How Does She Do It?

30 Mar

We want to hear how you do it, Moms!  Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between?  Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!

Tell us about you, your children and where you live

Dawn Beronilla, I am from Halifax Nova Scotia originally, but moved to Edmonton about 12 years ago. I am the proud Mama of two beautiful boys who are 5 months and 27 months old, and the proud StepMama of a beautiful 6 year old boy.

What do you do?

I am a Jill of all trades, I guess! While pregnant I was involved in two photo shoots for a local maternity store [Can we do shameless plugs here? Yay Love Your Bump Maternity and Blackbird Photography!] and I got to see my ads in this fine magazine and on a billboard! What a rush that was! Aside from that I have been in and out of the auto industry for years, and will probably go back to work when we move into our new dealership. I don’t think I will wait the whole year to go back. As much as I love my children, I feel like I need to have that part of my life back. I need to escape and be near grown-ups, to not talk about poop, and maybe even potty with the door closed even if it’s just a few hours a week. I admire the full time stay at home moms, you ladies are my heroes!

Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)

I do have help, and lots of it! My husband is amazing. We also share a house with my wonderful in-laws, who have the apartment downstairs while we took over the main floor with the kids. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, you read that right! No typo here! We all live together and yes, they are still wonderful.

Best hobby?

Since having children and being home more often than not, I have taken to baking. I love writing also!

Extracurricular activities for you?

Shopping! Who ever said they don’t make cute clothes for boys needs to set up a shopping date with me!

Extracurricular activities for your babe/children?

We are debating getting Xander into gymnastics, but we hardly have any down time as we fill our days up with museums and day trips and tons of fun and busy things. Edmonton has a lot to offer families!

What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?

We always do swimming, some meals out, and it’s safe to say that we will need to do a grocery run somewhere along the way. We love making and building things as a family, and love to spend hours playing together and making crafts. Sundays are visiting days, and we spend every Sunday having supper with my husband’s 102 year old grandfather. I think it’s very important for our children to learn the value of family and how precious our elders are.

Who cooks dinner?

That would be me! Unless of course we want take out, in which case my sweet husband makes the call.

How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?

Again, having my in-laws so close is wonderful! They love having the kids with them, which leaves us time to get the shopping done kid free! (Don’t hate me!) I’m not really a couponer, but I have a crazy ability to tell you what is on sale at what store for what price every week! Crazy, I know. It’s a gift!

How often do you buy something for yourself?

Ha! Not very often, unless we can count Tylenol and wine. Kidding! I was actually just treated to some new post-partum clothes thanks to my wonderful husband. It’s great to wear pants with a button again.

Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?

Like every Mom to a toddler, my kids ARE my exercise. Now that the weather is getting nicer and the snow is starting to melt I would like to try running. My husband said that he will watch the kids while I do, but I have to promise to come back.

Favourite movie?

That has got to be the documentary “Babies”. It is so so so great! It’s also a favorite of my kids!

Favourite nookie song?

Haha, well now. Since the baby’s crib is still in our room, there is no music. Unless we can count the “white noise” setting of the sound machine as music? Sweet, sweet romance.

Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?

Coffee. Just coffee. I have a baby and a toddler full time, I have no time to shower or sleep let alone time for a frilly drink! (Although once upon a time I used to always have a Venti no water Tazo Chai in hand.)

Favourite pair of shoes?

In theory I love the way heels make my body look. In reality, I have actually left the house in slippers (and once without pants, but I was in labor and don’t think it counts.). So somewhere in between those is where I normally end up. I have sunken to Mom-shoe status, but no Mom-jeans yet!

‘Cannot leave home without it’ item?

I would have to say a picture of my kids! For all of my light hearted joking I do, these little people are my heart and soul. All three of them.

 

Thank you for sharing with all of us Dawn!  Thanks for being an Urban Infant reader!

Image: Blackbird Photography

 

· Filed Under: Uncategorized

Urban Family Events: Mar 30th – Apr 5th

29 Mar

 

 

As we gear up for a busy Easter weekend next week, here are ways to keep busy until then:

Go Shopping:

This Saturday, visit the very popular Little Monster’s Swap Meet in Spruce Grove from 11am – 3pm.

Get Scientific:

Take the family to FUNday on the U of A campus: a free science exhibition running from 10am – 4pm. Activities include various science experiments including making your own slime.

Visit the Easter Bunny:

Take your little ones to get their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. Many locations have very specific times so be sure to check their websites before you make a special trip:

Reminders:

While this content isn’t new, here are some reminders of other ways to spend time as a family:

See A Movie: 

See a movie with your newborn/infant in a baby-friendly environment with the Stars & Strollers features (held in Edmonton on Wednesdays & Thursdays). Also be sure to check out Cineplex Family Favourites where you can see favourite family movies (this week is The Neverending Story) every Saturday morning for $2.50/ticket at select theatres.

Drop-In & Learn:

I recently discovered how many Drop-In classes the City of Edmonton attractions offer over the weekends. Be sure to check out the drop-in classes offered at:

 

As always, if you have a family-friendly event that should be featured on our Calendar, please send the details to kjristen@urbaninfant.ca

Image: SOMMAI / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

· Filed Under: Urban Family Event Listings

Celeb Mommies Go Tech

28 Mar

by Connie Peters, modernmama.com

Celebrity moms are going tech and creating online magazines and websites for moms.  It seems as if when celebs become Moms, they also discover a part of themselves that’s new, something creative, and they’re leveraging their following to create resources for moms.


Goop by Gwynyth Paltrow

Gwyneth is a mom of two, Apple who is nearly 8yrs and Moses turns 6 next month. She is most well-known for her roles in Shakespeare In Love and the Iron Man franchise movies.

More of a newsletter than an online magazine, Gwynth’s style carries over to this cute weekly newsletter.  If you’re already a fan, it’s nice to see her real personality come through in her posts.  She most recently addressed the public with the defence of the content in her cookbook, saying it was, in fact, all her own words.  She posts retail finds, recipes, crafts and most recently, how an Oscar gown is selected.


Modern Mom by Brooke Burke

Brooke Burke is a mom of four and best known for her Dancing with the Stars win and hosting-gig since.

Brooke Burke offers up a true online magazine full of new articles daily, most of which, I find, targets veteran moms of older children, rather than newborn, baby or new-mom posts.  It’s good content, overall and over the past few years I have enjoyed much of what is shared on this site.


EdiTORIal by Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling is the mom of three (and just announced her fourth pregnancy last week). She is best known as the ‘bad girl’ on 90210 and daughter of famous TV producer of that same show, Aaron Spelling.

Tori’s love of design, crafting and style come shining through in this very personal site.  It’s almost like a cross between an online community and a personal blog.  I recently discovered her show, Tori & Dean, Home Sweet Hollywood, and enjoy seeing their family interact with family ‘pets’ like chickens, pigs and goats.


DeniseRichards.com (by Denise Richards)

Denise Richards is an actress, but is best known for her past marriage to Charlie Sheen and is a mother of three.

Denise’s site is really more of a blog, but she does offer advice, provide fashion, organizing, parenting and design tips also.  The forum also offers up a community feel.

Do you know of any more?  Which is your favourite?

· Filed Under: Celebrity Mommies, Links We Love, Relationships, Urban Finds

Have Child Will Travel

27 Mar

Four road trips, two plane rides, two large suitcases, four carry-on bags, two adults, a toddler, a time change and a daylight savings time, we survived a family trip with few tears and a lot of fun.

Many families are planning to travel Highway 2 for some rest, relaxation and good ol’ family time during the upcoming spring break. Travelling with small children may seem like a daunting task, but with a planning and a great attitude, it can be enjoyable.

Celebrity mom of three, Tori Spelling has racked up the miles with her children and during a Twitter conversation provided some much-appreciated advice.

“Get them travelling early and often. The more comfortable they are the better off you are,” said Tori. “Have a good attitude. It’s easier to handle layovers and long flights if you’re all happy.”

Maintaining sanity en route is not an easy feat for any parent, however Tori, and husband Dean McDermott, have a tip that works for their children.

“We bring a portable DVD player with lots of movies. Oh, and lots of snacks, preferably low sugar,” added Dean to the tweeter conversation.

Travelling to new locations with different climates is already stressful. With a little know how and Modern Mama packing skills, you can minimize the stress and crying and maximize the fun.

Trapped in a two-foot space, with a passenger in front of you fully reclined in their seat, comfort is desirable. The best way to achieve that dress yourself and children in comfy layers. A zip up sweater and a long sleeve t-shirt and sweat pants or leggings are great option. Always remember a change of clothes for both you and the child is necessary. Carrying on a favourite stuffy and blanket is also great to bring for comfort in case your little one has a fear of flying.

Entertainment, how are you supposed to keep a child entertained in a two feet space? Distraction is the key to a happy plane ride for you, your child and the other passengers. A portable DVD Player and movies such as Elmo and Mickey are a hit, especially if the child rarely watches TV at home. Also packing along crayons, markers, colouring books, books and stickers, or anything shiny, can amusing the toughest critic.

One of the main sources of discomfort for infants traveling on airplanes is the change in cabin pressure when taking off and landing. This causes pressure in the ears, and can be quite painful for the child. Preparing for this by nursing or bottle feeding infants during take-off and landing can help ease the pain. For toddlers, cheese strings, and other snacks eaten during take-off, will also alleviate ear pressure. Low sugar snacks such as fruit, vegetables, crackers and biscuits, can provide great nourishment during long flights when meals are none existent.

Just as dry airs affects adult dehydrated, little ones also feel the affects. Keeping cool drinks such as milk, juice boxes and water on hand will help keep children quenched. One thing that may be a concern is germs. Sanitizing the less than germ free tray tables with wipes and clothes is a quick fix, and works well when your toddlers wants to put their snack on the tray.

Travelling with children is full of unexpected turns and obstacles. No matter what happens, it is all in the attitude and the way you approach the situation. As much as you prepare, you can never plan for everything, go with the flow; things will work out and at the end of your family trip, you will not only walk away with great memories, but also great wisdom.

 

Natasha McKenzie, Edmonton Mom:  is passionate about writing, shopping, baking and spending time with her husband and little girl, affectionately known as the Lil’ Cupcake. She is uber organized and an efficient planner. To her shopping is more than a hobby or a necessity, it is a sport and she is always the winner.

Image: Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

· Filed Under: Uncategorized

Bump it Up! Prenatal Fitness Options in Edmonton

26 Mar

Upon finding out you’re pregnant, it can seem as though there are suddenly a million decisions to make, all of which will affect not only you, but the new tenant who has taken up residence in your uterus!  One decision that can concern expectant mothers is how to exercise safely in order to maintain their fitness level while preparing for birth.  Finding the information you need in order to make this decision should of course begin with your doctor or midwife.  Every pregnancy is unique, and only your caregiver can provide information specific to your needs.  Once your caregiver has approved the type and frequency of exercise, a little research will show that there are many options available especially for pregnant women.  Here are just a few tried and true options in our city.

Prenatal Yoga

The benefits of yoga are many and can be especially valuable during pregnancy.  This gentle form of exercise can help ease back pain and maintain good posture as your belly grows.  Many yoga poses help tone the pelvic floor, which can be helpful during delivery and may even speed postnatal healing.  The breath work and mental focus that are taught in most prenatal yoga classes will also be useful tools for the labouring process.

Lotus Soul Gym

Offering three locations (Whyte Ave, Little Italy, and St. Albert), Lotus Soul is sure to offer a class that fits your schedule.  Prenatal classes at all three locations are taught by studio owner and birth doula, Laeonie.

Yoga Within

Located at 9014 – 75th Street, Yoga Within offers a cozy space in which to practice.  Corinne teaches a Tuesday evening prenatal class.  She is also a birth doula with a wealth of experience to offer her students.

Prana Yoga

You can visit this studio in the west end on Thursday evenings.  Sara, an experienced prenatal instructor will guide you through a series of poses offering a balance of strength and relaxation so important during pregnancy.

Prenatal General Fitness

Maintaining your fitness level throughout your pregnancy can help you achieve healthy weight gain and build endurance for the marathon of birth.  Regular exercise can actually help boost your energy through the release of endorphins and can relieve some of the stress and anxiety that accompanies this substantial life change.

J’adore Dance

This family friendly dance studio was awarded first place in Urban Infant’s Mama’s Choice Awards for both pre and postnatal class categories!  It’s easy to see why when you’ve experienced the community feel created at their studio.  Their dance inspired classes include cardio, toning, and stretching segments to give you the whole package.

Redefining Eve

Offering both prenatal fitness and prenatal pilates classes, you can find something to suit your needs at this central location.  This lovely loft style facility has been home to an incredible variety of classes for many years here in Edmonton.

City of Edmonton Recreation Centres

Check out the Spring E-Active Guide for prenatal fitness options offered at recreation centres throughout the city.  These classes are affordably priced and offered at convenient locations.

 

One aspect that has made all of these facilities so appealing to me is that every one of them offers some form of postnatal or mom and baby class to get you out of the house once the little one arrives!  This way the community you build with the women in your prenatal classes can continue to grow when you’re ready to resume your fitness routine after baby is born.

 

Shelby Quinlan, First Baby Due: Shelby is a teacher preparing for the arrival of her first child in May.  Having always been a planner and researcher by nature, Shelby is frantically studying all there is to know about pregnancy, childbirth, and life with baby in Edmonton.  Some might say all of this planning can lean toward the obsessive, especially when they see that her birth plan contains no less than 14 contingency plans and three appendices.  She looks forward to sharing what she’s learned with you, including information on everything from prenatal classes to choosing a doula and making a baby registry.

Image: Irene Austen

 

· Filed Under: Pregnancy

Modern Parenting

23 Mar

Prioritizing is the new black.

I know this mom, she works full-time, has two kids – both active in gymnastics, ballet, swimming, music and playgroups. She manages to get a healthy dinner on the table every night and still has time to go on weekly dates with her husband, drinks with friends twice a month, workout everyday and have time for herself. I don’t know how she does it.

On March 8, our Modern Mamas heard the answer by parenting experts, Alyson Schafer, psychotherapist, and Wee Welcome’s founder Maureen Dennis at Cafe Tiramisu. However the answer, surprisingly, is not balance.

So, what is the answer, “it isn’t one mom, it’s a combination of moms, and we are our own toughest critics,” said Alyson.

From Alyson’s “potty-mouth” – tips on potty training, and telling it like it is “balance is crap,” to Maureen’s daily – four kids at home – truths, the discussion was enlightening, reassuring, humourous, and not at all “dumbed down.” If you’ve never heard of or read anything by Maureen or Alyson, go find something, because they are a wealth of knowledge and soon to be your biggest support and mentors.

We live in a society that expects Mom’s to do it all. It is unreasonable, but if you do, way to go supermom, if you’re a mom who gets 75 per cent done, or even 23 per cent done, way to go supermom. It doesn’t matter how much you get done, or when you get it done, as long as everyone is happy – that is all that matters. If something doesn’t get done today, there is always tomorrow, or the next day.

“Life is like a buffet and only you can decide what goes on your plate,” said Alyson. “It’s also important to remember that your plate can change daily,” added Maureen.

Every now and then, we are all going to need support. Everyone is travelling a different parenting journey, but it is time we stop judging and start supporting. One day you are going to be the mom with the screaming child in the restaurant, or the mom with the toddler careening the child size cart into people in the Sobey’s cereal aisle – sorry again if that was you – and, it would be nice to have a smile and nod in support, rather than a snicker of disapproval.

“I use to worry about what people would think if I brought my child with me to work events, or out in public. Then I realized it was me worrying, and most of the time, other people didn’t care. Most of them wanted to hold my baby,” said Maureen, when discussing public outings with children.

When you’re a parent, most people expect you to have your child with you. Some may be even be disappointed if you come sans baby. The important thing is to set the scene for your toddler, let them know the expectations and the consequences before you arrive. That way the child knows what is going to happen, how to behave and what will happen if they behave and if they don’t.

“However, in some cases and very rare event, it is ok to bend. Sometimes, stellar parenting can’t happen and in those cases, find the easy fix and keep going,” said Alyson. Alyson even claimed to giving her child $20 to keep quiet at a meeting. Gasp, the audacity. But it worked, it happened once, and she did let her child know it wouldn’t happen again, and that the behaviour was unacceptable. We are not all perfect, how can we expect our children to be perfect all the time.

Parenting isn’t prescriptive, it changes daily. In the end, it is all about the best parenting choices for us. We have to figure out what works for our family and go with the flow. And when you need help, find support and don’t be afraid to ask questions – someone has been in your shoes before, or will be. Let’s stick together.

 

Natasha McKenzie, Edmonton Mom:  is passionate about writing, shopping, baking and spending time with her husband and little girl, affectionately known as the Lil’ Cupcake. She is uber organized and an efficient planner. To her shopping is more than a hobby or a necessity, it is a sport and she is always the winner.

Image:  Tangible Moments

· Filed Under: Motherhood

Urban Family Events: Mar 23rd – 29th

22 Mar

As we approach Spring Break, families with school-aged children may already have a full week booked with camps and other fun activities. If you’re still wondering about what to do with your younger children, here are some ways to keep busy:

Go Shopping:

- The Hampton’s “I’ve Outgrown It” & Small Business Sale runs on Saturday from 10am – 3pm at River West Christian Church

- The Kids’ Stuff Sale  runs on Saturday from 10am – 5pm at the Highlands Community Centre

- Capilano Mall is hosting a Baby Shower starting on Friday at 5pm until Sunday at 5pm featuring face painting, baby bump painting and more!

 

Visit the Easter Bunny:

- Get pictures taken with the Easter Bunny at West Edmonton Mall – March 23rd – April 8th – Phase 1, Level 1, Centre Stage

 

See A Movie: 

See a movie with your newborn/infant in a baby-friendly environment with the Stars & Strollers features (held in Edmonton on Wednesdays & Thursdays). Also be sure to check out Cineplex Family Favourites where you can see favourite family movies (this week is Stuart Little) every Saturday morning for $2.50/ticket at select theatres.

 

Drop-In & Learn:

I recently discovered how many Drop-In classes the City of Edmonton attractions offer over the weekends. Be sure to check out the drop-in classes offered at:

 

Indoor Fun:

I was honoured to have been asked to contribute to Urban Infant’s Winter Issue with a list of ways to have fun indoors this winter. If you’re still looking for things to do, check out some of my suggestions:

Art Gallery of Alberta   – Features “Tours for Tots” (ages 3-5) on Wednesdays from 10am – 11am & “All Day Sundays” (all ages) on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 12 – 4pm.

Telus World of Science  – Features child-friendly exhibits, “Kids Discovery Zone” and the newly renovated Discoveryland Gallery.

Child-friendly Coffeehouses – Enjoy your specialty coffees and snacks while your children play in specially designed indoor playgrounds & play areas.  Some of the local café’s include:

Gymboree  – Let your child develop & learn while playing.  Enroll your children in classes or drop-in and play. (membership required)

Kidz Quarterz – While the indoor playground is designed for children up to the age of 12, there is a toddler area that includes large foam blocks and room to climb and play.  Enjoy a coffee, snacks or lunch while you’re there.

Your Local Library – Be sure to check out everything your local library has to offer.  Often there are classes that include singing and reading with your little ones as well as other thematic classes.

Recreation Centres – There are quite a few Recreation Centres that feature fabulous indoor playgrounds and activities for children.  Some include:

John Janzen Nature Centre’s Tegler Discovery Zone – An indoor play space that allows children to explore nature and climb play structures.  This play area is not staffed and is for children ages 10 years and younger so younger children will have to be monitored as it is a common play space.

Your Local Swimming Pool – Be sure to check out both lessons and family swim times at your local swimming pool.  Take advantage of special rates on days when your school aged children have early dismissal or no school.

 

As always, if you have a family-friendly event that should be featured on our Calendar, please send the details to kjristen@urbaninfant.ca

Image: Laris.Sa* / Flickr.com

· Filed Under: Urban Family Event Listings

How Does She Do It?

21 Mar

We want to hear how you do it, Moms!  Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between?  Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!

Tell us about you, your children and where you live

Monita Chapman

Brooklyn, 4 and Daniella, 2 and expecting our 3rd baby in July

Edmonton, AB

What do you do?

Owner of Simply  Supper in Edmonton, AB, I work in the store about 35 hours per week and then I work from my home office (aka my couch) 20 hours per week

Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)

Yes – we have a lovely and very helpful nanny that joined us in January.

Best hobby?

Reading…I love to read and value my quiet time with a good book.

Extracurricular activities for you?

My personal passion is doing charity work. I love to give back to the community and a majority of my charity is done with the Junior League of Edmonton. In the past two years I took on the role of being the Chair of the Every Little Bottom Diaper Drive in 2010 and the Chair of Homes for the Holidays 2011. I absolutely loved working with the wonderful women on these committees and I made some amazing lifelong friends, all while giving back to our community.  I look forward to my next challenge.

Extracurricular activities for your babe/children?

My girls take lots of activities, swimming, dancing, gymnastics, music together classes and most recently violin lessons.

What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?

Sundays are our day to spend as a family, the day always starts with a full breakfast made by my husband. Then we are off to church and it is usually followed by a family activity, calls to our out-of-town parents and family supper.

Who cooks dinner?

Mostly my husband, but it is usually a shared task between us.

How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?

I usually grocery shop on Sunday evenings…we sit down as a family every Sunday and meal plan all our meals for the following week (including breakfast and lunch) and then I do a little inventory and shop for the week. We are big fans of our meals at the store, so our grocery shopping is mainly for breakfast and lunches…and includes a lot of fresh fruits and veggies!

Coupons are not really my thing; however we do look at the flyers and sometimes meal plan around a sale.

How often do you buy something for yourself?

Often…however I am in need of a new pair of shoes and just can’t seem to find the time to go out and shop for them.

Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?

I try to, but sadly this seems to be the one things that gets missed

Favourite movie?

Dirty Dancing

Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?

While pregnant- Cream Soda Slurpee

Not pregnant – Vodka and seven with a twist of lime or Bailey’s on ice

Favourite pair of shoes?

I’m in desperate need of a new pair!!

 

Thank you for sharing with all of us Monita!  Thanks for being an Urban Infant reader!

 

· Filed Under: Baby, Motherhood

Nap Requirements

20 Mar

The length and number of naps varies with age.  During the first 3 months of an infant’s life she is sleeping 18-20 hours per day.  Infants mostly sleep and eat as they are doing so much growing and developing during the first few months.  They can start to learn good sleep shaping habits between 2-3 months old with simple steps like getting to sleep independently once a day and by following a flexible EASY (Baby Whisperer) routine: Eat, Activity, Sleep, Your time.

4 months old – this is a BIG transition month for babies.  She can learn to get to sleep independently at every nap and bedtime now.   Encouraging her to soothe herself and get back to sleep without needing you is best.  You are teaching her to go back to sleep on her own after a partial arousal (night wake up) and that will also teach her to lengthen her naps.  You definitely want to lengthen the afternoon nap because this is the nap that is kept until she is 3-4 years old.  She is going to be taking 3-4 naps/day with a total between 4-5 hours of sleep.

Naps are very important to help with the night sleep; more sleep = more sleep, less sleep = less sleep.  Following her sleepy cues and windows all day is key to help getting her to nap well.

Once she is 6-8 months old she may start to sleep through the night without a feed – with your Dr. giving the go ahead AND Mommy being comfortable with dropping those night feedings.  There should be 3 naps at this age with a total of approximately 3.5 hours of sleep in the day.

The 3rd nap of the day starts to be a short “back-up” nap around the 8-10 month age.  This is a 20-30min nap that is needed to bridge the gap between the end of the 2nd nap and bedtime if that window is too long.  You want this awake window to be between 2-3 hours and have baby into bed sleeping no later than the 3 hour mark after the last nap.

The 10-18 months old age is when Mommy and Daddy can expect little ones should be down to 2 naps each day.  The awake times will become longer between the naps and bedtime: which is how they will drop from 3 naps down to 2.  You will gradually see that they are showing their sleepy cues for naps later and later over these months – follow their lead.  The “back-up” nap will be dropped and bedtime may need to be move a little earlier to keep the correct window.  The window of opportunity for sleep is also going to slowly shift from 3-4 hours after the last nap.  It is very important to have them into the crib when they show their sleepy cues; if you miss it – they will reach their 2nd wind and it will be very difficult to get them to sleep at this time!

2 naps down to 1 nap usually occurs between 15-18 months of age.  You will see signs that 1 nap is not enough and 2 naps are too many.  Watch next week for tips to get you through this transition!

Naps are still needed until nearly 4 years of age; sometimes longer.  Are you finding your little one is staying up very late because of a nap?  Try having that nap start around 12:30-1pm, or you may need to shorten that nap – experiment to find what works best for your family.  Quiet time is an alternative when they are staying awake too late at night because of a nap.

 

Heather N. Plante, GSC, Soothing Angels.ca

Image: chmeredith / Flickr.com

· Filed Under: Baby, sleep

Urban Finds

16 Mar

It’s time again for our scout moms to share some amazing finds with us!

  • The Clek Foonf carseat (shown above) is available for preorder at some retail locations! This safe and stylish car seat is a mere 17 inches wide meaning you can get up to 3 seats across in your car. WestCoasts Kids will have this in stock in Summer 2012.
  • IKEA Family Card is now available in Canada. It’s a free membership that allows you some perks: monthly product discounts, additional discounts in the restaurants, a chance to win a $100 Ikea gift card every time you scan it in store and more. It’s not yet available in Edmonton but you can sign up to be notified when it is.
  • Looking for some ideas on how to use your Instagram photos? Check out “Printstagram“. Stickers with my daughter on them? Yes please.
  • The Donkey has landed! West Coast Kids now has the new Bugaboo Donkey. This amazing stroller converts from a single to a double.
  • Apple will be offering “Apple Camp”! for your older child. This three day workshop will be held at an Apple Store. Your child (aged 8 to 12 years old) can learn all about iMovie. They will get to debut their movie at Apple Camp Film Festival on the final day! You can sign up, via email, to be notified when registration is open. We’re unsure if it is offered in Edmonton, yet, but it’s on the Apple Canada site.

 

· Filed Under: Baby, Edmonton, Urban Finds
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