The Importance of a Good Sleep Routine

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The past six months or so have been really strange for us all. When lockdown restrictions came into force, we went from going to school and work to being taught at home and being put on furlough. I basically became a home educator overnight!

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I posted about our daily homeschooling through Instagram stories. I knew right from the beginning that I wanted to stick to a routine because when things got back to normal, or as normal as they can be now, it would be hard to get back into the swing of things again.

I drew up and printed a timetable for the living room wall for both children so that they knew what to expect from the day. It really helped that the school teachers communicated with us each morning with a rough timetable too. We started our days with PE with Joe, releasing endorphins and getting us "pumped", as my almost eight-year-old son would say, for the rest of the day.

Having these timetables eliminated the element of surprise, reducing their stress and it is something that I was keen to stick to mostly because my son is autistic. With a routine, we could keep his day as easy as possible. The "school" day would finish around 2.00pm so they were free to play and do as they pleased until the bedtime wind down.

Again, I wanted to keep this consistent because if I didn't, getting up for school in the mornings come September would be a shock to the system if bedtimes were all over the place in the summer. I am back to work now too so there are days where they need to get up early to stay with grandparents while both my partner and I are at work.

C and E are 7 and 5 respectively, and although they are not babies, a bedtime routine was and still is really important to us. We eat dinner around 5.30pm and afterwards they will take baths. I will allow screens or TV time for one child while the other is taking their bath but afterwards, all screens are off. From past experience, they find it very hard to shut their brains off at the end of the day if they have been playing on tablets or watching TV right up until they go to bed.

They can then choose whether they would like to play with toys (LOL Surprise dolls are usually E's choice) or read a book quietly on their own (this is usually C's choice). They will then have a glass of milk before brushing their teeth and flossing.

For the time being, they are sharing a bedroom with bunk beds so we will all go upstairs, and I will read a story to the both of them before it is lights out. This brings us to around 8.30pm. 

Keeping to my own bedtime routine is important too, especially if I am working the next day. We actually purchased a new bed and mattress at the end of March, right at the beginning of lockdown, spending a lot of time deciding which base was best and consulting a mattress size guide to visualise what would fit into the space we had. We ended up settling on a divan with a tall mattress so we spent the first week or so feeling a little queasy as it was so high off the ground!

I am an avid reader, so I use the screen rule for myself too. I'll more than likely fall asleep in the middle of a chapter or drop my Kindle on my face because I've nodded off. I don't include the Kindle under the screen umbrella as I can adjust the brightness!

Not having bright screen in our faces, getting the recommended eight hours of sleep and sleeping on comfortable beds mean that we are all feeling refreshed and raring to go in the mornings.

E's first Grobag - Review

I see Grobags everywhere. Out shopping, online ads and my friends and fellow bloggers posting about them. I didn't quite get the hype and didn't think I needed to buy E one. We were recently given the opportunity to try a Grobag and boy, was I wrong!

If you don't know what a Grobag is, it is a baby sleeping bag. The Gro Company have a wonderful range to choose from and you can select sizes from 0-6 months right up to 6-10 years! They are available in different tog ratings too so you can choose the right one depending on the season they wear them in or how warm/cold the room that they sleep in is. The Gro Company even have a handy chart to help you find the right tog for you and what your child should wear underneath.

After much deliberation, I opted for the Bunny & Brolly grobag, size 18-24 months in 2.5 tog. E has only just turned 12 months but wears 12-18 month clothing. I thought she wouldn't get the wear out for the smaller size (6-18 month) which is why I also went for a heavier tog - she can sleep in it through the winter. I was really excited for it to arrive and when I shared a picture of it over social media, I got many comments from fellow mums telling me how much they love their Grobags. This made me eager to get it on E and see what it was like for myself.

The design on this bag is absolutely beautiful. The baby pink with floral print match perfect and the "Without rain there would be no rainbow" appliqué motif is exquisite. It's perfect for a little girl.

Fit-wise, it is a little big but that was to be expected as I went for a bigger size. Putting E in it is easy. All you need to do is unzip and undo the poppers, lie her down in it and fold the front over the top of her and fasten. Simple! The zip starts in the middle of the bag under her feet and it pulls right up under her armpit. I love that they've thought to put a little zip cover and popper so nothing can get caught on it. When we first tried it, she was a little baffled and kept trying to kick her legs but she soon got used to it.

E has always been one for kicking off her blankets and I'd find that she would be quite cold in the morning but I don't have to worry about that now. All I have to do is focus on making sure she's dressed appropriately underneath and I know she'll be safe and sleep soundly. After using for a few days, I found that my mind was put at ease. I'd usually be worrying about where her blanket is positioned in case she's managed to wriggle her way under it or if she's kicked it off in true E fashion but the Grobag has worked wonders! She's sleeping soundly and happily throughout the night and so is mummy!

This particular Grobag retails at £34.99 but prices do vary depending on style, size and tog. 

You can find out more about the entire range at The Gro Company website and you can also keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this product for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Win a Safetots Toddler Bed Rail

When Chris and I first spoke about moving C from his cot to a toddler bed, I was so anxious about it. He wriggles around quite a lot and he is a deep sleeper so I had visions of him falling out and really hurting himself. 

Luckily, since we moved him into a big bed about a year ago, we have only had a handful of occasions where this has happened and the bed is so low to the floor that he isn't very bothered anyway. 

If you have a toddler who you're thinking of moving into a bed, I have the perfect giveaway for you!.

Safetots are offering my readers the chance to win one of their fabulous bed rails!

The bed rail is great for stopping your little one from falling out of their bed. It can cleverly fold down so you can easily put your child in and out of bed. It comes with its own carry bag so it can be stored away or taken with you when travelling.

• The rail can be used on both solid and slatted beds
• Quick and easy assembly
• Suitable for all cot beds, single beds and double beds with a minimum mattress width of 90cm and maximum thickness of 20cm
• Can be used with a sunken mattress
• There must be at least a gap of 25cm between each end of the bed and corresponding end of bed rail
• Can be used in pairs with beds that have a minimum width of 90cm
• Bed rail is suitable for children aged 18 months to 5 years
• Rail must not be used on bunk beds, inflatable mattresses or waterbeds

The rail is available in natural, blue and white and the winner can choose which colour they would like.

All you have to do is fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. 

T&C's

• The giveaway will run from July 1st until July 15th
• One winner will win one standard sized bed rail in their choice of colour
• Open to entrants aged 18+
• UK residents only
• Prize will be sent directly from the PR, please allow 28 days for delivery
• No automated entries
• One entry per person

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More competitions at ThePrizeFinder

The *NEW* Gro-snug from The Gro Company

When C was a newborn he was never one for being swaddled so when E was born, swaddling was brand new to us. She loved being wrapped up like a little burrito and she would sleep soundly for ages.

The Gro Company are launching their brand new item, the Gro-snug, at the end of this month.

The Gro-snug is a combination of a swaddle blanket and a Grobag, providing parents with a safer alternative to loose bedding. It is a simple choice for new parents who are a little blown away by all of the nursery bedding choices that are on the market. 

The Gro-snug is super easy to use and you don't even have to do any folding or wrapping like you would with a swaddle blanket. Parents simply zip the baby into the Gro-snug similarly to a Grobag. The Gro-snug reduces the startle reflex which helps newborns get to sleep and most importantly, stay asleep. 

Features of the Gro-snug:

• Safe

1. chin and zip guards prevent rubbing
2. unique curved seams create space for hip healthy natural 'froggy-leg' position
3. highest quality construction- no rough seams or edges

• Snug

1. poppers can be closed for 'arms in' swaddling to reduce startle reflex, or open for 'arms out' transition to a newborn Grobag
2. double lined chest for secure swaddle comfort 
3. available in two weights of supersoft cotton fabric depending on the temperature of the room. 'Cosy' for cooler rooms between 16-20C and 'Light' for warmer rooms between 21-25C. 

• Easy 

1. supersoft cotton with elastase for stretch 
2. extra-long and safe YKK zip which opens from the bottom for easy nappy changes 

The Gro-snug-snug launches worldwide on June 28th and it is available in 3 designs; Pure White, Grey Marl and Rainbow Spot. 

You can takes look at a quick 'how-to' video below. I wish these were around for E!

You can find out more information at the Gro Company website and you can also keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter.

aden + anais Dream Blanket

Yesterday, I posted my review of the beautiful aden + anais Cozy Sleeping Bag and I wrote that as I'd received one from a bad batch, they replaced it and sent us one of their Dream Blankets by way of an apology. Of course, I'm not obligated to review this but because I was so pleased with how the situation was dealt with and how great a company they are, I wanted to share my thoughts.

I was able to choose which design I'd like from their fabulous range and I opted for the ellie + starburst. The pink and grey colours against the white blanket suit a little girl perfectly. I love that there are two different designs on each side; stars and elephants.

In true aden + anais fashion, the Dream Blanket is made from 100% muslin which makes it breathable and comfortable for your baby to have around them whilst they sleep.

The blanket is huge at 120cm x 120cm so E will be using it right into toddlerhood! At the minute she has it round her for naps and we even put it down on the floor for her to sit on whilst she plays with her toys or attempts crawling.

Here it is in comparison to my double bed:

Similarly to what I wrote in yesterday's sleeping bag review, I have given this a wash and tumble dry and it hasn't been affected at all. It is still in perfect condition.

The aden + anais dream blanket retails at £44.95 which I think is great prize for something that will be used so frequently and for quite a long period of time.
You can check out their range of dream blankets at the aden + anais website.

(Disclaimer: I wasn't required to write a review of this product. As stated above, it was gifted to me free of charge.)

aden + anais Sleeping Bag

aden + anais were founded in 2006 after Australian born Raegan moved to the USA and was unable to find muslin wraps for her baby, something that was popular with Australian mothers. Taking matters into her own hands, she invented by way of necessity and now, her creations can found in thousands of stores across 63 countries. 

I was recently contacted to see if I would like to try out one of the aden + anais cozy sleeping bags. I love the concept of their items all incorporating muslin. I had never used muslin squares with C and when I was gifted some shortly after E's birth, I couldn't believe I hadn't used them before. 

I opted for the jungle jam design which has a beautiful yellow giraffe print on a white background which makes it perfect for baby boys and girls. 

The bag itself is made from four layers of 100% cotton muslin. I thought that this would mean that the bag would be quite thin but I was wrong, it is 1.7tog so it keeps E at a comfortable temperature during the night.

On first feel, you may think it is a little strange as it's not like any other sleeping bag I've ever come but that's the beauty of it. The muslin makes it totally breathable and comfortable for your child to wear. 

I am a huge fan of sleeping bags as I'm so afraid that my children will pull their blankets over their heads during the night. The neck size is perfect and I don't have to worry that E will wriggle down through it. 

I did have a little problem with the zipper. I put E in it when it arrived and found that the zip had split. I emailed over my concerns and was told that aden + anais had a problem with one of their batches (faulty zips) and I had unfortunately received one of those. I was sent a replacement sleeping bag and it worked perfectly. The zip felt much more secure than the previous one. 

aden + anais were so horrified that someone had had a bad experience with one of their products that they sent E one of their dream blankets too. I was absolutely blown away by this. I always judge companies by how they deal with customer service issues and this has made me rate them so much higher.  (I will post a review of the dream blanket tomorrow so keep an eye out for that!)

After giving the sleeping bag a wash and putting it through the tumble dryer on a low heat, it didn't affect the material at all. We have been using the bag every night since we received it a few weeks ago and it is still in perfect condition. 

The aden + anais cozy sleeping bag in jungle jam pattern is available in sizes small (up to 6 months), medium (6-12 months), large (12-18 months) and extra large (18-24 months). We received the medium as E is seven months old and there is still plenty of growing room. 

They retail at £42.00 and you can find out more and browse the range of sleeping bags at the aden + anais website.  

(Disclaimer: We received this item for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own).

By Carla Raspberry Bloom Sleeping Bag

When C was born we only ever wrapped him up in baby blankets when he was sleeping, which I think was partially down to the fact that that's how he slept in the Special Care Baby Unit and also simply because of his small he actually was. I'd never used a baby sleeping bag with him.

This time round, with E, I was determined to use them. C always, and still does even now, would kick the blanket off him and when I get him in the morning he's cold. 

Kit for Kids sent E a gorgeous By Carla Long-sleeved baby sleeping bag in Raspberry Bloom design (they are also available in Lazy Days, Little Birdie and Little Stars designs).

The bag comes in sizes 0-6 months and 6-18 months. Although E is 4 months old, we opted for the bigger size as she is quite a long baby plus she would get more use out of the larger one. When I first opened it out I did think "wow, this IS big" but then remembered that an 18 month old has to be able to fit too! When she has it on though, she isn't lost in it. It is a great fit and you can see that she still has plenty of room to grow.

I've never seen a long-sleeved baby sleeping bag (maybe I'm just not looking hard enough) but I was really excited about it as I've found that E's hands and arms are freezing in the morning. Due to the size the arms were a little long but they are easily folded up. There are also popper buttons around the shoulder so you can completely remove the arms if you wish so it can be used all year round. The 0-6mth version also has built in scratch mitts. The bag is 2.5tog so it is relatively heavy and perfect for keeping your baby warm. 

Fastening it is easy and the design is comfortable for your child. Next to the neck are popper buttons and there is a zip starting from the bottom centre of the bag right up to under the armpit. The start of the zip has a covering too so you have no need to worry about your child getting hurt on it. 

It has a beautiful girly design on it too which I absolutely adore. It's made from 100% cotton and is machine washable. 

You can purchase your own sleeping bag for £27.99 at Mothercare.

(Disclaimer: We received this item free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

When to Transfer your Child from a Moses Basket to a Cot?

In the first few months of parenthood it’s important that you create a safe sleeping environment for your newborn. This often involves your baby sleeping in a Moses basket, not only because it’s small but it will provide a cosy sleeping environment without being too overwhelming. 

However, it doesn’t take a long for your baby to outgrow a Moses basket and a stress free transfer of your baby to a cot can make sleep for the whole family much easier going forward.

Cots are the most common long-term sleep solution (before bed)and babies can stay in these for years (depending on the size) so if your babies ready, take the plunge and get them sleeping comfortably in their cot.

When should you ditch the Moses basket?

Rather than having an age in mind, the decision to make the transition is likely to be made due to the size of your baby.

If your child starts to outgrow their initial space and is waking themselves up by hitting the sides, rocking themselves awake when they move around or ending up like a crouched frog… it’s probably time to make the move.

The move

Many babies struggle to acclimatise when they first move from a Moses basket to a cot. Parents are often heard recounting tales of how when they first put their child in a cot, they just wouldn’t sleep. Putting the baby back in their Moses basket results in hours of uninterrupted sleep. 

Why won’t they sleep?

Only a few babies will transition to sleep in a cot without a hitch. It’s usually because the cot is out of their comfort zone, away from parents and too big in comparison to their previous sleeping environment in their trusty old Moses basket.

Sleep associations can also come into play. Your child could have spent the last few months being rocked to sleep and now their sleep environment is changing. They haven’t slept in their cot before, so why would it be a place where they can instantly relax and sleep?

Moving to the cot is the equivalent of you moving into your guest room – it’s a completely different environment and even some adults won’t sleep well in a change of environment.

Top tips to get your baby to sleep in their cot

The number one goal in helping your baby sleep in their cot is to make it feel like their room and their bed. Here are a few top tips that should be considered:

• Put your bed in your child’s room for a few days while they adjust
• Make sure you spend non-sleep time in their room
• Have your child sleep in their own cot sheet for a few days, so it has their scent
• As parents, you sleep on your baby’s cot sheet for a few days, so it has your scent
• Make the cot fun during non-sleep times – put some of your child’s favourite toys in the cot so they see it as a fun place to be
• Give it time. Don’t expect it to go perfectly the first day. It might take a few days to get them comfortable, or even a few weeks, but the first few nights will probably be the most challenging. Expect it to be rough and they might just surprise you, however bear in mind that the minority has an easy transition. 

The fine line

It’s a very fine line between comforting and mollycoddling – it is imperative that your baby learns how to fall asleep on their own. Otherwise, you’ll end up running more miles then a marathon runner going back and forth from your room to theirs all night which isn’t healthy for anyone.

You might not be able to teach your baby how to self soothe, but you can provide them the opportunity to learn for themselves through a consistent routine.

Use a baby monitor

The first time that parents try to get babies to sleep on their ownis an anxious time. Make this time easier by using a baby monitor such as the EyeOn Baby Monitor.

The EyeOn baby monitor allows parents to keep an eye on what matters most to them, 24 hours a day, wherever they are from their iPhone, iPad or Android device, all through the free mydlink™ Baby App. Features include: 

• Secure Streaming with HD Clarity

• Real-time notifications due to baby’s crying or movement

• Play a choice of five soothing lullabies in order to help your little one settle

• Keep an eye on the room temperature in order to ensure conditions are at their prime

• Wireless monitoring and two-way audio

• Image & video recording

All parents say their children grow up fast, so don’t miss a minute with a D-Link EyeOn baby monitor.

(Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.)

World's Apart Thomas the Tank Engine My First ReadyBed - Review

The night that I gave birth to E was the first night that C had ever spent the night away from me and his daddy. He stayed at Chris's mums house and both he and his nanny loved it. She has since expressed an interest in having him stay over more often. 

Worlds Apart very kindly sent C one of their My First Readybeds in a Thomas the Tank Engine design. 

 

Using the ReadyBed couldn't be easier. There is a pump included to inflate the mattress which takes around 2-3 minutes. You are advised not to inflate it where it feels hard as it won't make for a comfortable sleep.

C has really enjoyed his ReadyBed. As soon as he spotted the Thomas design he kept repeating "choo choo!" excitedly.

I love that the bed has an inflatable guard around it so I don't have to worry about him falling out (although if he did, I doubt it would hurt as its so close to the floor!).

The cover zips off easily and it is machine washable.

Apologies for a blurry photo - someone did not want to co-operate with mummy!

He also decided he wanted to lie at the opposite end. Kids, eh!? 

E had to have a little go too ;)

There is a little pocket on one side which is great for fitting a nighttime story in or in C's case, a toy car!

Putting it away and carrying it around proves to be easy too. Under the bed there is a flap then underneath is your plug. Pull the black part out for quick deflation then pull the aforementioned flap over the top. The 'flap' is really a storage bag. You can then fold the bed up into the bag and there's even room for the pump to slot in too. 

Perfect for camping or visiting and staying with relatives!

The My First ReadyBed is suitable for children 18 months+, it retails at £29.99 and is also available in Barbapapa, Sofia the First, Peppa Pig and Doc McStuffins designs.

You can find out more about Worlds Apart (and ReadyBeds) at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: We received this item free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)