Sleep Regression in Children: Signs, Causes, and Tips

Your child has been sleeping well since she was born, and you have been thankful that you did not have to go through the sleep problems you had with the older child. All of a sudden, your baby\’s sleep pattern then changes without warning. It is frustrating because it is crossing into the second week, and you are wondering if your baby is sick or not adequately fed. Sleep regression in children causes exhaustion because if your baby is not sleeping well, it means everyone else and most especially the mother is lacking sleep too.

What is sleep regression in children?

Sleep regression in a child is a period that usually lasts between three to six weeks in which the child experiences a setback in sleeping well, especially one who was sleeping well earlier. The child starts waking at short intervals at night, having short or no naps for no apparent or explainable reasons.

You might be looking for answers for why your infant or toddler is losing sleep. I can understand because this frequent waking up is exhausting. Though all children are not the same, sleep regression is common in children. It\’s just that every child doesn\’t suffer sleep regression at the same stage.

Sleep Regression Ages in Children

There are certain ages when children experience sleep regression.

4-months sleep regression: 

Sleep regression experienced at this age usually becomes permanent changes to their sleep patterns. Typically, at four months, your baby is sleeping longer at night or through the night, but when sleep regression sets in, she begins to have several short periods of sleep with fussiness and short naps.

Related Article: Newborn Sleep Schedule: Birth to 3 months

8-months sleep regression: 

Sleep regression at the age of 8 months is associated with the developmental milestones that occur with this age. Learning to crawl, stand, walk, building, and forming language skills are typical milestone babies of this age experience. Some are teething, and some are resting for a bit from teething. All these and all the brain and internal development going on are what would cause a sleep regression 

9-months sleep regression:

Mostly a continuation of eight months sleeps setbacks. Some children don\’t experience sleep regression until they are nine months. Your baby is okay if she hasn\’t experienced a sleep regression yet.

10-months sleep regression

Regression at ten months is a continuation of eight and nine months of sleep regression. Like most other regressions, it should pass away after six weeks, and they can return to their normal sleep and napping schedule.

11-months sleep regression:

Sleep regression at eleven months isn\’t so common but still occurs. Babies who experience sleep regression at this age skip their naps or experience short naps, generally between napping between ten to twenty minutes. I know nap time for a child is very important for a mother because that is when you get to do some things without worrying that your child is getting up to something again. But treat this phase like others because it will pass within a short period. Babies are not yet developmentally ready to give up their three naps a day at eleven months until they are almost two years.

15-months sleep regression:

Sleep regression at this stage is mostly due to developmental milestones and transitions. Your baby may be transitioning to one nap and learning to walk and speak multiple words could be interrupting her sleep. Although there is no three to six weeks duration at this stage of sleep regression, you should treat it as one. You will also start learning to schedule your child\’s sleep now to help her deal with the changes occurring to her sleep pattern.

18-months sleep regression

We expect babies to be sleeping through the night at this age. Some babies, for some reason, suffer sleep regression at eighteen months. For some, it could be because they are bringing out their molars at this time. 

Babies developing molars can be painful and uncomfortable and could be affecting their sleep. Some children decide that night time is when they want to wake, throw a tantrum, scream, and play, and you can\’t seem to settle them back to sleep.

2-years sleep regression

A 2-year-old, sleep regression can be attributed to several factors that could be disrupting his sleep. At two years, there are several transitions taking place in the life of your toddler. Potty training, a new sibling taking all the attention, moving her into her bed, separation anxiety, and possible nightmares could be causing your child\’s sleep regression. 

While you might notice that at two, your toddler stops napping altogether, and you are probably asking, \’when do toddlers stop napping?\” What is happening is likely a sleep regression. It might not be permanent. Most toddlers don\’t stop napping until they are between three to four years, but there two-year-old that give up napping completely. You should try helping your 2-year-old to nap again because a 2-year-old needs rest at least once a day and ten to twelve hours of sleep.

Tips for handling sleep regression

  1. Add more feeding. Your baby might sleep longer if she feeds better. But don\’t be too disappointed if you feed your baby more, and she wakes up thirty minutes later to feed, it will soon pass.
  2. Don\’t introduce your baby to a habit that isn\’t good for you both in the long run while trying to comfort your little one. For example, if you have weaned your child from the pacifier, don\’t let exhaustion and frustration make you return to it.
  3. You can introduce activities and games that will enable your toddler to exhaust all his energy; This can make him sleep longer.
  4. To prevent being too stressed, ask for help from persons you know would be willing to assist in taking care of your child while you rest.
  5. If you need to introduce an earlier bedtime in your baby\’s schedule, please try it. 
  6. For a toddler, sleep training her might be the way to help her begin to sleep better.
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Newborn Sleep Schedule: Birth to 3 months

Newborn Sleep

You are back home with your baby, and you are happy and anxious about this new journey. Among the list of things you are probably trying to figure out is your baby\’s sleep pattern. You quickly learn that all your newborn does sleep, eat, poop, cry, and sleep.

How much do newborns sleep?

Have you been wondering, \’How much do newborns sleep?\” Newborns sleep for a total of 16 to 18 hours a day within the first two weeks. Their sleep is in small chunks, usually between two to three hours, both day and night. Because their stomach is small, they wake in between their sleep to eat and relax before settling back to sleep. Baby sleep schedule at such an early stage is not recommended. Babies don\’t know the difference between night and day in their first month of birth, and you want to allow your baby to get all the sleep they require because it is essential for their brain development and growth. 

Some parents make a mistake of trying to follow a newborn sleep schedule for their newborns. It is imperative to note that a baby between 0 to 6 weeks is too young to have a sleep schedule. In fact, at this stage, newborns are just struggling to understand the difference between day and night. You, as a parent, should take time to help your newborn clear the confusion between day and night at this stage by keeping the day full of activities and bright and then the night quiet, calm, and dark with fewer activities.

1 to 2 weeks old schedule

The first two weeks of birth are very much the same for you and your baby. It is expected that your baby sleeps soundly for two to three hours regularly, which would make a total of 16 to 18 hours sleep in a day. Your baby would wake up every two or three hours to feed, and it is vital to allow him to feed well to regain their birth weight. It is alright to wake your baby to feed if your baby hasn\’t woken up after three hours of sleep because she is most likely going to return to sleep after feeding.

Your baby would also wake up every two to three hours in the night to feed and look into your face before going back to sleep. You have to get ready to wake up several times in the night to feed, clean poop, change soaked diapers, and play with your baby. During this early stage, you should not tie your baby\’s feeding to a clock because a newborn feeding schedule will not work. Your baby feeding schedule should be based on her demand because you want to be able to meet all the nutritional requirements of your newborn. 

3 weeks old

At this stage, your baby is starting to spend longer periods awake even though your newborn will still sleep about fourteen to sixteen hours of sleep out of twenty-four hours. Your newborn\’s brain and central nervous system are maturing at a rapid rate, and he begins to start taking note of his environment. He will still wake regularly to feed, and if he is gaining weight well, you will not need to wake him up to feed. Your baby might also become fussy at this time, and it might be because he is cluster feeding

Related Article: THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLUSTER FEEDING

4 weeks old

Your four weeks old baby would still need fourteen to sixteen hours of sleep daily, but he will spend more hours awake. Your one-month-old baby is already aware of his surroundings and might be sleeping longer stretches at night, and that means they wake fewer times to feed. At this stage, you can begin to help your baby understand the difference between day and night to help your child sleep through the night, especially if your baby is one to sleep in the day and stay awake to play in the night. You should remember to follow a baby feeding schedule of every two hours. Consistency is key.

5 to 6 weeks old

At five to weeks old, your newborn is starting to stay awake longer for up to one hour and take four to five naps. Your baby can handle more stimulus now, and he is already beginning to learn new things, especially as you and those around him talk and sing to him. Your baby will still sleep for about thirteen to sixteen hours daily. You don\’t have any reason to worry if your baby is not staying awake longer than an hour. My daughter spent most of her first two months sleeping and, after then, became actively awake. At this time, you can settle your baby into a routine or schedule. You can help him set his bedtime, and after 6 weeks, you might want to schedule his time for feeding to every two or three hours. Consult with your pediatrician on what will be appropriate for your baby.

7 to 9 weeks

Though your baby is sleeping about fourteen to fifteen hours a day and taking short naps in between long periods of sleep during the day, your baby will be sleeping longer at night. Some babies learn to start sleeping through the night at this stage, but some babies don\’t reach this milestone until they are five to six months, and other children don\’t sleep through the night till they are about three years old. Your baby would not wake to feed often in the night because he can hold more food in his stomach now. Some babies will begin to drop some of their cluster feeding fussiness at this time, and a newborn feeding schedule might be possible.

10 to 12 weeks

Your baby is more aware of his surroundings and wants to be more involved in it. This will keep him awake longer. He will take between three to five shorter naps and three to four hours of sleep during the day but ten to eleven hours of sleep in the night. He will wake for three feeds in the night and go back to sleep again. At twelve weeks, it might become harder to stick with his sleeping and feeding schedule because your baby might want to stay awake longer. At three months, your baby is likely to start fighting his sleep because he wants to play more. You will schedule your newborn\’s feeding to be every two hours

You must learn your baby cues for sleep and feeding. During the first six weeks, you should follow your baby\’s lead, and after then you can settle into a schedule. Baby sleep or feeding cues range from

  • Rubbing their eyes
  • Yawning
  • Fussiness
  • Crying

Your newborn will need your help in settling to sleep in the first few weeks of life because most babies don\’t know how to sleep on their own.

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Pro tips to choosing a baby walker for your little one

best baby walker

Walking is a significant development in both babies’ and parents’ life, as it enables babies to enjoy moving around and play. A baby walker is a lifesaver because it helps you complete house chores knowing fully well your baby is occupied.

When Should Your Baby Start Using a Baby Walker?

There is no fixed age for a newborn to use baby walkers, as it mostly depends on the baby’s strength, development, and size of a baby. The Best Baby Walker is mainly designed for babies between the ages of 4-16 months. However, you need to check whether the baby can able to hold his head up nicely while he touches his feet on the floor. If he can do this, correct him with a baby walker.

Advantages of Using Baby Walker:

There are many advantages to using a walker. The benefits are given below with explanation – 

1.    Increase the Sense of Independence:

When a baby tries to start walking without any assistance, as a parent, we watch them everywhere, and the protective mentality restricts the baby’s movement and freeness. When a baby uses a baby walker, you don’t have to hang regularly with your baby, and the baby can able to move around with joy.

It helps babies to move around with ensuring safety and provide guarantees. If you love to work at home and still keep your baby safe from danger, a baby walker is an option for you.

2.    Explore New Things with Fun and Entertainment:

A baby walker is considered as a toy for your baby. The baby can enjoy the sensation of rolling around and go here and there with exploring the mind. A baby can notice many things and try to grab them when he feels attracted to it. So, always hide toxic items from their eyes as infants try to pick and eat without any attention.

Some baby walkers help your child’s learning, colors, shapes, sensation, and sounds are built into the walker that makes them more attractive and entertaining to your little one. Without any confusion, your baby’s interaction with the baby walker will help contribute to his cognitive development.

3.    Encourage to Walk:

With the hand support, your baby can move one step further to make his first step. It helps your baby to stand and assist on walking. The attempts of playing with a baby walker will aid them in making their first step.

4.    Help Balance:

In the natural process of rolling, crawling, standing, and walking will help a baby learn how to balance. A baby walker will help them to learn to balance while doing those things. When a child uses a baby walker, the walker creates balance and helps the baby not to fall while he moves forward or rolls side. Through this process, the baby learns how to balance his body with his feet.

Read Also: Guide to Choosing a Perfect Baby Carrier

Disadvantages of Using Baby Walker:

Every product comes with both pros and cons. A baby walker is no exception, so here are some of the drawbacks.

  • Hampers the crawl walk routine and reduce muscle strength that creates problem to stand or walk.
  • The usage of a walker is minimal. When a baby can walk nicely, he doesn’t need a walker so, and the use period is short.
  • A baby walker can cause injury while babies are crawling with it.
  • Babies may injure their toes and fingers because of the folded parts.
  • The rolling wheel can speed up and lead to an accident.

Precautions to Take While Using A Baby Walker:

We recommend you address some baby walker safety issues before you let your baby use the walker.

  • Ensure that your baby uses it on a flat surface only.
  • Keep the child and the walker away from staircases.
  • Always give attention while the baby is using the walker.
  • Remove all the sharp objects that can harm your baby.
  • Hide all the breakable objects from the baby.

Editor\’s Recommendations for the Best Baby Walker

Delta Children Lil’ Drive Walker

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Delta Children’s Lil’ Drive Walker

The Delta Children’s Lil’ Drive Walker features realistic details and specially designed for the kids who have just learned to sit up. It is understandable that every child takes a different time to learn to walk. Here are a few features that make the Delta walker an excellent choice for children for walking practices:

  • Long Time Usability: This walker’s structure has babies who can sit up in mind. It comes with three adjustable height settings which ensure that your baby can use it for long before outgrowing it.
  • Meal Time: It comes with a removable tray that is used as a meal tray during snack time.
  • Foldability: The walker is foldable making it easy to store or travel with.
  • Good Navigation: Both front and back wheels are movable, making it easy to move such baby push walkers in any direction. Also, includes brake skids that will help prevent potential accidents.
  • Adjustable Volume Setting: Adjust the volume settings that you feel is ideal, whether it is higher or lower.
PROSCONS
Allows for multi directional movementNot suitable for hardwood or timber flooring
Removable trayHeight adjustments settings are a bit too rigid
Race car noises and lights
Volume adjustment
Durable

Joovy Spoon Walker

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This walker is designed with a baby’s first moments in mind; eating, walking and playing. It is comfortable to use on both floors and carpets, making it easy for your little one to move around. A unique baby walker that offers both a walker and a high chair at once. Once it’s feeding time, you may not have to move your baby from his/her walker to a high chair. Here are a few features that make the Joovy Spoon Walker an excellent choice for children for walking practices:

  • Removable Tray: It does not have an entertainment console, but it does have a removable tray that can be detached and cleaned.
  • Removable Seat: This walker comes with a removable seat that is machine washable.
  • Adjustable height Positions: It also comes with three adjustable height positions ensuring that your baby can still use it even as he or she grows up.
  • Easily Foldable: The Joovy Spoon Walker comes in a compact design as it can fold nearly flat. This means that it can be stored away or even transported with minimum fuss.
PROSCONS
The seat is 100% machine washableLacks an entertainment console for your child to play with.
It is fold able, making it easy to carry and store away.Only two of the four wheels swivel.
Maximum weight it can accommodate is 25 pounds.Contains a very wide base which makes it difficult to maneuver around.
Comes with anti-skid safety pads.

Conclusion:

Many parents think that it is safe to use a baby walker but as a responsible parent, you have to make the right choice and take care of your baby. It is, after all, a parent’s responsibility to make sure that the baby gets the right objects.

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Speech Blubs: Kids Learning and Speech Therapy App

speech therapy

Does your child have a speech disability, is unable to express his/her needs, or is a late talker? It is understandable as a parent to worry but not for long because we have a solution for your child. In most cases, you need therapy to help him learn how to have multi-exchange conversations and pronounce words correctly. Every parent loves to see their kids express themselves. Speech Blubs is specifically designed to help toddlers, late talkers, and children with any speech problems to improve their speech.

Although many speech therapy apps support kids through alphabets, numbers, and rhymes, Speech Blubs is one of the suitable apps to aid your kids’ learning. The upside to Speech Blubs is that it is also a language therapy app.

What is Speech Blubs?

This is a speech and language therapy app that was created with the help of pathologists and therapists. Speech Blubs application uses voice-controlled and video technology to develop words and sounds for kids two years and above.

Related Article: 5 BRAIN BOOSTING NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR BABY’S HEALTH

How do you know it’s suitable for your child?

Speech Blubs has many engaging activities ranging from observing, mimicking, role-playing, and talking where your child gets a bonus video story that is designed to trigger a conversation between both of you. Speech Blubs is right for a late talker, with special needs, and also a speech therapist.

Skills to learn:

  • Communication Skills
  • Cognitive Development
  • Engagement and Usability
  • Reading
  • Over 1500+ exercises, activities, funny hats, videos, mini-games, and more.

How does Speech Blubs work?

Upon installing the app on your device, you’ll be asked to customize the app to your child’s name and answer a few language therapy questions to enable it to draw your child’s results; so that you know your child’s strong and weak points and if and where your child needs help.

Video modeling has real kids who don’t pretend to be so perfect in a way that kids can relate well. Children learn better when they see other children do what they are trying to do, and that is what Speech Blubs has incorporated. It feels like a real-life interaction between your kids and the kids on the screen. The kids on the screen are not singing like angels, thereby helping your child to know that it is ok for him or her to speak the way he or she is.

This is a variety of activities that will build your child’s vocabulary and concept of everything around him and things he or she is likely to come across; From colors to numbers, alphabets, shapes, rhymes, songs, body parts, animals, vehicles, jobs, food, and sounds. After every category, there is a popping game your child will love.

There are over 1000 bonus videos to enable your child to uncover a library of educational content, creating much fun and learning. You can also read stories to your child through these bonus videos. You don’t have to worry about how to create bonding time between you and your growing child, and you both can speak a common language without any hassle.

Speech blub is also voice-activated. What do we mean? That means that any time your child attempts to make a sound by imitating the children on the screen, a progress bar feature on the app blinks. This feature is to boost your child’s morale and encourage his enthusiasm.

How do you access all these features?

There is a free trial for some time, but this comes with limited content. To access the full features, there is a monthly and annual subscription option. You can opt out of your subscription whenever you want.

Are you alone?

You can join the community of other parents and kids on the Speechblub app and share stories and experiences. There are many parents like you and kids like yours.

Help your kids in their communications journey with Speech Blubs

 

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Things you need to know about cluster feeding

Newborn cluster feeding

HOW TO HANDLE YOUR BABY’S CLUSTER FEEDING

You can be overwhelmed with dealing with all that comes with having a newborn and cluster feeding doesn\’t make it any easier. You might be worried about why your baby is feeding more and being fussy and you haven\’t been able to place a finger on the reason for her recent behavior. Don\’t worry if your baby is not sick, losing weight and she is wetting six or more diapers a day. Your baby is likely to be cluster feeding.

What is cluster feeding?

Cluster feeding is when your baby breastfeeds several times often short feeds within a period usually in the evenings. Often this period of feeding is usually accompanied by fussiness and the feeding time is very short. She keeps coming back for more every other minute and it makes you begin to wonder if your milk isn\’t sufficient for her or if your breast is empty. I remember being afraid that my baby would not have milk to feed on in the night when I was nursing my first baby. So I started managing how much he was sucking during his cluster feeding face. Whether you are a first-time mom or not, you don\’t have to worry about your breast milk not being enough except you are not lactating well.

How long do babies cluster feed

Good news is that cluster feeding doesn’t last forever or for long. Cluster feeding in newborns ranges from two weeks to six weeks. Although some can cluster feed till three months. Babis who cluster feed do so usually from 4 pm to 10 pm. Some sleep earlier while some can run to 12 midnight. But some babies cluster in the morning and some cluster feed in the night.

Why do babies cluster feed?

Breastfeeding bonds mother and baby. Breastfeeding is an important phase for both baby and mother. At the early stage of their birth, babies are getting acquainted and attached to their mother and they are trying to build that bond. A baby might cluster feed because he wants to spend time with her mother and enjoy the bonding time.

Your baby may be having a growth spurt and maybe feeding more to meet the demands of his body. A growth spurt and all the energy his brain and body cells are taking to enable her to develop properly would make your baby hungrier and it is in everyone\’s interest that she is properly breastfed.  

How does cluster feeding affect a mother?

You might have this feeling of inadequacy or that you are a failure because you think you are unable to meet the needs of your baby. You feel that the reason your baby sucking more frequently yet very shortly is that you are not producing enough milk.

You don’t have to be worried, cluster feeding is normal. Your body is in tune with your baby’s needs and produces what she needs. The breast is never completely empty of milk. You don’t have to beat yourself what you need to do is find ways to manage this cluster feeding phase.

What to do when your baby is cluster feeding

When you have established that your baby is cluster feeding and her routine, you should plan yourself around it. Cluster feeding can be tedious for the mother. Even though you like breastfeeding your baby no mother would like to be tied down with a fussy baby tied to her breast.

  • You should take your bath and place healthy snacks and drinks around you because the frequent feeding might make you hungry.
  • You would also want to make sure the diner is ready for the family before the time of your baby’s constant feeding begins.
  • You can make the food earlier in the day for your partner or whoever is around to assist in heating it up when they are ready to eat.
  • Get a comfortable position for you and your baby. A sling to keep her close, a comfortable chair to help you relax are good ideas.
  • When your baby is fussy you should rock her, sing to her or play her favourite songs for her. Playing my children\’s favourite music for them always worked, it calmed them down to continue their feeding without constant cry or restlessness.
  • After feeding her you can hand her over to people around you to assist you with rocking her or holding her till when she wants to feed again

What you shouldn’t do when your baby is cluster feeding

  • Don’t give her bottle especially because you think your milk is not enough. Your body produces milk according to your baby’s demand. So supplementing with a feeding bottle is reducing the milk your body produces. The more your baby draws the milk or the more you express the more milk your body produces.
  • Do not give your baby drugs to induce sleep. I know cluster feeding can be tiring but inducing your baby to sleep in never an option. You can give your baby a hot or warm bath before her routine starts. This can settle her faster to sleep.

What you should do when your baby is fussy

  • You can try holding your baby close to you with a sling or carrier. This might calm her and also enable her nurse while your hands are free.
  • You can take your baby outside. A breath of fresh air might soothe her.
  • Try giving her a bath or a massage. This touch can soothe your baby and reduce or stop the fussiness.
  • Reduce noise around her, dim the night or any form of stimulation around your baby.
  • Play soft music
  • Hold her and rock her.
  • Check to see if she is interested in any hands holding her. The dad or older siblings can carry the baby.
  • Do not withhold milk from your baby. Allow her to nurse on the go
  • You can try different nursing positions. Like lying on your back and your baby on top, lying on the side, your babysitting and facing you.
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Easy Parental Guides for Potty Training Your Child

Potty training

Potty training is never easy, so when you successfully cross this milestone, you know it\’s a big deal. Many children are not ready for potty training before 2 years. While some can use the potty before 2, others wait till they are 3 years. Timing is essential when you are considering potty training for your child; if you start too early, the process will take longer. Before you begin the potty training process, watch out for signs of readiness in your child.

What is potty training?

Toilet training or potty training is the ability of a child to anticipate the need to urinate or defecate. It\’s a training whereby a child learns or gains independence and self-mastery of his body when he wants to use the toilet, whether asleep or awake. It takes a lot of training and encouragement to get your child to use the potty correctly; this is because it\’s a significant milestone in your child\’s life, which might take a little while before he masters to use the potty correctly.

How to know your child is ready for potty training

  • Does your child sit, stand, and walk on his own?
  • Can he sit on the toilet seat or potty by himself?
  • Can he pull down his pants or shorts by himself?
  • Does your baby communicate how he feels already?
  • Would he be willing to follow instructions?
  • Does your child stay dry for a longer period?
  • Would he be interested in using a potty or toilet?

When you have answered the questions above, then you know if your child is ready to start the potty training. You also have to be prepared because the process of potty training isn\’t an easy task. Remember, the goal is to make the process of toilet training as positive and natural as possible. Patience is also required for successful toilet training.

Tips on potty training your child

Tell your child at least three days ahead about the potty training. Tell him why you want him to start the potty training and let him know he would be stopping the use of diapers during the day.

  • Decide which words you want to teach your child to use when he wants to ease himself. Words such as \”poop,\” \”poo,\” \”wee\” are suitable for your child to use.
  • Get your potty ready. Get a potty that will attract your child to use and place it in an easily reachable position. You can set the potty in the toilet or bathroom but ensure it is kept clean and dry.
  • Show the potty to your child. Let him know that is what he will use to wee and poop and teach him to let you know when he needs his potty by using those words.
  • Switch from wearing diapers to underwear for him.
  • Pay attention to your child for signs that he wants to ease himself. When you notice he wants to relieve himself, take him to his potty in time. The first day may not go well, and he may refuse to sit on the potty but be patient with you and your child. You both will get the hang of it.
  • You might want to schedule the potty breaks. Every two or three hours, you take your child to sit on his potty when he wakes in the morning and after every nap, hopefully by the end of the third day he gets fully used to his potty.
  • Teach girls to wipe from front to back.

Mistakes to avoid when potty training

  • Do not start too early. You should go at your baby\’s pace
  • Using negative words to refer to body waste. Words like dirty, stinky or irritating are not ideal for your baby\’s potty vocabulary
  • Giving rewards or prizes for every potty time.
  • Being unrealistic – Start by unthinking that girls are more easier to teach or learn faster than boys! Be reasonable with your expectations, and don\’t use timelines. If they train fast and learn, lucky you but don\’t have in mind that your child must learn to potty in 2 weeks. Also, you\’re not failing to do the right because your toddler doesn\’t fall in line.
  • Ignoring personality – Remember that a child\’s disposition incredibly influences the whole potty training experience. There are different types of characters in children;
    • (Confident Type) These types of children might thrive on being given challenges or dares, e.g., let\’s see if you can pull your pants by yourself. 
    • (Introspective Type) These types of children benefit from frequent praise and encouragement and are sensitive to any displeasure from you. Be careful with your facial expression when they mess up and try to go easy on them. 
    • (Sanguine or Cheerful Type) These types of children play from one thing to another and do not take potty sessions seriously unless you make it super fun for them. 
    • (Phlegmatic Type) These types of children may not get involved much or won\’t see what the big rush is; they need more motivation than others.

Potty training is most efficient when you are consistent. It is best to set some days aside for you and your baby, where you are at home all through that period to establish your potty training.

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5 Brain Boosting Nature Activities for Your Baby\’s Health

If you have a baby who is usually fussy without an explanation, then you should try taking him out during one of his fussy moments and see his reaction. You might find out that he wanted a feel of nature. My children would start crying and disturbing uncontrollably, and the moment I step out to my balcony, they become excited, and when we return indoors, it is back to where we started. I soon learned that it was time to step out of the house and give them the outdoor moment we all required, and everyone, including me, is happy.

Benefits of an outdoor moment to babies

Babies need nature views for their brain development and familiarization with the world they have now been born.

Children learn new things like colors, objects, activities, and words as they look around in the environment. Even though they can\’t pronounce the words or put a name to it, they are making a mental note of things they see and getting familiar with their environment.

Babies build their creativity from the amount of time they spend observing and playing with nature.

Spending time outdoors also helps babies relieve stress, relax, and sleep better at night. Nature has its ways with babies, and you can understand why they crave spending time outside.

The fresh air that comes from trees or the songs from birds and the feel of the sand grains between their fingers is enough to calm the nerves of every baby.

Outdoor activities for your baby

Water play

Does your baby like splashing water during bath time and every time he sees a tap running? I would believe it is a yes, just like my babies. Then the deflectable rubber swimming pool is an excellent choice for outdoor water time. Add water a few inches high for your baby to be able to splash or sit inside the water monitored.

A walk in the park

Place your baby in a stroller or hold him close to your chest as you walk across the street or park. Tell your baby the names of the things you see. Talk to your baby, and you walk along. He is likely to sleep off.

Take your baby sightseeing

The aquarium and zoo is a good place to visit with your baby. Both you and your baby will find the environment and colors nerve relaxing. A view that would contribute to building a healthy and beautiful state of mind in your baby as he grows

Time with nature

You can take your baby to a place with green trees and grasses where your child can lie on his blanket or in his stroller beholding the beautiful scene and receiving the fresh air or crawl in the grasses enjoying the feel of the green and relaxing his nerves.

Visit a playground and take a book along

A playing ground with all the sliding and gliding toys available to your baby will help him have not only fun but also build his motor skills. You can spread a mat or blanket for you and your baby to sit while you read out a book to him.

Remember that you should never leave your baby unsupervised even as you are outdoors. Put sunscreen on your baby and rub insect repellant on him when you are going to spend time on the grasses.

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At What Age Should Moms Stop Breastfeeding Their Babies?

Weaning is the process of stopping a child from breastfeeding. While there is no general rule for when to stop breastfeeding your child World Health Organization (WHO) suggest a mother should breastfeed her baby up to 2 years of age. The process of weaning is not only tough on the mother but also the baby. Because breastfeeding creates a bond between mother and child when you decide to stop breastfeeding, it feels like letting go of that closeness.

While some mothers wean as early as three months, some have also breastfed as long as four years. Some mothers peg the weaning to the moment their baby begins to walk, or the moment the baby clocks one year. Breastfeeding is essential to babies because they get their best nutritional supply from breastmilk. Even when babies start eating solid food, they are unable to tap all the nutrients from the food before they are one year of age, and that is why breastfeeding is essential and recommended for 2 years.

Some Myths about Weaning

  1. Stop breastfeeding your infant the moment you discover you are pregnant because it would affect the nursing baby. This is totally false. Keep breastfeeding your child until you feel the need to stop. Only eat enough for three.
  2. Once a child is 9 months, stop breastfeeding. This is not recommended because the child can digest most solid foods you eat. Breastmilk also helps fighting infection in your baby.
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Related Article: What are the best feeding habits for a nursing mother?

When to stop breastfeeding your baby?

On health grounds:

If a mother is on medications, it enters the breastmilk in a considerable amount, she would be advised to stop breastfeeding because of the adverse effect the medicine might have on the baby. For the health benefit of the baby even if the baby is 3 months, the mother will be advised to stop breastfeeding.

When a child rejects breastmilk:

Some babies stop taking breastmilk on their own. This can cause a mother to worry, especially when the baby is below 6 months of age. But there is no cause to worry if your baby isn\’t sick. Do not force her to breastfeed, and you can try expressing your milk into a feeding bottle if the child would take which some children do while some outrightly refuse the breastmilk. Introduce them to baby appropriate milk and food and watch them grow healthy.

When a mother feels she is ready to wean her baby:

A mother can tell she is ready to stop breastfeeding, or her baby is ready to let go of the breastmilk. A mother might want her body back to herself and decides she is ready to wean her baby.

You notice your baby cutting down on her nursing time

It just might be a signal to let her go off the breast already. Your baby might be showing more interest in solid food and finding contentment in that than in breastfeeding.

When you are ready to wean your baby off breastmilk, it is better to allow the process to be gradual. Prepare your baby\’s mind by telling her she is about to be weaned. Pay attention to your baby\’s needs and do not wean your baby when he or she is sick or just recovering from an illness. Shower your baby with love and attention during this period of weaning; you don\’t want her to miss the closeness that came from the bond of breastfeeding.

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Why is My Baby Not Sleeping at Night?

Sleep is as important to babies as it to adults. Newborns within the first 3 months sleep for a total of 16 to 18 hours a day but they wake up every two to three hours to feed even in the night. It is expected that by 4 to 6 months they should, your baby should sleep six to eight hours on a stretch.

Babies are unpredictable in their sleep patterns. Some sleep all day and party all night, some are heavy sleepers while some are light sleepers. Babies fight sleep as much as they can and some especially the ones determined not to sleep succeed for a long time until they fall asleep or you make them sleep. Whatever is the case, there are ways to help them sleep.

Reasons your baby Might not be sleeping in the night.
  1. Tiredness
  2. Heat or cold
  3. Hunger
  4. Thirst
  5. Colic
  6. Sleep positions
  7. Soiled diaper or nappy
Ways to help your child sleep through the night

I believe every mother has a natural instinct to understand their baby even if it takes some time, you will understand your baby’s cry and discomfort. Study your baby to know why he or she isn’t sleeping through the night. I found out that my baby sleeps well at night if he has a bath before bedtime. The day he doesn\’t, he cries all through and no one will sleep. It turned out that heat was his problem.

Find out what is causing your baby not to sleep at night and then we can find the solution

Tiredness

Tiredness during the day could disturb his or her night sleep. Watch out for when your baby is tired. He starts rubbing the eyes, yawning or being fuzzy. Your baby can get tired from all the carrying and playing and just wants to lie down to sleep. If he doesn\’t get enough rest during the day it could affect his sleep at night.

Heat or cold

Out of fear of cold, many parents don\’t properly ventilate the room their baby stays in. they wear multiple clothes and in the bid to create warmth for a baby they believe will easily fall sick from cold, they create.

Hunger

If your baby isn’t getting enough breastmilk then he or she won’t sleep well at night. Do what you can to make your baby feed properly because it is needed not only for good sleep but for brain development. If you are not producing enough breastmilk you can take lactation cookies or other therapies that increase milk supply or augment breastmilk with formula.

Colic

Colic is a term used to describe well-fed babies who cry for 3 hours or more within 24 hours every day. Colic cans start around 2 weeks and last for 4 to 6 months. If you notice this pattern in your baby then take him or her to see the doctor and together you can figure out ways to soothe the baby.

Soiled diaper or nappy

Your baby could be very sensitive to soiled diapers. Always wear a clean diaper at bedtime and check when he wakes up to feed if the diaper is soiled with poo or heavy with urine.

Sleep positions

Some babies like to sleep on the back while others don\’t mind being laid on their tummy. Find out what works for your child

Also, put out the light and don’t make a habit of playing with your baby when he or she wakes up in the night. Let your child learn to fall back to sleep on his own.

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Baby Teething Symptoms: How to Take Care of your Baby\’s First Teeth

Teething is one of the major milestones every baby crosses. When you see the first set of teeth pop, it makes you smile. Every parent is excited about that first set of teeth that show especially considering the troubles many babies go through to bring out that first set of teeth. Babies bring out their first teeth between 4 to 10 months. The teeth come out in twos with either the lower or upper front teeth also called the incisors being the first.

Baby Teething Signs

Different babies show different signs of teething. You have to carefully study your child to understand. Some of these signs can go on for as long as two months before the first teeth pop up. Below are signs that he is preparing to sprout his first teeth

  • Your baby begins to drip saliva a lot
  • Baby is biting on his finger almost every time. 
  • Your nipple becomes his biting buddy. He bites and draws the nipple frequently
  • Some babies are restless and cry often only comforted with breastfeeding or a cold tether placed on the gum.
  • The gum can become sore or tender when the teeth are about to spring out.

While some people believe teething is associated with diarrhea and fever, it hasn’t been proven to be true yet. What occurs is that the immunity is lowered during the time the teeth is about to sprout. This makes the baby prone to stomach infections and they can easily fall ill from the things they put in the mouth or what they are exposed to.

Ways to get through your baby teething stage

Many mothers, especially first-time moms worry that their baby is sucking and try to prevent the baby from sucking their hands. If your baby isn’t sucking his thumb then he isn’t sucking his fingers. He is only doing his best to soothe his itching gum. 

  1. Acetaminophen or paracetamol would help deal with the discomfort or pain that comes from teething
  2. Place a cold tether or ice on the sore or itchy gum to soothe the gum
  3. Get many teething toys for your baby and keep them clean always.
  4. Allow your baby gnaw on your fingers. Make sure to keep your hands always clean.
  5. Occasionally massage his gum with your fingers or washcloths kept in the freezer.

Taking care of your baby’s teeth

You and your baby have gone through the troubles of bringing out the first teeth. This is great. You now have to ensure your baby’s teeth and oral health is great. Keep in mind that if you don’t take care of your baby’s teeth, he or she could develop tooth decay otherwise known as dental caries. How do you maintain good oral hygiene for your baby?

  1. Book a visit to the dentist for your baby as soon as you see your baby’s first teeth
  2. Clean the gum with a soft clean cloth and warm water.
  3. As the teeth grow, switch to toothbrush with soft bristles and a pea size fluoride toothpaste.
  4. Constantly check for signs of tooth decay. A white or brown patch on the teeth. If there are any concerns, make sure to talk to the dentist
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