How I put my angel to sleep without any hustle and bustle (tips/tricks)

Good day (or should I say good night?) everyone,

I hope everyone's day is going well. In my Hush little baby blog post, I discussed about how my easy it is to put my angel to sleep. But, I did not discuss any techniques on how I do it or how I started. While I was writing that post, I thought this should be a separate post in itself, so here we go.

It's not that complicated. I had to start little, like I said in that post. How it goes:
1. I would sing a clean up song and she would know it is almost time
2. We clean up together
3. Then we brush our teeth
4. (Attempt to) use the washroom
5. Take bath (every 2nd or 3rd day)
6. Read a book together (usually the same one everyday)
7. And magically, she knows it's bedtime; I put her in her crib and boom! She's sleeping in the next 5-7 minutes or even less, some days.
 

Yup, I know! It is that simple, it really is! Give it a shot and you'll be surprised too. Now, I am not saying it will work all the time, everyday. I've had some days when I had to struggle to put her to sleep, like today.  On those days, I try to stay calm (because it is hard to do when I'm used to her sleeping early and without all the fuss). I just pick her up and lie down on our bed together and I just pat her back for a minute or two or more and when she's calmed down a bit, I put her back in her crib and she's gone off to her dreamland within a few minutes (that was a long long sentence with too many ands). Oh and I forgot to mention blankies, my daughter has 2 blankies she has to have while sleeping no matter what! She will NOT sleep without them (not even 1). So if your child(ren) has a soft toy or a blankie they like to sleep with, BIG bonus! Just make sure that the blankie is not too big, to avoid suffocation.

Also, just want to mention that the reason I don't give her bath everyday is because I don't take bath everyday too, nor does my hubby. All of us are dirty little creatures! Haha, no I'm just joking. The reason being us taking shower/bath every other or third day is that I feel that is sufficient. If we take shower/bath everyday, I believe, our skin dries out and the natural oils (which our body needs) are just getting washed off every single day and the result? Dry, itchy and patchy skin. Ugh! Well, not everyone thinks like me and that is totally OK, I respect everyone's opinions.

Talking of opinions, I just remembered that we haven't talked for a long time. Remember my post where I asked you how was/is your day? I haven't had a response from many of you. :( But that's OK, because you now have a new post to comment on or if nothing sounds fun, here try this.

Also, I just noticed the other day, that I don't encourage you guys enough to comment. I think why I don't do it because I don't want to be pushy and seem like I want something from you guys. Instead, I want to be offering you guys information and whatever I feel like. I signed up for the blog, you guys didn't sign up to comment, so I really should push you guys into doing so. But if you did, it would make me happy and we might end-up chatting.

Have a wonderful, wonderful week and we shall talk soon.

SWEET DREAMS!

Happy Thanksgiving my Canadian(and every other) fellows

Would it be wrong if I start my post by saying "Happy Thanksgiving"? No? OK, then...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I hope everyone's day is going well. It is Thanksgiving, here in Canada today. I don't really know the history of this day, but I really like this day. Actually, it is one of my favorite holidays.

 
This day makes me so happy, no matter what! It is the day I get to thank God, my family, friends, and everyone else out there.

I am so thankful to everything in my life; pain, relief, sorrow, happiness, everything. I believe in pain bringing relief, and sorrow bringing happiness.

Nothing in this life is to be ungrateful for. If you have one complication in your life, count how many blessings you have! I bet, you will run out of numbers when you start counting the blessings in your life.

Yes, when we are going through rough and tough times, we start counting how many problems and obstacles have been thrown at us. But we forget to count our blessings and we become ungrateful. Been there, done that. Got me nothing but more pain and sadness.

So, whenever you think you are surrounded by obstacles, dilemmas and complications, instead of focusing your attention on counting them; divert your attention to positive things that's happened in your life.

Yes, it is hard to do that at times, but just try! Diverting your attention won't really solve your problems; but it will, for sure, make you feel better. Whereas, if you start thinking about the storm you are going through, you will feel worse, believe me.

And what are you gaining through felling worse anyway? Nothing! Rather be positive than negative, negativity has caused disasters! Focus on the positive side! Take it as a test, a challenge, which if you pass may bring you life full of happiness. Look at it like half full glass, other than half empty.

Above all, be thankful for what you have! Be thankful for the little and the lot! Be thankful for the smallest and the biggest!

This weekend spend some quality time with family and friends. Thank them for what they did, thank them for their love, support, everything. And, keep those tech out of it! Quality time is not quality time, if there is technology involved. Of course, if your quality time includes watching a family movie together or to play heads up, by all means, go right ahead. Unless, you really really need your gadgets, keep them away for this weekend and spend some time together.

Is it wrong to end my post with Happy Thanksgiving, too? No? OK, then...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Hush little baby...

Yup, you guessed it! We're talking about sleep today. Let's chat about how I learned to get my child to bed swiftly and maybe you can learn something too.

Got it from pixabay.com

A few years back, when I was pregnant with my beautiful angel, I had a friend stay over at my place. I noticed how disciplined her children were, specially her daughter. She has a girl, 11ish and a boy, 6ish.

They knew when it was time for bed and they wouldn't fuss over it, not even on weekends. They usually went to bed at 8pm and weekends would be 9pm.

It was not only her children, she was also very strict on her sleep schedule as well. Me and my husband would be awake until like 1am, usually until 2am. But, she was in bed around 10pm or 11pm the most.

I was amazed and very much sure that, that's what I want my child to do. I want her to be in bed when she knows it is bedtime without fighting to sleep.

I have seen and heard so many situations where children wouldn't be in bed until 10pm and they still fuss over it even after 10pm. In my family and in my husband's family, we've got children like that and oh boy, that's a chore putting them to bed. I knew I wanted my child in bed around 8pm, without all the fuss and buzz!

I talked to her and was curious how she's done it. She said, we usually have to set a routine for them when they are young, because then it becomes a habit and they know they are going to bed when it is time. Of course, I knew that before; but someone you know does it without any hassle, is like magic!

So when I had my daughter newly born, she was sleeping the whole day. I even had to wake her up to feed her, even in the nights. She was just sleeping day and night. And, was I not happy? :D

Then, as she got older, she started staying awake until 10 pm. I think it was kind of my mistake too, because I wanted to play with her and I just wanted her around. But then, I had some friends tell me that if I keep her on this routine, I would be regretting it later.

So, I decided to listen to them and set up a routine for her. What I did was I started small; first I started putting her to bed around 9:30pm, then 9pm and so on. That way, she didn't feel the difference between the time and I was glad I did, because now we can have some time to ourselves. Now she is happily sleeping at 8pm, now-a-days is heaven, because she is sleeping (happily) around7:30PM.

That's her when she was 1 month and 1 week old.

We'll discuss more about the importance of your and your child(ren)'s sleep in another post. But for now, that's all I got to say. Let me know in the comments when is your child sleeping and it is like a chore or is it easy peasy? :)

DREAM ON!!

Don't really have anything specific to talk about...

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. Let's talk about what I've been up for the past few days.

To be honest, I didn't have anything specific to talk about because every topic I came up with, had already been discussed elsewhere. Of course, every topic is covered here or there. So, then I thought it is not about what I talk to you about, it's about how I convey the message.

Not everyone sees things the same way, everyone has their own perception of seeing things. Then I thought let's talk about

Would you like to talk about that?

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day/evening. As you might know, I have a feedback page where I gather your feedback and try to follow up on it.

Recently, I posted some goals for this week. Currently, I have only 3 surveys inputs, my goal was to have 10 people vote in this week. I am happy with the 3 votes and I thank you, whoever did those. :)

However, I am kind of sad that I don't even have half of what I asked for. And that is OK, because I understand that everyone is busy. No one's got time for my stupid survey! AND I totally understand that.

So I thought, why not try to ask all of you here about what you would like me to talk about. Basically, that's what the survey is; what you would like to see more of. It is not long (if that's what keeping you from completing the survey), it is only 5 questions long. No short answer/questions, no fill in the blank, no essay type, etc. :P Just some simple questions, and I really want to hear from all you great people reading this.

I wouldn't really get in details about what is in the survey, you'll have to check it out. :P But, I did want to make a separate post about what everyone would like me to talk about.

I don't think all of you are really 'that' interested in my life, which is basically what I figured I write about most often. I do try to come up with parenting related topics and some of the times I do.

Once, I wrote a product review and 1 or maybe 2 of the readers liked it. I would write more product reviews if I could only have 3 more people say "DO IT!". :) I would really appreciate if only 3 more people would say yes, go ahead and do it. But if I don't get any response, I guess I'll do it anyway because I don't want to disappoint the other 1 or 2 who wanted me to (but maybe, they'll be the only ones getting access to it, you never know).

So, the post is about what you want to see more of, or what else would you like me to talk about other than parenting. Or, is that the only thing you want me to talk about: parenting? I don't mind doing that, but just an option, you know? :P

Comment below and let me know. SMILE!

Set an example and be fearless!

Hello everyone,

I was reading an article in the Parents Canada - Me & Mom magazine, it just says 2015, no month on it. I was so fascinated by the article, it was about play. Like before, I was nodding in approval while I was reading it. I have learned so much about play in ECE that I could talk for hours about it, I love to refresh my memory on the things I've learned and forgotten, I am very forgetful and possess short memory. :P

While I was reading, one quote hit me and I was like YES! This is what I encourage every parent do and what I should do too! The quote:

Face your fears: Be tough! Set an example for your kids by jumping in that pool, riding that roller coaster, or saving that spider.          Parents Canada - Me & Mom 2015 (p. 21)

Got it from Pixabay.com

I am a bit (or maybe a lot) shy when it comes to doing anything in public. I used to hate presentations in school, but I used to love the creative parts of the presentations, which I still do (love creativity). I will be so wild and silly with someone I know very well, but as soon as I'm in front of unknown people, I am so shy! I guess that's how most of the people are? I don't know. 

I don't want my daughter to be shy; I want her to do what she wants, how she wants, wherever she wants, without fearing anyone or anything. But I need to set an example for her, no one is going to teach her to be fearless other than her parents. My husband is quite fearless, he doesn't fear about doing anything in public! I want to be like him, that way both of us can role model for her (maybe one parent isn't enough?). :P 

Sometimes, I really don't care about being in public and I'll do what makes me happy, but most of the time I am. And I've noticed my daughter observe me very carefully when in public. She observes me and sees how I respond to situations so that she can respond the same way. If she says that I'm OK with other people around, she'll be too and vice versa. She is very shy and introvert, I don't want her to be like that. I want her to be outgoing and friendly and make friends. For that, I'll have to change myself and open up, and just not be afraid. I need to get out of my shell first and help her out as well.

Let's all get out of our shells and help our children do the same and be strong by setting an example. 

Got it from Pixabay.com

I just like this picture so I thought I'd share it! Who would not LOVE this picture?!
 

Got it from pixabay.com

 HERE'S TO US GETTING OUT OF SHELLS! 🍻