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My new goal as of today is to be in bed by 11pm every night. The past few weeks I've been chronically sleep deprived, and I'm sure that's not good for my fertility.
Finn has been intermittently sleep deprived the past few weeks, as well. We're still walking to put him to sleep every night, but suddenly it's not been working as consistently as it used to. It took me awhile, but I finally figured out that it's his naps that are causing a problem.
When Finn was an infant, I didn't have him on a schedule, and I told Nanny M to just let him fall into his own natural schedule. The problem is, she's on the go with him a lot, and so I don't think she always notices his schedule. And I think that over the past few months he's officially grown out of the ability to fall asleep when there's a lot of outside stimulation, so that's thrown a wrench into things as well.
I've noticed on the days when he doesn't nap until around noon, he usually will nap a full 2 hours and then be fun in the evening and fall asleep relatively quickly at bedtime. On the days when he gets sleepy around 1030, he'll nap for about 45 minutes and then wake up. He'll usually then nap again in the very late afternoon and have to be woken up by Nanny M for dinner. On those nights he's miserable to be around, and yet won't go to sleep. Sometimes for hours.
Thursday, after a particularly horrible Wednesday night, I asked Nanny M to start keeping him awake until noon. That made for a great Thursday, but then on Friday, he didn't fall asleep until almost 2 (they were out). Bedtime wasn't awful, but I did have to walk for almost an hour before he finally fell asleep. After that I asked her to make sure he goes to sleep by 12:30 - and I think I'm going to have to ask her to have him home for his naps.
I like that he's out and active so much during the day, but I'm also thinking that at his age, it's time to start having more structure to his day. He's a bright kid, and I'd like to start doing things to stimulate his learning, but I'm at a loss as to what's appropriate for his age. I also want things for Nanny M to do with him, things that hopefully they'll both enjoy. Right now they're out doing Nanny M's activities (with the occasional trip to the zoo or something like that thrown in), which is great for her, and fine for him when he was younger, but not exactly the learning environment I think he needs to be exposed to now. I am so glad that I have someone who loves him to take care of him all day, but I know that if he were in daycare, he'd be getting all this stuff already. Does anyone have any good suggestions for activities, or resources where I can find them?
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SR has always been on a schedule, with me or with daycare. She naps from 12:30-2:30 every day in a crib. There are sometimes glitches, but you get the gist. Structure works for her. If I let her nap longer than 2 hours, she doesn't go down properly at night. If nap is delayed for whatever reason, she doesn't go down properly at night. But the 12:30-2:30 works perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIn Ontario there are LOTS of free programs for parents/caregivers that is government funded. They include circle times and stories, but also different play centres. There are also tons of community centres and private centres offering paid programming - anything you can imagine. The programs are great b/c the toddlers can parallel play and work on sharing and singing and skills with caregivers close by.
If at home, or outdoors, Finn could play with bubbles (one program uses fly swatters as a bubble wand that the toddlers can just hit through the air to make bubbles), a tunnel to crawl through, puzzles, stacking cubes/blocks/cups (SR now can independently put them back into the original cup in the right order), fisher price figures to imagine with, colouring/painting/play doh in the high chair or at a small table.
I'm not sure what else to suggest. Can you be more specific with what else you are looking for?
All your suggestions for things to do at home sound so simple - but that's the brilliance in them, right? I guess I'm thinking he needs something fancy, but all he needs is simple play.
DeleteI guess what I'm looking for is specific activities to have his nanny do with him, since I'm not sure that telling her to play with him is specific enough. I do need to find some structured programs for her to take him to - that would be a good place to start. Thanks! :)
I have taken Foxie to library story time. They usually read a story and then have some get up and move songs. Playgrounds are fun too. I was thinking of making some weekly activity boxes for Foxie to do with my folks. I was thinking bubble play, water play, different textures and maybe some type of animal theme like farmyard. They are both young but they will like exploring, cause/effect, making noise and learning new words.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help you on the nap thing but J was never really one for naps. For our schedule, I try to keep it all within an hour range. He gets tired around 2 and anywhere within that hour, he has to sleep. Same in the evening. It gives me a little help if I'm out at that time so I don't have to rush home immediately but it still keeps us in line for night time. Sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAs for activities, take what he's into or what he can do and run with it. With J, he likes to jump lately so we jump and I add (like for our green 'study') that a frog can jump this way so its a little more rounded. Or pick a book and go over one aspect of it at a time. Point out certain colors one time, certain movements if its an action book or who each person is (mama, baby etc) another time to change it up and have him help. She can do food finger painting, an obstacle course with various pillows. Going off what LO said, blocks. Change it up by throwing in larger boxes like shoe boxes, gift boxes. J loved that they were life sized (especially when he would run into them and knock them down) or various bubble blowers for size and comparisons. Change it up so he can see and learn opposites and shapes while playing. I make up some things on the fly for J. Mostly things that can be done on the fly. I would say its cause I like to be cheap and easy but that doesn't sound too good ;)
Pinterest is great if you can wade through it and your library may have a section specifically for parenting issues and it should include activity books. Oh last thing. One library here in town keeps a monthly outline of what books they'll read and the songs and activities they'll do in the infant/toddler hour so you can do them at home. If all else fails, that could be something to check into at your library.
I should say he's not big on naps and if I let him, he'll just stay up. He gets tired around the same times and I try to make him sleep to make it easier at night.
DeletePublic library is probably your best resource. And if there's a children's museum in your area (ours has a dedicated toddler room--it is awesome).
ReplyDeleteAnd if you live by a university, look into programs. Our university runs early childhood music classes for example.
Couldn't we all eat less donuts ;)
ReplyDeleteAS for naps, Elena gave up her 2 naps early & I have had to be very strict with my mom to make sure Elena doesn't sleep too much during the day or else bedtime is a nightmare. Elena is not to sleep more than 2 hours & not later than 3pm, no exception...if she goes down at 2pm she still need to be woken up at 3, period. Generally she goes down about 12:30 or 1 & wakes by 2 or 2:30pm.
As for activities, I have a bit of an unorthodox view...My mom takes Elena to a library program every week but that is the only structured activity they do right now. We'll sit Elena down with crayons & have tried finger painting but she doesn't have much interest in that for long...she loves to run & climb so my Mom has her outside most of the time. On their walks, my Mom points out all the scenery & colours, shapes, etc & Elena is now doing this too. I think kids are just different. At the same age, you could sit my neice down with paper & a bucket of crayons & she'd be content for an hour...Elena gives it maybe 15 minutes tops before running off to climb something...So this September, I have enrolled Elena in gymnastics & a toddler music program called Movers & Shakers plus her weekly swim lessons, library club & play group. Sounds like a lot but it's not more than an hour a day & they are activities she enjoys. I think it's important to focus Elena's activities for her enjoyment. She's learning her shapes & colours, numbers & letters, I have no doubt, but she's more interested in learning them thru active play than trying to sit her down at a table with pictures & crayons. Sorry I guess that's not much help to your question...but you guys will figure out what works best for Finn & he is a smart boy so he will learn so quickly. It amazes me daily how much Elena knows that I had no idea she knew!
Your baby can read, is a great program, I think it is on sale at best buy!
ReplyDeleteI have been taking Tate to Music Together classes (google it...it's nationwide) since he was 5 months old. At just over 3 he still LOVES the classes...I'm shocked. We took about an 8 month hiatus and missed 2 sessions and did Gymboree which he thoroughly enjoyed. Only reason we stopped is the next level classes were all during his naptimes or during church time on the days I could take him. I started him in swim lessons at 22 months and wish I had started much earlier...at the swim club we belong to they can start at 12 months (wait...you take Finn to swim lessons don't you?). There are lots of nannies who bring the kiddos to swim lessons though. I also agree with going to the library...they always have great programs, and I think they're usually free, so there is no real commitment if they opt to not go one week. I was always the nap nazi...even when Tate was with my mom until he was 8 1/2 months old. Napping at home in his crib (or in her arms) was a must for him...he really needed the structure. How about playgroups? Does she have any nanny friends? Even if the kids are older, Finn will probably enjoy himself. HTH!
ReplyDeleteWe had a napper. She'd nap anywhere. We were lucky because she loved being out and would sleep anywhere we brought her from a walk to a bar. She's a fun little city girl. I think all kids are unique.
ReplyDeleteOurs napped best in a stroller, rarely did we rock or hold her at bedtime or naptime. She kind of fell into her own schedule, but while we observed it, we were never slaves to her schedule. Mostly because my sister was nuts about schedule and life doesn't always operate that way and we wanted our kid to be a little more flexible for family get-togethers or whatnot.
I think swim class in the morning is a great idea. That would definitely tucker him out by early afternoon and almost force a nap.
I recommend Library programs and swimming too. I wish I had started both earlier with my children.
ReplyDeleteI love that picture! So precious! And I would give just about anything to be able to get in bed by 11 every night. Good luck with that lady!
ReplyDeleteA schedule is the way to go. Though Brock has been fighting the nap lately (with me only - never for the childcare provider), he has always been really good with napping and going to bed at night. I do the same thing with him every day.
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the sleep deprivation thing! Even with my parents, this single mom thing is hard stuff!!! <3 Good luck, tough girl.