Gone Smart Bed

Gone Smart Bed

How can I get my 2 1/2 yr old to go to bed with out it being a 2 hour project.?

At nite my daughter gives me and my husband so many problems. She has an excuse for everything. She wants a bottle, shes hungry, she wants to read a book, she wants the light on, she needs a diaper change, and on and on and on. It takes us almost everynite at least 2-2.5 hours to put her to bed. I dont like to spank her but. And I hate to hear her cry, especially if she says shes hungry.. I give in every time-because id never want her to go to bed hungry. She always has a snack before bed, I just still feel bad. My daughter is very smart, and my finance says that shes got me rapped around her finger. How far do I go? How long should this process be? She just moved from her crib to a toddler bed about 1mo ago. Am I too nice? Is that possible? HELP ME?????!!!!!!!!

As long as you give in she will always push you into giving in more. This is normal behavior for children. It is there job to push the boundaries and it is our job as parents to gently enforce the boundaries.

She shouldn't be hungry if she ate dinner. Eating before bed time is a bad habit to start and can lead to weight issues at any age.

Children will use any excuse to procrastinate going to bed. They think they are going to miss out on something when they are asleep. Make sure you keep the noise level down in the house once she lays down. If she hears things happening she will want o know what it is.

If she likes having a story read to her then make time for this before you lay her down.

Children work better with schedules. Schedules let them know what is expected of them.

We had a similar problem with my first born. We used a wind up alarm clock to signal to him that it was time for bed. It really worked. We put the clock on the TV in the main room so he can see it and he knew that when it went off it was time to go to bed.

Set a schedule that works and start early enough to make sure her needs are met in time to get her to bed at the time you want her in bed.

Good Luck!

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Surfing the net, snuggling up with the family, chilling with a takeaway or indulging in an afternoon with your favourite DVD box set... Modern living means a sofa has become much more than somewhere to rest your legs of an evening.

The days of the three-piece suite may be gone, but there's still an almost endless selection of sofa shapes and styles on offer. So how do you choose between a traditional chesterfield and a big squashy number?

'No other piece of furniture rings the changes like a new sofa,' says Polly Dickens, creative director at The Conran Shop. 'The right design can form the centrepiece of a room and dictate the mood of an interior.' With this in mind, knowing your options is crucial - and a breeze with our guide to finding your perfect sofa.

Before You Buy

Sofas can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to the price of a small car, so it's wise to be clear about your budget.

Think about your lifestyle and how the sofa will need to function. 'Is it for a living room, a family room or a playroom?' asks Matt Gayleard, brand director at Natuzzi. 'Do you have kids or pets, and how much effort can you put in to maintaining it?' How many people do you have to seat? What about a sofa bed for guests? Some sofas have built-in storage, so think about other uses the piece could have, too

Consider the Size

Measure up before you shop and work out how big a sofa you can accommodate. Two smaller sofas or one large one and a couple of armchairs may be more flexible.

'Sofas will look much smaller in the store than in your living room, so it's vital to make sure it will actually fit and won't look out of proportion,' says Sally Hudson, central buyer for upholstery at John Lewis. 'Lay out newspaper on the floor to the size of your sofa to see roughly how much room it will take up.'

From a practical point of view, don't forget to think about the access into your home. Some retailers offer a home visit to check that the sofa will fit through doors, along corridors or up staircases. Some sofas ease the process by having detachable arms or coming in sections.

Consider the shape and style

You will, of course, naturally gravitate towards a style of sofa that appeals to you - do you want something soft and squidgy, or firmer and tidier?

'If you're someone who likes to lie down and relax, you may want a sofa with low arms and lots of loose cushions to get cosy on,' advises Paul Staden, marketing director at Sofa Workshop. 'However, if you prefer to be supported when you sit, more formal, upright shapes with back cushions may be better.'

Try out lots of styles and don't be afraid to have a good lounge and really test a sofa.The shapes of a sofa and even the number of cushions can make a difference to the overall feel of the room. In a smaller space, narrower sofa arms give the illusion of a more compact piece, and whereas one or two cushions give a cleaner, more modern look, three feel more traditional.

Consider the Fabric

The material you choose to cover your sofa is crucial to its feel and comfort.

Once considered a luxury, leather has now become much more affordable and therefore a popular choice. Fabrics give a huge range of colour and texture options, but where leather often improves with age, fabric will show wear and tear. In a household with children or pets, machine-washable loose covers are a practical option. Removable covers also mean that, should you redecorate and your sofa doesn't match your new colour scheme, you can simply dye them or buy a new set of covers.

Tightly woven fabrics will wear the best and fabrics with woven patterns will retain their appearance better than printed designs. But unless you're going for loose covers, choose something classic, such as a smart stripe, as patterned sofas can date quickly. Wool is springy and resilient, with a natural stain resistance, chenille is soft and hard-wearing, and velvet is warm and textural with a luxurious feel. Linen is cool and crisp and one of the most durable fibres for sofas, while cotton is great for taking colour and blends well with other fabrics.

Leather is robust, cool in summer and warm in winter and, if well-maintained, can last a lifetime. Technology means that all sorts of finishes can be achieved, from distressed and antiqued to smooth and soft. There are several different grades of leather, so ask an expert which type is most suited to your needs. Most leathers will age in some way, but this can add to the character.

Alcantara is a man-made microfibre with a luxurious feel that's similar to suede. It's incredibly strong, with a contemporary look, but because it's easy to maintain, it's an excellent option for busy households.

Consider the filling

Cushion fillings vary widely. Foam has a firm feel and appearance and will hold its shape well.

Feather-filled cushions are soft and comfy, and have a more casual look, but will need regular plumping.

'A combination of feather-wrapped foam seat cushions and serpentine springs makes for extremely soft and comfortable sofas,' says Rohan Blacker, co-founder of Sofa.com. 'Plus, this type of filling will maintain its shape and reduce the need for continuous plumping.'

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