HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you have a safe New Year's Eve and a Happy New Year!

2009 Sleep Goals:

• Create a sleep inducing sleep environment: dark room (seriously DARK!!- darkness triggers something in our brains to sleep), sound maker/white noise (drown out those distracting sounds)
• Create a consistent and simple bedtime routine: I like to stay simple and short- you don't want to give kids a chance to drag things out. Things you may want to add in: bath, PJs, brush teeth, a story or prayer or song, a hug and kiss, a drink of water before they ask, potty. Whatever you decide your routine to be stick with it, do it, and when you are done- turn off the lights, close the door, and be done. If they get out of bed- quietly return them to their room.
• Make sure the amount of sleep your child is receiving is appropriate for your child's age. In general newborns should nap after 1-2 hours of being awake and then sleep for a large amount of time with a feeding or two mixed in. Infants will then transition to a three or maybe straight to a two nap a day schedule through 12-18 months. They should get 14-15 hours of sleep. Toddlers will have an afternoon nap and should get about 12-14 hours of sleep per day. Preschoolers may or may not have an afternoon nap and will continue with 11-13 hours of sleep per day. School age children should get 10-11 hours per day.
• Cut out sleep inhibitors: sugar, caffeine, too much TV/video games/ computer, things that may give them nightmares/violence, too late of a bedtime causing overtiredness.

Here is to sleep for the new year!

Yours,

Courtney

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Yours,

Courtney 

Sleep Product Review: Holiday Gift Idea

I have been in search of a kid's Christmas CD with all the classics. I found The Coolest Kidz Bop Christmas Ever (2007). It has all the classics: Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, and The Grinch. It also has a good sound. Another idea, is to go onto iTunes and make sure you get all the songs YOU want. Anyone else have a fav?

Ponderings from Me: Tis the Season

Tis the Season for fun, silliness, family time, baking cookies, singing songs, decorating, and more. It is also the season for busyness!

My family and my husband's family all live in the same city- the city we live in... And between the two of us we have three sets of grandparents still celebrating with us. So, our December is full of family gatherings, friend gatherings, and trying to balance that with all the stuff we find important to do with our kids and as an individual family. We usually celebrate Christmas seven times between Christmas Eve and Christmas. This year two of those celebrations have been spread out a bit. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful to have family close...

In the midst of fun, and really enjoying family, it can still be quite challenging at times to find balance. And to be honest I don't think we have. Sometimes I feel like December ends leaving me tired and like we didn't actually celebrate together. I think sometimes we need to be selfish and say no and just take some time as an individual family. We are going to be working on this in the next year or so. I don't want to run my kids so ragged that they don't get to even play with their Christmas presents or focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

I will enjoy this month and look for moments to slow down and enjoy the moments with my husband and three kids. 

Question for You

Is there a special holiday tradition you share with your children or family?

Sleep Product Review: Holiday Gift Idea

Christmas PJs. I love Christmas, and I love getting my kids some festive pjs (that end up being worn for the rest of the year). I have found some great quality pjs at Hanna Andersson over the years. They have some cute Christmassy pjs- made out of nice, organic cotton. Check out www.hannaandersson.com- they are actually on sale for a limited time.

Sunday Sleep Dilemma

Q: After jammies, teeth-brushing, a story and a hug, my 2.5 year old goes to bed pretty easily. But my kids recently spent two nights with my in-laws (over the holidays) who got the kids to sleep by sitting next to them and rubbing their backs. Now that we're back home, my 2.5 year old is asking for me to cuddle in bed with him and give him backrubs. How do I break this new habit he's picked up from staying with the grandparents?

A: That is cute and sweet in many ways. I actually have fond memories of having my back rubbed by my mom. If you don't want this to be part of your sleep routine then don't make it part of it. Tell him that this was part of what grandma did with you before bed, but at your house you do x,y, and z before bedtime. If you want it to be more visual for him, make a list with pictures of your bedtime routine and then he can see what happens every night at your house (brush teeth, PJs, story). If you like the idea then maybe rub his back as you sing a song or say a prayer with him before the lights go out.

Saturday Sleep Tip: SIDS Update

According to research published by Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, experts believe "that a baby can die in her sleep if she breathes exhaled carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, and this study shows that simply increasing air circulation is protective." 

So, what does this mean?

"A ceiling fan, a desk fan, forced-air heating, or even an open window can help."

A reminder of other SIDS prevention tips according to Parents magazine:

• put your baby to sleep on her back
• avoid soft bedding
• never smoke in her room
• don't share a bed with your baby

Sleep Ponderings from Me: Swaddling

Swaddling... The nurses wrap up your baby moments after you give birth back into a tight little bundle. They have just spent months held tightly in a warm environment, and I can only imagine birth and their new world are shocking.  Swaddling is a way to bring them back to the womb. 

Babies usually remain swaddled for much of their hospital visit. But, what happens when you take your sweet baby home? Some people continue to swaddle and some people do not. I encourage you to swaddle as long as your baby sleeps best when swaddled. Note: trying to struggle out of a swaddle does not mean they don't "want" to be swaddled. Swaddling keeps all their jumpy little newborn reflexes contained so that they can get good sleep (WHICH translates to you getting a goodnight's sleep). 

So, find a good swaddling blanket (this may change as your baby grows) and swaddle until they outgrow this (usually won't stay in the swaddle for any length of time or you notice that their jumpy newborn reflexes have calmed down). Also, before you leave the hospital ask a nurse to show you how to swaddle- and notice that they do not swaddle loosely- you are recreating the womb- do you remember how tight they fit into your belly?

I swaddled my first baby until she was 5 months old or so. I swaddled my son until he was only 2 months old, and I swaddled my third baby until she was 4 months old. I know of other people who swaddled past 6 months.  Like anything you will know what is best and what works for you, but don't give up the swaddle too early, it may increase night sleep.

Question for You

What is your favorite blanket or swaddling blanket?

Sleep Product Review: Holiday Gift Idea

A great gift set for someone with a baby are the Petunia Swaddling Blankets. They come in a set of three unique, adorable, and hip prints. They have sets for a girl, a boy, or gender neutral. Not only are these blankets made out of a very soft organic cotton, they are great for swaddling. They are a large 40x40 square that gives you plenty of fabric to properly swaddle that little cutie. And they come ready to gift away!

Check out their link: www.petuniapicklebottom.com/collections/accessoriesandgear

Sunday Sleep Dilemma

Q: My two kids share a room. One of them has a loud, hacking cough that wakes up the other one. What should I do to prevent my non-sick child from waking up?

A: Put the non-sick child to sleep in another room if one is available. Or make a special bed in your room for them to sleep on,  you can probably tune out their coughing or go back to sleep if it wakes you up.

Saturday Sleep Tip

When kids are sick make sure they get enough sleep and rest, so they recover quickly. 

Some tips I just read in Parents magazine to try to limit sickness spreading: 

WASH YOUR HANDS!! again and again; make the kitchen off limits for the sick child/children; switch to hot water on laundry day; "cut down on cuddles", don't let your kids share with each other (things that will spread sickness); clean bathrooms, faucets, handles, doorknobs (may want to try using vinegar and water as a non-toxic cleaner- my tip); clean kids toys when sickness has ended (The suggested "Dr. Tierno's  bug-fighting routine: clean toys with peroxide or white vinegar, wash them with soap and hot water, then rinse in peroxide or vinegar."

They also highlighted "3 Germ Hot Spots": Grocer cart handles, playground equipment, your kitchen sink

Sleep Ponderings from Me: Sickness and Sleep

So, it is December 4th, and we have already been through a few colds. So, how should we deal with the looming sickness and helping everyone in the house get the most sleep.

Here are a few things I have done in the past:

• My oldest got a cold which turned into a lingering cough... she would cough throughout the night for long stretches and wake up her baby sister who shares a room with her. After a couple days of this happening, I made a little bed on the floor in our room and my oldest slept in there. This was a good solution- we all slept through the night. I moved her back to her room as the coughing seemed to get less. Even though, my almost five year old daughter didn't take naps- she took a nap each day that week.
  
• When my son was 21 months old he got croup which within a day turned into pneumonia... to make a long story and a long night short- he ended up in the hospital for a couple days because of his difficulty breathing. He slept a lot in the hospital. When we got home he would play for a couple minutes and then need to lay down or go to sleep. Even though he was on a one nap a day schedule, I would just put him down whenever he started to fall asleep or seemed to need a nap. 

From both of these situations, you learn that sleep needs to be adjusted to maximize sleep for your home and for the sick child. Sleep is very important when your children are sick. Adjust nap schedules to fit your child's needs until they are better. 

Question for You

How and where do your kids sleep when they are sick? Any tips on getting them to sleep better?