I'm so excited, I get girls!!! I don't know if I mentioned,but I have a licensed daycare in my home. I am the boy Mom, 4 boys only one, precious girl. Most of the people who have asked me to watch their children have boys. But now I am getting 2 little girls within 2 months!!!
Pink babies!! I'm praying they will be long term, I have really enjoyed the 4 year old boy I have had since he was itty bitty, he's my bud! But I'm ready to make pig tails and play pink dress up!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
When do babies learn there own comforting skills?
Simple answer, when they need them!Yup, they don't need to learn to comfort themselves if they are always rocked to sleep, never let to cry, sleep in a swing or rocker the majority of time.
Babies care includes people meeting their needs by talking with them, feeding, burping, changing, and letting them sleep, alot. Their need for touch and connection are all met in those activities. Technically mother's of newborns can have plenty of time for work and sleep, if they let their children grow.
Playing is important too, but if your infant is fussy, you know they just ate, are not gassy, they are dry, have been up a while, but you think it is to early to sleep, don't try to cheer, don't say what's a matter, your just feeding the fussiness. Help them, put them down to hang out near you or put them to bed!! When you are tired and someone wants you to stay and visit and you get crabby, no cheering will help, you need sleep, same with baby.
So if we let them fuss a bit, they will not die. I found with all but one baby I have cared for over 20+ years, that children in general need 2 hour naps but will make some noise at the 1 hour point, but will go back to sleep. When parents tell me their newborn doesn't sleep well, I question it, Sometimes we need to leave them alone! They will go back to sleep if we haven't rushed in to rescue them. I don't sleep long if someone keeps checking on me :-)
Speaking of fussing when waking. Babies take their cues from us, if they fuss and in a sad voice, we say what's a matter, poor thing, you're feeding it. If they cry on waking, it's there communication but only as long as you feed it, a cooing baby waking is so much more pleasant. When I get children up from naps, I always enter with a smile and positive comment, " oh I see a pretty baby that's awake, Hi sweetie". I just set the tone, and no one expects me to entertain them into a good mood, older children can be encouraged to find their happy heart or maybe they need more sleep.
It is hard to hear any child cry. We can use a timer, if its not to late to start early, use a timer, if a child is not "rescued" in 10 minutes they will give up and go to sleep.That is why monitors have off buttons, white noise is good for Mom and Dad too. I'm not talking hours, unless you have set really bad habits and they need to be broken.
Another thing my Mom taught me is that it's good to set a routine, go with babies basic schedule. If it is time for a nap, they should be in bed. Establish, tummy time, feeding times, play time area, and the designated bed area and time.
So new Moms, your baby needs a break, needs opportunity to grow, will not die if alone, will not suffer if they fuss for more that 5 minutes, and need to exercise their lungs with a bit of crying.
Always remember, God gave that baby to you, He did not intend it to be all stress, relax, enjoy!
Babies care includes people meeting their needs by talking with them, feeding, burping, changing, and letting them sleep, alot. Their need for touch and connection are all met in those activities. Technically mother's of newborns can have plenty of time for work and sleep, if they let their children grow.
Playing is important too, but if your infant is fussy, you know they just ate, are not gassy, they are dry, have been up a while, but you think it is to early to sleep, don't try to cheer, don't say what's a matter, your just feeding the fussiness. Help them, put them down to hang out near you or put them to bed!! When you are tired and someone wants you to stay and visit and you get crabby, no cheering will help, you need sleep, same with baby.
So if we let them fuss a bit, they will not die. I found with all but one baby I have cared for over 20+ years, that children in general need 2 hour naps but will make some noise at the 1 hour point, but will go back to sleep. When parents tell me their newborn doesn't sleep well, I question it, Sometimes we need to leave them alone! They will go back to sleep if we haven't rushed in to rescue them. I don't sleep long if someone keeps checking on me :-)
Speaking of fussing when waking. Babies take their cues from us, if they fuss and in a sad voice, we say what's a matter, poor thing, you're feeding it. If they cry on waking, it's there communication but only as long as you feed it, a cooing baby waking is so much more pleasant. When I get children up from naps, I always enter with a smile and positive comment, " oh I see a pretty baby that's awake, Hi sweetie". I just set the tone, and no one expects me to entertain them into a good mood, older children can be encouraged to find their happy heart or maybe they need more sleep.
It is hard to hear any child cry. We can use a timer, if its not to late to start early, use a timer, if a child is not "rescued" in 10 minutes they will give up and go to sleep.That is why monitors have off buttons, white noise is good for Mom and Dad too. I'm not talking hours, unless you have set really bad habits and they need to be broken.
Another thing my Mom taught me is that it's good to set a routine, go with babies basic schedule. If it is time for a nap, they should be in bed. Establish, tummy time, feeding times, play time area, and the designated bed area and time.
So new Moms, your baby needs a break, needs opportunity to grow, will not die if alone, will not suffer if they fuss for more that 5 minutes, and need to exercise their lungs with a bit of crying.
Always remember, God gave that baby to you, He did not intend it to be all stress, relax, enjoy!
Thursday, August 21, 2014
I have accomplished nothing today!!!
Especially as keepers of the home and Mom's we may feel this way. It is rarely true, or we are sick and need a rest. What helps me when I feel this way is to write down what I have accomplished. Even if you're up out of bed, you have moved, build on this.
Often half way through the day, kids are dressed, and have been fed, but the laundry is not done or the dishes stacked up, you HAVE accomplished SOMETHING!
Satan likes to trip us up, God allows us challenging days, what will we do with them? When we trip up, with our kids or husband, when we are lazy or self centered, will we look down, wallow in it or will we look up, get up brush off and continue?
God says all things work together for them who love him and are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28. He can redeem when we react unkindly by convicting us to apologize, love and be a better example.
As we work in our homes with our little people, we can include them in all we do, when they are tiny, we work and talk to them or put them down for nap, when they eat we eat, when we fold, or toddlers can help, when we vacuum our crawlers can ride on the vacuum.
We can not as wives first, keepers of our homes and parents to children who need to constantly growing towords independence, make those same children our excuse not to get things done. Yes sometimes, we need to put off house work for them but it should not be a standard, children learn patience by having to wait, learn contentment by not having every whim answered immediately.
So as I finish, I need to go accomplish more, yes kids are dressed and fed, a couple times, but boy does my floor need mopping during nap.
Have a great day!
Often half way through the day, kids are dressed, and have been fed, but the laundry is not done or the dishes stacked up, you HAVE accomplished SOMETHING!
Satan likes to trip us up, God allows us challenging days, what will we do with them? When we trip up, with our kids or husband, when we are lazy or self centered, will we look down, wallow in it or will we look up, get up brush off and continue?
God says all things work together for them who love him and are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28. He can redeem when we react unkindly by convicting us to apologize, love and be a better example.
As we work in our homes with our little people, we can include them in all we do, when they are tiny, we work and talk to them or put them down for nap, when they eat we eat, when we fold, or toddlers can help, when we vacuum our crawlers can ride on the vacuum.
We can not as wives first, keepers of our homes and parents to children who need to constantly growing towords independence, make those same children our excuse not to get things done. Yes sometimes, we need to put off house work for them but it should not be a standard, children learn patience by having to wait, learn contentment by not having every whim answered immediately.
So as I finish, I need to go accomplish more, yes kids are dressed and fed, a couple times, but boy does my floor need mopping during nap.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Is my babies development "normal"?
I hear this question sometimes when people find out I have my Spec. Ed degree, that I take care of a child diagnosed with autism, or that my youngest had speech testing at 12 months old. There is a range for normal in every category of development. My second child stood at 6 months and walked at 9 months, in contrast, my third child could crawl faster than his older siblings could walk, but didn't walk on his own until he was 13 months old, still normal.
Then there are behaviors children exhibit that are typical for their age but don't grow out of it, this often is seen in the way a child walks, talks or plays with toys. It's okay to have differences and seek help. My 5th child's speech was delayed, I knew it because at one he had no consonant sounds, with much coaching he never said by by or ball, his favorite toy. By then all my children had been saying dah, for done after a meal, had names for Mom and Dad and even the dog or a sibling.
I had him tested even though my Doctor said he wouldn't worry about it until he was 4. I think some of my friends thought it was extreme but my theory was "if" I'm right and he needs speech, great, if he didn't need speech it only took me a couple hours. On the other hand "if" he needed it and we didn't get intervention it may delay other aspects of learning and I didn't want to be a factor in giving him extra challenges.
I love to tell about how the Lord worked it out, not only did he really need speech, I was able to be a witness to the Jewish speech therapist for 3 years and she became quite close with the family.
I have had many opportunities to talk with Mom's about child development. The biggest heart break for me is to see a child that is a little different, that would benefit from acceptance and intervention, but don't get it because their parents so badly want their child to be "normal".
Then there are behaviors children exhibit that are typical for their age but don't grow out of it, this often is seen in the way a child walks, talks or plays with toys. It's okay to have differences and seek help. My 5th child's speech was delayed, I knew it because at one he had no consonant sounds, with much coaching he never said by by or ball, his favorite toy. By then all my children had been saying dah, for done after a meal, had names for Mom and Dad and even the dog or a sibling.
I had him tested even though my Doctor said he wouldn't worry about it until he was 4. I think some of my friends thought it was extreme but my theory was "if" I'm right and he needs speech, great, if he didn't need speech it only took me a couple hours. On the other hand "if" he needed it and we didn't get intervention it may delay other aspects of learning and I didn't want to be a factor in giving him extra challenges.
I love to tell about how the Lord worked it out, not only did he really need speech, I was able to be a witness to the Jewish speech therapist for 3 years and she became quite close with the family.
I have had many opportunities to talk with Mom's about child development. The biggest heart break for me is to see a child that is a little different, that would benefit from acceptance and intervention, but don't get it because their parents so badly want their child to be "normal".
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