“He pulled a jailbreak!” Those were my friend’s words one morning, when I met her for coffee. She looked frazzled and a little panicky; turns out her 18 month old toddler had climbed out of the crib the night before, and had nearly scared his poor parents to death. Not that her experience was anything unusual, of course; plenty of parents have experienced those disconcerting “jailbreaks”! Our little ones somehow channel their inner monkeys and figure out how to climb (or maybe even
Toddlers
10 Tips to Battling Toddler Fear and Other Bedtime Monsters
The following is a guest post from Dr. Kaylene Henderson. I once heard that young children are hardwired to dream about frightening, child-eating creatures. Apparently it’s an evolutionary advantage to have had a few practice runs before being chased by a real saber-tooth tiger. These nightmares affect 50% of children and occur most often in the 3-6 year age group. Children’s brains have adapted to modern times though so instead of saber-tooth tigers it is now monsters which haunt our young
The Connection Between ADHD and Sleep
We’re talking today about a serious issue -- ADHD, and its relationship to sleep. Now, since ADHD isn’t usually diagnosed until the preschool or early school years, you may be thinking, “What does this have to do with me and my baby? Why should I read this?” Don’t skip this article just yet, though. This might not impact you now, but the odds suggest it definitely could. Rates of ADHD diagnoses are on the rise; the percentage of American children diagnosed with the disorder has risen 66%
How Potty Training Affects Sleep
Parents of toddlers or soon-to-be toddlers -- this one’s for you. We’re talking potty training today! Whether potty training’s on your horizon or something you’re right smack in the middle of, you probably already know that the whole process is less than thrilling. For everyone. My potty training experiences have always left me wondering why human beings aren’t born knowing how to use the toilet. We’re not discussing actual potty training techniques and methods in this article; there
5 Things You Need to Know About Your 2 Year Old’s Sleep
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you’re likely no stranger to the concept of sleep regressions. You've probably experienced them first-hand, right? ;) If you’re new here, however, let us fill you in. A sleep regression refers to a period of time when a baby or toddler who’s been sleeping well suddenly begins waking at night and during naptime or even refusing to go to sleep at all. There are several distinct regression phases that most babies and toddlers experience: one at 4
How To Handle Your Toddler’s Teeth Grinding and Clenching During Sleep
If you have a toddler at home, then you know that toddlers tend to be experts when it comes to ear-splitting noises. Whining, shrieking, repeating the same word a zillion times at top volume...you may sometimes find yourself wondering how such an adorable little person can make such a headache-inducing racket! :) Here's another drive-you-up-the-wall noise you may have started hearing lately. It's the sound of your toddler grinding her teeth in her sleep. The sound of grinding teeth is an
16 Limit Setting Tips for Your Toddler or Preschooler
This article will outline tips for limit setting with your toddler or preschooler. Although I will use sleep in some of the examples, the tips can be used outside of sleep, too. Because my first son is very persistent, I have had to learn early ways to set limits. In general, the most important thing you can do is focus on the positive things your toddler or preschooler does. Always give positive reinforcement about what he is doing RIGHT to encourage repeat behavior. Sticker charts are good
Toddler Night Waking
Many parents with babies who are troubled sleepers figure the baby will outgrow the issue. Some do, but many simply don't. If your 4 month old is waking up a lot at night, you might think it's normal. But, when she is 12 months, 18 months or 2 years old and now a toddler, you're wondering just when she might outgrow this night waking problem or if she will at all. There are a number of reasons why toddlers wake up at night. This article will outline a few main reasons: Night Waking by
10 Toddler Sticker Chart Tips
When it comes to encouraging a toddler or preschooler to do something you want them to do (like stay in bed during the transition to a "big boy/girl bed"), some will find a sticker chart as a good positive reinforcement tool. Rather than jump to punitive methods such as timeout or taking away privileges, using positive reinforcement to encourage behavior can be much more effective. Your child's temperament and personality will be a factor in how effective a sticker chart is. The use of a