Brenda's Blog

Changing the Clock from BST

Submitted by Brenda on Sun, 19/10/2014 - 19:52

I am often asked by parents, 'how can they adjust their child's routine to fit into the new time change.' When BST ends and the clocks go BACK an hour, your child will be super tired at the end of the day because they have had an extra hour to fill. Keep them going to reach the new time change. This is easier than when the clocks go forward as then your child's day is one hour shorter. When the clocks go FORWARD in the Spring, your child looses an hour in the day so they will have to go to bed an hour later to compensate for the loss of the hour in the day. As long as the next day starts at the usual consistent time before you made the clock change it will reset your child's body clock. The following 48 hours after the change maybe a struggle if your child is tired, but if you make the effort they will gradually move into a consistent routine in their day on the new time.

.....within only a few days we have all adjusted to the timings and the clock change is usually forgotten.

 

Meet George the Tortoise

Submitted by Brenda on Mon, 18/08/2014 - 19:04

George is a Macedonian tortoise. On a recent holiday to northern Greece, with my son, I was lucky enough to meet some of George's relations living in the wild. 

George, as with young children, has his own daily routine. He wakes-up at the same time everyday, has lunch at 12 noon, and goes to bed at the same time every evening. He also explores the garden following the same route in a ritualistic way.

Animals, like humans, prefer a predictable life style to avoid stress and to be happy.

Dubai

Submitted by Brenda on Tue, 01/07/2014 - 18:16

Dubai now looks like the New York skyline! Changed days from when I worked in the Special Care baby Unit in Abu Dhabi back in 1991. It has become a very cosmopolitan place and if it is the same now as when it was in 1991 only 10% of the population is made up of people born in the Emirates. The other 90% are from all over the world.

I had arranged some group meetings and consultations which included meeting people from Lebanon, South Africa, India, Kuwait and the UK to name but a few. English is spoken as their second language so communication was not an issue. I did however have to consider their cultural needs and take into consideration living in a very hot climate. All of the families followed a similar routine to the UK and did not take long siesta’s in the afternoon.  As they all had growing families they had the same stumbling blocks regarding sleep, routine, food, potty training and behaviour. 

My lovely host Danielle Wilson who did all my public relations work made me feel very comfortable in her villa and I was able to meet her children including the twins who I had sleep trained via Skype at 1 year of age.

I am hoping to make further visits to Dubai and reach out to more families. As they say in the Middle East “Inshallah!”(God be willing)

Cot Canopy Breeze

Submitted by Brenda on Mon, 19/05/2014 - 16:35

Cot Canopy Breeze

While sleep training for a family in Balham recently, Mum showed me a very useful product you can use if you do not have a way of darkening the bedroom. It is the ‘Cot Canopy Breeze’ and it can be found on the Content & Calm website. It’s very handy if you are travelling.

Tags: 
Sleep Training

Start of my blog - Baby Thomas

Submitted by Brenda on Fri, 16/05/2014 - 10:22

Brenda the Nanny and baby Thomas

Hello,

What better way to start my blog off is by telling you about baby Thomas. What a good boy!

Baby Thomas started sleeping regularly from 11pm to 7am at 6 weeks of age. He is a formula fed baby so has a slight advantage on a breast fed baby in that formula takes longer to digest, therefore he is able to sustain longer periods in between feeds. He rarely cries and appears content and calm most of the time.

I looked after Thomas two nights a week for 6 weeks but the praise goes to first time parents Danielle and John who are doing a wonderful job. Well done both of you!

Off to Dubai next week for a few days of consultations and group meetings......

Tags: 
Breast Feeding
Sleep Training

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