Ever felt like sleep was going great… and then your child learned a brand new motor skill? It can be so frustrating but it is a normal part of that baby life unfortunately. Join us as we talk through troubleshooting for these common issues and how to handle them when they mess with sleep: •Rolling […]
Bedtime routines are KEY to healthy sleep habits. But when we start talking about establishing routines around sleep, there are several issues that pop up. Join us as we talk through troubleshooting for these common issues: Parental preference at bedtime Feeding to sleep association Screen usage before bedtime Sleep Coaching Crash Course (4-24 months) […]
We all know that feeling when sleep is going well and the BAM! You have to a drop a nap. How do you know it’s time? How do you do it? How do you avoid the anxiety that comes with nap transitions? During this episode we will commiserate and share some nap transition tips so […]
Have you been hearing and seeing the message that sleep training is basically neglect? Listen in to hear the perspective of a pediatric sleep consultant and a social worker. Oh, and we’re also moms! We have some thoughts about the lack of evidence and the dismissal of current research going on with this movement. Sleep […]
In this episode we break down the 5 common mistakes we see parents making when it comes to baby sleep: Not using wake windows Not using white noise Having a bright sleep environment Being inconsistent & Listening to too many different voices and opinions on sleep Free guide for determining proper wake windows Product recommendations […]
Please don’t hear me say you HAVE to sleep train. That’s not the point of this post. I just want to make sure you know that if you CHOOSE to sleep train, the research is on our side. We have lots of studies on sleep training, it’s effectiveness and its outcomes. Could we use […]
Traveling with little ones can be HARD. But if you’re factoring in time changes while traveling, that’s a whole other bag of worms. Anyone else’s brain hurt when thinking about time changes? This is a question I come across a lot so I took some to put together my top tips for you! *This post […]
In my years working with families through their sleep issues, I’ve discovered that many don’t know the basics of safe sleep. There’s a lot of conflicting info out there and, let’s be honest, safe sleep rules are a little confusing! I’m going to break down the basics of safe baby sleep here as well as […]
Are you ready for it? I admit, I’m a little nervous to post this because I’m sure the haters are going to come for me but it’s got to be said! 😂 This is a MYTH! Sleep training is NOT damaging. Do people have opinions about sleep training being damaging? Yup. Will you find blogs […]
😵💫I know, I know. It sounds crazy but in many cases, an earlier bedtime can actually HELP with early morning wakings. Stick with me here… 🌚A bedtime that is too late can lead to an overtired child that struggles to fall asleep, is more likely to wake throughout the night, AND wake early in the […]
I get it. It’s never fun to wake up a sleeping baby. But I can think of several examples of times that it just makes sense to wake a sleeping baby. And I’ve given this advice to many clients when it’s necessary. 🤷♀️ Here are some reasons why I might tell you to wake your […]
If I had a penny for every time I heard this. I even hear this from parents who are struggling with sleep. They are hesitant to give the ideal sleep environment because they don’t want their baby to be dependent on it, even though their current sleep is awful because of it! Do you sleep […]
Ok seriously. If someone tells you this, I want you to stop and turn the other way. ✨Do not take sleep advice from this person as they are showing a lack of fundamental sleep knowledge✨ Night wakings are biologically normal. There is nothing- I repeat- NOTHING we can do to stop these wakings. Nor would […]
“Keep baby up all day and they’ll sleep all night!” Oh man. 🤦♀️ I *think* this myth is on it’s way out. I don’t know many people who still give this advice or who take this advice seriously. Which is a good thing because this is TERRIBLE sleep advice. 👉Ready for the why behind this […]
“Put cereal in baby bottle and they’ll sleep better!” Who has heard this sleep myth before?🙋♀️ Before we even start, I’m sure someone reading this was able to add cereal to their baby’s bottle and it helped them sleep longer. That’s great if it worked, but in a majority of cases it doesn’t and it […]
You want to make sure that you do what is best for your baby. And I get that! It’s why I put together this quick little post about sleep training and why it will not damage your baby.
Gearing up for your next nap transition? Then this blog is for you! What are signs that I should drop a nap? First off is age. Transitions work best when they happen at the following ages: 4 to 3 naps at 4 months 3 to 2 naps between 7 and 9 months 2 to […]
I remember when I was pregnant with my first son and the overarching advice I heard was, “Get your sleep now while you can because once the baby comes you won’t be sleeping for years!” I quickly became annoyed with this advice and had to refrain myself from rolling my eyes whenever someone would offer […]
A common concern I hear is: “How do I teach my baby to fall asleep without my help?” The answer, “Sleep coaching!” Now, there is WAY more to sleep coaching than just the sleep coaching method that you use but I thought it would be helpful to share my run down of the different options.
If you take a look around my site, you will see lots of mentions of sleep props or sleep associations. You may be wondering, “What IS a sleep prop?” A sleep prop (also known as a sleep association, crutch, or assist to sleep) can be anything that your baby depends on to fall asleep. All […]
It seems like so many different factors in your child’s life can cause sleep disruptions. My goal with this blog is to educate you on how to handle nightmares and night fears so that you and your child feel prepared and empowered to take them on! Let’s start with talking about night fears and how […]
**I want to start this post with a DISCLAIMER: You should always talk to your pediatrician regarding your child’s night feedings. If you are unsure if your child still needs a night feeding, always discuss this concern with your pediatrician. None of the following information should be taken as medical advice. ** Most parents survive […]
As I type this post, my 3 and 5 year old are having their daily quiet time in their rooms. When I tell people that my boys have this time daily for about 2 hours, most parents are amazed and ask, “How can I get my child to stay in their room quietly for quiet […]
Imagine this with me: Your baby has been getting into a sleeping rhythm. You can almost predict when he will wake from his naps, how long it will take him to fall asleep at bedtime, and what time he will wake at night to feed, if at all. Then, out of nowhere, his sleep gets […]
This is a very popular topic that I receive from my followers. They’ve got their toddlers’ sleep all squared away and they want to know, How do I keep sleep on track when the new baby comes? Before we jump into those tips, I want to first address the families who maybe DON’T have […]
How early did your child wake up this morning? If it’s anytime before 6am, we’ve got an early waking on hands! 🤮 BUT that doesn’t mean it has to be this way forever! In this blog I walk you through the main 4 reasons your child is waking early and how you can fix them […]
I LOVE white noise! Before working with clients, I make sure that they have white noise ready because it can really make SUCH a huge difference. Let’s go over some of the frequent questions I get about white noise. *This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information. Is it […]
I would be rich if I had a dollar for every time I heard this statement, “We’ve tried everything but nothing works. Our baby/toddler/child just won’t sleep!” Not only do I hear this a lot, I go on to work with many of these families and we are able to successfully get their child […]
I know you’ve all been patiently waiting for this list! I’m about to dish on all the products that you could ever possibly buy to improve your baby’s sleep. You might be surprised by how FEW items are on my NEED list and which items I advice you not to waste your hard earned money on! […]
To begin, I want to make sure we have the right understanding about the phrase “room sharing.” Room sharing means that you and your baby are sleeping in the same room but on separate sleep surfaces. For example, you are sleeping in your bed while your baby is sleeping in their bassinet or pack n […]
I’m pretty passionate about baby, toddler, and preschooler sleep in general, but one topic that I find myself wanting to shout from the rooftops about is Transitioning to a Toddler Bed! P.S. If you’re struggling with toddler sleep, be sure to check out my latest blog: Toddler Sleep and Why It Sucks! Let’s start with […]
I get soooo many inquiries and questions about toddler sleep! At the same time, I notice a very prevalent attitude of resignation when it comes to toddler sleep. I want to help with that!! Toddler sleep can be tricky and whether you’ve had a great little sleeper for the last year or so and now […]
⇒Is your child currently in daycare or being watched by a friend or family member? ⇒Is your child an excellent napper at home but not so much in different environments? ⇒Or maybe your child is struggling with sleep and you know it’s connected to their poor napping with their caregivers. I’ve written this article to […]
Separation anxiety can usually rear it’s ugly head around 8 months. This is when your baby starts to have object permanence which means they’re recognizing that when they can’t see an object, it still exists. This new development can also make bedtime and naptime really tricky. Your baby now fully understands that when you put […]
Today I’m going to share my family’s personal sleep story! I’ve been wanting to share it for a while because I had two very different experiences in sleep training my two sons. *Please note that many of the methods (co-sleeping, Boppy use, swaddling after rolling, pacifier strings, etc) that I originally used to help […]
Oh the 4 month sleep regression! I know from personal experience how ROUGH this regression can be. If it weren’t for this awful regression, I might never have found the world of baby sleep so I guess in a way, I should be thankful for it! Let’s talk about all your burning questions about the […]
Should I let my baby sleep with a pacifier? Have you ever found yourself cursing your baby’s pacifier? Or perhaps you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and you swear by its magical powers for sleep? I’m breaking down my feelings about pacifiers as a sleep consultant. I’m not anti-pacifier but there is definitely […]
First off, I need to say this: This post is not meant to shame or judge families that have used, or may continue to use, the DockATot. That is not my intention and if you follow me, you already know that. I made several unsafe sleep decisions with my own newborns, some knowingly and some […]
Ahhh the bedtime routine. I remember reading all about a good bedtime routine as a new parent. Here’s the thing, a good bedtime routine is very important, but it’s not the end all be all of sleep. There’s a LOT more that goes into healthy sleep than just a bedtime routine (age-appropriate schedule, consistency, independent […]
What’s a dream feed? Should you do it? When should you try a dream feed? When should you stop dream feeding? How do you get rid of a dream feed? I’m tackling all of your questions about dream feeds in this post. What is a dream feed? A dream feed is when you go to […]
*Disclaimer: I am not a urologist or a potty training expert. But I do want to share what I’ve seen and experienced in working with toddlers’ and preschoolers’ sleep. If you follow me, you know that I am a HUGE proponent for keeping your child in their crib until AT LEAST 3 years of age. […]
This big transition naturally comes up a lot with my newborn clients and I thought a blog post would be helpful to walk you through your options! *This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information. First off, lets talk about WHY we swaddle in the first place! Swaddling is […]
UPDATE: As of 4/12/2019 all models of the Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play have been recalled. If you own one of these you can visit this link to determine your course of action. I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous to even broach this subject but I feel it is VERY important to give you […]
A remark I often hear from sleep coaching critics is: If my child is really designed to sleep well overnight without assistance or frequent wakings, why would it be so hard to achieve this? Basically, they are coming at it from a natural approach, which I can understand. If our babies biologically need this much […]
Below are my top 3 tips for surviving your next trip with your independent little sleepers! *This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information. Recreate the Routine and Environment I am not ashamed to admit that we have used many different setups when it comes to recreating the routine […]
I have come across many parents who find out that I’m a pediatric sleep consultant, and they tell me how much sleep training changed their life and their baby’s life for the better. On the other hand, I also come across parents who find out what I do and run the other direction or worse, […]
Disclaimer: Blackout EZ sent me two window covers for free to try. This post also contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and you can trust that I would vouch for these products regardless […]
As a pediatric sleep consultant, I often hear this simple question: Why Won’t My Baby Sleep Through The Night? Now, if you are a parent who has asked this, you know that the myriad of answers you will hear can be confusing, defeating, and just downright overwhelming! With this article, I hope to simplify and […]
Who wants to talk about Baby Sleep Myths?! As parents, I know you’ve heard at least one of these myths offered as “sound advice.” Perhaps you knew it didn’t sound right when the advice was offered but didn’t know how to challenge it. Or maybe you heard one of these Baby Sleep Myths and willingly […]