Schedule Update

I realize it has been a while since I updated the schedules I have kept with my Son, now 3 years-old, and my twins, now 18 months-old. So here are the updated schedules. These schedules are just the bare bone schedules which include, eating, sleeping, and waking times. For a more detailed schedule that consists of a break down of various activities, please see the other posts below.

Babywise Schedules by Month (Version 1: My Son)
Babywise Schedules by Month (Version 2: My Twin Girls)

Structuring Your Toddler’s Day When Taking Two Naps A Day
Structuring Your Toddler’s Day When Taking One Nap A Day

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Dream Pee

I am not sure if this is really a good “term” for what I am about to describe, but I thought the title fit. A “dream feed”, is when you go into an infants room between 10-11pm and try to feed them without waking them. The idea is that if you are able to “Tank them up” with food they will sleep longer. A “dream pee” is when you go into your toddler’s room, and wake them to go to the bathroom before you go to sleep (usually between 10-11pm) and then put them right back to sleep. The hope is that since they just peed, they will remain dry until morning or not wake in the middle of the night (and wake you) to pee.

We have been doing a “dream pee” with Cooper for a while now. He is now 3 years old. He was fully day time potty trained at 22 months, but has never really got the hang of nighttime potty training. He wakes up dry only 50% of the time if we do not do a “dream pee” with Cooper. He also wakes up in the middle of the night, say at like 2 or 3am and will call out to us to take him to the potty. Call me selfish, but I don’t really want to take him to the potty in the middle of the night. I have a hard time falling back to sleep after I get up with him and take him potty. Cooper is still afraid to go to the potty alone in the middle of the night so one of us needs to take him if he wakes and needs to go. Cooper has also not really mastered clothing management (putting his clothes back on himself sufficiently). The “dream pee” prevents middle of the night wakings and I get to sleep a longer more interrupted night of sleep, plus the added benefit of him waking up dry. I am not sure how long we plan to do a dream pee, but for now, until he is able to use the bathroom on his own and control his bladder all night long, we will continue using this technique!

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Baby Signing Time

I did some simple signs with my son Cooper when he was an infant and early toddler. This really helped to cut down on the amount of frustration he was having in trying to communicate to us. He was able to sign more, eat, milk, all done, help, and a few other simple signs. It made his tantrums cut almost in half once he was able to sign more of these signs.

Why These DVDs Rock
Then I met a good friend of mine when I moved and her daughter was featured in the Baby Signing Time DVDs. She lent me her 4 baby signing time videos and I used them to teach the twins and even my son signs. I LOVE THESE DVDs. My kids are totally engaged in the DVD. Rachel Coleman, the host, sings songs while signing many of the signs she teaches throughout the DVD. My kids love the songs, which I believe has helped all my kids to learn the signs faster. In the DVDs, she also has real life toddlers doing many of the signs and real images of what she signing. These DVDs are also great language builders and teach your baby and toddler about common life things, object, and places. For instance, on one of the videos, she teaches signs about the weather. When my son was 2, he learning about the weather through these videos and can sign all the signs associate with weather.

How I Use the DVDs
I usually let the kids watch the DVDs and I sit with them and sign along with them or point out some of the signs to them. I also use the DVDs during their blanket time or when I need a few minutes to get something done 😉 I feel good about allowing my kids to watch these DVDs because they are educational and not just “filler” (if you know what I mean). I do use the signs we have learned in the DVDs throughout our day, which I think is key. You need to apply the signs to real life situations in order for your child to truly acquire the signs.

http://www.signingtime.com/shop/baby-signing-time

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