Surefire Way to Put Kids to Sleep

Are you suffering a nightmare with your little ones not sleeping throughout the night? Below is the surefire way to put them to sleep if they are two years and older. 

1. Have your child play an active sport game or running, take a soothing bath, afterwards put him/her to sleep. 

2. No overeat but do some bedtime snacks to keep the sleep going. Cereal, cracker, and fruits are some healthy options. 

3. Prepare for sleep environment, which includes dimming of lights, cool temperature, pajama, diaper change, and good night kiss. 

4. For terrible two's: When you say "G'night," you mean it. 

Discipling Trouble Two - Time Busters

Our first son who just turned two in August started to throw time-busters once again.  It would take twice as long to dress him, leave the house, eat, bath and sleep.  He resists to everything and try every incident a "fun" time for him and make mom exhausted by trying the just change diaper or cloth him.

I have been strict "before" and may have returned to setting no boundaries again. Here are some of the roots of all time-busters according to the Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers.

• Parents don't stick to a structured routine.
• Parents allow the child to be in charge.
• Parents don't start as they mean to go on.
• Parents don't set limits.
• Parents have no boundaries - they respect the child but don't demand respect in return.
• Instead of accepting their child's temperament, parents keep hoping it will change.
• Parents haven't helped the child develop self-soothing skills.
• A crisis occurs, such as illness or an accident; parents relax their rules but never reestablish them, even after the child is better.
• Parents are arguing with each other, not paying enough attention to their child-and in time no one knows what the problem is. 
• Parents are dealing with their own "ghosts" of the past, which makes it hard for them to see their child clearly.

Looking back, I was away from my son for a business meeting for a few days.  To cope with the first trauma of being away, I may have been easing off on the rules but have not established them.

I thought I should be better on him, but he is already taking advantage!  Make sure rules at intact because time-busters are neither beneficial for the child nor for the parent.

Toys for 3-6 Month Old

Here are some of toys that are good for 3-6 month old.  For my firstborn, he didn't have much interest in touching and playing with toys in the beginning.  But for the second one, she gets interested in toys hanging from the swing.  She also shows interest in toys on play mat.  Though she is not yet into rattles and pull and shake toy, they would be great as she becomes 5-6 months. 

First one stayed little on the swing, but the second one stays on the swing for longer period of time and sometimes falls asleep.  Maybe, I was too alert in my first one and didn't give any chance to ponder at things.  Especially, Jumperoo, swing and play mat frees some time for you as the child plays there a little longer.

1. Rattle
2. Teething Ring
3. Play mat
4. Jumperoo
5. Baby pull and shake toy
6. Taggies blanket
7. Squeaky rubber toys
8. Swing

Best Way to Remove Food Stain

With children, a lot of things get on the shirt. 

For grease, use dish soap.  Rub the clothes with dish soap and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.  Then, put them in the wash.

For berries (blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries), pour boiling hot water and rub the clothes with soap.  Or you can soak the stain with white vinegar, then put them in the wash.

For coffee & tea, rinse the stain with vinegar.  Or treat with a stain remover and put them in the wash.

For mustard, ketchup, and blood, rinse with cold water.   Rub using laundry detergent and rinse.

Selecting Safe Lotion for Baby

Selecting a safe lotion for baby is so important as it is what touches the baby so closely.  Make sure they are free of parabens, phthalates, sodium laureth sulfates (SLS), 1,4 dioxane, PEG’s and/or Propylene Glycols.

Some of Top picks from SafeMama are as below:

• Earth Mama Angel Baby
• Weleda Baby
• Eden's Kiss
• Terressentials Organic Baby Care
• LuSa Organics

Some Paraben, Phthalate, PEG Free Baby Products are:

• California Baby
• Nature's Baby Organics
• Burt's Bees Baby
• Aubrey Organics

See the full list here.

Responding to Cranky Older Child with the Newborn

Finally, new sister C is born.  Our little J thinks, 'Mommy used to hold me, but now she says she is sick and doesn't hold me but only my sister C'.  The first rival for the older child is his first sibling.  He used to be treated as a prince, but now he needs to step down to one younger one who doesn't know anything but crying.

Mother seems to have bought so many new things like bottle, blanket and clothes that wasn't given to him.  With so many friends of parents come and gives much attention and affection to the newborn.

Show and Tell Them How You Still Love Them
When everything is new and the older child has seen how the mother is so close to the newborn, it is crucial not to leave psychological scar to the older child.  Show and tell the older child that parents still love him.  If parents send the older child to a relative's house, then the 2-3 week period of time can leave a damaging remark.

In the book Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, it has list of scenario that the older child might be experiencing.

Imagine that your spouse puts an arm around you and  says, “Honey, I love you so much, and you’re so wonderful that I’ve decided to have another wife just like you.

When the new wife finally arrives, you see that she’s very young and kind of cute. When the three of you are out together, people say hello to you politely, but exclaim ecstatically over the newcomer. “Isn’t she adorable? Hello, sweetheart … You are precious!” Then they turn to you and ask, “How do you like the new wife?”

The new wife needs clothing. Your husband goes into your closet, takes some of your sweaters and pants and gives them to her. When you protest, he points out that since you’ve put on a little weight, your clothes are too tight on you and they’ll fit her perfectly.

Thinking through, it would be very upsetting.  For toddlers who cannot control their feelings such as joy, anger or anxiety, everything might show.  Some may regress to old behaviors.  If he has been potty-trained, he might make mistakes sometimes.  J used to spit all the food that are hard, and he did go back taking food out of his mouth.  They might pretend to be a baby again or just try hard to get more attention.  J knew that mommy wanted to change diapers, put on clothes, take bath, so if it was bad, he would cry, not letting mommy do anything for him.  He would say, 'No' to merely anything.

Here are some tips that would help ease this tension:

First express affection to the older child

When giving older child's clothes or toys, first ask the older child for permission

For older child who is jealous, show pictures of him when he was old

When others give too much attention only to the newborn, tell them to also show similar attention and love to the older child

When the new baby comes home, give gift to the older child and tell him that the gift is from the new baby

Prepare a set of new toys for the older child
 
Do not enforce being an older child

Treat the older child better

Spend a 'special time' with the older child

 

Tips for Educating an Older Child about the New Baby

When you are expecting your second, it is very important to prepare your older child.  How the older child will react depends how well you have prepared your child.

Photo by: MissMessie

Explain Clearly in Simple Language
First explain to the older child about the new sibling in simple language.   If you explain to him/her clearly, he will come to also have anticipation for a new sibling.  Tell him/her that you can take bath together and play ball together later on and it will be a great fun. Another great way is showing an another newborn before the new baby and tell the older child that you will also be meeting his/her new baby at home.

Practice Being Separated
Mother will be in the hospital and the older child can be separated with mother for the first time.  To reduce the shock, make sure that you try to bring the older child to grandparents', or other relatives' house before and let him/her experience a sleep-over.  The older child will realize that mother will come back the next day.  Also tell him/her that mother needs to be away a few days in the hospital, and will come back home.

Buy Older Child's Gifts along with New Baby's Gifts
Older child can easily compare and be upset that only new baby received gifts and therefore parents no longer love the same way.  When you buy a toy or a cloth, try to buy one for the older child also.  Make sure, the older one gets enough attention.

Establish a Play date
First few days or weeks are very difficult for the parents.  If you don't have one, establish a play date, so that your older child can go and play together.  It could be very difficult to always take care of two children, so setting a play date and a routine can help a bunch even though it is only an hour or two.

Call and Talk to the Older Child While in Hospital
Although the older child cannot stay in the hospital over night, the hospital do allow older sibling to visit.  Though it could be more difficult to have the older sibling and meet his/her needs, let the older child see the mother and not be separated too much.  When he/she is away, talk over the phone to give comfort and feel secured.

Read Books about Welcoming a New Baby
Reading a book about expecting a new baby is also a good way to let the older child know. Below are some of great books to tell the older child:

• I'm a Big Brother by Joanna Cole and Rosalinda Kightley
• I'm a Big Sister by Joanna Cole and Rosalinda Kightley
• There's Going to Be a Baby by John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury
• My New Baby by Rachel Fuller
  

Let the Older Child Understand through a Doll
Buy a new doll to teach that a new baby will come just like the doll.  Though your child might not understand right away, it will help build connection of being pregnant and expecting a new baby.  Here are some of cute dolls that will inspire nurturing play.