This article is by Patty Wipfler of Hand in Hand http://www.HandinHandParenting.org, this site is a must visit!

Helping Young Children Sleep

by Patty Wipfler

Most children struggle at some time or another with sleeping through the night. Of course, when infants are quite young, they need to wake several times in the night, eat, and be reassured that their parents are close and all is well in their world. The need for reassurance, in addition to nourishment, is even stronger if a baby has had difficult times in his life already. I won’t discuss helping infants with feelings that may stem from early life struggles in this article. I’ll focus on helping healthy children six months of age and older with the pattern of interrupted sleep that sometimes appears.

After about six months, unless your baby is ill or underweight, he is capable of sleeping through the night much of the time. Children vary greatly in how much sleep they thrive on, but by this age, most parents can hope for a good seven-hour stretch of sleep without waking. However, many children experience feelings that prevent them from sleeping through the night at least some of the time. Read more »

This Q and A is with Kali Wendorf editor of Kindred Magazine (http://www.kindredmagazine.com.au)

Ashley: I have heard you talk about the nuclear family, could you in your own words define that term and what it means to you? Are there any downsides to this (in your opinion)?

Kali: The nuclear family, as I define it, is the basic father, mother and 2.5 kids model. It’s based on an insular mindset, whereby community and larger extended family have very little to do with the day to day existence of its members. The nuclear family model is mostly a product of a globalised economy, whereby family members move away from each other in search of work and people spend a majority of their time at work and at school, or in their cars commuting to those two places. Read more »

Meeting An Older Sibling’s Needs
By Naomi Aldort

Your child’s attachment needs are specially important when they are challenged by the presence of a new baby. Make a conscious design to meet your child’s needs:

• Get help; find an older child or a friend to hold the baby so you can be with your child.
• Plan time for you and your child alone when your spouse or relative is at home.
• Take every opportunity when the baby is asleep in your arms or not needy, to engage yourself with your child.
• If your child wants to be a baby again, embrace his play.
• Provide new exciting activities that help your child see the benefits of being older. Let him enjoy riding the tricycle, go to the zoo, or other wonderful experiences that the baby cannot have and point out how exciting it is. Read more »

Why Do You Want Another Me?

By Naomi Aldort

“Mommy, why do you need another Yonatan?” asked my first born looking at my growing belly.  I hugged him and said,  “I do not need another Yonatan. There is no other Yonatan. You are the only “you” there will ever be and I love you so much.”
No matter how much we explain and include a young child in welcoming his new sibling, he will not comprehend this concept any more than you would welcome another lover for your spouse. Read more »

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This is taken from “Ask Naomi” with parenting expert Naomi Aldort Ph.D. To see Part 2 of A Good Night Sleep for Baby and You Click Here.

Q: My husband doesn’t want me to let my 8-month-old baby “cry it out” during the night. He complains that he can’t sleep when she is crying, so he wants me to hold her throughout the night so that he can be well rested for work. She isn’t learning how to sleep on her own though, and I am getting more and more sleep deprived every night.

This is taken from “Ask Naomi” with parenting expert Naomi Aldort Ph.D. To see Part 1 of A Good Night Sleep for Baby and You Click Here.

Q: My husband doesn’t want me to let my 8-month-old baby “cry it out” during the night. He complains that he can’t sleep when she is crying, so he wants me to hold her throughout the night so that he can be well rested for work. She isn’t learning how to sleep on her own though, and I am getting more and more sleep deprived every night.

The way of Nature

Baby care seems much easier in natural societies because parents simply believe that it is best to respond to the baby’s cues. When they do, everything is very simple, peaceful and calm and the baby does not need to cry. These parents have none of the common difficulties we encounter and the children are well behaved and peaceful, as they don’t experience struggle or stress. Read more »

Good Night Sleep for Your Baby and You
This is taken from “Ask Naomi” with parenting expert Naomi Aldort Ph.D.

Q: My husband doesn’t want me to let my 8-month-old baby “cry it out” during the night. He complains that he can’t sleep when she is crying, so he wants me to hold her throughout the night so that he can be well rested for work. She isn’t learning how to sleep on her own though, and I am getting more and more sleep deprived every night.

A: I understand your frustration; you must be tired and feeling at a loss. I want to offer a solution that comes from meeting the baby’s need first and will end up solving your husband’s issue and giving you a better night sleep as well. Read more »

This is taken from “Ask Naomi” with parenting expert Naomi Aldort Ph.D. To see Part 1 of Why Toddlers Bite Click Here.

Preventing Biting
A toddler who feels connected, loved, autonomous and at peace is not likely to bite. She has no need for it. Therefore the first path of prevention is respecting your toddler’s autonomous inner guidance, avoiding undue expectations and restrictions and staying close and connected. This may include avoiding peer play, which is often much too difficult for young children. Notice how much happier your baby is with an older child or with you. Read more »

This is taken from “Ask Naomi” with parenting expert Naomi Aldort Ph.D.

Q: My baby is one year old and started biting me to get my attention or when not getting her way. How can I stop her?

A: Biting in the early years is not different from other aggression. Some biting can be benign and transient. A frustrated toddler does not have a rich language and is likely to use her body to express herself. If you respond quickly to the first try quickly, clearly and kindly, there won’t be a second time. If your daughter is repeating the biting, two things are happening: Your responses are not clear TO HER. And, the reason for her drive to bite has not been addressed. Read more »