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Sleep. How important is it to you?

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

I love to sleep. Really I do. I don’t sleep in late, but a good 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep is what I need. Ok, that’s going a little over board, but 7 hours is a must. So when my first son was born, the lack of sleep hit me like a truck. What’s a parent to do besides read every sleep book that out there? Read more books. Did it help? I can’t say there is one magic book that truly incorporated everything you need. Instead I took a little from here and a little from there and made my own book.

Schedule: This was the most important thing for me. At one month old my boys were bathed, fed and put in the bassinet (or in my 2nd son’s case in his crib). Hey, he’s the second, things change. Now at 1 month old this schedule happened around 11:00 pm. But as they got older we gradually made it earlier so by 3 months, bath was at 8:00 and in bed by 8:30 pm. They both slept through the night for 10 hours by 3 1/2 months.

Don’t think this didn’t come without trial and error, or without me sitting by the bedroom door praying they would just fall asleep so I wouldn’t have to go back in and rub their backs for another 15 minutes. There were nights up until 3 months where it took hours until they actually fell asleep, but they did and I believe the persistence paid off.

Some people (not mentioning any name here) used to make fun of us for being so scheduled. I believe it works for some people. Knowing that I was going to be able to get 6 or 7 hours of uninterupted sleep that night made the day so much easier. Kelly wants to rent me out as a sleep expert. She tells people just let Shannon in your house for 3 nights and your child will be sleeping without a problem.

Sleep is a big issue for everyone. Finding what works for you and your family and be challenging and can put a strain on a lot of relationships. Keep persevering. Most kindergartners are sleeping through the night…just kidding. I hope for your sake way before that.

Three of my favorite sleep books:
Health Sleep habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg
The Baby Sleep Book by Dr. Sears

Good Night!

-Shannon

Tags: baby sleep book, health sleep habits, Sleep
Posted in Baby Needs, Sleep | 4 Comments »

Is your child’s car seat the strongest?

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Just released from Sunshine Kids, manufacturer of The Radian65, Radian80 and Radian XT. Sold here! at Bellani Maternity

SUMNER, WA – July 8, 2009 – Last week’s freak collapse of the five-story Centergy parking deck in Midtown Atlanta left onlookers, bystanders and victims alike stricken with awe as it was revealed that not a single person was harmed in the crumble that damaged or destroyed a total of 38 vehicles.

But for Sarah Maglione, whose vehicle was among those destroyed, the spectacle had only just begun. Her SUV was parked on the structure’s second level when the incident occurred; it was the thirtieth vehicle pulled from the wreckage. “I had three floors of a parking garage collapse on top of my car,” Maglione said. “It is flattened beyond belief.”

The particular that astounded her further: the fact that her child’s car seat, a Sunshine Kids Radian65 positioned on the passenger side of the back seat in her SUV, completely withstood the force of the collapse and upheld its section of the car, as well.

“Amazing,” Maglione said. “That thing did not bend an inch,” referring to her Radian65 car seat. “They are built using steel alloy frames, and I always heard they were the strongest. Now I know it.”

Radian®, by Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products, is constructed with an exclusive steel alloy frame for superior impact protection. Seven-inch-deep, high-impact-grade engineered sidewalls reinforced with EPS foam provide superior side impact protection, absorb crash energy and protect the child from intrusions making it the strongest car seat available. Radian is a convertible car seat built to protect children between 5 and 65 pounds.

The Radian® car seat line is available through independent juvenile stores across the US and Canada, as well as the Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products web site (www.skjp.com).

Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products is the manufacturer of more than 80 innovative juvenile products, including car seats, storage solutions, and related travel and stroller accessories, designed to facilitate today’s on-the-go family lifestyle and assure the maximum in safety protection.