Avocado Puree

Avocados are bursting with nutrients so they're perfect for weaning your baby.

Ingredients

- 1 organic avocado, mashed

Directions

If Serving Fresh / Immediately

- Mash the avocado with a fork or blend it in a food processor.
- Mix with breast milk, formula or water to reach desired consistency.

If Freezing

- Mash the avocado with a fork or blend it in a food processor.
- Divide into ice cube trays, wrap/cover, and freeze.
- Thaw in the fridge the night before use, or thaw by putting the ice cube in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter to defrost.
- Once defrosted, mix with breast milk, formula or water to reach desired consistency

Baby Nutrition

Brown Rice Cereal

Rice cereal, along with fruit and yogurt, is often one of the first foods for babies. This recipe shows you how to make your own rice cereal at home.

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup brown rice, uncooked

Directions

- Place the brown rice in a food processor until it forms a powder.
- In a small saucepan, bring rice powder and 2 cups of water to the boil while stirring constantly.
- Place lid on saucepan and simmer on a low heat for ten minutes until you have a nice creamy consistency.
- You may need to add a little more water to adjust the consistency.

Click Here For Avocado Puree Baby Food Recipe

Baby Nutrition

Banana Puree

Easy to peel and prep, bananas are the ultimate weaning staple. Plus, they provide bags of energy & are easy to mash on the go.

- Prep 2 minutes
- Cook No Cook

Ingredients

- 1 small banana

Directions

- Peel a small banana and mash with a fork.
- During the first stages of weaning, add a little milk if necessary to thin down the consistency and add a familiar taste.

Click Here For Brown Rice Cereal Baby Food Recipe

Baby Nutrition

Baby Food Safety

The Basics of Baby Food Safety

There are more choices than ever when it comes to baby food. What you choose to feed your baby depends on numerous factors, including what food your baby prefers, what nutrients they need, and their age. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to decide what’s best for their baby and family.

DEVELOPMENT

Babies of different ages require different types of foods. Many of the larger baby food manufacturers, such as Gerber, label baby foods with numbers that correspond to a baby’s development. Generally, the youngest babies eat stage 1 foods that are cereal-based or fruit and vegetable purees. These foods have been entirely liquefied. Stage 2 foods have a thicker, less watery consistency, while stage 3 foods generally contain soft solids. Babies slowly progress from stage 1 to 3 as they grow and develop.

INGREDIENTS

While many parents are adopting organic foods that may be healthier for a child’s development, the most important things to keep in mind is not just the production, but the content of food. Babies should be exposed to fruits and vegetables as much as possible, rather than baby foods that use filler ingredients.

It’s important to introduce new flavors one by one to make sure that there are no negative reactions or allergies associated with a specific ingredient. In order to be sure, it’s best to use single ingredient foods rather than blends when trying new foods for the first time. It’s also recommended that you serve the same food consecutively for four days in a row to ensure that a food is well tolerated by your baby.

STORAGE

Baby foods can keep for a long time before they are opened. Go by the “use by” date on the package to make sure the food is fresh. Make sure that there are no leaks or breaks in the sealing of food jars before eating. Once a jar of baby food has been opened, it’s best if the food is consumed within a day of opening. If you plan on saving baby food after it has been opened, refrigerate it and then use a separate spoon to feed your baby. This will ensure that bacteria from your baby’s mouth do not contaminate the food you save for later.

Making Your Own Baby Food

Many parents have begun to make their own baby food, either to save money or because they believe it’s healthier for their child. If you plan on making your own baby food, make sure to research any food you plan to prepare.

Never feed your baby a homemade baby food without being absolutely sure that both the ingredients and method for preparation are healthy for the child. One of the main advantages of making your own baby food is that you control each and every ingredient being served to your child.

Organic Baby Food

One benefit of making your own baby food is to ensure that the food is high quality and organic. However, there are also many options of pre-made organic food available at health food stores. While organic food may indeed be healthier, the production of baby food is monitored very closely. All baby food must adhere to federal guidelines and any baby food sold in stores has been deemed safe for consumption. Whether or not you wish to serve exclusively organic food, a combination of organic and non-organic, or regular store-bought food is a personal choice. 

Handwashing

Your First Step in Keeping Your Children Safe. Your hands can pick up bacteria and spread bacteria to your baby - for example, from:

- Diapers containing feces and urine
- Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs
- Pets, such as dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, birds, and lizards.
- Soil

Washing your hands can remove harmful bacteria, so wash your hands often to help prevent foodborne illness. Also, teach your children how and when to wash their hands.

3 Critical Handwashing Steps

- Wet your hands thoroughly with warm water and add soap.
- Thoroughly scrub your hands, wrists, fingernails, and in between fingers - for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse, then dry hands with a clean cloth towel or use a paper towel so the germs are thrown away.

Who's Not Washing?

According to a Penn State University study on mothers with infants less than four months old:

41% didn't wash their hands after petting animals;

32% didn't wash their hands after changing the baby's diaper;

15% didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom;

10% didn't wash their hands after handling raw meat;

5% didn't wash their hands after gardening or working with soil.

Foodborne Illness: When to Call the Doctor

Prevention is key to keeping your baby safe from infections. However, food-handling mistakes can happen. If your baby experiences any of the following symptoms, he or she may have a foodborne illness and may need to see a doctor:
- Blood in diarrhea
- Prolonged, high fever
- Not taking fluids
- Not able to keep anything down due to vomiting

In these cases, take your baby to a doctor or healthcare provider immediately. He or she can properly diagnose foodborne illness, have the specific bacteria identified if necessary, and prescribe the best treatment.

Handling Baby's Food Safely...

Protect your baby and young children by following these DOs and DON'Ts for preparing and handling their food safely.

DOs:

- Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for preparing bottles before filling them with formula or milk. Observe "use-by" dates on formula cans.
- Check to see that the safety button on the lid of commercial baby-food jars is down. If the jar lid doesn't "pop" when opened, don't use the product. Discard any jars with chipped glass or rusty lids.
- Use detergent and hot water to wash all blenders, food processors, and utensils (including the can opener) that come in contact with a baby's foods. Rinse well with hot water after washing.
- Transport bottles and food in an insulated cooler when traveling with the baby. Perishable items (milk, formula, or food) left out of the refrigerator or without a cold source for more than two hours should not be used. Cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying.
- Freeze homemade baby food by putting the mixture into an ice cube tray. Note: One cube equals one serving. Cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap and place the tray in the freezer. Once the food cubes are frozen, pop them into a freezer bag or airtight container and date it. Store for up to three months (discard unused food after three months). As an option, small jars can also be used for freezing. Leave about 1/2 inch of space at the top because food expands when frozen.

DON'Ts:

- Don't make more formula than you will need. The formula can become contaminated during preparation. If a large quantity of formula is prepared and not properly refrigerated, bacteria can multiply to very large numbers. The more bacteria there are, the greater the chances for foodborne illness. Preparing formula in smaller quantities on an as-needed basis greatly reduces the possibility of contamination. If using powder, reconstitute immediately before feeding. If using liquid concentrates or ready-to-feed products, follow label instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Don't put a bottle back in the refrigerator if the baby doesn't finish it. Harmful bacteria from a baby's mouth can be introduced into the bottle during feeding; they can grow and multiply even after refrigeration (some bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures) and reheating. The temperature that's needed to kill harmful bacteria is extremely high for consumption by a baby. Also, it's not a good idea to repeatedly reheat formula because lots of nutrients can be lost.
- Don't feed a baby from a jar of baby food and then put it in the refrigerator. Saliva on the spoon may contaminate the remaining food. Instead, put a serving size on a dish. Refrigerate the food remaining in the jar. Throw away the food in the serving dish that's not eaten.
- Don't use honey as a sweetener to entice babies to drink water from a bottle. Honey isn't safe for children less than a year old. It can contain the Clostridium botulinum organism that could cause serious illness or death.
- Don't give raw or unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juice to infants or young children. Unpasteurized milk or juice may contain harmful bacteria. Unpasteurized juices are normally found in the refrigerated sections of grocery stores, health-food stores, cider mills, or farm markets. Such juices must have this warning on the label: WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems.
NOTE: Juices that are fresh-squeezed and sold by the glass, such as at farmer's markets, at roadside stands, or in some juice bars, may not be pasteurized, or otherwise treated to ensure their safety. Warning labels are not required on these products. Young children should avoid these juices. If you can't tell if a juice has been processed to destroy harmful bacteria, either don't use the product or boil it to kill any harmful bacteria.
- Don't leave formula out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Harmful bacteria can grow rapidly in food at room temperature. Discard formula that's been left out for more than two hours.
- Don't place dirty diapers in the same bag with bottles or food. Harmful bacteria from a dirty diaper can spread to baby's food.
- Don't give infants "teas" brewed from star anise. Brewed "teas" containing star anise have been associated with illnesses affecting infants. The illnesses ranged from serious neurological effects, such as seizures, to vomiting, jitteriness, and rapid eye movement.

Two Ways to Heat Breast Milk or Formula

(for bottles with disposable inserts or hard plastic and glass bottles)
- In Hot Tap Water
Place bottle under hot, running tap water until the desired temperature is reached. This should take one-to-two minutes.
- On the Stove
Heat water in a pan. Remove the pan from the heat and set the bottle in it until it's warm.

Special Notes:

When heating baby's milk, always shake the liquid to even out the temperature and test on top of your hand - not the wrist (this is one of the areas least sensitive to heat) - before feeding. Milk that's "baby-ready" should feel lukewarm.

Heating breast milk or infant formula in the microwave is not recommended. Studies have shown that microwaves heat baby's milk and food unevenly. This results in "hot spots" that can scald a baby's mouth and throat.

Safe Microwaving of Solid Foods

Studies show that the when baby food is microwaved in a jar, it's often heated unevenly. The hottest places are in the center of the foods. The coolest places are next to the glass sides, which could lead you to believe that the food is not too hot. Follow these precautions when microwaving baby's food.

- Don't microwave baby foods in the jar. Instead, transfer the food to a dish before microwaving it. This way the food can be stirred and taste-tested for temperature.
Microwave 4 ounces of solid food in a dish for about 15 seconds on high power. Always stir, let stand 30 seconds, and taste-test before feeding.
- Don't heat baby food meats, meat sticks or eggs in the microwave. Use the stovetop instead. These foods have a high-fat content, and since microwaves heat fats faster than other substances, these foods can cause splattering and overheating.
Special Note: When heating baby's food, always stir, let stand 30 seconds, and taste-test before feeding. Food that's "baby-ready" should taste or feel lukewarm.

How to Store Mother's Milk

Careful home handling and storage of breast milk is essential in preserving its special qualities. Here's how to properly store breast milk:

- Refrigerate breast milk if it will be used within 3 to 5 days. If the milk will not be used in that time, it should be frozen - but only for a maximum of 3-6 months. Date it when you freeze it.
- Store breast milk in the back of the freezer, not in the freezer door. The door is the warmest spot in the freezer. This avoids the possibility of unintentionally defrosting the milk, which can happen with frequent openings and closings of the door. 

Important Tips to Remember for Baby...

- Don't leave baby food solids or liquids out at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Don't put a bottle or baby food back in the refrigerator if the baby doesn't finish it.
- To reduce the risks of choking, be watchful of babies and young children while they are eating, and teach children to chew their food well.

(In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 4 years old not be fed any round, firm food unless it is cut into small pieces no larger than one-half inch.)

Baby Nutrition

New eaters only need about 1 to 2 tablespoons of a food, so keep portions small.

Be on the lookout for allergies, especially when feeding your child foods that contain common allergens.

RECIPES

1. Pea Puree

Apples or pears are fun or even green beans. Make sure it is mild enough for your baby's developing the digestive system. Brussels sprouts or broccoli probably aren't the best first foods. You can also use fresh peas instead of frozen if you have them.

Ingredients

3 cups frozen peas

1/2 cup breast milk

Prep 5 m

Cook 15 m

Ready In 2 h 20 m

Directions

- Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer.

- Bring water to a boil. Add peas, cover, and steam until tender, about 15 minutes.

- Place peas and breast milk in a blender or food processor and puree until creamy.

- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.

- Spread pea mixture into an ice cube tray, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, 2 to 3 hours.

- Transfer frozen cubes to a resealable plastic bag and store in the freezer.

- To serve, heat cubes in the microwave for about 30 seconds until warm but not hot. Stir thoroughly.

Click Here For Banana Puree Baby Food Recipe

Baby Nutrition

Feeding Schedule

2-8 Week Old Newborn, Breast Feeding

(This schedule is best for babies who consume average amounts of breast milk, and for moms who have average breast milk production and storage amounts.)

9:00 AM – Wake and Feed*
10:00 AM – Nap (30-60 minutes)
11:00 AM – Wake and Feed
12:30 PM – Nap (30-60 minutes)
1:30 PM – Wake and Feed
3:30 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
4:30 PM – Wake and Feed
6:00 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
6:30 PM – Wake and Feed
7:30 PM – Catnap (20 – 30 minutes)
8:00 PM – Wake and Feed
9:30 PM – Catnap (20 – 30 minutes)
10:00 PM – Wake and Feed
11:30 PM – Feed and Bedtime*
3:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep
6:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep

2-8 Week Old Newborn, Formula Feeding

9:00 AM – Wake and Feed*
10:00 AM – Nap (60 – 90 minutes)
11:30 AM – Wake
12:30 PM – Feed and Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
1:30 PM – Wake
3:00 PM – Feed and Nap (60 – 90 minutes)
4:30 PM – Wake and Feed
6:00 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
6:30 PM – Wake
7:30 PM – Feed and Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
8:30 PM – Wake
9:30 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
10:00 PM – Wake and Feed
11:30 PM – Feed and Bedtime*
4:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep
7:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep

3 Month Old Baby Feeding

7:00 — Wake (*Fixed Point)
8:00 — Feed
8:30 — Nap (*Fixed Point)
9:00 — Wake and Feed
11:00 — Feed and Nap
1:00 — Wake and Feed
2:00 — Nap
2:30 — Wake and Feed
4:30 — Feed and Nap
6:30 — Feed
7:00 — Catnap
9:00 — Feed and Bedtime
10:30 — Fill-Up Feed (Fill-Up Feeds should always take place at Mom’s
bedtime, so mom gets a long stretch of sleep; be sure to use breast
compressions at bedtime and night feedings)
+ 1-3 night feedings

Formula-Fed 3-Month-Old Baby

7:00 — Wake and Feed (*Fixed Point)
8:30 — Nap (*Fixed Point)
10:00 — Wake and Feed
11:30 — Nap
1:00 — Wake and Feed
2:30 — Nap
3:30 — Wake
4:00 — Feed
4:30 — Catnap
5:00 — Wake
6:00 — Feed
6:30 — Nap
9:00 — Feed and Bedtime
11:00 — Fill-Up Feed
+ 1 or possibly 2-night feedings

4 Month Old Baby Feeding

6:30 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
7:15 – Breakfast
7:45 – Nap
8:15-8:45 – Breast milk or Formula
9:45 – 10:00 – Nap
10:45 – 11:15 – Breast milk or Formula
11:45 – 12:00 – Nap
1:15 – 1:45 – Breast milk or Formula
2:00 – Nap
3:45 – 4:15 – Breast milk or Formula
4:45 – Nap
5:45 – Begin bedtime routine
6:00 – Breast milk or Formula
6:15 – Bedtime (Goal to be asleep at this time)

+Plus probably 1-3 nighttime feedings

5 Month Old Baby Feeding

6:30 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
7:15 – Breakfast
8:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
9:00 – Breast milk or Formula
11:00 – Nap (often 30-60 minutes at this age)
12:00 – Breast milk or Formula
1:30 – Breast milk or Formula
2:00 – Nap
4:00 – Breast milk or Formula
5:00 – Catnap (30 minutes)
6:30 – Begin bedtime routine
6:45 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime
7:00 – Goal to be asleep

+Plus possibly 1-2 nighttime feedings

6 Month Old Baby Feeding

Schedule 1

6:30 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
7:45 – Breakfast
8:30 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
11:30 – Nap (often 30-45 minutes at this age)
1:00 – Breast milk or Formula
2:00 – Nap (often 30-45 minutes at this age)
4:00 – Breast milk or Formula
4:30 – Catnap (30 minutes)
5:00 – Dinner
6:00 – Begin bedtime routine
6:30 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime
7:00 – Goal to be asleep

+Plus possibly 1-2 nighttime feedings

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula, then Breakfast
9:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
12:00 – Nap (often 30-45 minutes at this age)
1:00 – Breast milk or Formula
2:30 – Nap (often 30-45 minutes at this age)
4:00 – Breast milk or Formula
5:00 – Catnap (30 minutes)
5:30 – Partial Breast milk or Formula Feeding, then Dinner
6:30 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Bedtime
7:30 – Goal to be asleep

+Plus possibly 1-2 nighttime feedings

7 Month Old Baby Feeding

Schedule 1

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
8:15 – Breakfast
9:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
12:30 – Breast milk or Formula
1:00 – Early Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula
4:00 – Optional Catnap (30-45 minutes)
4:30 or 5:00 – Dinner
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

+Plus possibly 1-2 nighttime feedings

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake
7:15 – Breakfast plus Breast milk or Formula feeding
9:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
12:30 – Breast milk or Formula
1:00 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula
4:00 – Optional Catnap (30-45 minutes)
5:30 – Dinner plus Breast milk / Formula feeding
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula

+Plus possibly 1-2 nighttime feedings

8 Month Old Baby Feeding

Schedule 1

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
8:15 – Breakfast
9:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
11:00 – Lunch
12:30 – Breast milk or Formula
1:00 – Early Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
2:00 – Breast milk or Formula
4:00 – Optional Catnap (30-45 minutes)
4:30 or 5:00 – Dinner
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

+Plus possibly 1 nighttime feeding

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake
7:15 – Breakfast plus Breast milk or Formula feeding
9:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
10:00 – Breast milk or Formula
11:00 – Lunch
12:30 – Breast milk or Formula
1:00 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula
5:30 – Dinner plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula

+Plus possibly 1 nighttime feeding

9 Month Old Baby Feeding

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
9:00 – Breakfast
10:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
11:00 – Breast milk or Formula
1:00 – Lunch
2:00 – Early Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula plus snack
5:00 – Dinner
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breastmilk or Formula and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake, 1/2 Breastmilk / Formula feeding, breakfast and other 1/2 BM / Formula
10:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
11:00 – 1/2 BM/Formula, Lunch, and other 1/2 BM/Formula
2:00 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – BM or Formula Feeding plus snack
5:00 – Dinner and 1/2 BM / Formula feeding
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Small BM/Formula feeding and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

10 Month Old Baby Feeding

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
9:00 – Breakfast
10:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
11:00 – Breast milk or Formula plus snack
1:00 – Lunch
2:00 – Early Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula plus snack
5:00 – Dinner
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, like my second son, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake
7:15 – Breakfast plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
9:15 – Snack
10:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
12:00 – Lunch plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
2:00 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:30 – Snack
5:00 – Dinner plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Small BM/Formula feeding (possibly) and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

11 Month Old Baby Feeding

7:00 – Wake and Breast milk or Formula
9:00 – Breakfast
10:00 or 10:30 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
11:00 – Breast milk or Formula plus snack
1:00 – Lunch
2:00 or 2:30 – Early Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Breast milk or Formula plus snack
5:00 – Dinner
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Breast milk or Formula and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, here is another type of schedule:

Schedule 2

7:00 – Wake
7:15 – Breakfast plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
9:15 – Snack
10:00 or 10:30 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
12:00 – Lunch plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
2:00 or 2:30 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:30 – Snack
5:00 – Dinner plus Breastmilk / Formula feeding
6:15 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Small BM/Formula feeding (possibly) and Bedtime (goal to be asleep at this time)

Toddler Baby Feeding

Toddler Schedule – Two Naps

7:00 – Wake
7:00/7:30 – Breakfast
9:30 – Light snack if she needs it
10:00 – Morning Nap (at least 1 hour)
11:30/12:00 – Lunch
2:00 – Afternoon Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:30 – Afternoon Snack
5:30 – Dinner
6:30 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Bedtime

Toddler Schedule – One Nap

7:00 – Wake
7:00/7:30 – Breakfast
9:00 – Light snack if she needs it
11:00 – Lunch
12:00 – Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:30 – Afternoon Snack
5:30 – Dinner
6:30 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Bedtime

Toddler Schedule – No Naps

7:00 – Wake
7:00/7:30 – Breakfast
9:30 – Light snack if she needs it
12:00 – Lunch
1:00 – Quiet/Rest time (45 minutes to 1 hour)
3:30 – Afternoon Snack
5:30 – Dinner
6:30 – Begin bedtime routine
7:00 – Bedtime

Baby Care

HOW TO SET UP AN IDEAL SLEEP ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR BABY

Your child's sleep environment plays an important role in determining how much rest he actually gets. Think about the area you sleep. You have certain conditions that make it easier to fall asleep and get the best rest. That's true for babies and children as well. I'm here to share some helpful tips so you can set up a restful sleep location for your baby so he gets the restorative sleep he needs.

1. Clutter free

Not only is it important to keep your child's crib clutter free as per guidelines to protect against SIDS, but it also really sends the message to your kids that their sleep space (whether it's a crib or a bed) is meant for sleeping. Piling your child's sleep location with toys and stuffed animals will make it difficult for them to focus on the task at hand- getting to sleep!

2. Keep it cool

As adults, we tend to overestimate how warm we feel babies should be at all times, and this is definitely true for the temperature of their sleep environment. The ideal room temperature for a baby or child is actually a little on the cooler side, between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius. If you're worried about the baby being cold, you should dress them in a wearable blanket or sleep sack over their jammies so they stay comfy cozy.

3. No distractions

Many parents resort to colorful light shows and aquariums to project sound and light into their child's nursery or bedroom while they're trying to fall asleep, but this is completely counterproductive and way too stimulating. For babies especially, the light and sound that some of these products features are going to be much to entertaining and they aren't going to want to fall asleep while all that excitement is going on.

4. Turn the lights down, way down

When you say goodnight to your child and it's time for sleep, it's important to have their room as dark as possible. This helps them to fall asleep more easily because light (especially from screens like televisions, computers and other electronics) actually inhibits melatonin production, which is the sleepy hormone released when our bodies are winding down for sleep. By having their room as dark as possible (for both naps and night sleep) this helps ensure that their brains send the signal to their bodies that it's sleepy time.

5. Calm and quiet

This seems to be a pretty obvious tip, I mean we all like to have peace and quiet when we sleep, right? But you would be surprised at how many people say "get the baby used to sleep in a noisy environment." It's important to respect your child's sleep times, so this means that limiting the noise in the house during naps and as bedtime approaches starting to quiet down the entire house to get ready for sleep. If you find it difficult to keep the noise levels down, whether you live in a smaller space, or have older children, the use of a white noise machine works great at muffling some of the external household noises while your little one snoozes.

6. Consistency is key

Speaking of sleep location, it's super important to choose a consistent place for your child's sleep to take place. The idea with this is to create a sleep association with that place so that your little one knows their crib/bed is for sleeping because that's where all their sleep takes place. You know how great it feels to sleep in your own bed after you've been away on a vacation or trip? We want to create that same kind of sleep association for our children.

A child's sleep environment can make much more of an impact than you may think. Huge improvements can be seen in little one's sleep after a parent creates a darker sleep environment, or turns off the nursery aquarium. By creating some small changes, you might see some huge improvements in your child's sleep habits.

Baby Sleep