Quiet time glitter bottle

Unlike calming glitter bottles, a quiet time glitter bottle is designed for children who are just needing moments of rest and relaxation, rather than needing to reverse a feeling of anger or frustration. They are so simple to make and lovely for children to watch.  

The toddler years can be the time that grey hair spouts the quickest and lets not even talk about the tantrums. The good news for all those who have a young child, particularly those who seem to be a bundle of energy, you are not alone and I have a simple strategy that you can use to encourage a little bit of down time. 

Possum has officially dropped her day sleep (argh) but will still experiences fatigue during the day, particularly mid afternoon. To help get her through to sleep time at night we’ve adopted something we like to call, ‘quiet time’. This is a special time that Possum can be comfortably dressed, engaged in some quiet activities and be in a moment of peace and quiet. 

A few weeks ago I made a glitter bottle, which you can find thousands of on the Internet. It has been a really great addition to our homes ‘quiet time’ as the bubbling and soft floating glitter can be incredibly captivating to watch. Possum will often request to play with it as she loves how it moves and settles inside the bottle.  

How to make a quiet time glitter bottle

You will need – 

• Small clear plastic bottle, labels removed (300mls) 
• Coloured glitter glue
• Baby oil
• Hot water
• Hot glue gun

I prefer to use smaller 300 ml bottles as I find them easier for children to hold, especially once they are filled. Thoroughly clean the drink bottle and remove all labels and adhesive. Add an inch of coloured glitter glue to the bottle before adding 4 or 5 tablespoons of hot water. Swirl the glitter glue and hot water together, which will essentially weaken the glitter glue and avoid it permanently sticking to the sides of the bottle. Once you have done that fill the bottle with baby oil. Carefully tip the glitter bottle upside down to lightly mix the contents. Once you’re happy, secure the lid with a hot glue gun. 

 Creating a space for quiet time

I don’t believe there are any special rules for creating a space for quiet time. I usually like to mix up the locations, although some children may prefer to have a consistent spot that is familiar. It’s a lovely idea to set up a few comfortable pillows, leave a drink bottle of water, books, puzzles and/or whatever quiet time activity I have for that day. A calming quiet time glitter bottle always makes a popular addition to this time. The duration of our quiet time can vary depending on Possum’s engagement, however, I find about 20 minutes is helpful. 

These quiet time bottles are lovely to watch. The glitter softly falls down to the base of the bottle and it is really very calming for the mind.  I also love that it gives children a little something to do when you just want them to have a bit of down time. 

Are you a parent who would you like your child to have some quiet time? 

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