In today’s age of electronic everything, it’s rare to have a truly quiet moment. A child’s ‘down time’ is frequently spent with the television on or playing video games. Even many of the toys we give our youngest children involve lights and music. All of this stimulation leaves little room for self reflection, critical thinking, imagination, and problem solving. Certainly, …
Techniques for Calming Your Infant or Toddler
Calming Infants Take a look in the Parenting section at any major bookstore and you’ll find a wide selection of books promising to make your baby the happiest in the neighborhood or so quiet and calm that others will think that you have some sort of magic touch. What these books don’t tell you is that everything you need to …
How To Get Your Baby to Sleep and How to Help Them Stay Asleep
One thing is for certain, both young children and grown ups need their sleep. As adults we know what it’s like to function with little or no sleep and how it affects our mood, performance, thinking and even health. We might be able to pull an “all-nighter” here and there and we’ve all done it, but imagine how this would …
Encouraging Positive Sleep Behavior and Bedtime Routines in Infants & Toddlers
By Todd Wolynn, MD, MMM, IBCLC Kid’s Plus Pediatrics “My toddler has his own bed, but he won’t sleep in it. He will scream and cry until I bring him into my bed.” You present a toddler with a piece of chocolate and a piece of broccoli. You look at the toddler with love and kindness and say, “Now eat your …
Common Sleep Problems in Infants & Children
Sleep Behavior Problems are a Common Concern The Journal of Zero to Three (January 2009) states that “Sleep behavior problems are among the most frequent parental concerns in pediatric practice and counseling services.” As in-home therapists, we also encounter quite a few questions from parents on how to get their infants and toddlers to sleep through the night or how …
Q&A: My Baby Hates Tummy Time & Often Spits Up
I have a son who just turned 4 months. He hates tummy time and due to acid reflux, will often spit up. The problem is that he doesn’t do the mini push up or roll. He’s rolled belly to back twice, but not consistently and it happened almost a month ago by accident. Should I be worried? While on his …
Q&A: 2 Year Old Has Sleeping Problems
My 2 year old is very intelligent and gets bored easily and I have trouble getting her to sleep at night. She is not hyperactive I read her stories but it does not put her to sleep. You can read our article on sleep patterns at this link. Having a set and consistent bedtime routine for a 2 year old …
Q&A: How To Reduce Baby’s Hyperextension When Sleeping
How can I position my baby to reduce hyperextension when sleeping? He is 12 months old, has low tone and decreased strength, poor head control, low vision and seizures when sleeping and is unable to crawl or turn over. I would definitely consult with your child’s physical therapist (I am hoping your son is already in your local early intervention …
Q&A: Adopted Son Doesn’t Want to Eat or Drink
My husband and I just adopted a 17 month boy from Russia. He is at the 25 percentile for both height and weight. However, since arriving home he has begun refusing to drink or eat. He acts hungry, but then only takes a few sips or a few bites then turns his head, arches away from me, seals his lips …
Q&A: 3 Year Old Only Drinks Chocolate Milk
I have a three year old little boy that has severe eating issues. For the most part, he does not seem developmentally delayed, although, we have had suspicions that he may have Asperger’s Syndrome. We have been to our family doctor, a nutritionist, a feeding therapist, an occupational therapist and had a swallow study done, not the barium one, but …