Sleepy Times
a sleep blog
Sleep training can stir up a lot of mom guilt, but it doesn’t have to. In this blog, Senior Sleep Consultant Natalie Myre Hart explains how shifting your mindset can help you see sleep training as a gift to your baby — empowering them with lifelong independent sleep skills. Discover expert advice and supportive tips to make the journey easier for both you and your child.
This blog post by Natalie Myre Hart is designed to help new parents quickly recognize and understand the sleepy cues of newborns. It offers practical advice on how to interpret early signs of tiredness in babies, aiming to prevent overtiredness. By identifying these cues early, parents and caregivers can better manage newborn sleep patterns, ensuring a smoother and more restful sleep routine for both the baby and themselves.
Today, I want to share some insights and tips for a situation that many parents face: what to do when your parents or in-laws don't approve of your choice to sleep train your baby. It’s more common than you think! It's essential to understand that different generations and cultures often have diverse approaches to handling sleep. These differences can lead to tension and disagreements when it comes to sleep training.
In this blog post, we're diving into the world of newborn sleep. I'm here to share tips that will not only help your newborn with getting the best sleep but also make those early days a tad more manageable for you. From the art of swaddling to crafting the perfect bedtime routine, differentiating day and night to emphasizing daytime naps, creating a safe sleep environment, and nurturing your parental instincts, we're covering it all.
Discover the best schedules for 3, 4, 5, and 6-month-old babies in this blog post. Learn about recommended sleep durations, wake window strategies, and bedtime considerations. Whether your little one is on a 5 or 4-nap schedule, experiencing short naps or early wakings, we've got you covered. Find sample schedules, expert advice, and guidance for teaching independent sleep skills.
Are you a parent who has heard about the DockATot, a popular baby product that has gained widespread recognition in recent years? As with any popular product, it's common to have questions and concerns, particularly when it comes to something as important as sleep. As a pediatric sleep consultant, I frequently receive inquiries from clients regarding the use of the DockATot. In this post, I address these common questions and clear up any confusion surrounding this product.
When babies are newborns we swaddle them for many reasons. Babies really like the feeling of being snug and secure. They just spent nine months in a pretty tight space. So when they are born it can be really hard for them to adjust to all of a sudden being able to move their bodies freely.
This transition can be really tricky for a lot of babies and we have the answers on how to navigate the transition period.
If you’re a new parent, you may be wondering the best way to get your newborn on a set schedule. Well… we’ve got good news and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news: newborns (mostly) set their own schedules, and those schedules are wildly unpredictable! Now for the good news: there is a TON you can do to help make your unpredictable newborn’s schedule more predictable and set them up for routine success. Read this blog post to find out the secrets!
One of the most common questions I get from new parents is -- will a pacifier improve my baby's sleep? I know that I asked myself this same question when I was a new mom and to my dismay, neither one of my babies would take a pacifier no matter how hard I tried… And let me tell you, I tried.
I tried every brand, every shape, every type, every color and honestly, if someone had told me if I stood on my head and gave my baby a pacifier that they would be more likely to take it, I would've tried that too. But no such luck -- it just didn’t work for me.
Little did I know, the pacifier likely wasn't the answer to our sleep prayers, and actually it would have likely caused even more difficulties overnight.
If you google "Baby Sleep Advice," approximately 210,000,000 articles appear (yikes!). That certainly explains why so many mothers I talk to feel extremely confused on how to solve their children's sleep issues. I remember feeling the exact same way when my own son wasn't sleeping well, and I was looking for a solution. The advice I found while searching the internet was often just anecdotal and conflicting. My searches resulted in greater confusion and increased frustration.
Since you are reading this article, it would be safe to say that you can relate. To help ease your mind, I am going to put my training and experience to good use to squash some of the most popular sleep myths.
“Pack” has always been a four-letter word in my book.
I am forever struggling with the former girl scout in me who likes to “always be prepared” and my desire to pack light in order to avoid the dreaded baggage claim.
Now that I have children the struggle is even more real. Especially when it comes to packing “all the things” needed to replicate their home sleep environment while we are away to help them catch their zzzs.
Because if they aren’t sleeping well, I am not sleeping well and that’s not fun for anyone.
To help ensure that “no lovey is left behind”, I have created a packing list that covers the essentials needed to create a comfy and cozy sleep environment for your children. It also includes some of my favorite travel-friendly sleep related products too!
As a new parent, chances are that you have heard about the dreaded 4 Month Sleep Regression from a friend or family member or maybe you are currently going through it (I’m sorry!) with your babe. The war stories usually sound like this….
“Up until around 16 weeks my baby would fall asleep peacefully in my arms while feeding and would wake up just a couple times to feed overnight and then would fall back to sleep quickly like a little angel baby. Once my baby hit the 4 month mark, sleep became his enemy. Now he is up every hour wanting to party and it takes FOREVER for him to fall back to sleep.”
Sound familiar? If you ever wondered why so many families share the same story, you are in luck. I am going to shed some light on this phenomenon as well as share some surefire ways to get through it without losing too much sleep.
Browse the latest articles on sleep tips for babies, toddlers and big kids. Here are some of our latest posts…
Struggling to get your child’s sleep back on track after the holidays? Late nights, skipped naps, and too much excitement can disrupt their healthy sleep habits. This post-holiday recovery plan will help you reset bedtime routines, repay sleep debt with earlier bedtimes, and re-establish firm sleep rules. Follow these simple, actionable tips to restore peaceful nights and happier days for your family!
Wondering what to put on your baby registry or what to gift that expectant parent in your life? You need this list! These are the best products for baby sleep that every new parent should have. Read this first-hand account from Master Sleep Consultant McKenna Linford, who has tried all the products out there and has honed in on the top five you need.
This holiday season, don’t let these three items hold you back from keeping your child’s sleep in tact. This is your plan to go in prepared for whatever challenges you face this holiday season regarding travel, family, and room sharing, so you can ensure your child gets the sleep they need. Take a look inside!
