I can completely relate to a parent who chooses to give their baby a soother because it can be a real comfort for them, especially if they are a baby who could nurse all day long, or they are exceptionally fussy. It is said though that a baby should not be given a soother for at least the first week and until breastfeeding has been well established because it can cause "nipple confusion" . I would also recommend and have read it as well, that the soother be taken away before the baby reaches six months of age. After six months it will prove to be a more and more difficult task the older they get, and you will likely find yourself (like many parents) wondering if there will ever come a day when they will just let it go on their own because they are so attached you couldn't imagine taking it from them, either for their own emotional well being or for yours. I also would say just from my own observations of toddlers who still have their soothers that it appears to delay their speech as well as enabling them to stay somewhat reserved in social situations. And we have all heard of the damage it can cause to a childs tooth development. Also I have read of an increase in middle ear infections being noticed in children with the prolonged use of soothers because of the constant sucking motion. Ultimately I think that before six months will keep your baby safe and healthy and save you a much bigger battle down the road. A soother only really needs to be used for soothing a baby nothing else. A tip for helping an older child to relinquish their soother without too much distress would be to take it slow and begin setting times or activities when they will not use it, once they have for the most part accepted "that" time as being "soother free" and no longer make a fuss about it, move on to another time or activity. Sometimes a little incentive or distraction works well in these situations just be sure that what you are using for these will not become problems in themselves later on. some ideas could be to come up with a new activity all together something they have never done before so doing it without their soother may be easier as it is all together new to them, something such as helping mom to bake cookies (one of my daughters favorite activities) or set up a new project they have never tried before. 101 ways to entertain toddlers! The internet is the best resource. Research activities for kids.
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
My three favourite tips
The following three tips or advice are things I have either been told or have discovered on my own that have worked amazingly well:
1. trying to instill a routine or break a bad habit or just make a change or teach your baby something? Put it into practice for 7 days with absolute consistency and you will see results! This was my all time favourite piece of advice, received from my mother a little later then I would have liked after my first child was born. Having this "7 days to salvation" (as I liked to call it) as a focus when dealing with a difficult situation was a life saver, it took the hopelessness out of every situation and gave me the encouragement that what I was doing would show success if I just stuck to it. This has worked so well for me with both of my children. The key is BE CONSISTENT! Give in even once and your in for a set back!
2. As difficult as it is sometimes staying calm and relaxed makes a huge difference in a baby or child’s mood or behaviour. When your temper is flaring, even only on the inside children pick up on this. A baby will likely be cranky or fussy, and a child will act out or defy you. Call me coo coo but you have to try this, the next time you feel like you are getting irritable and frustrated with your child turn away for a moment or however long you need and do the following: Take a deep breath when you exhale imagine the tension leaving you with that breath. Fill yourself with as much love as you can muster for your child, and turn back to approach the situation with this new found calm (and maintain this for the entire process or interaction with the child) imagine until you think you can physically feel it: That your body is radiating about a foot or two in front of you (or however close your child is to you) imaginary vibrations filled with love. Try this and I would put my money on it that the situation just resolved itself with about an eighth of the energy and time it would have taken had you not done it.
3. Patience is key. When you are dealing with children something that can be very frustrating is how long it takes for them to do things like for instance how long it takes your daughter to eat her dinner or how long it takes for the baby to get to sleep, when oh there are so many things you could or should or need to be doing. But when your feeling anxious or wanting to rush things just like the preceding hint- even if it's only inside, your kids will pick up on it. Feeling rushed when putting baby to bed is likely to make it take twice as long, picking up on your anxiety which you are radiating without even knowing it, he is probably going to be unsettled and reluctant to give into his sleepiness. Again take a moment like you did above and just say to yourself(and believe it) that there is nothing that has to be done now that is more important then these moments with your children no matter how long they are lasting. Before you know it the baby will be asleep and your daughter will have finished her dinner.
This is a must have audio sleep program for parents of young babies. It is highly recomended and stands true to it's claim that in 35 minutes you'll know how to get your baby to sleep through the night. So trusted it comes guaranteed or your money back The baby sleep solution!
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1. trying to instill a routine or break a bad habit or just make a change or teach your baby something? Put it into practice for 7 days with absolute consistency and you will see results! This was my all time favourite piece of advice, received from my mother a little later then I would have liked after my first child was born. Having this "7 days to salvation" (as I liked to call it) as a focus when dealing with a difficult situation was a life saver, it took the hopelessness out of every situation and gave me the encouragement that what I was doing would show success if I just stuck to it. This has worked so well for me with both of my children. The key is BE CONSISTENT! Give in even once and your in for a set back!
2. As difficult as it is sometimes staying calm and relaxed makes a huge difference in a baby or child’s mood or behaviour. When your temper is flaring, even only on the inside children pick up on this. A baby will likely be cranky or fussy, and a child will act out or defy you. Call me coo coo but you have to try this, the next time you feel like you are getting irritable and frustrated with your child turn away for a moment or however long you need and do the following: Take a deep breath when you exhale imagine the tension leaving you with that breath. Fill yourself with as much love as you can muster for your child, and turn back to approach the situation with this new found calm (and maintain this for the entire process or interaction with the child) imagine until you think you can physically feel it: That your body is radiating about a foot or two in front of you (or however close your child is to you) imaginary vibrations filled with love. Try this and I would put my money on it that the situation just resolved itself with about an eighth of the energy and time it would have taken had you not done it.
3. Patience is key. When you are dealing with children something that can be very frustrating is how long it takes for them to do things like for instance how long it takes your daughter to eat her dinner or how long it takes for the baby to get to sleep, when oh there are so many things you could or should or need to be doing. But when your feeling anxious or wanting to rush things just like the preceding hint- even if it's only inside, your kids will pick up on it. Feeling rushed when putting baby to bed is likely to make it take twice as long, picking up on your anxiety which you are radiating without even knowing it, he is probably going to be unsettled and reluctant to give into his sleepiness. Again take a moment like you did above and just say to yourself(and believe it) that there is nothing that has to be done now that is more important then these moments with your children no matter how long they are lasting. Before you know it the baby will be asleep and your daughter will have finished her dinner.
This is a must have audio sleep program for parents of young babies. It is highly recomended and stands true to it's claim that in 35 minutes you'll know how to get your baby to sleep through the night. So trusted it comes guaranteed or your money back The baby sleep solution!
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