Hindi Ako Makagalaw: Iya Villania And Kids’ Co-Sleeping Situation Is Relatable And Sweet

Duday strikes again!

Iya Villania, almost mom of four young children, shared a candid photo of herself all tangled up in bed with her daughter Alana sleeping between mom’s legs. She was fast asleep and hugging mom’s baby bump.

“This mama needs to pee but…” Iya writes on the caption of her Instagram post. “Oh to be a mother.

Her next post shows her three kids, Primo, Leon, and Alana all cuddled up and sleeping next to each other on a big bed with all their stuffed toys.

“Okay… new position. And yes, was able to banyo.”

Iya’s unfiltered post of the challenges of being a mom–especially a very pregnant one whose bladder needs relief but is imprisoned by one of her kids, is so relatable. 

RELATED: 8 Times Duday Arellano Took Every Mom’s Stress Away

She continues her second post by sharing that she took a moment to just enjoy watching her three kids co-sleep in all their glory–messy hair, weird positions, sometimes mouths slightly hanging open.

Iya calls them life’s greatest blessings. 

It’s a moment parents know all too well. When all is calm and everyone is fast asleep, parents are reminded of the sweetness of the children’s little years. And they wake up and wreak havoc again.

Your toddler’s need for sleep and physical touch

At two years old, which is Alana’s age by July this year, there are a number of ways parents can continue to support a child’s development. Here are some facts about a two-year-old’s growth.

1. Toddlers still need 11 to 14 hours of sleep.

This figure is according to Very Well Family. After 12 to 15 months, a child will transition to one nap a day.

“Typically a midday nap around noon will allow your toddler to get more consolidated sleep, rather than two shorter naps in the day,” says Heather Wallace, certified pediatric sleep consultant and postpartum doula.

2. Physical touch is still important in early childhood.

Science has proven that physical touch is important in a baby’s brain development, but what about when they are toddlers?

Vancouver-based Rainforest Learning Centre says affectionate touch in a child’s early years positively affects a child’s psychology. Similarly, a negative touch (aggressive) can stress a child.

There are many ways parents can provide the toddler’s needs for physical touch including cuddling like Alana and Mom Iya, holding a child’s hand when walking with them, or allowing them to sit on your lap.

What it’s like to be a toddler

Once a toddler wakes up, the peace and calm a parent once knew begins to dissolve. Almost like it never happened. As Very Well Family describes it, “Toddlers are a lot of fun, but they often seem to defy all the rules of logic you thought you knew.”

READ MORE STORIES ON THE ARELLANOS:

• Mula Kay Primo Hanggang Kay Alana! Mga Potty Training Techniques Ni Iya Villania
• Iya Villania On Disciplining The Kids With Drew: ‘Both Of Us Are Willing To Play Bad Cop’
• Ito Ang Mga Ginagawa Ni Iya Villania Kapag 'Hindi Talaga Type' Ng Mga Anak Niya Na Maligo

At this age, a child is trying to explore their world as much as they can. Sometimes it causes spills, eating of toys, or banging things on the floor. 

To help you understand why your child does what he or she does, it’s always helpful to study age-appropriate development markers and milestones so as not to lose your patience.

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