baby sleep Archives - Parenting Foundations

Routines or Schedules: What Works Best for Your Household?

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, finding a balance between routines and schedules can be a game-changer for families.

Both routines and schedules play crucial roles in creating a stable and nurturing environment for children, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits. Understanding the distinction between the two and how to implement them effectively can help your family thrive.

What Are Routines?

Routines are the regular, predictable activities that happen every day. They are the backbone of daily life, providing a sense of security and stability. Routines are less about specific times and more about the sequence of activities. For example, a bedtime routine might include brushing teeth, reading a story, and then lights out. The focus is on the order of events rather than the exact time they occur.

Benefits of Routines:

1. Security and Stability:

Routines provide a sense of predictability, which can be comforting for children. Knowing what comes next helps reduce anxiety and creates a sense of security.

2. Independence:

When children know what to expect, they can start to take responsibility for their own actions. For instance, a child who knows the bedtime routine can begin to brush their teeth and get ready for bed without constant reminders.

3. Skill Development:

Routines help children develop important life skills. For example, a morning routine that includes making the bed and getting dressed teaches responsibility and self-care.

4. Family Bonding:

Routines can create special moments for family bonding. A consistent bedtime story or a family dinner can become cherished traditions that strengthen family ties.

What Are Schedules?

Schedules, on the other hand, are more about timing. They involve planning specific activities at specific times. A schedule might include waking up at 7:00 AM, breakfast at 7:30 AM, and school drop-off at 8:00 AM. Schedules are particularly useful for managing busy days and ensuring that all necessary activities are completed.

Benefits of Schedules:

1. Time Management:

Schedules help families manage their time effectively. By allocating specific times for activities, you can ensure that everything gets done without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

2. Consistency:

Schedules provide a consistent framework for the day. This consistency can be especially important for children who thrive on routine and predictability.

3. Productivity:

Having a schedule can increase productivity by reducing downtime and ensuring that important tasks are prioritized.

4. Flexibility:

While schedules provide structure, they can also be adjusted as needed. If an unexpected event occurs, you can rearrange the schedule to accommodate it.

Finding the Balance

While both routines and schedules offer valuable benefits, finding the right balance between the two is key. Here are some tips to help you strike that balance:

1. Start with Routines:

Begin by establishing strong routines for key parts of the day, such as morning, bedtime, and mealtimes. These routines will provide a stable foundation for your family’s daily life.

2. Introduce Schedules Gradually:

Once your routines are in place, start to introduce schedules for specific activities. For example, you might schedule homework time, extracurricular activities, and family outings.

3. Be Flexible:

Life is unpredictable, and it’s important to be flexible with both routines and schedules. If something unexpected comes up, don’t be afraid to adjust your plans. Flexibility is key to maintaining a healthy balance.

4. Involve Your Children:

Include your children in the process of creating routines and schedules. This involvement can help them feel more invested and responsible for following the plan.

5. Monitor and Adjust:

Regularly review your routines and schedules to see what’s working and what isn’t. Be open to making changes as needed to better meet your family’s needs.

Practical Examples

Morning Routine:

– Wake up
– Brush teeth
– Get dressed
– Eat breakfast
– Pack school bag

Morning Schedule:

– 7:00 AM: Wake up
– 7:15 AM: Brush teeth and get dressed
– 7:30 AM: Eat breakfast
– 7:45 AM: Pack school bag
– 8:00 AM: Leave for school

Bedtime Routine:

– Take a bath
– Put on pajamas
– Read a story
– Lights out

Bedtime Schedule:

– 7:00 PM: Take a bath
– 7:15 PM: Put on pajamas
– 7:30 PM: Read a story
– 8:00 PM: Lights out

Conclusion

Routines and schedules are both essential tools for creating a stable and nurturing environment for your family. Routines provide the security and predictability that children need, while schedules help manage time and ensure that important tasks are completed. By finding the right balance between the two, you can create a harmonious and productive daily life for your family. Remember to be flexible, involve your children in the process, and regularly review and adjust your plans to meet your family’s evolving needs. With the right approach, routines and schedules can help your family soar.

White Noise or Not?

by Brenda McSween | Baby Sleep, Child Sleep, Parenting Tools, Sleep Training

There seems to be this constant issue where something is good for a bit; then, bang now it is bad. I have also seen when bad things are now good (do not introduce certain foods until 1, now do it as soon as you introduce solids). Let the confusion about what to do with a baby happen again: Should you use or not use a white noise machine or device?

If something is too loud it can affect a child’s hearing. Now do I think you should run into your child’s room and remove the white noise device you are using, NO! I do think you should make sure it is not on a loud setting and it is placed away from your child’s crib, bassinet, or bed.

What is the purpose of white noise anyways? In my opinion, the purpose of white noise is to reduce the effect everyday noises have on a child’s ability to remain asleep. The steady quiet hum in the background appears to reduce the number of times my child is startled awake. I have put a fan on in my little man’s room since he was just over 6 months. This has reduced the amount of tip-toeing the other people in the house have had to partake in.

Here are some of the tips/points to consider if you choose to use white noise:

It should be on a low setting.
The device should not be right beside your child.
Constant is better than intermittent. Some children will wake up if the white noise shuts off.
If your child really likes the background noise you may find yourself having to pack a white noise machine or similar device when you travel.

Ultimately, the final decision is up to you as a parent. If you are concerned, do not hesitate to remove the device or talk to your child’s doctor. I hope this post has reduced your questions or sense of uncertainty around using white noise as a tool in your home.

Happy sleeping, everyone!!

The Colour of Noise

by Brenda McSween | Baby Sleep, Child Sleep, Parenting Tools

We often hear of the effect white noise can have on you or your child’s sleep. Who knew there are other colours of noise?? Not me. My guest blog post today is from the amazing Jerylin Gan, Ph.D. about the colours of noise.

Have trouble sleeping? A toddler who wakes whenever you accidentally step on that creaky floorboard? Just hate the sound of those damn chipper little birds at 5 am? Then someone’s probably recommended playing white noise in the background. Maybe in the form of a fan, a mp3 of a waterfall, or one of those sleep sheep stuffed animals that play a heartbeat as well.

From my experience, white noise is wonderful. Both my kiddos and husband will wake at the drop of a hat. But you know what I’ve found works better for me? Pink noise. That’s right. There’s more than one colour of noise!

There’s white, pink, brown, gray, and violet noise (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise). The difference between the colours is how loud certain frequencies are. Low frequencies sound low to human ears; high frequencies are higher pitched. “Noise” is when you play a lot of frequencies at the same time. White noise is when all frequencies are played at the same volume. Pink noise is when lower frequencies are played slightly louder than the higher frequencies. Brown noise is when lower frequencies are played a lot louder than higher frequencies.

And though it’s hard for most people to tell the difference between the different colours of noise, they’ve been shown to have different effects on people. What might be soothing for one (e.g. the sound of a vacuum to my friend’s baby) might sound awful to another individual (e.g. the sound of a vacuum to me). So experiment! Try to see if you like white, pink or brown noise. See which noise might help you sleep better. See which noise will help you concentrate on a task!

Jerylin Gan, Ph.D.

You may wonder who is Jerylin Gan, Ph.D.? Well, let me fill you in. Jerylin is currently an amazing stay at home mom with a passion to ensure her children are getting the much-needed rest they require. Jerylin has a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley, PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of Washington, Seattle and she did further training at Cornell Medical School. She is my go-to person when looking at the science behind a number of studies we see popping up on social media.

Originally posted June 21, 2016

Updated and re-posted Nov 23, 1018

Time Change Coming

by Brenda McSween | Baby Sleep, Child Sleep, Newborn, Parenting

Yippee (sarcasm inserted here) we have a time change this weekend! We will find ourselves moving our clocks ahead an hour. So if your child usually wakes up at 7 am the clock will say 8 am!!! You will look at the clock and smile but realistically it does not mean much 🙁

There are a few things you can do; however, you first have to decide if you are okay with the morning wake time.

If you are happy with the new wake time then do the following:

1. Naps will occur after the proper amount of wake time. This will make it seem like naps are now on hour later then they were the day before the time change. It is the clock playing tricks on you.

2. Bedtime will be one hour later then usual.

3. Maintain this new schedule.

If you are not okay with the new wake time then do the following:

1. Wake your child at the desired wake time. Expect your child to take a few days to adjust to being woken up.

2. Naps at the proper amount of wake time.

3. Plan for bedtime to be a the regular time which may feel like an hour earlier to your child. It will take time to adapt.

4. Be patient as this will take at least a week for your child to adapt to the time change.

The third thing you can do is go with the flow and adjust with your child as their bodies adapt.

This is most likely what we will do. I will put on my big girl panties and by patient with the little man while he gets used to the clock changes.

The final and most important thing is that you do not stress out!!

As with everything related to children, the calmer you can be the easier the transition is.

Take Care and Happy Sleeping!!

Does White Noise Help Put Baby to Sleep?

by Brenda McSween | Baby Sleep, Child Sleep, Parenting Tools

Hands up if this sounds familiar…. Your fussy baby finally falls asleep for her afternoon nap and you sit down for a much needed moment to yourself only to hear a car with a broken muffler roaring down the street. Just like that, Sleeping Beauty is wide awake and mad NOT a good combination.

Or maybe you live in the country and you’re awoken at dawn by a wailing infant who has adorable (but ridiculously loud) birds chirping outside her window.

Environmental noises are a fact of life that you can’t do much about; but, there IS something you can do about your baby’s ability to sleep through the noise. In my experience, white noise machines can be a lifesaver when it comes to helping babies fall asleep and stay asleep.

There are lots of options out there. You can get sound machines in most department stores, drug stores, and online. You can also use things you may already have in your home. For example, we use a fan pointed away from our son. We keep the fan on all year long. And although it might seem unnatural to create noise when you want your baby to go to sleep, remember: it wasn’t exactly soundproof in the womb!

Your child is actually quite used to noise by the time he’s born because he’s been listening to you talk, your stomach gurgling, and the sound of the family and the TV and the car radio while in utero.

Believe it or not, complete quiet can actually be more confusing to a newborn than background noise.

One of the biggest benefits of the white noise machine is that it helps babies fall back to sleep if they wake up. This means their nap times will last longer and they will be less likely to fully wake in the night.

The main concern parents have about trying this is usually about their child becoming addicted to white noise, and that’s a valid point.

My experience is that there’s absolutely no need to worry about this. White Noise machine IS NOT being used as a sleep prop like a soother or being rocked and sung to. It’s there to block out noises that you can’t control that might be waking your child.

Personally, I still use white noise for myself and our 3-year-old. If I do not have white noise on, my sleep is more interrupted.

If you want to wean your child off the white noise machine, simply turn the volume down a little every night until you’re not using the sound at all. If you want to wean your child from the fan turn the speed of the fan down then slowly move the fan out of the room.

If you have more questions about your child’s sleep feel free to call 403-652-7111 to seek your free 15-minute consult.

Happy sleeping, everyone!