Today I am fortunate to have Valerie from Chronicles of a Babywise Mom guest posting! She has been blogging about babywise for eight years now, so she really knows her stuff! Specifically today she is talking about why she loves babywise. I agree with all of it, especially the sleep part! She has great reasons for the why behind the what, and I really like what she has to say about it.
I am over at Giving it Grace today. I have climbed back up on my science-is-awesome soapbox to talk about how we can start teaching kids to love science, even at 2 years old. These are things that I either have done or try to do with Ben. I really want him to embrace the wonder of the world and not be afraid to ask why. Yay for science!
–Kim
5 Reasons I Love Babywise
by Valerie Plowman
I have blogged extensively for nearly eight years on the topic of parenting in general, and Babywise specifically. Now, think about writing about something 5-6 times a week for eight years. Do you think if you did that, you might really like the topic? Of course you would! And I do. Babywise has been such a blessing in our lives as as family. As I think about my long-term writing and where we are today, I wanted to share 5 reasons I love Babywise and why we have stuck with it through all four of our children.
1-We all get the sleep we need
In the early days, before we started Babywise, we didn’t sleep much. At all. Once we implemented Babywise, sleep immediately improved. We all get the sleep we need. As a mom, I get enough sleep each night. That helps me be a patient, kind, engaged, and productive mother the next day. I am the best mom I can be.
There are people like to criticize mothers for wanting to sleep. I stand up, unashamed, and say I want to get sleep each night. I want that not because I am selfish, but because I want to be able to care for my children at my optimal level during the day. Through implementing Babywise, we have all been able to get the most sleep we could over the years.
To this day, sleep is still something we respect as a family and work to protect and preserve. My children are well rested for school the next day and it shows. See How Healthy Sleep Principles Have Benefited My Children from Infancy to Preteen for more on that.
2-Independent playtime
Oh my goodness I love Independent Playtime! Independent Playtime is when your child plays alone each day for about an hour. Alone. Without you. Why has this been a benefit? For each child, it has been a time for the child to learn to problem solve and self entertain. These are invaluable skills in life.
It has also benefited our family. When I brought home a new baby and had a 22 month old toddler at home, that hour each day was a time I could focus on my new baby–just the two of us spending some time alone each day. Toddlers are demanding, but because of naps and independent play, I was able to give great focus to my babies.
It has been a great time for siblings to get a break from each other as they have gotten older. They all love each other and love spending time together, but we humans all need some time apart at times. 3 months of summer break is long, so having an hour each day to go our separate ways and have some alone time is a great relationship saver. It helps the children get along throughout the day together. See
Benefits of Independent Play for more on that. 3-Order and predictability in our days
I love to know what is coming. I have found my children do, too. Having a routine each day is a sanity saver for me and a comfort for my children. Starting life with a routine and continuing it as my children have grown has helped them feel secure. See
Benefits of Structure and Routine for more on that. 4-We have added babies with little stress
Remember what I said above about sleep and independent play? Also the predictability? Each time we have brought a new baby home, we have been able to do so with very little stress. I have been able to carry on as almost usual (while adopting our new normal) while still caring for a new baby. We add that baby into our routine and family structure and adjust to our new normal. The children still get their naps and independent play. They still get time with me because the baby is on a routine. Life changes, but it doesn’t turn on its head. See
Welcoming Baby to the Family and Baby Joins a Family {AND} Family Adds a Baby for more on that. 5-We are able to focus on bigger matters
I often talk about the benefits I see in my older children today. I am so glad that we have things like sleeping and basic obedience down so that when bigger life matters come up, we are able to focus on those concerns and not be trying to figure out how to get our child to sleep through the night and how to deal with mean kids at school. Those basic details were dealt with years ago so we are able to add the new challenges of life as they come without being completely overwhelmed. See
Benefits of Babywise in Older Children for more on that.
Check out all the ladies of the BFBN to learn more!
