Blog – Information to help your child sleep better
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How to Maintain a Sleep Schedule with Daylight Saving Time
Get ready for Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time 2024 is on Sunday, March 10th. While the clocks only change an hour, the impact on sleep, especially for the little ones, can be obvious . This blog offers practical tips to help parents preserve a healthy sleep...
Why I Love Being a Sleep Consultant
I'm a dedicated advocate for healthy sleep habits in children and I find immense joy and fulfillment in being a sleep consultant. My work not only helps a child sleep better but enhances the overall well-being of the entire family. A big perk of my job is being able...
An All-Season Guide to Dressing Your Baby for Sleep
Dressing your baby for sleep can be confusing! Parents can be stressed about this topic because babies who are too cold or too hot don't sleep well. Also, it's not safe for a baby to get overheated. So what should parents do? What is the best temperature for baby...
How to Spring Forward
Daylight Saving Time It happens every year, but Daylight Saving Time still manages to catch many of us by surprise. In the U.S., we will spring forward on Sunday, March 10th, 2024 at 2:00 AM. What is Spring Forward? When we Spring Forward, we set our clocks forward...
Wake Windows by Age
A pretty simple way to help your baby or toddler sleep better is to pay attention to how long they are awake! You should watch their wake windows. What are wake windows? A wake window is the amount of time your baby or toddler is awake between one nap and the next....
Why Your Baby Fights Sleep
I promise your baby does not hate sleep! Let's talk about why your baby fights sleep though. Figuring out why your baby fights sleep is easy sometimes and challenging other times. In this blog I will discuss five common reasons your baby might fight sleep and what to...
How to Dress Your Baby For Sleep In Cold Weather
How to dress your baby for sleep in cold weather seems like such a simple thing to figure out! However, it can feel like a big decision, especially if you are tired. With an arctic blast headed to my city, this seemed like a timely topic to write about! We are...
Daylight Saving Time Instructions
Can you believe it's almost time for Daylight Saving Time to end?! We will fall back on Sunday, November 5th, 2023 at 2 AM. If you have small children, the end of Daylight Saving Time often results in schedules that are thrown off. Your kids might wake super early and...
What is the Ideal Bedtime for your Child?
What is the ideal bedtime for your child? Sleep plays an integral role in physical and mental health! Unfortunately, many children do not get enough sleep each night. I truly think that many parents just aren’t aware of how much sleep their child needs. If you don’t...
Three Signs to Know When it’s Time to Drop Your Child’s Nap
All good things must come to an end. That includes your child's naps! Here are a few signs that is is time to drop that last nap: 1. Your child is four years old. I always recommend offering a daily nap until a child turns four. Most children are still napping when...
Swaddling Your Baby
New parents often learn how to swaddle their newborn from the nurses in the hospital. Yet I still get so many questions about it! Swaddling is not new. People have been swaddling their babies for centuries. It has become more popular in America since the Back to Sleep...
How to Talk to Family Members About the Importance of Your Child’s Sleep
It can be challenging to talk to extended family about your child's sleep! But this conversation is so important because sleep is an essential building block for your child’s mental and physical health. There are likely to be topics that you disagree with your parents...
Is it okay to let your baby sleep in a car seat?
Car seats are the safest place for a baby to be while in the car. It is okay to let your baby sleep in the car-- for short periods of time. They should be properly restrained in a car seat that’s been installed with appropriate positioning. I actually really like to...
Will Starting Solids Help Your Baby Sleep Better?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents start introducing solid foods around 6 months. Solids should compliment, not replace, breastmilk and formula. However, if you have an infant who doesn't sleep great, chances are a well-meaning family...
Siblings Sharing a Bedroom
Having children share a bedroom has its pros and cons. Some families don’t have a choice, but others do. Ideally children would be close in age if they are going to share a room. I always recommend that both children are sleeping through the night consistently before...
Temperament and Sleep
Every baby is different. You have probably heard this many times. Temperament can have a lot to do with how well a baby sleeps. Looking back at my children, I could have told you what kind of sleeper they were going to be on DAY ONE of each of their lives. My...
The Real Reasons You Aren’t Making Progress With Your Child’s Sleep
I would estimate about 75% of families that hire me for a sleep consultation have already tried making some changes and most of those parents have implemented some form of sleep training on their own. These parents often tell me, "I've tried everything" but that...
Bedtime Routine Charts
Bedtime Routine Charts Using a bedtime routine chart is a great way to make bedtime smoother for children three and older. Routines are powerful because they allow your child to feel secure and gain independence. Keeping a bedtime routine chart will help you stick to...
3 Trends to Know About in Pediatric Sleep
There are a few sleep trends to know about right now! Sleep is a crucial component to overall wellness. Sometimes as parents we get desperate for sleep and are willing to try anything that might help. Trends come and go. Do the latest sleep trends work? Are they safe?...
My Experience with Colic
I felt very confident going into motherhood I'd always loved babies and children and had a lot of experience with them. I was the oldest of many cousins, worked at a daycare as a teenager, was a nanny for the same four children my whole time in college and had taught...
Why You Need a Sleep Coach
The internet is full of information about your baby’s sleep. But let’s be honest, having all of this information can be overwhelming. And some of it is just plain wrong. I am always amazed at the suggestions I see when a mom asks a sleep question in a Facebook group....
Helping Your Toddler Give Up the Bottle
If your toddler still takes a bottle you are definitely not alone! I sometimes see two and even three-year-olds still taking a bottle. Usually these bottles are happening before naps, at bedtime and sometimes even at night. Moving from a bottle to a cup is just one of...
The Top 3 Questions I Get Asked As A Sleep Specialist
Over the years I have covered a lot of topics, but a few of them definitely come up more than others. The top three questions I get asked as an expert in pediatric sleep are: 1. How do I wean my baby from the bedtime bottle? It's recommended to start weaning the...
Bedtime Routines
One of the most important things that will help your child sleep better is having a consistent bedtime routine. When your baby can easily predict what will come next, he will make connections in his brain. These connections will tell him to relax because it's time for...
Getting Back Into a Regular Sleep Routine After the Holidays
December is a whirlwind of shopping, cooking, holiday parties, the list goes on! When January hits, many families realize they have gotten off track with their children’s sleep routine, and they need to get back to normal. It's very common for sleep problems to...
Climbing out of the Crib
Climbing out of the Crib I recommend that parents wait as long as possible before moving their child to a bed. Two-and-a-half is the youngest I recommend for making this switch. Most children will do better with this transition when they are three. If your child has...
Short Naps
Short Naps My oldest child was a chronically short napper. And I remember how frustrating that was for me! I had plans to do other things than spend my whole day trying to help her go to sleep and stay asleep. If you have a short napper, you know what I'm talking...
Nighttime Fears
Most children will go through a “scaries” phase at some point. It is so important to listen to your child, validate the fears and let them know you understand (even when you don’t…often fears don’t make sense, but they are very real to your child!) If your child is...
Myths About Kids and Sleep
As parents you’re going to get a lot of advice from well-meaning family and friends (and maybe totally strangers!) about your child’s sleep. Some of this information I see and hear given really frustrates me because to be honest, it is just wrong. I’m going to discuss...
What to do when your child is sick
I often get asked, “What do I do when my baby gets sick”? When your little one is sick, sometimes the routine goes right out the window and you have to do whatever works to make sure your child stays hydrated, gets sleep, and gets better. Being sick can mean your...
Transitioning Your Child out of Your Bed
Thinking about moving your child out of your bed? There are lots of reasons parents become ready to make this change, but I would not recommend it if your child is going through any other changes, like potty training, giving up the pacifier, starting school, etc. If there aren’t any changes occurring right now and you are ready to have her sleep in her own room, follow these steps:
The Negative Effects of Lack of Sleep
Every time I teach a class on sleep, I always start with discussing why sleep is important, or what lack of sleep can lead to. It’s almost as if I’m trying to talk people into making sure that their children are getting the proper amount of sleep. There are so many reasons why sleep is important at every age.
Bedwetting
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 20 percent of 5-year-olds wet the bed. Dr. Elizabeth C. Jackson, M.D., director of the healthy bladder clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital says that most pediatricians don’t consider bedwetting a problem until a child is 6 years old. At that point, it’s time to take action. See the tips on what to do below.
Sleep Tips for Twins, Triplets, and More!
Top 10 sleep tips for multiples:
1. With multiples it is important to get them on the same schedule right from the start. Wake your babies at the same time each morning to get them on the same routine.
Sleep Regressions
Last week my perfect sleeper was suddenly taking over an hour to fall asleep at night! This week…he started walking. And he’s back to going to sleep in a regular amount of time. This got me thinking about baby sleep regressions, which are basically just periods of time when a baby who normally sleeps through the night suddenly begins to have uncharacteristically frequent night wakings, may take a long time to fall asleep at night, wake earlier in the morning, and/or have napping issues.
Pacifier Problems
When my first baby entered the world as a colicky, crazy little thing I knew there would be one solution: give her a pacifier. But several weeks later, I found myself re-plugging the pacifier in her mouth over and over again at night. She was just one of those babies who had a hard time keeping it in, and cried every time it fell out. I knew I had to stop giving it to her.
There are many different opinions from experts on when and why to get rid of the pacifier, but I think it is a parent’s decision so I’m going to tell you the pros and cons of pacifiers and let you decide if you should get rid of your child’s.
Sleep Tips For Children With A New Sibling
With a baby due any day now, I’m wondering if he will be a good sleeper or not. But, I have also been thinking a lot about how his older sisters will handle this transition. Both of my kids are awesome sleepers, but I understand this is one event that may cause some regression. Here are my tips for handling the possible sleep disruptions:
Naps
I hated it when people would tell me my first child “would sleep when she was tired”. No, she wouldn’t. Her naps were practically non-existent, even as a newborn. She was a very colicky, very high-needs baby and I was extremely frustrated. I pretty much felt like I spent my entire day trying to get her to go to sleep. I wish I would have known the things I know now!
Top 10 Travel Sleep Tips for Children
Usually, the better your child sleeps at home, the better he or she will sleep while you are traveling. But getting some children to sleep well while you are away from home can be a struggle. I do not recommend traveling for at least a few weeks after sleep training or after your child is consistently sleeping through the night (excluding babies under 6 months).
Early Rising
I am not a morning person. I am so glad that early rising is not an issue for my children. However, early rising (waking before 6 am) is a very common sleep problem for young kids and babies, and possibly the topic I get asked about the most. Super early mornings lead to a tired, cranky kid which, of course, leads to tired, cranky parents.
Daylight Savings Tips for Fall
Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, November 2nd, 2014. I remember when “falling back” just meant an extra hour of sleep! When you become a parent it can mean schedules that are thrown off, your kids waking super early, and everyone feeling grumpy for several days or longer. Every child is different and the time change will affect some much more than others. It is important to know your child and what she can handle and to have a plan for how you want to deal with the time change.
How to Transition Your Child From a Crib to a Bed
When to make the switch from a crib to bed:
• Your child is at least 2 ½-3 years old. This is the average age a child has the cognitive ability to understand what it means to “stay in bed all night long”. They do not always understand the invisible boundaries of a bed. The crib boundaries are very obvious. So wait as long as you can!
What is the Best Sleep Coaching Method for Your Child?
First of all, why is it so important to sleep train your child? One reason is that long-term studies have shown that children who never learn how to fall asleep independently are at increased risk of continuing sleep problems as they grow up. And the older a child gets, the longer the process usually takes. So now is the time!
Nightmares and Night Terrors
There is really a big difference between a nightmare and night terror. You want to respond to a night terror differently than you would a nightmare. It’s important to know the difference in symptoms between the two.
How to Transition Your Child From Two Naps to One
Most children are ready to give up their morning nap between 15 and 18 months, although some children are ready a little sooner or a little later. You should try to make the transition as smooth as possible, but most children take a couple of weeks to a couple of months to fully adjust.
How To Wean Your Child From The Bedtime Bottle
When to wean the bedtime bottle:
You can start weaning your baby off his bedtime bottle between the ages of 6 and 9 months. But if your toddler is still taking a bedtime bottle at his first birthday, this would definitely be the time to get rid of it. Toddlers are more likely to get attached to things between 15 and 18 months.
Looking for more help?
Do you still need some more information after reading through my blog? Contact me to find out which of my consultation packages will fit your family the best.