(Lets face it kids are full of honesty, they say it as they see it. This is a new column written from the ‘HONEST’ observations from our children. It touches on all aspects of the process of growing up and how we as parents can improve ourselves from a child’s point of view).

 

 

 

 

 

Three’s a crowd!!!

 

 

Woke up and all I could see was darkness…oh my goodness…what’s happened, have I lost my eyesight, oh no can see my Winne the Pooh night light making its feeble attempt to light up the room. What am I doing up at this time of the night, let’s see belly full, diaper not full yet…all systems checked and good to go, must have had a nightmare. I thought that particular episode of ‘Shaun the sheep’ was a little scary.

 

Will have to hold mummy’s hand next time I watch that. Wait what’s that noise, I think we’ve got burglars..should I sound the alarm for mummy patrol to rescue me…yikes what’s that on my wall. The night light is making it look large and spikey and scary, its moved I think it’s coming to eat me..that’s it enough being brave for tonight time to scream for Mummy to come rescue me…MUMMMM!!!! 

 

A bleary-eyed Mum comes to my rescue..’Just for one night’ she says…whooppee I get to enter the master suite. I find a nice cosy spot right between Mum and Dad. Mum pokes Dad with her toe ’Watch out the baby’s in the bed don’t roll on him’. Wow this is bliss, feather downed duvet,  are these sheets made out of Egyptian cotton?..so comfortable and my goodness this mattress I feel as light as a feather…I was slumming it in my cot.

 

I‘ve got squatters rights now, I not moving from here for a few years. First have to get comfy though, do a few rolls, a couple of 360 degrees rotates..Dad moves more to the end of the bed to give me room for my circus moves, no no..not comfy yet..lets see need something to rest my feet…ahh wait found Dad’s face, those cheeks are so comfy, scoot over more Dad, need room to stretch these legs of mine…more more..did I just hear Dad fall of the bed…Whoops!!!

 

 

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Expert Advice – Children’s nightmares

 

Nightmares occur from time to time in many children, but they are most common in preschoolers (children aged 3-6 years) because this is the age at which normal fears develop and a child’s imagination is very active. Some genetic and psychological factors can also lead to nightmares.

 

 

Expert Advice – Night feeds

 

Somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6 months, most babies get enough calories during the day to sustain them for five or six hours at night.Even so, it's not at all unusual for younger babies to sleep for much longer stretches without needing to eat – or for older ones to continue waking up to eat. Babies who are used to eating several times a night tend to wake up out of habit, and it can take time to change this routine.

 

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Expert Advice – Baby in the bed

 

There's nothing quite like being snuggled next to Mom to ease a baby into peaceful slumber. But is co-sleeping a bad idea? After all, in many parts of the world, co-sleeping is the norm. But now many experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), are saying that bed-sharing isn't safe. Letting your baby sleep in her own crib can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, as co-sleeping ups the chances of accidental suffocation from parents' pillows, bedding, and blankets, There's also a danger that a parent can unintentionally roll over the baby, accidentally smothering her. Share a room instead of a bed to reap the rewards of co-sleeping in a much safer setting.

 

 

 

 

 

By Mayrui Jayasinghe