Comments on: the Almost-3’s http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/ Suddenly single mom of two little girls. Trying to navigate our way through life and always find the funny. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:07:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shari http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/comment-page-1/#comment-587552 Shari Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:48:22 +0000 http://www.poobou.com/?p=1694#comment-587552 You seriously need to rearrange her sleep schedule. Our girls are in bed by 8:00 p.m. -- 7:30 p.m. if they seem overtired. It's completely not negotiable in my world. Establishing a sleep schedule is not easy to do, nor is it easy to stick to it. We have a whole routine where we take the girls upstairs, get them ready, tell a story, say a prayer and then they go to sleep. If they are really wound up, I'll sit there until they go to sleep. It's hard to do, but you'll be very happy when you change her sleep schedule. You seriously need to rearrange her sleep schedule. Our girls are in bed by 8:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. if they seem overtired. It’s completely not negotiable in my world. Establishing a sleep schedule is not easy to do, nor is it easy to stick to it. We have a whole routine where we take the girls upstairs, get them ready, tell a story, say a prayer and then they go to sleep. If they are really wound up, I’ll sit there until they go to sleep. It’s hard to do, but you’ll be very happy when you change her sleep schedule.

]]> By: Jess http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/comment-page-1/#comment-587436 Jess Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:02:01 +0000 http://www.poobou.com/?p=1694#comment-587436 I would definitely cut out sugar. Don't do it cold turkey b/c it's like us when we cut out caffine. But definitely limit what kind of sugar she has. If she drinks juice see if it has a lot of sugar in it, if it does then don't give it to her 4 hours before bed, give her something else, or water it down. I wouldn't eliminate her nap b/c kids do need to recharge. Start getting her ready for bed earlier, 20 minutes earlier one week, then earlier, earlier, etc. Make bedtime a fun thing. Brush teeth, bath, potty, story. Have her play hard, run some of that extra energy off, do some treasure hunts or hit the park or make her walk to the park (if it's within walking distance for an almost 3 yr old). I agree with the above comments, if she naps late in the afternoon try to get her down earlier. I babysat for a couple who would give their son lunch at noon, let him play for about 30-45 minutes, then put him down for a nap. This way if he slept until 3-4pm, there was a few hours of play, dinner, and then bedtime around 8. You definitely want her going to bed earlier b/c when she starts pre-school and stuff you don't want her exhausted. I have to say the tongue sticking out picture cracked me up. I would definitely cut out sugar. Don’t do it cold turkey b/c it’s like us when we cut out caffine. But definitely limit what kind of sugar she has. If she drinks juice see if it has a lot of sugar in it, if it does then don’t give it to her 4 hours before bed, give her something else, or water it down. I wouldn’t eliminate her nap b/c kids do need to recharge. Start getting her ready for bed earlier, 20 minutes earlier one week, then earlier, earlier, etc. Make bedtime a fun thing. Brush teeth, bath, potty, story. Have her play hard, run some of that extra energy off, do some treasure hunts or hit the park or make her walk to the park (if it’s within walking distance for an almost 3 yr old). I agree with the above comments, if she naps late in the afternoon try to get her down earlier. I babysat for a couple who would give their son lunch at noon, let him play for about 30-45 minutes, then put him down for a nap. This way if he slept until 3-4pm, there was a few hours of play, dinner, and then bedtime around 8.

You definitely want her going to bed earlier b/c when she starts pre-school and stuff you don’t want her exhausted.

I have to say the tongue sticking out picture cracked me up.

]]> By: Colleen http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/comment-page-1/#comment-587204 Colleen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:53:58 +0000 http://www.poobou.com/?p=1694#comment-587204 Not in bed before 11:00??? Good Lord how do you do it? Alexandra goes to bed at 7pm like clockwork and get's up between 6 and 7 each morning. If i'm late putting her to bed because we've been out, as soon as we get home she says "Bed mommy, I tired". We do however have a very fun nightlight in her room. It runs on batteries and shines Dora in her pj's on the ceiling holding a teddy bear. It shuts itself off after about 30 minutes or so. Alexandra loves it. Maybe, if Katie is a Dora fan, that's something that would entice her to bed a little earlier? Just a thought. Hang in there mama! They're going to be teenagers before we know it :o( Not in bed before 11:00??? Good Lord how do you do it? Alexandra goes to bed at 7pm like clockwork and get’s up between 6 and 7 each morning. If i’m late putting her to bed because we’ve been out, as soon as we get home she says “Bed mommy, I tired”. We do however have a very fun nightlight in her room. It runs on batteries and shines Dora in her pj’s on the ceiling holding a teddy bear. It shuts itself off after about 30 minutes or so. Alexandra loves it. Maybe, if Katie is a Dora fan, that’s something that would entice her to bed a little earlier? Just a thought.

Hang in there mama! They’re going to be teenagers before we know it :o(

]]> By: mel http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/comment-page-1/#comment-587127 mel Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:55:52 +0000 http://www.poobou.com/?p=1694#comment-587127 I completeely agree about cutting out the sugar. I bet u will see a huge difference. It also took me a while to realize that the TV really does affect kids so maybe an hour before naptime and a 1-2hrs b4 bed, try not even having it on at all. Not even for background noise. Definately try an earlier naptime. Maybe move lunch up and put her down soon after. No more than 2hrs of napping might help with bedtime. What does your pedi suggest? I completeely agree about cutting out the sugar. I bet u will see a huge difference. It also took me a while to realize that the TV really does affect kids so maybe an hour before naptime and a 1-2hrs b4 bed, try not even having it on at all. Not even for background noise. Definately try an earlier naptime. Maybe move lunch up and put her down soon after. No more than 2hrs of napping might help with bedtime. What does your pedi suggest?

]]> By: Avasmommy http://www.poobou.com/2009/11/09/the-almost-3s/comment-page-1/#comment-587111 Avasmommy Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:51:25 +0000 http://www.poobou.com/?p=1694#comment-587111 Cutting out added sugar might be a good idea. You'll never rid her diet completely. Another thing to eliminate is food dyes. There are lots of studies that show they can be linked to exactly the type of behavior you're describing. Personally I wouldn't eliminiate her nap. However is it possible to move it earlier in the day? I dunno when she takes it now, but if it's afternoon, maybe move it to late morning? Just some thoughts off the top of my head. If I think of anything else I will send you an email. Hang in there. ((hugs)) Cutting out added sugar might be a good idea. You’ll never rid her diet completely. Another thing to eliminate is food dyes. There are lots of studies that show they can be linked to exactly the type of behavior you’re describing.

Personally I wouldn’t eliminiate her nap. However is it possible to move it earlier in the day? I dunno when she takes it now, but if it’s afternoon, maybe move it to late morning?

Just some thoughts off the top of my head. If I think of anything else I will send you an email. Hang in there. ((hugs))

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