bed time routine

Anas Arsyad is getting hyperactive, bust up with power, more and more energetic all time around, with jumping in da sofa, jumping at me or anyone lying (sometimes I felt like being crush  by a very heavy object, am I gonna die, erk, dabush!) run all over da house, screaming, shouting with his baby languages and da worst, copy cat all da action in movie he is watching at as he become more and more "curios" about everything..

it can be said that, I felt “just being married” to my hubby as it is only about two months we were living together, before this it is “pjj relationship“ (perkahwinan jarak jauh) its still hard for me to turn over what i had being done all alone to my hubby, i seems cannot trust him yet to take care of my lil one... huhuu, its so teriblle k having this feeing inside me..

and at da end, what i fear most, the trouble come, lately anas arsyad will scream, crying untill he vomited if he do not get what he wants and it is hard to get him to sleep. I am in terrible fear, I have to do something or this gonna be anas arsyad routine.

while googling, looking for an advice, i dah decide to start it with a small step: having a bed time routine for anas aryad.  As from what I read, it is important for toddler to have a sleep routine in order for them to develop physically, emotionally and for their brain developments. Maybe it sound so simple but I do fear to do it, gonna i make it? insyallah... i pray to excellencest!

Toddlers
source:http://www.slumbersounds.com/

From ages 1 to 3, most toddlers sleep about 10 to 13 hours. Separation anxiety, or just the desire to be up with mom and dad (and not miss anything), can motivate a child to stay awake. So can simple toddler-style contrariness.

Parents sometimes make the mistake of thinking that keeping a child up will make him or her sleepier for bedtime. In fact, though, kids can have a harder time sleeping if they're overtired. Set regular bedtimes and naptimes. Though most toddlers take naps during the day, you don't have to force your child to nap. But it's important to schedule some quiet time, even if your child chooses not to sleep.

Establishing a bedtime routine helps kids relax and get ready for sleep. For a toddler, the routine may be from 15 to 30 minutes long and include calming activities such as reading a story, bathing, and listening to soft music.

Whatever the nightly ritual is, your toddler will probably insist that it be the same every night. Just don't allow rituals to become too long or too complicated. Whenever possible, allow your toddler to make bedtime choices within the routine: which pajamas to wear, which stuffed animal to take to bed, what music to play. This gives your little one a sense of control over the routine.

But even the best sleepers give parents an occasional wake-up call. Teething can awaken a toddler and so can dreams. Active dreaming begins at this age, and for very young children, dreams can be pretty alarming. Nightmares are particularly frightening to a toddler, who can't distinguish imagination from reality. (So carefully select what TV programs, if any, your toddler sees before bedtime.)

Comfort and hold your child at these times. Let your toddler talk about the dream if he or she wants to, and stay until your child is calm. Then encourage your child to go back to sleep as soon as possible.

Can a bedtime routine anchor the entire day?
source: http://eeshay.com/

The components of a bedtime routine will vary, of course, from family to family, but being consistent is important for everyone in the family. I strive to balance four important things:

*cleaning up and getting ready for the next day

*getting ready for bed

*reviewing the day transition

*time with a parent

1. Cleaning up and getting ready for the next day:
Personally I prefer having the kids clean up before dinner because it’s an easier cleaning up after dinner and toys, with a “family fifteen” or other clean up game . Whenever you clean up, I do believe that tidying up one’s personal and common space is an important habit to have (and I’m not just talking about the kids, people!)

Getting ready for the next day could mean setting out clothes for the next day, or at least just deciding what to wear. It also might involve knowing your child’s school schedule. If it’s a school night, you might want to make sure kids have what they need for the next day (is it library day? Does he need gym clothes? Does she have all her homework? Where is the backpack anyway?)

2. Actually getting ready for bed:This is the part of the bedtime routine that is probably pretty similar from household to household. This would include at a minimum getting into jammies, brushing teeth, and putting dirty clothes in their hamper or dirty clothes basket/crate.

3. Reviewing the day together:For me, this is the part of the bedtime routine that is tempting to blow off some days in the interest of time. It is also the most important: spending time with you. In our family, this is the part of the day where I like to go over the kids’ reward charts (true confessions: I usually don’t get to this every night) and we talk about how the day went. This generally helps with sibling relations and reduces sibling fighting, because my kids talk to each other about problems or disagreements after the emotion is behind them. We occasionally do love games and write in our day book.

4. Time with YOU
If you’re still awake at this point, it’s a nice time to have some private time with each child, even if it’s just a few minutes. This could be reading or just cuddling together and talking. Anything that gives them your undivided attention even for a short time. This is especially crucial with multiple kids.

Give these ideas a try for creating a successful bedtime routine. Like anything else, implementing a routine consistently is the key, but I bet you’ll start to look forward to this special time with your kids.

Furthermore, the more efficient your routine is, the sooner you get time for YOURSELF to recharge!