7 thoughts on “McKenna Child Summary: 5 Years Old”

  1. i'm curious on 2 things. you said is she doens't get 12 hrs sleep she naps the next day but you say 8 PM bed and 7 AM wake? Just wondering or maybe i misread.Anyways my main thing is my 2nd is similar and she's more a debater type. I LOVE that she says "Can I please tell you something" when trying to debate. Did she come up with that when you told her to speak more respectfully or did you practice it together? My 2nd is a debater/arguer/negotiator. I really don't know where she gets it from as I am not a waffler, i think it's just her. It kind of ebbs and flows. I tell her is she argues/whines/complains she loses the right to whatever (like picking out clothes is a major issue for her) and then she'll shape up but naturally just tends to revert right back to where she was. I do think it's just her nature. So anyways i love your tip!

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  2. So 8-7 is 11 hours, so she needs to have a nap in the day since she isn't getting 12 hours at night. McKenna did come up with "can I please tell you something" on her own. I have heard of similar things like "Can I disagree respectfully?" For McKenna, the debate is just in her, too. I am not a waffler, either, so I think it is just in her. I try to look at the bright side–I don't mind her being assertive or self-assured. There is a right way to disagree and to question authority figures and I think she is figuring that out. I would have her do a phrase and practice it together when there is no conflict. Expect it to take time. And expect it to not be perfect 🙂

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  3. Valerie! Thanks so much for ALL of your amazing thoughts! I've been reading all over your blog and have had so many of my questions answered but I still have one for you… I have a 18 month old and a 6 month old. And I have done Baby Wise with both of them. I have kept my 6 month old on about a 3-3 1/2 hour schedule with an hour to an hour and twenty minute awake times because that seems like what she's needed and I've also been trying to keep her nap somewhat aligned with my 18 month old nap to have a little window in my day to get some stuff done. My 6 month old, Emma is still doing 6 feedings a day. I tried almost a month ago to drop her evening feeding but she started waking up a few hours before her first feeding so I have continued to give her her 6th feeding at night even though I feel ready to drop it.She just had her 6 month growth spurt and nursed like crazy and is all of a sudden so different. Her old schedule isn't working for her like it was. I realized looking back at my notes with my first daughter that at this point I had her on a 4 hour schedule with just 4 nursings a day. I am unsure of what to do at this point and feel kinda overwhelmed that I need to make big jumps in her schedule. Do I just increase awake times by 15 minutes? And move her schedule slowly? Or can I let her sleep for 21/2 to 3 hours and all of a sudden only have time for 5 feedings in a day? The other factor is, I get pretty wiped out by mid day if I don't get my girls naps to align so that is why I feel hesitant about moving her schedule slowly because then I might be up with her the whole time my older one naps. I would so LOVE your thoughts. Thanks Valerie! (Also I just started her a few days ago on some avocado and yams in the morning and evening after her nursing)

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    • The food factor throws a wrench in it–it is possible one of those foods doesn't agree with her and that is why she isn't doing well on her schedule. If it isn't food, then yes, you can just let her sleep until the feed time and drop to five feedings. I would go for that if you don't think it is food. If she is squirmy and seems uncomfortable, I would eliminate the food and see is she goes back to herself.

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  4. Thanks so much for your response Valerie!! So do you think it's ok to not feed her for a couple of days if she seems super interested in food to see if that's what's affecting her?Also after rereading your thoughts about how to drop a feeding. Last night I nursed my daughter for a shorter period of time at her last feeding of the day (at 9:30pm) and she woke up this morning at 5:30 instead of 6:15/6:30 her normal wake up time. She just doesn't seem to want to give up that 6th feeding. I was actually hoping that giving her solids would help her be ready to give it up.Lastly, I know that you have helped so many people with their schedules so I would love your thoughts… Is it normal that my daughter at 6 months is still mostly on a 3hr schedule with 6 feedings? Is she in the range of normal and I should just wait for her to need to nurse less, or is she stuck and I need to actively help her? I can't thank you enough for helping me think through this. I have felt super stuck and at a loss of what to do.

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  5. My son will be 5 next month and he loves playing games, too. A game that was new to me that he has really enjoyed is Zingo. Also, the favorites from when I was a kid; Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders and Hungry, Hungry, Hippos. I would love to know what games your kids like to play.

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  6. My little boy is knocking on the door of being 5.. and this week has embraced his bad attitude…along with throwing a slight tantrum…i m not sure how to handle the attitude problem. I tried telling him he needs to make good choices and that if he doesn't listen and have a better attitude I will have to take something fun away…just wondering if I'm being to hard? Just walk away and chalk it up to he's having an off day…more time out? I feel like my sweet loving boy takes backseat too Mr grumpy pants too often…need help to taming the beast:)

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