Nap Time Routine

Most everyone has at least heard of a bed time routine, but a nap time routine is just as important.

Children need between 10 and 15 hours of sleep a day depending on age.  This can be slept all at once through the night, but is best to be broken up between night and nap(s).  We won't go into the specifics of napping today (age, time, and number of naps) but will focus on the nap routine instead.

Most children take naps to regain the energy lost during play.  This means, if you have a child sitting down watching tv all day, they may not be as tired when nap rolls around. This doesn't mean they are not tired, or do not need the nap, but may take longer to fall asleep.

No matter the activity level of the child, or children, you can set up a simple nap time routine to get them to fall asleep quickly, and sleep soundly!  Whether your child is sleeping one, or multiple naps, you can encorporate a proper nap routine.  Currently, the children we have in care are on one nap a day, so this is what I will use for my example.  The routine may need adjusted slightly to incorporate multiple naps, which I would be happy to discuss with anyone having questions.

Most mid-day nappers sleep following lunch.  We have lunch at noon, and is usually done by 12:30pm.  Our nap is from 1pm-3pm (sometimes a bit later)

The nap routine has 5 simple steps;

1. Use up that energy! (15min)
   After lunch, turn on some high energy music!  You can dance, jump, run, spin, whatever you want to get that energy out.  Incorporate games like freeze dance, or songs with interactive moments like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes".  You can also do exorcises with the children, like jumping jacks, touching your toes, or running in place. 
2. Wind down. (5min)
   You don't want to send the child to bed straight from this activity, or they will have an even harder time falling asleep because their adrenalin is still pumping!  As you have the music on, be sure to let the child or children know how much time is left.  Start letting them know at 5 min, and slow your dancing or games down a little.  Tell them again at 2min, and again slow your games down.  At 1min, let them know it's almost time to stop, and do some slow dancing, or hand movements, with slow breathing, to finish the transition into "winding down". 
3. Potty break or Diaper Change. (5min)
   Before nap, if you have a potty trained child, you should have them use the bathroom and wash hands.  This will help with winding down, as well as keep the bedding dry!  For children not yet potty trained, this is also a good time for diaper changing.  When changing the child, make sure you're helping them calm down, and not getting them worked back up.  
4. Story Time! (5min)
   A story is a great way to help a child appreciate reading, as well as a good way to calm down and spend some very special time with you.  Try to keep story time to 3-5min.  Too short and your child will not have time to get relaxed, too long and they may get bored and ready to get back up.  Some children have favorite books, and this is great, but remember to keep it mixed up a little.  If your child is very attached to a favorite book, try only reading it every other day, instead of every time.  
5. Time to sleep.
   Children sleep best with background noises, but nothing too loud.  Try using a white noise machine, some classical instrumentals, or nature sounds.  You can also try audio stories, but I would only play one, then music, or the child may focus too much on the stories to fall asleep.  Whatever you choose, put it on quietly in the nap area.  These noises provide a calming feeling, as well as give the child something to focus on instead of wanting to get up and play.  Having a quiet noise on in the nap area, also helps block out louder noises that may happen in the rest of the house.  You can turn this down in about 20min, or turn it off.  You can leave it on, but make sure it is not too loud that it may wake the child up half way through their nap.

The whole routine should take about 30 min.  Keep in mind every child is different, and this is just a guideline.  You can adjust it to fit to you and your child, to fit your needs.

Have a question you'd like answered?  Or a problem you'd like addressed?
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When to bring in the cow?

Whether you breastfeed, or fomula feed your child, you will eventually be switching to cows milk.
The best age to begin the transition to cows milk is once a child reaches 12 months old.  At this age they are physically able to digest cows milk.  Before this age the are unable to digest the protein and the cows milk contains sodium and potassium that is bad for an infants kidneys.

Children between 12, and 24months should be drinking whole milk, a less fat milk does not have the callories and nutrients a child of this age needs to grow.  Children on whole milk may still be breastfed, as long as it is not their primary form of neutrision.

A toddler should be getting between 2 and 3 cups of whole milk a day.  This does not just have to be consumed through a bottle or sippy cup, but can also include yogurts, cheese, in eggs, or on cereal. These options are good if your child does not transition to whole milk well.

Some children have a hard time transitioning to whole milk, as it does have a different taste and texture than breast milk or formula.  To help a child transition, you can try slowly mixing whole milk into your child's breast milk or formula.  Try 1 part whole milk with 3 parts breast milk or formula.  Once the child has adjusted, you can do 2 parts whole milk, with 2 parts breast milk or formula, and so on until you are feeding only whole milk.  Again, you can still breastfeed if feeding whole milk.

Allergies are rare in toddlers, with only 2-3 percent of children being allergic to milk, and 95% of those growing out of the allergy by the age of 3.  It is important to understand the difference between an allergy to milk, and lactose intolerance.  Children that have been drinking milk-based formula, or were breastfed by a mother who was consuming dairy products, should be able to switch to whole milk without any problems.  If your child was not breastfed, breastfed by a mother NOT consuming dairy products, or was on a soy based formula, contact your doctor before starting your child on cows milk, as they may recommend staying with soy based milks.  If you can avoid soy or rice milk, whole milk is best in vitamin D and calcium.  Like any new food, only introduce one new food at a time, so if allergies do form, you can be sure of the cause.

Have a question you'd like answered?  Or a problem you'd like addressed?
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Who do you think you are?

After yesterday's post, I got a few responses for questions, as well as many "who do you think you are" e-mails.  What I mean by this is, many people wanted to know what I thought made me qualified to give this type of information.

Now, last time I checked you didn't need a doctorate for blogging, but I'll humor you :D

I have been working with children since I was very young.  When I was only eight years old I started watching family.  For the next four years, I watched family while their parents were home, but busy (either working from home, or wanting to get some cleaning done without the kids in the way)

Once I was Twelve years old, I started watching not only family, but children outside of the family.  At this age, I was running solo.  I would go to neighbors houses to watch their children.  I started watching my friends little sister, who was 18months at the time.  This grew to more friends, and more neighbors, then on up from there.  I have been a babysitter for many families in this time.

Once I got into highschool, I started taking ECE classes, which stands for Early Childhood Education.  I had every teacher, from kindergarten on up, tell me I would make an amazing teacher.  I went back and fourth between what ages I would want to teach, but usually fell on younger children. 

I started to do Nannying jobs, which consisted not only of watching the kids, but preparing meals, picking up, transportation, etc.  I nannied for a few years on top of some babysitting jobs.  Also, during parent teacher confrences in High School, they would offer daycare for parents with younger children, or children of the teachers.  I would volunteer for the full day of care, the entire time conferences were being held.  Most students would volunteer for the hour required to get extra credit.

Out of highschool, I began attending a local college, continuing my education in ECE.  During this time, I worked at the college.  This lasted the school year, but man did I miss the kids!  That summer, I started a day camp for school aged children.  We had a blast, going on field trips twice a week!  As the summer was coming to an end, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the kids.  Sadly, they did have to go back to school... but what to do now?  Then, I decided to continue the summer camp, but during the school year I would offer childcare to children under five years.  This started my in-home daycare.  We are known as HIJK Childcare.  I started it with my bestfriend and roommate.  The name was created with our names put together.  I, am Irene King and she, Jennifer Henderson.  The first letter of our names, mixed up a little, form HIJK.

The daycare took off, and eventually we encorporated preschool.  I have never loved a job so much, until I started teaching preschool.  With my love of children, my ECE schooling, and text book references from those classes, we were off!  It is an amazing thing to see children learn, and to know you are the cause of that. 

To watch a child grow and blossom, is a feeling that will always touch my heart.

So there you have it.  That is my past, and my passion.  I started the blog to help not only providers, but parents alike.  I have had many parents in the daycare ask me how I have gotten their child to sleep in their own bed, when at home they are still in a crib.  I have had parents ask me how I have reduced tantrums in the "terrible twos"  I have been asked what to do with potty training, getting a child to eat new foods, and many other questions.  So I thought, why not?  If the parents in my daycare want to know, I'm sure other parents out there could benefit as well.  And what about providers?  And like that, Rug-Rat Handbook was born.

Questions from you!

The Rug-Rat handbook wants to hear from you!  We are here to answer your questions and concerns.  Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, childcare provider, preschool teacher, or babysitter, your questions are welcome!

The Rug-Rat Handbook will do it's best to address any, and ALL e-mails!!!

Have a question you'd like answered?  Or a problem you'd like addresssed?
Send an e-mail to TheRugRatHandbook@yahoo.com