TOP TEN TIPS TO GET YOUR BABY SLEEPING BETTER

by: Tammy Hussin

Having a new baby is an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be filled with a great deal of anxiety. One major source of that anxiety is if you have a baby who isn’t sleeping well. Sleep deprivation will quickly wear you down, and your baby will be exhausted and irritable as well. When this pattern goes on for months, a once happy little family can rapidly turn into a tired and cranky crowd.

Much of this angst can be eliminated by helping your baby learn to sleep independently. A baby who sleeps who sleeps independently is usually a baby who sleeps through the night and takes nice, long naps on a consistent basis. Enabling your baby to learn how to sleep better should be a simple and gentle process, and most often your baby even have to shed a tear. This article will provide you with some important tips from the baby sleep book, Sleep Baby Sleep, and will help get you started on your way to having a better sleeping baby and a well-rested house.

#1 Establish a Consistent Nighttime Routine

One important aspect to getting your baby to sleep through the night is to have a consistent bedtime ritual. A solid evening routine will help your child understand that it is time for sleep when the routine is complete. A typical schedule might include a bath, some quiet time, a final feeding, and then a good-night kiss. Though your particular routine may vary, it is important make sure you have some kind of consistency at bedtime.

#2 Help your Baby Learn how to Fall Asleep Independently

Each time your baby is ready to sleep, no matter what time of day or night it is, you have a brand new opportunity to help your baby learn how to fall asleep without your help. If you try your hardest to seize each of these opportunities, your baby will be sleeping through the night sooner than you can believe. Keep in mind though that this is a process, and not an overnight miracle. Be consistent in your efforts and you will quickly teach your baby how to fall asleep without your help.

#3 Put your Baby to Sleep Awake

If you get only one idea from this article, it’s that you need to try to put your baby to sleep while he is still awake. In other words, try to avoid having your baby fall asleep before you put him down. Be sure that your routine includes putting your baby in the crib or bassinet before she is asleep. If you put your baby to bed awake, she will more readily learn how to fall asleep without your help and your baby will sleep much better.

#4 Establish a Daytime Nap Routine

Sometimes figuring out a good daytime routine can be even more challenging than the one at bedtime. Out of sheer exhaustion and the desire to get a few minutes to yourself, you might be inclined to do absolutely anything to get your baby down for a nap. The problem with this is that your baby will begin to need that particular method in order to nap (for example, driving around, rocking, nursing, etc). You won’t be happy if your baby can only take a nap in the car, or nap only if you lie down beside her, or only if you rock her to sleep. Instead, try to get your baby napping by falling asleep alone, and you’re likely to wind up with a great little sleeper on your hands.

#5 The Family Bed – should you or shouldn’t you?

A family bed is not a bad thing, and many families the world over would have it no other way. If it’s something you want and have planned for, then by all means do it! On the other hand, if you have wound up with a family bed only because your baby cannot fall asleep any other way, then it might time to rethink your situation. A family bed could last for years, and if unwanted, often results in frustration and resentment and chronic sleep deprivation.

#6 Waking up Throughout the Night

Most, if not all, babies wake up several times throughout the night. Even a baby who is already sleeping through the night wakes up numerous times during the night. The key is that if your baby knows know how to fall back to sleep on his own, he won’t need you to put him back to sleep. So, don’t rush in as soon as your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Instead, give it some time and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that your baby falls back to sleep on his own.

#7 Getting Baby on a Schedule

Most people thrive on some sort of a schedule, and babies are no different. Your child is likely to function much better if he becomes familiar with the same events that happen throughout the day. If you get your baby on a schedule with a regular agenda, she will quickly figure out when it is time for sleep and will fall asleep much easier. Keep in mind though that everyone needs a little flexibility built into their life, so make sure that you are not too inflexible with your baby’s daily routine.

#8 Avoid using Aids to Help your Baby Sleep

Many exhausted parents resort to external aids to get their babies sleeping (for example, constantly using a pacifier, driving your baby around, and rocking or nursing your baby to sleep). Though your baby might initially fall asleep sleep quicker with these external aids, you are ultimately making your job much more difficult. The problem is that it helps you avoid teaching your baby how to fall asleep alone. Instead, take the time to get your baby falling asleep without any help, and he will fall asleep faster and sleep better.

#9 Be Consistent

The more regular you are in how you put your baby to sleep, the quicker and easier it will be for your child to learn how to sleep independently. No matter how tired you are, or how much you might be dreading the night ahead, a consistent effort will pay off quickly. Be patient with yourself, as it is not always easy to keep with your plan when you are intensely sleep deprived. Just be as consistent as possible, and you will see results.

#10 Take Time for Yourself

It’s so easy to forget about yourself when you have a new baby. But playing the parent role 24/7, and having no time of your own could cause you to grow resentful and feel deprived. Instead, make a conscious effort to ensure that you get some time for yourself. You’ll feel rejuvenated, happier, and you’ll have more energy to devote to your family. You can and will be an amazing parent even though you get a little bit of downtime, and there’s no better time to do it than when your baby is sleeping soundly. Enabling your baby to sleep independently is truly a priceless gift that you’ll give to everyone under your roof. Your baby will be much happier if he is better rested, and so will you!

BE PROACTIVE FOR GOOD CHILD PROTECTION

by: Roy Allen

We don't go very long these days without hearing about a child being abducting. It's a very scary thought for parents but you can take steps now to establish good child protection.

One of the biggest areas of vulnerability is any time you are getting in and out of your vehicle, especially with small children. If you are holding a baby, your hands aren't available to ward off an attacker. Whenever possible, observe the area you are about to enter before leaving the building you are in. Practice getting your key in the car door lock and house door as quickly as possible without having to focus on the locks. Practice getting children into your car and your home as quickly as possible.

Look into your car before getting in or placing a child in. Bad guys have been known to enter cars and wait until an unsuspecting person gets in. Whenever practical, walk around the entire car and look before getting in. Some criminals have caused damage that does not disable a car immediately, but down the road, away from a busy area.

Effective child protection requires some discussion with kids about strangers. Develop code words for anyone you trust to pick up your children and teach your little ones the code. Tell them not to ride or go with anyone who doesn't know the code. Tell children to trust their instincts. If they think something’s wrong with someone they meet, they should run away.

Warn children about common lures such as needing help finding a lost puppy, offers of candy or toys, and desires to take a picture. When children hear these approaches from a stranger, they should run fast to a safe place. Teach your children the safe places in your community they can escape to.

Teach your kids what to do if they get lost while shopping. They should go to the nearest security guard or cashier. They should not ask for help from a shopper they don’t know or go into the parking lot to look for you.

Children can make a potential abductor panic and flee by screaming at the top of their lungs, "He's kidnapping me!" or "Fire!" which will quickly bring attention to the attempted abduction.

Avoid putting your children's names on their garments and possessions. When children hear their names called, they let their guard down, thinking it's someone they know.

Good child protection requires preparation. Predators are anywhere and everywhere.

ACTIVITY: ALPHABET PRESCHOOL IDEAS AND THEMES

by: Jennifer Houck

When it comes to choosing an activity, alphabet preschool crafts are a great way for teaching new skills. Literacy is an important aspect of early learning and teaching the alphabet is critical to future success. When selecting an activity, alphabet preschool crafts, and lesson plans can ensure that the project you are working on is age appropriate, appealing to the child, and fun.

A great way to introduce your activity, alphabet preschool crafts, and lessons is by using an alphabet theme. Your alphabet theme will consist of a variety of educational activities, stories, songs, and more. By providing age appropriate resources your theme will be a success. There are many storybooks that will play an integral role in your alphabet theme. Some popular choices include Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and Alphabet City by Stephen T. Johnson. However, there are numerous alphabet books available at your local library, and these give you the freedom to create an alphabet theme based on your choice of book.

The book should be the core feature of your theme. Repetition is key to ensuring that children comprehend the relationship between your activity, alphabet preschool crafts, and lessons. Using complimentary flannel board games can help reinforce your story time as well. One of the best advantages of using an activity, alphabet preschool lessons, and crafts with your theme is that you can incorporate many additional areas of learning. Art can play a vital role in your lesson plans, but you can also integrate cultural awareness and science principles in your literacy projects. With creativity and imagination, you can customize or tailor your theme to incorporate any additional skills that you choose. When creating your alphabet theme, consider adding some of the following to your plan:

•Storybooks
•Puppets
•Coloring sheets
•Posters
•Flashcards
•Puzzles
•Games
•Songs
•Painting
•Creating Letter Books
•Making Alphabet Collages
•Flannel Board Stories
•File Folder Games
•Computer games and software
•Bulletin Boards

By creating and adding variety to your theme, you can ensure that children will remain interested in you lessons.

COOKING PARTIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS

by: Mom Index

Are you planning a birthday party for your preschool age child? Consider hosting a cooking party. These parties are unique, interactive and entertaining for young children.

Party stores and Internet based retailers offer wonderful invitations for a cooking party. Invitations display pictures of baking tools, recipe cards or aprons. Custom invitations however, can be expensive and may require a significant amount of wait time for printing and shipping. If you have time or budget constraints, visit your local arts and crafts store for paper stock and then design and print your own party invitations. Let your guests know that you are cooking up fun and that you want them to join you for an exciting event.

Hosting a cooking party for preschoolers should be easy and engaging. Setup tables so guests have plenty of room to prepare food and to interact. For this age group, it is better to engage guests in food preparation and decorating rather than actual baking and cooking. However, take time to walk guests through the kitchen to teach them about cooking tools and cooking safety. Allow them to handle basic cooking tools such as rolling pins, measuring cups, spatulas, spoons and whisks. Then introduce equipment that requires adult supervision such as blenders, electric mixers, waffle makers and sandwich machines. This cooking introduction will empower them to interact with their parents in their own kitchen.

Cooking can be overwhelming for young children. Select simple and rewarding activities so guests leave with a sense of accomplishment regarding their creations. For example, allow guests to decorate and to assemble food items. Party ideas include cupcake or cookie decorating, fruit kabob or yogurt and granola parfait assembly or jewelry making with cereal.

Design your own chef hats or order paper chef hats on-line. Then provide crayons and art supplies so guests can decorate their hats. If your budget allows, order child size aprons and use them as a party favor. Alternatively, you can attach a plastic cookie cutter to a mini rolling pin with a note thanking the guest for celebrating with you. On the back of the thank you tag, include a simple and age appropriate cookie recipe so guests can create something special in their own kitchen. An additional benefit of this party favor is that guests will also be able to use the rolling pin at home for play dough and other arts and crafts projects.

TEACHING WITH PRESCHOOL SOFTWARE

by: Jennifer Houck

Computers and their Benefits

Computers are becoming increasingly popular in homes, day care centers, preschools, and schools. In fact, current statistics show that more than 50% of all children have used a computer by the time they are four years old. That number jumps to over 80% when discussing children who have used the computer by the time they have entered Kindergarten. Using computer programs for educational purposes offers a host of benefits. Preschool software can be a great way to help children develop and reinforce many educational skills from literacy to science. Many parents may mistakenly believe that their preschooler is to young to benefit from computer software but this is a gross misconception. Preschoolers need to develop literary awareness and preschool software is a great way to expose children to concepts that will help them make the connection between words and their meanings. When it comes to learning, preschoolers need to learn in an atmosphere that is relaxed and fun. Many preschool software games incorporate graphics, audio files, and interesting voice patterns. This helps engage the child’s senses and stimulates learning. It is also important to ensure that the preschool software will help increase their logic, reasoning, and problem solving abilities. Since exploration, imaginative learning, and play are also critical to early childhood development, using preschool software can be an effective means for developing these areas as well.

One word of caution that is important to mention, is that preschoolers have a strong need for interaction with adults and other children. Therefore, the computer should never be used as a substitute for one-on- one or group learning. Consider the use of a preschool software program as an additional learning tool to enhance your curriculum- not to replace it. Some areas where you can find preschool software beneficial include:

•Oral Language Development- choose software that allows children to record and playback their voice. Also, look for software that has a narrator who children will interact and respond to.

•Increase Awareness in the Areas of Phonetics and Print- Preschool software can help children make the connection between print words and their meanings. It is also a valuable way to teach letter recognition, stories, rhymes, and letter sounds.

Using computers and preschool software can be advantageous for all children. It is important to ensure that each activity is connected to the other areas of learning currently being taught.

PRESCHOOL CIRCLE TIME SONG: TIPS FOR ENGAGING CHILDREN

by: Jennifer Houck

You most likely know that children love to sing, but did you realize that choosing a preschool circle time song has additional benefits then encouraging children to express their musical capabilities? In fact, circle time is a great way to encourage young children to develop emotional skills and participate in a group. There are many effective ways to use circle time to teach additional skills as well. For instance, your choice of a preschool circle time song can reinforce counting, letter recognition, health and safety awareness, as well as provide a musical and rhythmic activity. It is important that all children feel comfortable in the circle and children should never be forced to participate in circle time. It is important to choose your preschool circle time song carefully and pick one that children show interest in. If you are dealing with children who are not responding to circle time, it may be time to introduce a different song.

A great way to encourage children to participate in circle time is to create an area specified for the circle. You can use masking tape to map out the circumference of the circle. Masking tape comes in a variety of colors and can make the circle more appealing. It is also important to make sure that circle time is kept short and brief. One of the most common mistakes made with circle time is extending it so long that children lose interest. Remember, preschool children have very short attention spans. A way that you can interest children in participating is by choosing a preschool circle time song that has each child’s name in it. If the other children say the name of a child that isn’t participating, this can create an interest in the other child and encourage him or her to join in. By keeping children engaged in circle time, you will foster and nurture their sense of belonging to a group.

WOODEN HIGH CHAIRS OFFER SIMPLICITY, BEAUTY, AND PRACTICALITY FOR TODAY'S BUSY FAMILIES

by: Terri Ornstein

Wooden high chairs with their looks and functionality make a great addition to any kitchen or dining room, no more plastic, teddy bears or bright colors, so no more hiding your high chair.

Wooden High Chairs are simple and elegant and a welcome addition to your home, with designs ranging from contemporary to country and finishes like cherry, oak, natural wood and maple, you are bound to find the wooden high chair that will complement your home as well as your budget.

Some manufacturers such as Eddie Bauer, are realizing that not only is durability important to parents, but comfort for their baby is a top priority as well and are beginning to add seat cushions to their wooden high chairs, making them more comfortable for your little one.

One drawback to using a wooden high chair is they do not recline, so therefore are not great for infants that can not sit up unassisted, however once your baby is sitting up on his or her own, usually around 4-5 months old, these are wonderful. This means that you will need a high chair that is suitable for infants in the meantime.

Features to look for in Wooden High Chairs:

Removable tray that fits into the dishwasher for quick and easy cleaning.

One or two handed tray adjustment.

Non-skid stoppers on the bottom of each leg.

A safety restraint system.

A chair pad, most do not come with wooden chair pads, make sure that there is one available for the high chair you are going to purchase.

Safety Tips for using Wooden High Chairs:

To prevent serious injury or death from falls or sliding out always secure child in the restraint.

Always keep child in view while in high chair and never leave child unattended.

Quality workmanship and classic styling help ensure that the wooden high chairs are durable and will stand the test of time, allowing these high chairs to last for years, making a great family heirloom.

WHY PLAN AN AFTER PROM PARTY

by: Lori Heatherington

From the time I enrolled my daughter in elementary school it seemed that the world was out to ruin her innocence.

Her know-it-all six year old friends with older brothers and sisters shared the world’s reality with her on a daily basis. And I, who was happy living in the land of talking stuffed animals, was in no hurry to debate the concept of Santa Claus.

Unfortunately, that age of innocence doesn’t last long enough. Whether we like it or not, reality plops itself on the sofa in our living room and sits there while our children struggle through adolescence. About the time that we’re able to find some common ground, they’re talking to us about claiming their independence and graduating from high school.

If there’s one thing I’ve discovered in parenting, it’s that we can protect our children from many things when they’re under our roof. Once they’re out of sight however, their own their own. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad will happen; unless they’re with one of those know-it-all friends they’ve known since the first grade.

Seriously, peer influence can be a constant source of challenge, growth, and heated conversations in homes across America. In addition to marketing messages that conflict with our parenting goals, our teenagers are heavily influenced by their friends. Therefore, it’s imperative that we do what we can to guide and protect them.

The pressure to experiment with alcohol and drugs is a constant source in the lives of teenagers and is often the gateway to risky sexual encounters. In addition to alcohol, many teenagers resort to tobacco, club drugs, inhalants, steroids, and methamphetamines just to fit in. Why not make it easy for them to just say no on prom night!

Because prom night is seen as a “right of passage,” anything parents can do to create an alternative to rented hotel rooms and unsupervised parties is a wise idea. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (see www.madd.org/stats/2421), on the weekend of my daughter’s prom in May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FARS data reported that there were 246 total traffic fatalities. From the “Prom/Graduation Weekend Alcohol-Related Fatalities – 2000” report, 136 of the motor vehicle traffic fatalities (55.2%) were alcohol related.

With the help of the community and one another, parents can take a stand against the negative persuasion and fight the devastating statistics as reported by the NHTSA. By following the outline in the After Prom Party Guide, parents can plan and implement an After Prom party to keep their teenagers off the street after the prom. Designed to insure the safety and well being of high school teenagers, all-night After Prom parties are a sure bet for free food, fun and entertainment.

Although most parents come to accept the fact that their children do make their own choices and they can’t blame the first grade friends for every bad decision, no parent wants the challenge of “what if” questions of themselves. Prom night is supposed to be a wonderful time - let’s make it our mission to keep our teenagers safe and off the streets. That idea was the motivation and the inspiration behind the After Prom Party Guide.