I've been meaning to participate in Julia's Mama Loves linky party since she began it. I've stumbled along a few things along the way that have really made a difference in the sometimes not-so-easy parenting of twin newborns, babies, and now toddlers. This mama has found a lot of things to love- I am excited to share my discoveries with you!
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Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.
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Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.
Maybe you've found:
- a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
- gear you just can't live without
- a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
- a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
- an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
- an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
- or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!
To link your own Mama Loves post up, head on over to Julia's blog, Pontifications of a Twin Mom.
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I am happy to report that Sam and Anna are still crib sleepers, even after the drama of the pack n play escapes over 9 months ago now. We never bought crib tents, but I do have one secret weapon that Sam and Anna never saw coming: The Halo Sleep Sack.
At 18 months old, Sam and Anna still sleep in sleep sacks. I should buy stock in that company, because I've bought 4 or more sacks in every size from newborn to XL. Thankfully, they are often on babysteals.com, or deal sites like Totsy, so I rarely pay full price. I am 100% sure that the only reason why Sam and Anna have not climbed out of their cribs yet, is the fact that they sleep in these sleep sacks every night and every nap.
Once they began climbing out of the pack and plays they nap in at daycare in December, we needed to figure out a solution fast. At 9 months old, there was no way either one was ready for naps in a non-confined setting. I gave our daycare provider sleep sacks for them to wear, and magically, they stopped climbing out. We decided that with their feet covered in a somewhat movable fabric, they couldn't get the traction they needed to scale the sides. After a while, our daycare provider gave back the sacks because she thought they wouldn't need them anymore while napping (I don't think she likes having Sam and Anna wear them because she thinks it limits their mobility, but I don't think it does). It wasn't long after that though, that Sam rediscovered his ability to go up and over, and I got an email at work sharing that that afternoon Sam had climbed out no less than 15 times during nap time, and ended up not getting a nap that day. I gave her the sleep sacks again the following day, and once again, that put a stop to the escapes instantly. It's gotta be the sacks!
At home, I've seen them attempt to climb out of their cribs without sleep sacks on, and I have no doubt that my little monkeys could have accomplished it a long time ago. I've also seen them try to climb out with the sleep sacks on, and their little feet just slide back down to the mattress every time. Since I have read about dangers from using crib tents, I am thrilled that we figured out a much safer alternative that works fabulously for us.
As far as I'm concerned, Sam and Anna will be sleeping in sleep sacks for as long as they fit into them (and since I have little peanuts and we have until 40 inches long and 36 lbs to use them, it is going to be a while!) or until we want to make the crib to bed transition. ( I know they make an early walker and big kid version, but having foot holes would defeat the purpose of the sleep sack for us.) The cotton Halo sleep sacks work just fine for warm summer days, and the fleece ones are perfect for cold fall/winter nights. Sure beats the alternative- our daycare provider's son started climbing out of his crib at 9 months old. They ended up putting a mattress on the floor and a baby gate in the doorway. I can't imagine doing that with one 9 month old, let alone two! I'm not ready for Sam and Anna to make the switch to beds, and I don't think they are, either.
5 comments:
That really is a good idea, though I couldn't imagine Camden in a sleep sack now that he's been out of one since he was about a year old. It's great that you've had Sam and Anna in them for so long that they're used to them because I am positive that helps keep them in their cribs. You know that Camden has transitioned to a toddler bed recently and while it hasn't been as terrible as I initially imagined, I still would recommend holding off as long as you possibly can!
Noah still sleeps in sleep sacks, too. But I had to get someone to custom-make his sleep sacks because he doesn't fit into the halo ones anymore.
I wondered what you had done about the climbing problem. This is a good solution!
My husband asked me awhile back when we were going to stop putting the girls in their sleep sacks for bed. I told him that if he wants to deal with girl getting up all the time and toddler beds, then we could stop. That keeps him quiet.
Yeah, I'll keep sleep-sacking them as long as I can. They've never climbed out of their cribs, and that's just the way we like it :) In fact, I'm just about ready to purchase our sacks for the winter. Size XL here we come!
Thanks so much for linking up! This is definitely a great thing to share with mamas!!
Our girls will be three in January, and we're STILL using these sleep sacks! :) The girls are getting pretty long for them, but I'm hoping to hang onto them for a while longer. And - KNOCK ON WOOD - keep them in their cribs for a while yet, too! :)
[Nice to "meet" you! Two precious babes you have there! :) :)]
I love those sleep sacks also. We used them religiously until this summer. And then it seemed like an extra step (and they would wail because they knew it meant bedtime was coming!), so we stopped. But when it gets cooler, we might go back to them. And um, I'd never thought of it but we will definitely try them again if climbing out the crib becomes an issue! I'm totally dreading the parties that will surely ensue once they are out of the cribs!
Hope school/life is treating you well. :)
Adorable pics on the previous post! How crazy that they are 18 months!!!
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