For many parents, their child’s bedtime is a dreaded event, complete with tears, yelling, and resistance.  It doesn’t have to be this way!  Too often, we give in because we think that by accomodating our children, we are improving the situation.  When it comes to forming good bedtime habits, it is important to be firm and consistent.

Now, there are really two separate camps in the bedtime arena: those who believe in letting your child cry themselves to sleep, and those who think that is cruel and unusual punishment.

I don’t personally agree with either approach.  I think that finding the best bedtime routine for you and your child really depends on the child.  It takes a lot of hard work and self examination to discover which of your techniques are working and which are counterproductive.  But a one-size-fits-all approach to children’s bedtime habits just doesn’t seem to make sense.

Use these tips as a guideline, but be flexible and work with your child to find a routine that works for both of you. 

• Set a regular bedtime and show your child how to tell it’s bedtime on the clock.
• Remind your child 30 minutes before bedtime that it’s time to start winding down.
• Provide your child with a nightlight if they request one.
• Remove all distractions from the room, ie: televisions, radios, video games.
• Form a routine that you will perform with your child each night: help them into their pyjamas, take them to brush their teeth, and tuck them in to bed.
• If your child gets out of bed, do not talk to them.  Getting upset at them is giving them attention, which may be enough of a reward to them to encourage the behavior.  Instead, return them to their bed immediately.
• Praise your child in the morning for staying in bed!

Losing someone close to them can leave your child feeling overwhelmed with confusion, fear, and mixed emotions.  Helping your child through this time can be difficult, especially if you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the grieving process yourself.

Children may have a lot of tough questions for you.  The most important thing to remember is to try to answer their questions as completely and honestly as you can.  You may not feel like talking about it yourself, but it will be beneficial to both of you to have a frank discussion about why the death happened and what might have happened to the person. 

Most of us will pass on the lessons that we believe in to our children.  A good approach is to try to explain a few different possibilities.  For example, you could tell your child that some people believe grandma is still with us, while others think she might be watching down from Heaven.  This gives your child a few options; something to think about.  This approach also teaches your child to be open minded and tolerant of other people’s beliefs, regardless of what they themselves choose to believe.

If you or your child are struggling with the grieving process, speak with your doctor about grief counselling agencies in your community.  Support and a fresh perspective could be just what you need to help you and your child get back on your feet after suffering the loss of a loved one.

You’ve been planning and preparing for it since January; your vacation time coincides with summer camp!  Your first real trip as a couple is no longer a pipe dream.  This summer, your child is off to camp, and you’re off to Europe.

As you’re set to leave, on the very first night that Junior is at camp, you receive the call that tears your heart out, “Mommy…*sniff*  come get me!”

Don’t cancel your trip just yet.  Experts estimate that over 80% of children experience homesickness.  Remember when you were a child?  Was there any greater fear than becoming separated from your parents?

This initial period of separation can cause a great deal of anxiety in young children.  They may feel that you will forget about them and never return; or that you will befall a terrible accident and be erased from their lives forever.  No matter how irrational they may seem, these feelings are very real.  And they’re quite normal.

Your home sick child may be resistant to join in with other children in activities; they may become withdrawn, teary, and depressed.  Rest assured, this does not make you a terrible parent.  It seems that the only cure for homesickness is time and experience.

Homesickness usually decreases with age, as your child learns that you will indeed return to them.  Though their first experience may send you running for the car keys, they may actually be better off toughing it out for the night.  It doesn’t make you a monster to leave them in a safe place overnight.

Perhaps your child’s next overnight stay should be closer to home.  Unfamiliar surroundings and new people could be playing a role in their anxiety.  Have the child stay at a trusted friend’s house until they build up the courage to eventually stray a bit farther from home. 

Above all, be supportive and let your child know that you understand their feelings.  Once upon a time, you were small and afraid.  Sharing these memories with your child can only work to build their confidence… after all, you turned out alright, didn’t you?

 

Mums and dads who snore could be causing their children unforeseen problems, according to a recent study.  It seems that the likelihood of snoring is increased in children whose parents already snore.
The study also found that children with allergies and asthma – or the precursor to this (atopy) are also likely to snore frequently.
What’s the problem with this?  Well according to the researchers, snoring is associated with many health problems such as heart disease, metabolic disorders and the development of learning disabilities. 
Dr Maninder Kalra, a professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center told journalists that early intervention could be vital in reducing death rates caused by sleep-disordered breathing.
The study was reported in the April issue of the medical journal Chest.  The children whose parents snored were, according to the study, nearly three times more likely to snore than those whose parents didn’t snore. 

One of the most important baby safety tips is to keep your eyes on your baby. Babies begin to squirm and wiggle by 3 months and continue to be more active during the next few months. You will prevent emergencies and accidents by keeping a close eye on your child. The following tips may help you: *Watch out for little things that your baby could swallow or choke on. Keep buttons, beads, paper clips, small batteries, hard candies or toys with small or sharp parts out of the babies reach. Get down to your baby’s level and search for hidden items that might hurt him. *Watch your baby while in the tub. As your child gets old, she will enjoy bath-time more and will like to splash and play. Your baby must not be left alone for any reason for even a minute. Children and babies can drown in a few seconds. Keep checking the water temperature and keep little hands away from the faucet. *Watch your baby playing. Keep your baby in safe places at all times. Without you there, even the bed, the floor or the yard can be dangerous. Keep your baby near you and in a safe place when you are busy, working or relaxing. *Watch your baby explore. Your baby wants to taste everything she sees and, when teething begins, will want to chew on everything. She will try to grab anything that she sees and put it in her mouth. Pay close attention to what is within your baby’s reach. *Watch your baby nap. Your baby can fall asleep most any place and any time. Make sure that where he naps is safe. Check to make sure no toys, blankets, stuffed animals or pillows are close to your baby’s head.

Naptime can be fraught with problems, from misreading your baby’s sleep cues to misinformation about “making up” for lost naps.  There are several common naptime problems and solutions.

If you are having naptime battles, one culprit might be waiting to long to put your baby down, which leaves you with a cranky and over stimulated child.  Get to know your little one’s sleep prompts – like eye rubbing and getting frustrated with toys.  Then respond accordingly.

Don’t presume that if a baby misses her nap that she’ll “sleep better” at night.  This misconception is a total myth.  If a baby misses her nap, she’ll more likely be cranky and irritable which makes it harder to get her sleep at night.

Many parents start rocking or feeding their baby to sleep as a way to soothe their infant.  However, they are soon stuck doing the same actions every night.  But stopping these practices is easier said than done.  Fortunately, you don’t have to stop cold turkey.  You can still nurse or rock your baby to sleep at naptime or bedtime.  Just make sure to put him down when he is drowsy but awake.  If you find this hard, do it only at night initially when your baby is sleepiest.  Then try the same technique at naptime.

Another common mistake is counting car seat sleep as an official naptime.  No one sleeps as deeply sitting up as they do lying down.  Car seat naps are rarely as long or as peaceful as a snooze at home.  Try to maneuver your schedule so you’re home at naptime.

Does your child wet the bed? Well he or she is not alone. Here are a few tips to help prevent this problem:

1. Try not to give your child a drink before bedtime. A small cup is fine, but for persistent bedwetters try to make sure your child drinks only an hour or so before bed. That way he or she can use the toilet before sleep.
2. If the problem is very persistent, a temporary solution can be to wake your child up at a certain time each night. Although this will not stop the problem, it will mean that your child has a chance to go to the toilet and may prevent wet sheets for a time.
3. Again, for very persistent bedwetters, it can be an idea to purchase some disposable nappy type pants. But it is not a good idea to use them except in extreme cases, as then your child will not be learning how to prevent bedwetting.
4. Try using a ‘moisture alarm’. This is a small alarm that wakes your child up the moment it detects moisture. Research shows that a child who uses the alarm each night usually stops wetting the bed by themselves in a period of approximately three months.
5. Keep a calendar of your child’s wet and dry nights, which will help you notice any improvements.
6. If the problem is severe and persistent, you may wish to consult your doctor. There are certain medications which may help your child to control his or her bladder.

Find out more about bed wetting.

There are a series of guidelines you should follow when choosing a safe crib for your new infant.  Make sure that the side slats of the crib should be less than 2 ¾ inches apart.  Other openings, such as decorative cutouts, should be avoided so your baby can’t get caught in them.  Corner posts should be less than 5/8 inches high so that your baby’s clothes cannot get caught.

When the mattress is in the crib, the crib side when raised should be at least 20 inches above the surface of the mattress.  The mattress should also fit snugly.  Test the snugness with your fingers.  You should not be able to get more than two fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib.

Bumper pads need to fit around the entire crib.  They should tie or snap into place in at least six places.  After they are tied, you need to trim off the excess straps so your baby won’t chew them or be caught in them.

Never use thin plastic (such as a trash bag) as a mattress cover.  A plastic film can cling to a baby’s face and smother him.  Also be sure to remove all plastic wrapping materials before using the crib or mattress.

If you are reusing an old painted crib it should be stripped of paint and repainted with high-quality household enamel paint.  Make sure that the paint is lead free.

Following these guidelines will ensure that you are creating a safe place for your baby to sleep.