Just a few easy steps will help your child adjust to the time change.

This is the weekend we set our clocks ahead one hour. If you’re wondering the best ways to help your child adjust to what might feel like an earlier bedtime, or a more difficult time waking in the morning, here are some simple suggestions. With these tips, you can ease the transition and reduce the likelihood of seeing your toddler wide awake at bedtime and sleeping later and later into the day in the morning.

Isis Sleep Consultants Meg Casano & Erin Evans offer this step-by-step plan for spring time changes:

Most of these suggestions pertain to the child over 5 months old. Light is a significant factor in resetting circadian rhythm but is less relevant for newborns or infants under 3 – 4 months while  sleep patterns are still  being consolidated. Learn more about newborn sleep.

1.  As we approach daylight savings time, keep the lights dim in the evening for an hour before your child’s bedtime. Keep the lights down for your child while you do your pre-sleep routine and darkness for sleep. Keep things low key, spend some time engaged in indoor quiet play. For example, if you start your bedtime routine at 7pm and its lights out at 7:30, keep the lights dim from 6:00, then dimness to start bedtime routine and lights out at 7:15pm.  Move bedtime earlier by 15 minutes a night until you have moved bedtime earlier by one hour.  Plan to complete this cycle by the night after we set our clocks back.

2.  The next morning, if your child is still asleep when it is time to get up, try to wake him up naturally by opening the curtains and making a little noise. Light exposure in the morning will help reinforce the new wake time.

3.  Repeat steps one and two for the next few nights so that your child’s bedtime makes the 1 hour change.  Of course, not all of us HAVE one extra hour in the evening to sit in dim light and so if this is not a practical solution for your family at least try to avoid outdoor light before bed and keep activity low while you are approaching bedtime. This light change is significant in helping your child’s circadian rhythm readjust, and will help prevent your child from being unable to sleep at bedtime once we set our clocks forward.

4.  Expect up to three additional days (after consistency using lightness, dark, and 15-minute increments at night) for these light and dark reinforcements to take complete effect.

5.  You may also adjust naptime back in 15 min increments on the same days you are adjusting bedtime.  You may continue to have your meals on “clock time” if you like.

Reminder: A continuous white noise machine and room darkening shades will help!

For a child with a too-early wake time:

The night after we set our clocks forward, the “new” 5am will feel like your child’s 6am so if you have a child who’s had an ultra early wake time (ex: 5am) and you’ve been trying to make it later but didn’t know how, here is your opportunity!   You can simply keep your child’s bedtime the same relative to the new time (so if bedtime was 6pm after the time change it will jump to 7pm). Remember to use darkness later in the morning to help your child sleep in (keep that white noise machine on) and keep the household dim and quiet until you’d like your child to be awake for the day.

Best of luck with this transition!

If you need more support in fixing those early wake ups using lightness, dark, and auditory cues, implementing a pre-sleep routine, finding appropriate bedtime, morning wake up and napping solutions, or manage frequent wakings,   we’re here to help.  Learn more about our Sleep Support Program.

After pregnancy, many women notice an unwelcome belly bulge; sometimes called the “mummy tummy”, the “muffin top” or the “baby bulge”.  Even if you were a fitness enthusiast before, during, and after pregnancy you may notice you just can’t seem to banish the bump!  We often think that this new belly is from fat, but it’s actually due to changes in our abdominal muscle structure.

During pregnancy the two halves of the outermost abdominal layer, the rectus abdominis, can become separated. This separation is called diastasis recti, and is the cause of the dreaded belly bulge. The separation happens because the growing baby and uterus put a forceful pressure on the connective tissue that holds the two halves of the muscles together (See diagram), causing the connective tissue to stretch apart and become weak.  Although not all women get diastasis recti when pregnant, it is extremely common.   Also, the more pregnancies you experience, the worse it may get.

How can you tell if you have diastasis?

To find out if you have diastasis, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Place a hand over your belly button with your fingers pointing towards your toes. Relax your abdominal muscles and lift your head like you are doing a crunch, bringing your ribcage towards your pelvis. Press with gentle pressure and move your fingers from side to side to feel the right and left edges of the rectus abdominis. You have diastasis if the gap between the muscle is 2 ½ fingers wide or more. You may even see a bulge or mound protruding. You can also move your fingers above and below the navel to see how long the separation is.

Can you prevent or reduce the separation?

The good news is, you can help reduce the separation of these muscles by avoiding the following movements:

1. Sitting straight up from a lying position.  Instead, roll over to one side then use your arms to push you up without the help of your abdominal muscles.
2. Abdominal exercises that work the exterior abdominal muscles, like crunches and oblique crossovers. These will put additional strain on your rectus abdominis.
3. Lifting and carrying heavy objects or any other movements that cause the belly to protrude out upon exertion.

Can I improve the situation?

Yes. Wearing a splint over your post partum belly will help physically bring the two sides of the rectus abdominis together. Splinting while performing core strengthening exercises can help to heal the separation and strengthen the connective tissue. In addition, be aware of your core muscles.  By engaging your core during movements such as climbing stairs or carrying a baby, you can prevent further rectus stretching and maybe even help shorten the gap.

For most women, diastasis recti resulting from pregnancy is unavoidable.  However, knowing is half the battle, and once you know that you have diastasis, you can be more thoughtful of your exercises and habits to help get rid of that “mummy tummy”!

Now that the cat’s out of the bag and family & friends have heard the exciting news that you’re pregnant, reality sets in one morning– you can’t button your pants! Is your wardrobe prepared for the next 6 months with the basics for all occasions? Isis Senior Buyer Susan Scheele recalls her own experience with maternity wear and shares some of her top maternity fashion tips.

I’m so excited to introduce you to the incredible and stylish options you have, which are numerous compared to my own experience (to say the least).  Here’s how I did it: I graduated from college, got married 5 months later and had my first baby the following year; this was sixteen years ago and the maternity clothing options were pretty pathetic.  Add the fact that I went to Art School and studied Fashion Design so there was no way I was about to sacrifice my sense of style to dress in a frock that made me look like a beached whale.  Instead I shopped the clearance rack in the mens department at the Gap and survived my pregnancy in non-maternity leggings and mens button down shirts- I was comfortable but a far cry from my usual stylish self. 

Well, things have certainly changed; maternity wear hit the cover of Women’s Wear Daily for the first time and Hollywood has made the “bump” hyper trendy.  Invest in some high quality basics and then accessorize with pieces you already have and you won’t break the bank purchasing clothes you’re only going to wear for a short time. 

Here are my top tips for creating the ultimate maternity wardrobe:

A black bottom and a black skirt finish off any polished look.  These timeless trousers from Noppies are comfortable go-with-everything black pants you’ll wear throughout your pregnancy. The Basic A-Line Skirt from Ripe Maternity is the perfect throw on-and-go style.  Top this flattering knit yoke skirt with your favorite tank and a pair of comfy sandals for a walk along the Esplanade or dress it up for a night out on the town. 

A white shirt in long or short sleeves gives a crisp finish and can layer over if you’re looking to be a little more casual.  Say goodbye to your hubby’s oxford shirts, you can now have your own!  The sleeves and back of the Odessa Blouse by Noppies are jersey knit, which allow for stretch, making this a great everyday option.

A cardigan is a must-have layering piece to deal with fluctuations in temperature. (Welcome to the hormonal roller-coaster!)  We love this cardigan from Ripe Maternity– it’s the essential layering piece.

A pop of color off of dark bottoms is always a great answer to any wardrobing dilemma. We love the Scoopneck Tube T from Ripe Maternity. The rouched sides and long length will last throughout your pregnancy and grow with your belly.

And don’t forget jeans! Maternal America Distressed Denim has an incredible fit that will carry you through pregnancy and beyond.  The forgiving wide knit waistband rides below the belly and allows for maximum comfort.  You can also wear a trendy Skinny Jean, which despite their name are designed to fit and flatter a pregnant woman.

Not only will these pieces take you up to the big event, but they’ll transition you through those first few postpartum weeks as well.  Don’t be afraid of wearing these pieces over and over again – we’ve chosen quality, versitile, mix & match styles that will compliment any wardrobe.  Throw in your own accessories to add your personal flair and show off your baby bump with style!

At Isis, we’re here to teach families safer use of slings and carriers from birth and as their baby grows. It’s essential to ensure both a clear airway and correct positioning, especially for smaller babies and newborns.

In response to recent news reports regarding the safety of baby slings, we’ve prepared a short video demonstration of how to properly and safely position a baby in a sling.

When is the last time you saw a movie in the theater?

There are countless changes to your life when you become a mother. Some are expected, others come as a complete surprise. The one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the new inability to be out doing things. These days everything my 6 month old daughter and I do must be well thought-out. Restaurants need highchairs. Stores need elevators if we are bringing our stroller, and in bathrooms the first thing we seek out is a changing table. Going to the movies? Out of the question. Or so I thought.

Being a stay at home mom makes getting out and about all the more important. When I found out about Mom and Baby movie days I was so excited. Going to the movies is one of the many things that is not baby friendly. The volume is too loud, it’s dark and no one wants their movie to be interrupted by a baby. But thanks to some thoughtful theaters, moms don’t have to wait for video anymore.  There are several theaters in the Boston area that offer Mom and Baby movies. Editor’s note: Starting March 18th, “Baby Pictures” will be showing at Showcase Cinema De Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham every third Thursday of the month. See below for a chance to win tickets to a Mom and Baby movie at Legacy Place!

We heard about Mom and Baby movies from our Great Beginnings class instructor Cindy M. When Cora was 4 months old, I was finally able to get us out to see a movie. It was just the two of us. Cora and I were so excited for our first movie date. I tend to arrive at things a bit early because you never know what is going to happen when you are out with your child! Most theaters can’t have a bunch of strollers blocking the aisles due to fire codes, so we came in our carrier. That was a great idea for a sleeping baby anyway, my arms didn’t have to bear the weight.

We did a diaper change before the movie–the bathrooms are equipped with changing tables. Everyone at the theatre was very nice, clearly happy to have some cute faces in the theatre for a matinee. The movie theatre turns the lights up a bit, so it’s not too dark to see your baby and baby won’t get frightened, which is great. The sound is lowered but still loud enough to hear over a crying baby. I brought several quiet toy options for my daughter to play with during the movie. Bringing more than one toy was important because if Cora tossed her toy on the floor, I could switch it out with something fresh and clean. (It is still a  movie theatre and even the cleanest of them have dirty floors!)

Babies are going to fuss sometimes but this is one time where no one is going to glare at you because of it. The other moms are used to it, all babies cry. When my daughter got fussy I was able to just stand up and walk the aisle with her so she was calm. I don’t think patrons at a regular movie would have cared for that! I was able to nurse Coraline right in the theatre while the movie was on, a very neat experience.  My daughter slept most of the time, so it was a nice break for me!

All in all going to the movies with my daughter is a fantastic afternoon outing. Some popcorn for me, some breast milk for her, a neat new adventure for the both of us together.

Kim Shipley, Isis mom to 6-month-old Coraline

Kim is a first time mom of a 6-month-old daughter.  She is originally from Pittsburgh, and currently resides in Somerville with one husband, one dog and one cat. When she’s not doing laundry or having dance parties with her daughter she writes a blog called The Girl Is A Mom. 

Giveaway Alert!

Isis is giving away 10 pairs of Free Passes to a Baby Pictures movie at Showcase Cinema De Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham! That’s two passes per winner, so you can bring a friend or go twice! To enter, post a comment on this blog telling us why you need to get out and about with your baby. This contest is now closed. We’ll announce the winners as soon as they are verified.

Passes are valid for admission to Baby Pictures films only and expire at the end of 2011.

This giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry, Isis employees and their immediate families are not eligible to win. Limit one entry per family. Please include a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Your email will not be published and will not be used for any other purpose. 

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