Development Archives - Sleeping Should Be Easy

Teething Remedies for a 1 Year Old

Apr 25, 2022

What to do when your baby is teething and won't stop crying? Soothe your little one with these teething remedies for 1 year old kids at home. Any time my baby fussed or couldn't sleep well, I figured it had to do with teething. Except... he didn't actually get his first tooth until well after his first birthday. Suddenly, the poor guy became miserable, clearly from the discomfort of cutting teeth. He'd fight both naps and nighttime sleep, where getting him down became a long, exhausting routine. He was extra needy and clingy, unwilling to let go of me for even the briefest of … [Read more...]

Children’s Books about Separation Anxiety

Children's Books

Mar 19, 2022

Separation anxiety in kids can be challenging. Read these children's books about separation anxiety to help your child cope with these difficult feelings. Imagine the infant who cries the instant her parents put her down, or the preschooler who has to let go of daddy's hand and stay with his new teacher. Whether in the infant or preschool ages, dealing with separation anxiety isn't easy on anyone. You might get annoyed ("Why does he cry every time I step five feet away?"), worried ("How is he coping in his new school?"), or downright frustrated. Despite these emotions that … [Read more...]

5 Tips to Handle a Clingy Toddler

Development

Mar 05, 2022

Is your child overly attached, refusing to leave your side? Learn 5 ways to help your clingy toddler feel comfortable alone or with others. My clingy toddler refused to leave my side (even at home!) and shadowed me everywhere I went. Getting a load of laundry done or tackling the dishes in the sink felt like a miracle. He'd scream if someone else so much as extended their arms to give him a hug. And socializing with other kids in a play date or family party didn't help at all. On one hand, having a toddler cling to your side can be an ego boost, a bit of reassurance that he has a … [Read more...]

When Do Newborns Get Easier?

Development

Feb 01, 2022

When do newborns get easier? Caring for a baby in the early months is challenging. Learn the milestones that make life easier! The light at the end of the tunnel wasn't shining any time soon. My baby was a few weeks old, nursing all the time, and hardly sleeping at all. Nights were the worst: My husband or I would sit in our dark bedroom with a wailing baby in one of our arms. With only a small lamp lit, the other one faced the laptop, desperately searching for solutions that might help our baby stretch his sleep or cry less. It didn't help when the milestones everyone promised … [Read more...]

Is Your Toddler Scared of Bath Time? Here’s What to Do

Development

Jan 25, 2022

Have a toddler scared of bath time all of a sudden? You're not alone. Discover effective techniques to help make taking a bath easy and fun. What is going on?! I thought. My 2 year old had always loved bathtime and never resisted hopping into the bath tub. But then bath time became more and more of a power struggle. His aversion started off innocently enough—he'd dawdle and take his time to head to the bathroom, perhaps shed a few tears the first few nights at the start of the bedtime routine. Except next thing I knew, his whimpers and tears morphed into full-blown tantrums and … [Read more...]

How to Teach a Child to Dress Themselves

Development

Jan 20, 2022

Want to let the kids get dressed on their own and save yourself time? Learn how to teach a child to dress themselves with these useful tips. I was late for work, and my son insisted on putting his shoes on. This wouldn't have been a problem... if he actually knew how to do it. You see, all this time, I'd been doing everything for him because it seemed faster that way. Sure, I knew I'd save more time if he only knew how to get dressed—except teaching him how to do that would take time I already didn't have. Catch-22, anyone? Back then, my husband usually had morning duty during … [Read more...]

How to Help Your Sad Child Handle Their Feelings

Development

Dec 26, 2021

Wondering how to help your sad child feel less overwhelmed with her feelings and emotions? Learn how to address her sadness in a healthy way. While kids are born with the ability to feel emotions, they can't express them verbally or as clearly as we do. We end up with tantrums, confusing behavior, or kids who refuse to talk or communicate because that's all they know how to express these feelings. This is true even for a sad child overwhelmed with how she feels. Maybe she lost a toy, fought with a friend, or watched a sad movie. She did something wrong, didn't get to do what she … [Read more...]

5 Effective Techniques to Help Kids with Transitions

Development

Sep 11, 2021

Moving from one activity to the next can be a challenge throughout the day. Check out these 5 tips to help kids with transitions. I swore I would never take him to the automobile museum ever again. I had planned a fun outing to take my then-toddler to visit a nearby car museum, expecting to see different models of cars and play with the exhibits. Except it went nothing like that. He didn't want to visit any of the exhibits or even play with the toys on display—and screamed if we even suggested it. So, we figured he was hungry and ushered him to the museum's restaurant. Instead, … [Read more...]

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