut milk. Don’t sweat it.

No Aluminum. No Baking Soda. No Parabens. No Silicone. No Phthalates. No Kidding.

LOVE beauty AND planet

Your underarms are in for a treat! If you’ve been looking for a vegan deodorant that works, ours are made with signature ingredients and plant-based deodorizers to protect you from odor for 24 hours. They’re also beautifully scented for long-lasting freshness and crafted without aluminum, alcohol, or parabens!

 

Tom’s of Maine

Natural deodorant to keep you smelling fresh and antiperspirant to help keep you dry. We’ve got the choices to give your underams the attention they deserve.

Safe and Hardworking Natural Ingredients

In making products for you, we strive for transparency and quality in ingredients. We want to help you make the choices that are right for you and your family! Learn about the naturally sourced and derived ingredients included in Tom’s of Maine natural personal care products.

 

 

 

If you liked this article, you can find more interesting topics in our blog www.tip4mom.com

Lee la versión en Español de este artículo haciendo click en el siguiente link https://www.paratimami.com/2019/04/11/desodorantes-sin-aluminio-que-si-funcionan/

 

Janita

Janita