Most toddlers are ready to transition from two naps to one around 15-18 months. That said, if your toddler’s naps are going well, leave them alone! But when things start to get funky on the nap front, it might be a sign that she is preparing to consolidate her naps. Your toddler is ready to transition to one nap when she:
 
- Consistently gets 10-11 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night (if she’s not, work on improving her nighttime sleep before tackling naps).       
- Consistently takes longer and longer to fall asleep for her morning nap.       
- Consistently takes shorter morning naps or sleeps too long in the morning then refuses her afternoon nap

If your toddler’s afternoon nap isn't going well, try shortening her morning nap – don't let her sleep longer than an hour. Maybe even 20-30 minutes. Think of the morning nap as a catnap to take the edge off, so she isn't overtired for the more important afternoon nap. Eventually she will drop the morning nap altogether. But catnaps can be a really good stopgap measure, buying her body a few more weeks/months to adjust.

When the time has truly come to kiss the morning nap goodbye, brace for a 7-10 day process. Gradually push her morning nap later – 11am for 2 days, 11:30am for a few days, then noon, etc. Don’t let the nap get stuck in the late morning. Your goal is for her nap to start between 12:30-1pm and last at least 2 hours. 
 
Some children adapt quickly to an “after noon” naptime, while others really struggle. I found that keeping my toddler out of the house from 9-11am made a big difference. Keep her busy at the playground, library, or a friend’s house before bringing her home for lunch and then nap. Just don’t let her fall asleep in the stroller or car ride home!

If your sleepy toddler wakes up from her nap after only an hour, try to encourage her back to sleep using whatever method works best for her and you. If all else fails, you can always let her crash in the car or stroller so that she isn’t falling apart by 5pm. 

Bear in mind: this is a significant transition that can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It often leads to short-term sleep deprivation since toddlers typically go through a "two naps are two many but one is not enough" stage. During that time, put her to bed earlier than usual and be open to an occasional two-nap day if you sense she is getting over-tired.

Sweet dreams,
Rebekah
(Some excerpts from The Good Night Sleep Tight Workbook ©2010 Kim West LCSW-C, The Sleep Lady ®)

We have entered Cape Cod Mommies for a chance to win the 3 different ERGO carriers so we could start a lending library!  We would love to be able to lend these out to Cape Cod Moms & Dads who want to try them before they buy them!  In order to win, we need you to comment on our post on Facebook's Ergo page: https://www.facebook.com/ergobaby
The rules for contest are detailed below and it ends Tues at 9pm PST.  Whichever US babywearing group gets the most comments on our original post started by Amy Elizabeth will win all 3! 

Let’s represent-there aren’t a lot of entries yet, we can do this!!!!  Go to the ERGO page-linked above (you may have to like their page to vote-I’m not sure), then at the top switch the little box from highlights, to posts by others and look for a post by: Amy Elizabeth and comment-doesn’t matter what the comment is, just comment-the more we get the better our chance!

Please share, Tweet this contest out to your friends!  Only COMMENTS on Amy's orginial post will be counted towards the final total!  Let's show just how big a voice we have Cape Cod!!!!

GO CAPE COD! Thanks!!!

Contest Rules
Babywearing groups! Do you need Ergobaby Carriers for your lending library?

We're gonna do a little experiment...If you are a US babywearing group, post on this FACEBOOK page that you would like Ergobaby carriers for your library, then get your members to comment on that post here on our FB page. The Babywearing group post with the most comments will win 3 carriers: an Original, a Performance and a Sport so your members can compare them! We want to hear from you!!! We'll close this on Tuesday at 9pm PST due to the holiday on Monday. (Sorry, US groups only.) Ready, go!

You ask our Advisors questions, they give you the Answer!

Today we are featuring 2 Questions to Cape Cod Mom Advisor: Gary DellaPosta, CPA.  If you have questions for Gary or ANY of our Cape Cod Mom Advisors, please e-mail them to: info@ccmommies.com and we will get them answered.

"Gary, How Much Will It Cost Me to Raise a Child?" ~ CC Mom - Orleans

We can't tell you exactly what your child will cost, but we can provide you with estimates. Knowing what to expect will allow you to plan for the future. Here is a breakdown of the items you'll need, and an estimate of their costs.

Note: These estimates are for a first child. Bear in mind that second or third children will cost less than the first, since you will already have purchased many of the items you need.

Government estimates say that a family with an income of $115,400 will spend a total of $298,680 to raise a child to age 17. If you include the cost of college, that cost goes up to $450,000. If your child requires orthodontia, add another $10,000. If you buy your child a car, add that in, too. For an only child, add 25% to the cost.

About a third of the amount spent in the government estimates goes to cover the portion of your rent or mortgage allocated to the new member of your household. It also includes the extra cost you'll incur in making sure you have enough room now that your family is bigger.

"We are expecting our first child at the end of the summer, what costs can we expect during the first year?" ~ CC Mom - Dennis

Here are the costs you can expect up to birth and during the first year.

Hospital Costs. An uneventful delivery costs about $8,000-$10,000, and a Cesarean section $12,000-$14,000. Depending on your coverage, you'll pay anywhere from zero percent to 30% of this cost.

Layette. Before you bring the baby home, you'll buy a crib, a changing table and a swing or other rocking device. The moderately priced versions of these three things will cost you about $1,200. You'll also need two strollers: a collapsible one at about $150 and a full-size one at about $300. A full-size infant car seat will cost you about $100, and a full-size high chair will cost $150. You'll also need an infant seat, at about $50. Finally, you will spend about $300 on washcloths, sheets, blankets, towels, undershirts and other baby clothes.

Formula and Feeding Gear. A year's worth of formula concentrate costs about $1,200. If you buy the ready-to-serve type of formula, the cost is even more. You'll also need a year's supply of bottles, at about $30, and you'll have to add another $20 to replace the nipples at least twice in a year. Nursing mothers will have to invest in nursing bras and nursing pads (about $30). Most nursing mothers will need to invest in a breast pump and its accoutrements, at about $200. Note: Breastpumps can now be deducted as a medical expense.

Diaper Genies and the Like. Disposable diapers for the first year cost about $800, and a diaper genie costs about $30.  If you invest in cloth diapers, you will still have a cost via the intial purchase and the water/electric.

Child Care. Child care in a day care center costs much less than a live-in nanny. A mid-priced day care center charges $200-$250 per week for your infant's care, or about $10,000-$12,000 per year.

Health Care. Your infant will visit the doctor about six times during his or her first year, including well-baby check-ups as well as the inevitable colds and fevers of infancy. How much you will spend for doctor visits during the first year depends on your health insurance. If you are in an HMO, you will pay only the $5 or $10 or even $20 co-payment. But if you are covered by traditional indemnity insurance, well-baby visits may not be covered at all, or only a percentage may be covered. This means (assuming a doctor's visit costs $60) you will pay $45 to $60 per visit for uncovered visits, and $45 per visits for medically necessary visits. You will also need to pay for prescriptions.

Toys and Clothes. You'll spend about $500 on toys and clothing during the first year.

Total For The First Year. Your total expenses for the first year run about $15,000-$18,000. The biggest variables are child care and health care.

If you have further questions, please contact our office at 508-540-3683 or visit us on the web at www.dellapostacpa.com

Sat May 26th
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Bell Tower Park, Bell Tower Lane, Woods Hole

The Woods Hole Community Association is making plans for its 40th annual Woods Hole May Festival.  This year's Festival will be held on Saturday, May 26th, 2012.  The rain date for this event is Sunday, May 27th, with the parade starting at 11:00 a.m. This annual event, sponsored by the Woods Hole Community Association, is an occasion to celebrate the return of warm weather and to enjoy music, crafts, food, games, fresh air as well as conversation with friends, neighbors and visitors.
 
This community celebration kicks-off with an exuberant and fun parade at 10:00 a.m. We invite everyone to join in.  This year the Coast Guard Color Guard will be leading the parade!   The parade begins at the Woods Hole School and proceeds down School Street, then Water Street, around Eel Pond to Millfield Street, and ends at the ballpark on Bell Tower Lane.  Music and costumed participants have always made the parade enjoyable for both onlookers and fellow
paraders.  All that is required is colorful attire and/or a banner of some sort. If you are participating in the parade, please plan to assemble at the Woods Hole School at 9:45 a.m.
 
We invite craftspeople, sellers of homemade foods, and people who would like to run a children’s game to contact Laura Shulman at 508.540.5406 if you would like to sell food, set up a booth, or if you have any other creative ideas!
 
Come enjoy the Maypole dance, live music, a circus act, delicious food, and pony rides.
http://woodsholecommunityassociation.org/activities/

Summer is almost here,  and the early-bird is alive and well at Edaville!
Use code "ForeverYoung"* at checkout to enjoy BOGO discount if purchased by May 31, 2012. THE CODE MUST BE TYPED EXACTLY WITH NO SPACES.

Code is good to any of the following fall and winter events below:

*Please note that restrictions apply. Coupons cannot be combined with any othe offer, cannot be used for Day out with Thomas or Polar Express events and cannot be used on Saturdays during our Christmas Festival of Lights.

Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat 
Sep 22/12 to Sep 23/12 Edaville USA is back! Join us for a fun-filled day of amusements and carnival rides suitable for all ages. Aspiring engineers and their families will enjoy our collection of authentic trains. You can relax on a 20-minute train ride through picturesque cranberry country, and then stop by for a meet and greet with our celebrity host Curious George! Kids under age 2 are free. 
 
Berenstain Bears Character Weekend
Sep 29/12 to Sep 30/12 Join us for a beary special fall weekend when all four Berenstain Bears -- Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear too -- will be at Edaville to welcome their legions of fans. Come for the bears, and stay for everything else. Enjoy a 20-minute train ride through picturesque woodlands and cranberry bogs, as well as unlimited use of all Edavilles amusement rides and indoor and outdoor play spaces. Children under 2 are free!!

National Cranberry Festival 
Oct 20/12 to Oct 21/12 Peak foliage collides with peak cranberry harvest for Edavilles annual National Cranberry Festival. Aspiring engineers of all ages will enjoy an authentic train ride through spectacular scenery -- oftentimes past actual cranberry harvesting -- as well live entertainment, a farmers market of homemade goods, and a wide array of carnival rides and amusements included in your admission. Come see, taste, touch, and learn about the mighty cranberry! 
 
Christmas Festival of Lights
Nov 16/12 to Jan 6/13 During the Christmas season, Edaville is transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday delights! Passengers can relax comfortably in warm and dry coaches while riding through a spectacular holiday setting featuring an explosion of lights. Kids of all ages will enjoy an array of vintage amusement rides and a visit with Santa in one of our indoor play areas. Stay for a delicious full meal or enjoy seasonal treats while roaming our beautifully decorated grounds. Children under 2 are free!

*Please note that restrictions apply. Coupons cannot be combined with any othe offer, cannot be used for Day out with Thomas or Polar Express events and cannot be used on Saturdays during our Christmas Festival of Lights.  Cape Cod Mommies is not responsible for this discount or offer.

Welcome to our Hidden Freebies Series!  Each week we will bring you a new hidden freebie located on Cape Cod & the Islands that you can bring the kids to for some great photo ops and a good time! 

We are kicking off this series highlighting the Sandwich Fish Hatchery, a facility of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the oldest hatchery in the country. Located at 164 Rte 6A near Dewey Ave,   this year the hatchery is celebrating 100 years!  Open year round, 365 days a year from 9-3pm, the Fish Hatchery is a well kept secret!  Guests can come and see the trout run and even feed the fish for 25 cents, which provides amazing entertainment for children and adults! 

We had a great time exploring the Hatchery, running from stream to stream, feeding the fish and watching them flip and jump!   They have brook, brown, and rainbow, trout; which are raised here before they are used to stock the ponds.  Its amazing to watch and if you have a child with you, I would fill up a cup with food and go crazy!  An added benefit of this hidden freebie is not only is it fun and free, but it is educational!  Great topics include: life cycles of the fish, the environmental impact of the hatchery, why being a responsible fisher is important, to name only a few.  For kids, pair this with a book like Lightning's Tale: The Story of a Wild Trout by Hugh Campbell.  Your local Cape Library may have it or you can get it from Amazon here!

Tip: Bring hand sanitizer with you, as they have no public restrooms to wash your hands after.

Call for more info: (508) 888-0008 or read more about the Sandwich Fish Hatchery here! 

If you know of any hidden freebies on Cape Cod & the Islands that you want to share with other Cape Cod Moms email us at: info@ccmommies.com

Hello!  My name is Heidi Ingram and I have owned and operated a large family daycare for 13 years. and have been in the fitness world for approximately 17 years. 

My personal philosohy is: I believe everyone has the potential to achieve excellence, given the right tools and methods, the possibilities to achieve your goals are greatly increased... encouragement, engagement and enthusiasm are my key ingredients in producing success.

I have been teaching Pilates for 6 years both Mat and Reformer, group and privates.  I am also comprehensively certified in classical Pilates through the Peak Pilates System. I have worked with teenage girls and boys  for the last 5 years in both summer and winter fit camps with excellent  results.

Having worked in various gyms and studios throughout the Cape including Balance Health & fitness, Gym Express, Falmouth Sports Center,  Cynthia Lane Studios and most recently Fitness Directions; I have gained tremendous experience and knowledge. I also owned and operated my own personal training business for 5 years before I opened Heidi's Daycare.

I have an Associate in Early Childhood Education and Medical Assistant,  graduating Phi Beta Kappa in both. I am certified in Nutrition and have worked  with personal training clients as well as the children in my care for about 15
  years. I am also an avid runner and triathlete and have also competed in the Falmouth  Road Race for 15 consecutive years with my best time of 49 minutes. Last year I  participated in the Pan Mass Challenge and intend to do so again this year. 

I look forward to answering your questions regarding fitness and nutrition!

My name is Ashley, and I live a half priced life.  I live this type of life to survive, to feed my family, to save money for things I could otherwise not afford like unexpected car repairs or an emergency trip to the dentist.  Sometimes I wish I had a "lavish life"-one where I wouldn't have to worry so much about my household budget, or how high the heating bill will be for a particular month.  I do my absolute best in life in every aspect of my personal existence, but no matter how hard I try- I struggle with being healthy.

You see, sometimes I feel like "being healthy" is a luxury
In the modern world, women are not only the primary caretakers of their family; they are also contributors to the female workforce.  Women face quite the conundrum when it comes to taking care of themselves.  At the end of workday, after homework, dinner, bath time, and bed time- who the heck wants to exercise?  Also, who wants to wake up at 4am before the kids to fit exercise in?

Humans aren't rabbits, so why eat bowls full of salad day in and day out?  Personally, I need variety and depth in my food.  I need two bites of  a brownie (if not three) to satisfy a chocolate craving, and gosh darn-it sometimes I need an ice cream sundae!  Yet, I always feel guilty when I  steal a naughty nibble because I know I'm not going to get the extra exercise I need to burn those additional calories.

Woman-guilt, it's a *bleep*!
So, what happens if you can't afford a membership to the gym, or a sitter to watch your kids while you go to the gym, or even someone to help with the kids so you can exercise at home or go out for a run?  What happens if you don't have the money to purchase healthy foods all the time?  What happens if you can't make the time, or find the time to exercise because your schedule is so busy with work and family that you can't even see straight at the end of the day?  What happens if you don't have a family to care for, but work 6-7 days a week to survive, allowing you little time to pay attention to your own needs?

What happens?!?!
 Being healthy becomes a luxury.  I would love someone to prove me wrong on my theory, or at least give me magical
powers that will allow me to wake up at 4am without feeling psychotic. If you could also throw in a mute button for my extremely loud and co-dependent cat, who yowls at me, at the top of her lungs, waking up my kids the minute my feet
hit the floor- well that would be awesome too!  Seriously though, this post is meant to generate response- whether you agree or disagree with my theory.

I want to know
Do you feel the same way I do? Or, do you have tips to share with readers who feel this way?  Share with me the good and bad, the thoughtful and helpful, your opinions and point of views-on my site The Savings Momma

Please, don't misunderstand- I do exercise and I do eat as healthy as possible.  I was just one of those people not blessed with amazing genetics, and for me- being healthy and staying healthy is an everyday struggle.  I assure you, I do not sit on my duff, eating from my couponing stockpile, drooling on my couch. Promise ;)

Does your little one leak through his diapers? Like to strip down before falling asleep? Wake up whenever you cover him? If so, here are some practical tips to avoid these common sleep interruptions.

 Leaky diapers.
There are a number of simple solutions for a baby or toddler struggling with leaky nighttime diapers.  Use diapers one size larger than his regular, daytime diapers.  Or try an extra absorbent nighttime diaper. My children wear Seventh Generation by day, Huggies Overnights by night. If you find yourself without a nighttime diaper, consider placing a maxi pad inside his regular one.

Disrobing.
Yes, you will certainly look back at these moments and laugh. But, when your toddler decides to strip as part of his falling asleep routine, it can wreak havoc on his (and your!) nights. My advice is to head him off at the pass.  A strip of electrical tape, strategically placed across the top of his diaper (covering both tabs), can work wonders for keeping a diaper intact.  Try placing his zippered pajamas on backwards (zipper up the back).

Blanket Replacing.
Summer is around the corner, but on the Cape and Islands, evenings are almost always cool. If you are losing sleep wondering if your baby has rolled out from under his blanket again or he wakes every time you cover him, it’s time to try a new approach.  Layer up with two sets of pajamas or a onesy underneath his pajamas.  Use a sleep sack over his
regular pajamas. It will keep his body and toes warm without impeding his movement. And it has the added benefit of preventing a would-be crib climber from making his escape (at least until he figures out how to work the zipper!).
There are many on the market, but my children use this one in the summer and this one for the rest of the year.

Sweet dreams!
Rebekah

by Pamela Wills, CPC Self Discovery Expert & Truth Coach

Comfort zones are just that: Comfy.  Soft.  Squishy.  Relaxing.

 That is all well and good if you are all set with your job.  Your relationship.  Your home.  Your education.  You name it.

 However, if you are thinking about using your creative juice, making plans, setting goals and otherwise getting out there and on the move, you know that comfort equals death.  As in comfortably numb (isn’t that a song?…).  If that is  the case, then let’s get you up out of that overstuffed chair and out onto the  open road.  Ready?  Achtung, kids, we are leaving the comfort zone… NOW!

Step One Decide
This step may be done from the comfort of the comfy chair, no worries.  Just don’t take all year!  Give yourself a deadline to consider your options.  What happens if your plan works?  What happens if it doesn’t work this time?  Is this the right step, in the right direction?  Decide.

Step Two Remember, if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you tougher.
It won’t kill you.  (Um, if you choose to leave the C-Zone for something that could actually kill you, well, that’s another area altogether, one that I am not trained to help with.  We are NOT talking aboutdangerous, life-threatening actions here.)  Really — doing something different or differently will not bring about the end of the world.  So just relax and 
enjoy the ride.

 Step Three Ask yourself whether you will regret sitting comfortably in that chair for the rest of your life.
What will you be missing out on or giving up if you just sit there all the time?  Will you bore yourself to tears?  Miss out on that fantastic guided tour of China?  Never  experience love again?  Think about it.  Is remaining in the C-Zone
really all  that great in comparison?

Step Four Put yourself first
We women hear this all the time.  We know it makes sense.  But do we really take this advice to heart? It is NOT selfish to take care of yourself, to get enough rest, exercise and   good nutrition.  It does NOT make you a bad mommy if you go out with the girls   one night a month, or have a date with your partner once a week.  It does NOT make you a bad person if you say no to the fifth or sixth or seventh group requesting your precious volunteer time.  There is only so much of you to go around!  When you put yourself first, you can hear your own voice.  Not Negative  Nellie, not Self-Righteous Sally, not Lizard Brain Liz.  Just you.  What are you  saying?  What do you REALLY want??

 Step Five Take baby steps
No need to take extra giant leaps here, not if you are out of practice and not if you are looking to makesmall changes.  Decide on tiny increments and make your road a gentle path rather than a speeding Autobahn.  It’s okay.  We don’t all have to be  Oprah.

Step Six No excuses
Enough said.

 Step Seven Do something
Anything!  Anything related to whatever it is you are shaking up.  Want to go back to school to be a nurse?  Contact some local schools and request info packets.  Want to renovate yourbathroom?  Go to the hardware store and pick up some paint samples.  Want to change your career?  Get online and start digging for possibilities.  Then see what happens.

 Step Eight Do something NEW
Make a new friend.  Try a new food.  Walk differently.  Last weekend, my daughter and I were in NYC, walking down the sidewalk when suddenly she suggested we try walking “mindfully”.  It started out as joke (mindfulness is not exactly my 
action-oriented 11 year old girl’s fave subject), but it turned out great.  We slowed our pace WAY down, lifting and lowering our feet ridiculously slowly.  We  were laughing the whole time (I think we also made a few passersby laugh, too)  but it made us totally slow down and appreciate the fact that we were WALKING  DOWN THE STREET IN NYC!!!  This was NOT our comfort zone but WOW, it was FUN!   Doing something different or just doing something differently can give you the  change in perspective you need to make the change you desire.

 REady to get up out of that comfy chair?

 BTW, “get out of your comfort zone” is just a comfy way of saying, “take a risk” or “take a chance”.  Will you try it?


Pamela Wills is a Certified Coach (CPC) and Licensed Educator based on lovely Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  With her coaching company, Elasticity  Coaching, her mission is to help you rediscover your true Self and learn  to own your
truth.  As a Self Discovery Expert and Truth Coach, Pamela would  love to work with you, especially if you have dealt with a codependent,   controlling and/or emotionally abusive relationship and now have a burning   desire to express your authenticity.  Sign up for her free weekly eZine, subscribe to her blog, follow her on Twitter and  like her Facebook page for events, deals and free stuff.  Or  simply  send a message to pamela@elasticitycoaching.com.  Pamela and her 
 Elasticity will  help you bounce back, better than ever!