Quiet Time

Since arriving back from Hawaii we have found that Miss Claire has been fighting us on naps and also taking a long time to fall asleep at bedtime.  We decided to try taking away her afternoon nap and see if it improves bedtimes.  I remember reading on other mom's blogs that when their little ones stopped napping they started 'quiet time' as a way for them (mom) to still get things done around the house.  This also gives the little ones time to rest without falling asleep.  

I found cute chalkboard labels at the dollar store 

On Sunday, we asked Claire if she would like to go for a nap or have 'quiet time', she of course picked quiet time.  We told her the rules, she needed to stay in her room for an hour and half and we would need to come and get her when quiet time was over.  She also needed to stay quiet the whole time because Abby was napping in the room next to her.  I put together some books in a basket for her and told her she could read the books quietly.  Surprisingly she did awesome, she was very quiet and read books on her floor in her room.  She later went to her bed to read books.  Near the end she left her room and went into the playroom shut the door and started playing in there.  I went to get her and told her remember you need to stay in your room until mommy or daddy comes to get you.  I decided to give her the sticker book to play with as well for something else to do.  

On Tuesday, we went over to the dollar store to pick up some activities for Claire's quiet tubs.  I picked up 5 tubs with lids, labels, and various activities to put in each tub.  I found, flash cards, lacing cards, pom poms to sort into containers, books, matching games, mini etch a sketch and foam puzzles.  All perfect activities to keep her quiet and busy.  I spent very little to put the tubs together and the dollar store was a great place to find all of these goodies.  

Matching cards or colour, shapes and word cards. 

Lacing cards that Claire is able to do independently 

Coloured pom pom's with silicone muffin cups to sort colours

Small books that Claire knows off by heart

Mini Mouse playhouse that fits perfectly in the tubs

Foam puzzles that are perfect because they fit together anyway 

Mini Etch A Sketches 

I was able to sort out items into each tub and label them with each day of the week leaving Saturday and Sunday without a tub because Kyle and I will more than likely be taking Claire out to do things with on the weekends.  When she needs to have quiet time on either Saturday or Sunday we will just let her pick her favourite tub.  

Found a pan and magnetic letters at Superstore

Found some mini ocean creatures for creative play

Yesterday after we had a fun play date with our friends, Claire chose to have quiet time in her room in the afternoon and after a half hour she had fallen asleep on the floor in her room.  It was so cute!  I let her sleep for a little bit but soon remembered she wasn't wearing a pull up and she isn't potty trained yet when she is sleeping so unfortunately I had to go into her room and ask her if she wanted to keep sleeping and if she did she would need to put a pull up on.  She said she was done sleeping and wanted to go downstairs for a snack.  The rest of the week she wasn't falling asleep, I think it was because she played during the play date in the morning and that tired her out.   

Claire sleeping on the floor in her room. Sooo cute!

We will see how the quiet tubs work out the rest of the next three months while I am home still on mat leave.  I also plan on switching up the activities in the tubs once a month to give her some variety and she doesn't get bored.  So far having quiet time for Claire in her room instead of sleeping in the afternoon has improved her bedtime.  Now when we have put her to bed at 7:30 pm she has fallen asleep instantly and stayed asleep for almost 12 hours.  She also isn't crying 3-4 times between 7-10 pm for extra demands, stories, songs, different pjs, or going on the potty.  It's much better and now Kyle and I can enjoy our evening again together.