I knock on the wall before he goes to bed. I did it one night to prove to him that I was right there on the other side of the wall when he was scared. Now I do it every night. 10 times to be exact. I honestly thought it was silly. But then, for mothers day they filled out these little cards at school about why they love their moms. He wrote "because my mom knocks 10 times" The teacher gave it to me and said, maybe you'll know what he meant by this. My eyes filled with tears, I didn't realize how much it meant to him

We started using ours a few months before we transitioned out of the crib because we wanted him to understand the concept BEFORE being in a bed. For us - blue is sleep and yellow is wake up (LIKE THE SUN - we say).

We started right around 2. For the record, I agree with you that 630 is too early to wake up! My son still uses his clock and it turns yellow at 7:30 - if he wakes early he can hold out and now will grab a book if he needs too.

We actually set it early at first to maximize success. SO whenever they usually wake up (Let's say 7) - we set it for 6:45. That way if they woke early (6:30) they only had to make it 15 mins. If they woke at 7 or after, it was yellow and YAY you made it! Once the concept started to stick, we moved it by 5 minutes a week until we had it where we were all happy.

Good luck, we LOVE our clock and I'm counting the days until I can start one with my 16 month old (who woke at 6:30 today, womp womp).

I have a 4 year old and a 16 month old. Our schedule is:

5:15 Home
5:15-6:00 - they watch TV while we cook dinner (well 4 year old watches while 16 month old runs around being crazy)
6:00 Dinner
6:20ish - dinner is over and we go up to play with toys
6:45 - start bath for LO
7 - 4 year old joins if bathing
7-diaper, jammies, book and nurse the LO - lights out 730
While doing the above - 4 year old is in his room coloring/reading/playing quiet games
7:30-8 books with 4 year old
8 lights out (I rub his back and chat with him until 8:15 and leave) He usually is asleep within 10 mins

Yes Kiddie Country on old keene mill (the one with the pool) They sound amazing but my daughter wouldn't be able to start until next June. I'm trying to decide if we should wait it out for them, or we could move both kids now to NoVA Academy. If NoVA Academy is just as good and/or people really like it there, I may be better off moving them both now. I feel sad it will be my son's 3rd childcare since he was born - but I just have the gut feeling that where he is now is not the right fit for him. Getting my husband on board will be another factor and of course, cost. But, in my mind, it will just be a year in terms of cost and then it will drop significantly for him.

You are absolutely correct. The reason was that I was having trouble finding a good preschool that will take them both due to their age difference. Kiddie Country wont start my 16 month old until June (she has to turn 2 and then they enroll the following summer). So I thought that it wouldn't be worth moving him then. The other factor was before and after care for his elementary school which KinderCare offers but most other places don't.

However, then I found NoVA Academy of Early Learning and see that they would take both age groups. I just found them today and spoke with them and they have openings. I also found out about Elite today and their program so we could have after care covered. Whew - this is a lot. But basically, wanted to get reviews of the schools and thoughts to help inform our decision on moving the kids, moving them both, when to move, where to move....it's a lot to consider.

Next year (14 months). I can't get them in anywhere else together right now so since I would have to wait for next June to enroll my daughter in Kiddie Country (if that's what we choose) I would just move forward with a plan for him for before and after care and am trying to decide the best place for her (once she hits 2).

No? Its worth hearing people's experiences with different places. Isn't part of researching daycares/preschools talking to people who have been there? Interviewing places and following up with people who have used them is all part of your due diligence, IMO.

I would actually give motrin/advil for teething pain per our pediatrician. It lasts longer and is better because it reduces pain and inflammation - Tylenol is good for pain/fever reducing but does not help with inflammation.

Motrin is good to give before bed with a full tummy but should be avoided on an empty stomach. Tylenol is fine to give on an empty stomach. So usually motrin before bed (which lasts 6-8 hours) and then if your LO wakes after 6 hours fussy, give Tylenol in the middle of the night If you nurse him though, you could give more Motrin since he will have something in his belly.

No harm in trying it one night to see if it helps and if so, then you may have your answer. Our ped says to stick to only giving it 3 nights a week if possible.

Good luck!

My daughter is 16 months and currently in KinderCare. My son (4) is also there but moved from another location so they would be together and we would have one drop off and pick up. It's hard to find a place that takes both their ages! At any rate, I was very happy with the infant room for her but have been unhappy with my son's 4 year old room. His behavior has gone WAY down hill - I think a combo of teacher turnover, teachers that cannot properly get ahold of the classroom, lack of activities for the kids (and you have to pay for anything additional like math or phonics), etc etc. I won't move him right away since he's start school next year and I have a plan for him (summer camp and then before and after care for him at Elite). However, when we move him I want to also move my daughter. I know she'll be great through the 2s room at KinderCare because I know those teachers well and she will be in great hands. But I'd like to get her into somewhere else so she's in a better environment as she gets older. Kiddie Country said she could start next June at just over 2.

What are thoughts on Kiddie Country (I and II) vs NoVa Early learning? I so wish I could move them both somewhere now but don't want to move my son multiple times in one year and need to consider before and after care that will take him to his elementary school.

I appreciate any feedback!