No time once again to blog so I just cut and paste the note to the babysitter for posterity. It'll remind me later where we were at the start of June...
ACTIVITIES & DISCIPLINE
1. Ellie is feeling all of her 1 years. She wants to get UP and walk walk walk, grab, investigate and grab for things. Generally we encourage her to do whatever, including pull up on chairs, bang the coffee table etc but when we want to modify behavior, we give a quick NO – with a straight face (it’s hard not to smile!) and lift her up and move her to a “safer” spot. If you could mimic that type of discipline, that would be great. Things she is NOT allowed to do are stand near the tv or touch the dials on it, take books our of the kitchen bookcase, go IN cabinets and drawers or tpouch power cords. Generally a “no” will work but after 2 times she needs to be moved. It can be as short as a foot away. Playing with the doors is ok for a few minutes but not generally all night. Everything else is fair game and you will be surprised to see how active she is!
2. Ellie can sit, crawl, stand and cruise furniture unsupported. Please allow her ample floor time to play. She LOVES to walk. She can hold your fingertips or one hand, or you can allow her to walk into you.
3. Ellie ADORES her buggy and, if possible, a cruise around the block anytime around 5/6 is always appreciated. She also seems to like the slide at your moms house a lot!
4. If it’s NOT bedtime – Ellie reacts to the dark. If you bring her into a dark area, and she cries, pull up a shade or direct her into light. She’s not truly afraid, she just thinks you are about to put her down for a nap. Same for diaper changes. She’ll cry through it most times. It’s FINE to let her cry; she brightens right up afterwards!
FEEDING
1. We are still cutting up food for Ellie but she does enjoy picking it up on her own. Generally I let her handle her own beans, peas, some fruit, and meat if it’s all not too mushy. As you can expect she gets FILTHY. So in addition to using a bib, please expect that you will have to “brush her off” after every meal. So please ensure that the food gets OFF her before she migrates to another room, goes on the couch etc. (We have had ants in the past so it’s a bug thing) If something gets food on it to the degree that she’s a mess, I’d rather you change her then keep her in the same clothes regardless of what time it is.
2. Ellie loves to eat and enjoys interacting and feeding herself to applause. She also enjoys eating while you are eating (ie sitting at the table together etc) Basiacally our food rules are feed Ellie in her highchair and if you have anyone with you, ask that they please leave her ALONE while you feed her. Metaphorically that is. They don’t have to actually LEAVE! But I have a huge issue with people not feeding kids with dignity. So obviously no song playing, pattycake, motor noises, helicopter noises etc etc Feel free to feed her with plenty of smiles, encouragement and praise, talk to her - whatever. Even kisses while eating are fine!
5. Bottle – Ellie likes to suck on her bottle after she’s done with it and she will give it up by either handing it to you, or putting it aside. Please allow her to hold onto her bottle and suck on it/play with it for as long as she likes. You can use your own judement when it’s time to move it away from her but generally she give you a cue. The only time we “take” her bottle is during her “last” bottle, where you switch it out with her pacifier.
CLEANING
1. She wont like the sink. If you must wash her, tub is awesome. She LOVES the tub.
2. After she eats, please wash her face and hands before sending her off.
3. Please use spray cleaner of soapy water on the seat of the chaira and the tray after every feeding.
NIGHTIME RITUALS
1. Her cues when she is tired are agitated cries – usually in the midst of laughing, pressing her forehead to the floor, angrily throwing her binky and rubbing her eyes.
2. Ellie is allowed to sleep with (1) breathable blankie, wrapped from her chest down To get her to sleep, give her a binky, her “Edgar” and her blankie.
3. Regardless of how she falls to sleep, or when, she should be in her crib for the night by 9pm. If she’s awake, and you are playing with her, interacting with her, by 9:15/9:30. Please do not let her sleep in your arms until 10, 11 at night then try to move her.
4. Ellie will sleep when she’s tired so you do not need to coerce her into bed. Our routine is to take her when she’s exhausted UP STAIRS with a warmed 5oz bottle of milk. Hide the bottle fro her until you get upstairs!!! Then we change her into an overnight diaper, dim the room lights, and sit with her while she has her last bottle. Generally we give her Edgar to hold and snuggle during this bottle. Rocking is fine if you enjoy it, Doug and I generally don’t so Im not ure if she likes it or not bu it wont hurt to try! As she finishes her bottle, have the binky ready. Switch out the binky with the bottle, and hold her a bit more. When he eyes close, put her in her crib. You may have to do this a couple of times. If she REALLY cries beyond what you think is normal, you can lay with her on the bed in her room until she falls asleep.
4:00pm Supper
either
• (1) jar Stage 3 Meal
or
• Frozen dinner – ie Garden Burger, peas, black beas, red pepper etc. vegetables
• Pick up snacks
• Juice bottle <1-2 oz juice and 4 oz water>
6:00 pm Snack
Yogurt
5 oz milk
Anything your eating
6.30-7pm. Nap:
Likely she;'ll take a nap sometime between 4:00 -8pm. This nap will NOT keep her awake at night but wake her after 45 minutes. Anytime after 7 she’s usually great playing on the floor. We strongly encourage playtime at this time – walking, toys, lights – anything to tire her out. I don’t recommend trying to cuddle her until at least after 8pm.
8:45 pm: PM bottle
Before you give her her last bottle, change her into a Huggies overnight.
Change last diaper, start a story, lay her on bed for quiet time, lay next to her, read, whatever. If she falls asleep in your arms watching tv, that's fine. It's all fine. The ONLY issue may be that she wakes up when you put her down. See ritual above in NOTES
Whatever you do is fine. I noted all this so you know generally what we do and what her cues and expectations are. If there's something that works better for you, certainly do it. The only things we care about are that you allows her to hold her own bottles, and that she be allowed to play unrestricted at times.
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