Getting Back Into A Routine After The Holidays Submitted by newsletter on December 30, 2014 - 11:21am The holidays whack out our schedules and routines. Although fun, it can also be stressful, especially if you have a baby! Here are suggestions from websites and blogs to help moms (and anyone) get back on schedule: From Amy, the LC on the Leading Lady website: Babies thrive on routine–it gives them a sense of what to expect. Many moms and babies naturally develop a feeding and sleeping schedule soon after birth. During the holidays, schedules can easily get off track. Travel can interfere with naps and bedtime. Changing time zones can confuse baby’s internal clock. Staying up late, being passed around to friends and relatives, and all the activity may make even the calmest baby out of sorts. Helpful tips on get back on schedule: Sleep It’s important to push sleep when trying to get back on schedule. If your baby gets drowsy during breastfeeding, throw in extra feedings when you want her to sleep. Make sure sleeping accommodations are conducive for good sleep. Some sleep is better than no sleep. So even if a nap happens later or is shorter than desired, let your little one sleep. Time Zones Babies adapt to gradual changes more easily than abrupt shifts in schedule. You can make the gradual time zone shift before leaving or returning to your local time zone by adjusting naps and bedtime in 15 minute intervals to get baby ready for the change or to ease back into a regular schedule. Bedtime If baby has been staying up late, get back into your bedtime routine. However you typically get ready for bed, pick this back up to get baby in the mindset for sleep. It may include a bath and a story, nursing and rocking, or a goodnight kiss and hug. Too many new toys Your playroom may be exploding with new toys for baby, which may be causing sensory overload. Limit time with loud, light-changing, and video-oriented toys. Rotate toys to keep your child’s interest. Introduce new toys every one to two weeks, removing an equal number of toys. When you reintroduce the toys, your baby will likely play with them as if they were new again! In the blog, sheknows, Jen Klein suggests: Reevaluate This is a good time to look at your routine. What works and what doesn’t in your usual routine. Are there changes you can make that might make it work better? Go slowly Ease back into your schedule over several days. If bedtime has been later than normal, take a few days to get it back to the normal time. Jenna McCarthy, iVillage website, shares the following suggestions: Map it out Get out the calendar. Remind yourself and the rest of the family about upcoming events and prepare for them. Do you need to go to the grocery store? Do you need to prepare food for meals and snacks? Are their any special items your child needs for daycare or school or that you need for work? Take advantage of the morning sun Leave the blinds open at night in the bedrooms to allow the early morning light to naturally wake the family. Embrace chaos Anticipate problems and plan strategies to deal with them. Get everything ready to go the night before–lunches, backpacks, diaper bags, etc. Home Purchase Specials Learn Publish Newsletter . . . Donate to the InfantRisk Center Ordering My Account Free Stuff Order Form About Us Policies Information Specials New Products Bestsellers Events Other Links Contact Us Hale Publishing, L.P. 1825 E Plano Parkway, Suite 280 Plano, TX 75074 Toll Free: 800-378-1317 Phone: 972-578-0400 Fax: 972-578-0413 books@halepublishing ShareThis Copy and Paste - See more at: ibreastfeeding/newsletter/latching-on/2015/01/getting-back-routine-after-holidays?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=LATCHING_ON__JANUARY_2015&utm_medium=email#sthash.tR6NrV4f.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 14:23:10 +0000
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