Sleepy Times
a sleep blog
Not a week goes by that I don’t get asked, “What are your thoughts on the Snoo?” As you can probably imagine, it’s hard to sum up my thoughts into one sentence, and you may be surprised to know that — gasp — I don’t hate it! But, like any sleep-assisting mechanism, it is not without its disadvantages.
In this blog post, I go into the pros and cons of the Snoo once and for all and give you my ultimate opinion so that you, dear parent, can make your own informed decision for your newborn.
If you're moving your baby from a three to two nap schedule and are a little anxious about it, first know that you are not alone. It can cause a lot of anxiety for parents and it's understandable! This is the first nap transition where you’re incorporating some pre-planning and strategy to really help your child find sleep success. With a little guidance from this blog post, you’re going to know exactly what to avoid, and exactly what to begin.
You know your baby is too tired when they can't sleep. Unlike adults, babies sleep worse when they have been kept awake too long. This is because of an overproduction of cortisol in their system. Allow me to explain what's going on behind this phenomenon in this blog post and what you can do to get your child back to sleep.
Let’s face it: daycare naps just aren’t as good as at-home naps. Or at least, that’s what the masses will tell you. But I’m on a mission to turn this around! That’s why I’m sharing my top six tips for how to keep the sleep while you transition your kiddo back to daycare. Let’s make daycare naps the new black.
New Year’s Resolution: To Give My Child Better Sleep. Sound like you? With most of us still in isolation and with the cold temperatures keeping us cooped up, there’s no better time to hunker down and sleep train your child for the New Year. In this blog post, I give you my Top 3 Tips for Improving Your Child’s Sleep to get your child’s sleep in tip-top shape for 2021.
Maintaining your breastfeeding routine while sleep training is of the utmost importance, especially when you’ve worked so hard to achieve it. I’m here to ease your worries and let you know that yes, you can breastfeed while sleep training. Here are four tips to help you maintain your milk supply as your baby starts sleeping for longer stretches and you begin to move away from night feedings.
In this article, I explore one of the most frequently asked questions for my sleep Q&A: how do I know my baby is ready to move to a one nap schedule? I give you tips on how to handle the transition into a one nap schedule, what signs to look for so you know when your baby is ready, and go over how developmental milestones affect your baby’s sleep habits.
With the holidays upon us, I have received a ton of questions from clients this week about how they should handle those situations where they have no choice but to keep their kiddo up past their bedtime. We’ve all been there -- you want to participate in the fun but you’re not sure how to minimize the consequences. Today, I'm not only going to share my tips for surviving the night but also how to get your child back on track the next day.
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.
As a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, one of the most common questions I receive from parents is, "how much will my baby cry during sleep training?" I wish that I had a crystal ball that would allow me to answer this question as it would make it a lot easier for parents to decide if they would be able to commit to a sleep program. Unfortunately, the amount of crying is hard to predict. It depends on many factors, including: the baby's temperament, level of sleep deprivation, and if sleep training has been attempted in the past.
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.
Happy New Year! As much as I love the holidays, I have to admit that I am a bit relieved that they are behind us. Too much sugar and not enough sleep has made my kiddos a handful!
So tonight, I am going to start my plan to get them back on track with their healthy sleep habits. That way, they can go back to being the darling little angels I know and love (insert hint of sarcasm).
Summer is a special time for children and parents alike. It is the season in which the most cherised memories are made. Summer means swimming pools, sprinklers, bare feet, ice cream and full-on sunshine at 8:00 PM. It is no wonder why children want to stay up late this time of year and why it is so hard for us as parents to deny them their summer fun. But remember, although the days are longer, the sleep needs of our children are still the same. If they aren’t getting the proper amount of rest they will ultimately end up overtired and cranky. As a result, they (and you) can’t fully enjoy all the simple pleasures of summer. No es bueno!
So, how do you ensure your child is getting enough sleep during this exciting time of year? Here are my Top 5 Summertime Sleep Tips for Babies and Toddlers…..
I have always been an early riser. Before having kids, I would love to wake-up early on weekends when most of of city is still asleep to go for a bike ride or run. In those days I would get a lot of gratification out of getting more done by noon than most people get done in an entire day. Back then, my definition of waking up early on the weekend was 8:00 AM and getting a lot done consisted of a work out, a mani/pedi and maybe a load of laundry. Well, now that I am a parent, a LOT has changed. Early morning bike rides have been replaced by early trips to the park, it’s a miracle if I am to squeeze in a shower before noon let alone a mani/pedi (have you seen my feet?) and now I consider 8:00 AM sleeping-in!
Browse the latest articles on sleep tips for babies, toddlers and big kids. Here are some of our latest posts…
Worried about the end of Daylight Savings Time throwing off your child's sleep schedule? You're not alone! As the clocks "fall back," many parents dread the earlier wake-ups and overtired kids that follow. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through practical strategies to smoothly transition your baby or toddler's sleep schedule with minimal disruptions. Whether you have a newborn on wake windows or a toddler with a set routine, these tips will help you adjust their schedule and avoid those dreaded 5 AM wake-ups. Read on to help your little one sleep soundly through the time change!
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.
As a working parent, balancing your child's sleep with a busy schedule can be challenging, especially with daycare in the mix. In this post, Master Pediatric Sleep Consultant Jade LiManni offers expert tips on managing your child's sleep, establishing a consistent bedtime routine, and optimizing overnight sleep. Learn how to work with caregivers and create a sleep-friendly environment that supports your child's healthy development, even when daytime routines are out of your control.
