Sleeping Through The Night: Will It Ever Happen?

Posted by TinyTotties on 27. May 2009 12:11

Yes, it will. But you need to be patient.

Newborns sleep a lot: 16 or more hours a day, but often in stretches of just one to two hours, whether day or night. A more consistent sleep schedule, where most sleep happens during the night, will gradually develop as your baby's nervous system matures and as she is able to go longer between feedings, usually when she’s around 2 months old.

Most experts agree that when babies are around 6 months old, they are capable of sleeping through the night, but you’ll need to adjust your expectations: “sleeping through the night” at this age means 5-to-6-hour stretches, which may not be YOUR definition of "sleeping through the night."

At this point, and possibly earlier, there are several things you can do to encourage your baby to sleep for longer stretches during the night:

1. Create a clear distinction between day and night. During the day, expose your baby to lots of natural light. Play and talk with him and keep him active. Conversely, when he wakes up at night, keep the lights dim, care for him with minimal fuss and put him right back to sleep. This is a good way to teach your baby that daytime is for fun and interaction, and nighttime is for sleep.

2. Follow a consistent bedtime routine. When my kids were babies, we used to give them a warm bath each night. After their bath I used to nurse them, sing a lullaby and put them in their crib. Throughout this routine, lights were dim and we kept very quiet, signaling it was the end of the day and the beginning of the night. If you’re consistent, your baby will lean to associate this routine with going to sleep.

3. Make sure the conditions in the nursery promote sleep. Baby bedding and your baby’s pajamas should be soft and comfortable – never scratchy; the room should be relatively dark; and room temperature should be pleasantly cool – not too hot or too cold. Many parents keep the baby’s room too hot, especially during the winter.

4. Place your baby in bed when she’s drowsy, but awake. See if she falls asleep on her own. Let her fuss and whine a little if she needs to, but do go to her if she starts crying. Our own policy was that we never allowed our children to cry themselves to sleep, but this is of course a very personal decision.

5. During the night, if baby moves or stirs, don’t rush to her right away. Sometimes babies move or makes noises, then go right back to sleep. Rushing to them and fussing over them encourages them to fully wake up and to view night as a chance to play and interact with you. Trust me, you do NOT want that to happen.

Most importantly, keep things in perspective! Those first few months of sleep deprivation are tough, but as someone who has survived it, I can tell you with confidence that you learn to manage and that your body does adjust to functioning on less sleep.

Sooner or later, almost all babies do sleep consistently through the night. Our children started sleeping for longer stretches (5 or 6 hours) when they were around nine months old. By the time they were two years old, and done with teething, they started sleeping consistently for 8-10 hours.

Remember that even when your child starts sleeping through the night, there will be many setbacks, especially when she is sick or scared. Sleep deprivation is part of parenting a young child, just like kissing their boo-boos and admiring their artwork. The calmer you are about it, the easier it will be for you to handle those sleepless nights.

Personalized Children's Artwork

Posted by TinyTotties on 7. May 2009 01:07

The nursery looks fabulous. The crib is beautiful; the gorgeous bedding set matches the lampshade and the very handy toy bag. The hard, yet satisfying work of decorating your child’s room is finished.

Or is it?

The nursery or the playroom are not truly finished if the walls are bare. Bare walls are cold and uninviting in any room, and even more so when it comes to children’s rooms. But where can you find artwork that’s modern, non-kitsch, bright and colorful, appropriate for a child’s room AND affordable? And do you even dare to ask if it can be personalized too?

Normally I would have to say that no, you can’t find modern art for kids that can also be personalized. But recently I happened to come across some fabulous products by Hip Kid Art, a mom-owned company that offers modern, affordable personalized canvas art for children.

So if you’re a mom or a mom-to-be who’s trying to put the finishing touches on your child’s room, or if you’re looking for a truly unique baby shower gift for your pregnant friend, you’ve come to the right place.

Personalized Canvas Art For Children

Hip Kid Art features original, modern custom canvas designs that can be personalized with your child’s name, or any other message. The canvas is wrapped around a wooden frame and arrives ready to hang in any nursery or playroom. Each custom piece is available in two sizes: 12x12 and 24x18.

Some designs are “boyish.” I like the Go Car Go design, with its bright red and blue colors. Can you imagine how nicely it would go with the On The Go Crib Bedding Set?

Another favorite for boys is the Trike design, which features sky blue and fire engine red graphics with your child’s name in navy - classic colors for any tyke’s room.

Some of the designs are decidedly girly, without losing their clean lines or modern edge. The unique Watermelon design, a reddish-orange canvas with black white and marigold flowers, takes the usual flower motif and manages to turn it into something different, edgy and modern yet fun and girly. The Lavender Flowers design is similar, with colors that are more traditional and “girly.”

My absolute favorite for girls is the Chocopink Squares Canvas Wall Art. In fact, this design is so simple and gorgeous, I can totally see myself using it in other rooms! This design will look absolutely fantastic with the Soho Pink 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs.

If you prefer a more gender-neutral approach to decorating the nursery, you will love the Lollipop design, which features a simple white lollipop drawing and personalization in navy on a sky blue background.

Another great gender-neutral option is the Rings design, a lively design featuring circles in blues and browns, with a touch of pink.

Personalized Wall Plaques For Children

Each of the lovely Personalized Wall Plaques by Kimberly Petruska Designs can be personalized with a child's name, birth announcement, or inspiration message. They come in a variety of colors and designs, and at just $29.95 per plaque offer an exceptionally affordable way to personalize your child’s room.

The plaques measures 8" x 10" and may be purchased with a frame or a hanging ribbon. They are also available in a 5" x 7" size with a ribbon.

The very popular Pink Zebra design caught my eye immediately. I love the bold color combination, and the added sparkle around the name. This design coordinates well with the Zebra - Pink 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs.

I also ADORE the Paisley Peace design, with a hand-painted name, which features colorful paisleys on a chocolate background with a glittered Peace sign. I find it hip, modern and simply fun to look at. If you prefer more “grownup” designs, you will love this one.

For boys, I really like the Sports Wall Plaque with Hand-Painted Name. It’s a classic, timeless design and it also goes exceptionally well with the All Star 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs. Another great option for boys is the Rick's Motorcycle with Hand-Painted Name design, which was designed by bike builder Rick Petko from the popular "Chopper" TV Show and bears his signature. For just $37.95, it’s a unique, decidedly “grownup” look and a wonderful addition to your little boy’s room.