wee ones

[0–18 months] kickin’ it

Sure you love having your snuggling little wee one, but you also want them to grow up. The milestones just keep coming, but some are hard to reach. One of the first battles you may encounter is Operation Bye-Bye Ba-Ba. Putting an end to the bottle or breastfeeding can be a doozy.

Weaning your wee one can be tough situation for both of you! Yes, feeding is a time of supplying nourishment, but it also offers the opportunity to bond with your wee one as well as provide him comfort. Moving to a cup full-time, whether your wee one is coming from the breast or bottle, typically begins around his first birthday. Here are some tips to help with the transition:

• nursing no more The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding throughout the first year of a wee one’s life, if possible, and you don’t have to stop at 12 months either. Regardless, at some point nursing will stop whether it is you or your wee one deciding. It is important to take things slow. Start by cutting one feeding every couple of days. This method allows your wee one a few weeks to adjust. You can also decrease your breastfeeding sessions. With both of these method you will need to follow each session with a bottle or cup or solid food snack, based on which is age appropriate for your child. Also have your significant other take an active role in weaning your wee one. For the session your wee one adamantly expects to be breastfed, let your honey step in and be the one to comfort him when he wakes at night, get him in the morning and feed him breakfast or put him down for his naps or bedtime.

• bottle be gone Wee ones can become very attached to their bottle. To help avoid this don’t let him carry a bottle around and make it available only at mealtimes when he is sitting down or being held. Offer only a cup the other times he is thirsty. The bedtime and nap bottle can be the hardest to break. For the bottle loving wee one, try diluting the bottle with 1oz of water each morning or nap/night. Many times once the bottle is more water than milk, he won’t want it.

Now doesn’t that sound easy? Yeah, it might not be easy and it will take some time, but rest assured he will eventually be on the all cup route!

Idon’t get it. My dream day would include [among many things] being able to go to bed early, but for some tots bedtime is a form of torture that he just cannot tolerate. A tot that just can’t bring himself to succumbing to his designated bedtime is, well…tiring!

sleep...who needs sleep?

From down the hall you hear him stir and then it begins…”Mom!!!…I’m not tired…I need a drink…one more book”…and on…and on! You know the little bugger is tired, but he just won’t give in. What’s the deal? One reason is the tot creed, which is an innate calling to resist mama instructions, exert newly found strength in using the word ‘No’ and to gain all wanting power! He wants to be in control. Your mover and shaker also isn’t thrilled about the fact that he has to be in his room [can’t even play with his toys] while you party the night away! He doesn’t want to miss anything! But for his wellbeing [and your sanity] here are some tips to getting a good night’s sleep:

• this or that Your tot wants some power, so give him some when it comes to your bedtime routine. Let him pick out his jammies and the books that will be read.

• gotta night owl When the sun goes down, is your tot ready to rock-n-roll? These little people are as individual as you and I, so the bedtime for one tot might not be right for another, but nighttime rambunctiousness can actually be a sign of overtiredness. One thing to consider is cutting out a nap if he is still taking two or if he is down to one, move it to earlier in the afternoon. Also, making sure your tot gets lots of activity during the day will help prepare him for a good night’s sleep.

• REALLY don’t go Bedtime tantrums aren’t fun [like every other tantrum]! Be ready to channel abundant amounts of patience and stamina. If the tantrum starts when you leave the room, it could be attributed to separation anxiety. Provide your tot some comfort. Provide a nightlight, favorite blanket or toy. You can also tell him that you will sit quietly with him for five minutes and then you are going to go, but you will check on him in five minute. When he handles five minutes alone, move it to ten minutes and so on.

Does the hair on the back of your neck stand up every time you hear that rhythmic, long, high-pitch, complaining “na-oooo” or “I don’t waa-nt toooo” or “pleeee-za just one mmmmooorrre” or “wha-eye nooot?” abolishing whining

Yes, I’m talking about whining and it can be like nails on a chalkboard, sending any good mama into an eye roll accompanied by a deep breath!

I have to believe that every parent dislikes whining, but it is a natural part of development and isn’t a reflection on your parenting. Think of whining as a combination of crying and newfound verbal skills. He is trying to communicate his feelings and since birth, he has done that by crying. As parents, it’s important to remember that our preschooler relies on us for most everything and we need to teach him effective ways to communicate with whining not being one of them. Incorporate these tips and establish a no whining zone:

• there it is Point out whining when it happens and don’t assume your preschooler knows what he is doing is annoying. Tell him he is whining and demonstrate the difference in a normal voice versus a whining voice. Be sure you don’t respond to whining by simply whining back. It might be tempting, but it won’t curb your preschooler from doing it again.

• I feel ya Many times when your preschooler whines, he is looking for attention or is having a hard time conveying his feeling with just words. When your preschooler needs something [or thinks he needs something] and interrupts you with a whining request, explain that if he really needs something the proper way to politely interrupt and if his request doesn’t require immediate attention, explain that he needs to wait. If your preschooler is whining and you can see what it is that is upsetting him, help him express his feeling with words.

• stay strong Above all…do not cave! Giving in because you just can’t stand to hear it anymore will only reinforce the whining. Tell him to use his “regular voice” and even consider not listening or telling him you can’t understand that voice.