SURVIVING THE SILLY SEASON WITH BABIES AND TODDLERS
Image: Instagram/@dicolaaa
BY TARA MITCHELL (@thegentlesleepspecialist)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but let’s be honest… it’s the craziest time of the year too! The most common question I’m asked around this time of year is how to juggle a little one along with a calendar that seems to fill up very quickly. So here are my top tips on juggling this silly season with your babes in tow.
Benefit of the doubt when out and about.
We often assume that our littles ones won’t sleep somewhere if it’s a different environment, however this isn’t always the case! There are a few things you can do to increase your little ones’ chances of settling in a different environment. Firstly, keep everything else familiar. To increase your chances on a smooth settle, bring their own sleeping bag and comforter, and keep using your usual bedtime phrase/song, or pre-bed book. Don’t fret, just keep things really relaxed. I almost want you to put your little one off to sleep just as you would on a normal night at home. When you are in another home for bedtime sleep, it often fails not because of the different environment, but because our little ones tend to be overstimulated and overtired. In this case, do what you can to keep with their usual awake time and if you have the opportunity, you might want to spend 10 minutes in a quieter room of the house having some calm play before bed. If you are out and about, I would just be sure to get your little one some sleep regardless of if it isn’t how they would normally fall asleep (e.g. have a nap in the pram). Don’t put too much pressure on things. If you’re worried, just make an effort to keep the next day a little more business as usual. 😊
2. HO HO HO! Toddlers on the go!
I often feel for toddlers the most during this time of year, as it brings such excitement, late nights and more engagement with others than they may be used to. Be sure to schedule some quieter days, especially if most of your engagements are in the evenings. You might also consider bringing a nap back on the days they really need it, or even offering their nap 30 minutes later than normal to push their day back a little bit when you are out in the evening. I also recommend offering a slightly earlier bedtime on the following night after a night out. Remember not to take their behaviours to heart - this time of year can be overwhelming to children, and this can be reflected in their behaviour. It is ok if your little ones are a little shy when out and about. They may not address everyone with a “hello” as we feel they ‘should’, and that’s okay. They may take a while to warm up in different environments or they might not ‘behave’ as we would like, but try not to get too worked up about this. Keep calm as an example for them to mirror at these times. Keep important boundaries in place. Allow plenty of time to get to events so that you are not starting off on a rushed note, and remember MOST people understand and are probably sympathising with you during their trying moments.
3. Plans schmans.
Okay, so I’m not by any means a perfectionist, but I do put a lot of pressure on going above and beyond. I love the idea of having the house spotless prior to guests coming or bringing the standout platter to a gathering. However, the truth is that no one else really cares if you didn’t get around to mopping, they don’t notice the one shelf that isn’t dusted, and they don’t care if Rudolph’s nose is a little skewiff on the cookies. Even if they do notice, you probably only made them feel a little better about the state they left their house in or the fact that their pudding didn’t rise properly! Don’t sweat the small stuff this Christmas. Make memories, keep things light hearted, have a laugh about the things that would usually have you in a heap, and count your blessings. When I picked up my wedding cake on the day of my wedding, it was sideways and I had to use skewer sticks to hold it up for the photos. And you know what?... it made me smile. I decided not to care one bit. Now it’s just a good story and a giggle when I think back.
4. No… Nope… Nah.
Lastly, don’t forget that simple two little letter word – “no”. You might have a lot of pressure, especially from family, to commit to a number of outings that you don’t particularly feel the need to attend. It’s okay to say “no” or perhaps “maybe”. You might even want to see how that day pans out first. Chose the events that are really important to you, and have confidence when politely declining those that you might want to sit out on. There is a really high chance that next year will roll around before you know it and you will be in a completely different position. It might work to ask friends or family if that catch up can be done during the day or even at your house if that’s easier. It can be daunting enough with little ones to head out, but it’s common that evenings can bring a lot more angst. Take the pressure off and know it’s okay to say “no”.
Have a wonderful Christmas! This is a magical time of year, so be sure to find the magic in quieter moments with your loved ones.
The Gentle Sleep Specialist x
You can follow Tara on Instagram @thegentlesleepspecialist and online at gentlesleep.com.au