Top parenting stories this week
How to Shop for Your Big Kid's Bed
From the best sheets to the safest pillows, here's what you need to know about moving from crib to bed.
by: Allison Meshwork and Natalie Kaplan
Big Kid Beds
- If your child loves her room (and her bed!) she will want to sleep in it.
- Look for natural, breathable fabrics and good quality pillows.
- Mattresses come in different depths, so measure the depth of the mattress before buying fitted sheets.
- Toddlers have small necks and need soft support pillows so their necks don’t over-pronate.)
- Outfitting your toddler's big kid bed? Get 10% off your purchase at Wish Bedding until July 31, 2010. Just enter promo code: JustWish10
oving from a crib to a big kid bed is an important milestone for your toddler, but it can be daunting for parents. Here’s how to make the transition to a big kid bed smoother for everyone. To view the full story click here.
How to Get Your Child to Sleep at Bedtime
10 ways to establish a nightly routine and avoid fights at bedtime
by: Jennifer Kolari
Bedtime Routines
- If you wait for kids to appear tired, you’ve missed their sleep window.
- Slow things down right after dinner, before bedtime, by lowering your voice, turning down lights, etc.
- Put the youngest children to bed first to cut down on the chaos.
- Establish regular bedtime routines so children recognize when it is time for sleep.
- Grant your child “three wishes” to eliminate stalling at bedtime.
edtime can be the most challenging time of the day for a couple of reasons. First, kids don't get tired, they get wired, which means they are more likely to be wild, aggressive, teary, cranky or just plain silly when it’s time to settle down and go to sleep. To view the full story click here.
Nightmares, Night Terrors and Nighttime Fears
What to do when things go bump in the night
by: Elizabeth Pantley
Dealing with Nightmares
- Children spend more time dreaming than adults do, so they have more dreams–both good and bad.
- If your child wakes with a nightmare, stay with her until she feels relaxed and ready to go to sleep.
- During a night terror, your child’s eyes will be open, but she won’t actually be seeing.
- The best response to a night terror is a gentle pat, along with comforting words or Shhh Shhh sounds.
- Find ways to help your child confront and overcome her fears of the dark, such as giving her a flashlight or a special stuffed toy to sleep with.
f your child’s sleep is disrupted by nightmares and fear, it can affect her mood, behavior, health, memory and growth. Here’s what you can do to solve these common childhood sleep disrupters: To view the full story click here.
Changing from Two Naps to One
Is your child ready to drop his morning nap? Here’s how to make the transition from two naps to one.
by: Elizabeth Pantley
Dropping a Nap
- Most children switch to one nap between ages 12 and 24 months.
- Your baby’s temperament can be affected by dropping a nap too soon.
- If he naps well for one of his naps, but totally resists the other, he may be ready to switch to one a day.
- Choose a single naptime that is later than the usual morning nap, but not as late as the afternoon nap.
- Keep your child active until about 30 minutes before the naptime you have chosen.
ost children switch from two naps to one between ages 12 and 24 months. Here’s how to tell if your child is ready to drop his morning nap: To view the full story click here.
When to Start Sleep Training
Find out when to start sleep training and how best to sleep train your baby
by: Nancy Ripton
Sleep Training
- Start sleep training at six to eight weeks of age.
- By six months, most babies have the capacity to sleep through the night.
- When your baby starts to rub her eyes, yawn, suck on her fingers, fuss and show a shortened attention span, it’s time for bed.
- During training, put your baby to bed awake and regularly come back to soothe her until she falls asleep.
- Establish a nightly routine that will let your baby know it’s time for bed.
he first month of life is exhausting for parents, says Dr. Cathryn Tobin, author of the Lull-A-Baby Sleep Plan. Your baby can’t tell the difference between day and night and needs to be fed every two to four hours. When it comes to sleep, it’s survival mode. But once you’re through that initial rough patch, it is possible to teach her to sleep through the night. Here’s how. To view the full story click here.
