M has been very much a ‘textbook’ baby and now toddler. And that’s according to the definitions from the book ‘Secrets of the Baby Whisperer’ by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau. In short, ‘textbook’ babies respond well to routines and require a high level of predictability. I’ve since read the follow-on book on toddlers as well. And the best tip I got from the book is on how to establish routines.
Besides routines, there’s another thing I liked about this book. It tries to ‘categorise’ babies and toddlers into 5 different types – Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, and Grumpy. Although it’s quite impossible that one child displays traits of one type only, it really got me to appreciate M for who she is. We parents often compare our babies but it’s really not fair to them because they’re all individuals. The strategies for dealing with each type of baby and toddler also came in useful.
And routines are just great for both mother and child, offering us security and predictability. The book also offers a really simple routine for young babies, E.A.S.Y. – Eat, Activity, Sleep, You (Mummy’s personal time). Using this suggestion, I was able to establish a routine for M by the time she was around 6 months old. Although I’m well-aware it won’t happen 100% of the time, but just knowing what comes next is good enough!
Let me give you an idea of M’s typical weekday at 29 months old.
| 7.00 am | Wake & Milk |
| 7.30 am | ‘Potty’ |
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 8.30 am | Activity |
| 9.30 am | Snack then ‘Potty’ |
| 10.00 am | Activity |
| 11.30 am | TV (so I can cook in peace) |
| 12.00 nn | Lunch |
| 12.30 pm | TV (her favourite ‘Hi-5’) |
| 1.00 pm | Shower |
| 1.30 pm | Nap |
| 3.30 pm | Wake & Milk |
| 4.00 pm | Activity |
| 5.00 pm | Snack then ‘Potty’ |
| 5.30 pm | Activity |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.00 pm | Shower |
| 8.30 pm | TV |
| 9.00 pm | Milk & Sleep |
p/s: On weekdays, I cook lunch and we go over to my mum’s place for dinner.
With so many ‘Activity’ times a day, I sometimes run out of ideas what to do! Which is why we attend some classes which takes us out of the house and allow me to sit back and follow the teachers’ lead. Other things we do to ‘kill’ time are: supermarket trips, walks to the park & playground, story-telling, baking, doodling, crafts, pretend plays etc…
With such a ‘hectic’ schedule, I ‘knock out’ by 9.15pm on some days 
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