Eat. Poop. Play. Sleep. Repeat.
That may be your baby’s routine for their first year of life, but as they age, that schedule (and their sleep) become much more complex. The internet is filled with suggestions to ease your kiddo to sleep, but today we’re investigating two things that can affect toddler sleep: melatonin and co-sleeping.
How do you know when good advice is no longer useful? For Sleep Series week 2, we’re examining some controversial opinions around kids and sleep.
In this post, we’re covering swaddling and crying it out.
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In Tuesday’s post, we explained that sleep is essential. We can’t function without it. We know this already, but it’s way easier said than done, especially when it comes to our kids. But here’s the thing… Sleep is just as important as personal hygiene. You wouldn’t skip a shower (for too long) or stop brushing your teeth regularly. Ergo, the term sleep hygiene.
Sleep hygiene is a series of behaviors and environmental setups that focus on improving the quality and quantity of sleep. As your child ages, these habits may change and evolve.
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We’re back with another Course Notes mini-series.
I recently took a Continuing Ed course called The Sensory and Sleep Connection. Although we know that sleep is an important component to our general well-being, it is frequently overlooked when it comes to our physical, emotional, and mental health. We’ve all experienced a lack of sleep (remember the newborn days?) and the feeling when we are trying to function without it; but imagine how our kids are doing, especially when they’re still growing. It made me want to investigate the occupation of sleep (yes, sleep is an occupation) and why we all need to get some good shut-eye.
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As toddlers get older, they become more vocal and what they like and what they don’t. This includes the dreaded hygienic chore of nail trimming.
Nail trimming is important for various reasons. For one, those little claws left untamed, can leave unintentional scratches on themselves or others. Another reason is to keep the hands free of dirt and grime that can collect under the nails.
Nail clipping involves touch, pressure, sound, and visual sensations. Some children may not tolerate this task because they perceive the sensations as uncomfortable or painful, not because they are actually in pain.
Here are some OT tips to make nail trimming a little easier:
Child(ish) Advice 