Before you had kids, DST probably wasn’t even a blip on your radar! Either you got an extra hour of sleep (yay!) or you lost an hour and felt tired for a day or two. But back then, when it was just you, it wasn’t such a big deal. Because if you were tired, you could just, you know, take a nap!

Now that you’re a mom, it’s a different story, and sleep is precious. So, if you’ve just gotten it all figured out and you’re worried that this weekend is going to undo all your hard work - let me reassure you - it’s not. It may take your little one a few days to adjust, but they will, and everything will be back to normal before you know it.

Around this time of year, I get LOTS of questions about the best way to dress babies and toddlers for sleep during the winter months. Specifically, what kind of sleep sack to use and how many layers should baby wear under it.

It can be super tempting to overdress our littles in all the cozy things, because they’re so stinkin’ cute when they’re all snuggled in - and it's COLD outside! But did you know that babies who get too warm at night are at a greater risk for SIDS, and toddlers and big kids who overheat during sleep are more likely to have nightmares or night terrors?

With that in mind, there are some great options for kids of all ages that are perfectly snuggly for the cold weather that's coming, but won't cause them to overheat while they sleep.

Daylight Savings time is fast approaching - but don't worry - we can handle this and we will survive it together!

There are a couple of ways you can approach a time change. One is to start slowly and make adjustments during the weeks leading up to it and the other (and my personal preference) is to just wait until the weekend it happens.

Separation anxiety typically starts to occur around 6-8 months of age, when your little one starts to realize that things continue to exist, even when they’re not in sight. It’s a cognitive milestone known as “object permanence” which is defined as, “the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be observed.”

In other words, out of sight no longer means out of mind. So as your baby begins to grasp this concept, they realize that if you, their most favorite person in the whole world, are not there, you’re elsewhere. And, hey, wait a minute! If that’s the case, then you might not be coming back!

Did you know that milk is often the culprit behind bedtime problems and early morning wake ups?

When it comes to sleep, I am a firm believer that milk should only be offered at mealtimes. And here’s why…

Milk has just enough sugar in it to give your toddler a burst of energy before bed that makes it harder to settle down and fall asleep! It is also a BIG motivating force behind early morning wake ups.

If you’re wondering how to help your little ones power through a late night celebration this week, I’ve got a few tips for you to try…

NEWBORNS are the easiest age group to be out and about with because they can sleep through practically anything. That being said, remember to pack a stroller or carrier that can provide some shade and remember that babies can overheat very quickly - especially if you’re wearing them. So, taking breaks inside a cooled building for naps and bringing a fan that clips to your stroller or baby carrier when you’re outside will help your little one stay more comfortable and content during the day.

REMEMBER: Newborns can only tolerate about and hour of wake time before they need to go down for their next nap! (read more…)

It’s not their fault - they really do mean well. But you’ve followed their advice to a ‘T’ and it’s just not working. WHY is that and who am I talking about? Your friends, your co-workers, your trusty Facebook mom’s group, and sometimes (gasp!) even your pediatrician. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣In this post we’re debunking some super common sleep myths that I get asked about frequently!

When it comes to making the transition from a crib to a big-kid bed, there are two questions that need to be answered. The first is when, and the second is how. If you’re reading this on the blog, chances are that you came here looking for some advice about teaching your little one the skills they need to sleep through the night. And if that’s the case, then the answer to the question of “When” is, quite simply, “Not now.”

Let me reassure you that sleep routines and patterns across the board are a mess. For everyone. And since my expertise is around young children and sleep, I wanted to share a few things with you in the hope that you’ll find one or two of them helpful.

People who regularly get between 7-9 hours of sleep see significantly lower rates of obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, infections, depression, diabetes, inflammation, hypertension, heart disease, heart attacks, and heart failure. They also report higher satisfaction with their sex lives, better performance at work, and take fewer sick days than people who typically sleep less than 7 hours a night.

For many families who have decided to make their children’s sleep a priority, one of the most difficult changes is scheduling their daily activities around nap time. We tend to think that all sleep is good sleep, but that is just not true. Unfortunately, sleeping in a car-seat or a stroller does not provide the quality sleep their little body needs throughout the day–although it does make it easier for us as parents, when we need to run errands!

While twins can mirror each other in so many deliciously cute and cuddly ways, sleep may not always be one of them. Twin A might have already learned to soothe himself to sleep very quickly and easily, while Twin B really struggles to fall asleep and stay asleep for long stretches. Twin A might take long, beautiful naps while Twin B is a chronic cat napper, who seems to wake up before you can even sit down. Twin A might wake up several times a night, while Twin B could sleep through an actual hurricane.

When I meet a new client who’s been bed sharing, they fall into one of two groups. Parents looking to get their kids out of their bed. Or parents who want to keep their kids in their bed, but want them to sleep better For those parents who are looking to move their little one out of their bed, I’ve got a several approaches that I personalize based on baby’s personality, temperament, and established sleep habits.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard parents tell me, “I just don’t think he’s ready for sleep training yet.” Or, “I know it’s a bad habit, but it’s working for the time being. I’ll wean him off of it soon.” Soon. Soon, meaning, “In the meantime, I’ll just keep doing things I know are short-term solutions which are going to cause us problems down the road.”

With all of the information that’s available online, and the advice of your friends and family who have managed to get their kids to sleep, why would you want to invite a stranger into your home to get your child sleeping through the night?

I was so relieved when my baby started sleeping through the night, that I didn’t even care what hoops I had to jump through or how long it took to get him to sleep. And that was where I went wrong. Because babies who need help falling asleep turn into toddlers who need help falling asleep. And the older he got, the longer it took and the more ridiculous the hoop jumping became. Which is how, like so many parents, I got suckered into sleeping with my toddler every night. 

Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar… Your baby wakes up in the morning after a solid night’s sleep. You feed her, change her, play with her for a little bit, take her for a little walk outside, then rock her to sleep and put her gently into her crib for her morning nap… And then, 30 minutes later, she wakes up fussy and clingy and, despite your pleading, bargaining, and offers of riches, refuses to go back to sleep.

When I found out I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to start planning the nursery. I will even admit that I secretly hoped for a girl - just so I could go overboard on all things sparkly and frilly. And I wanted ALL the things. An ornate, antique crib, beautiful soft wall hangings, blankets and snuggly things galore, beautiful light fixtures... I was so excited to decorate that room! And then I found out I was having a boy... and had nightmares about trucks and monkeys for weeks.

Alright, let me just start off here by saying, honestly and sincerely, no judgment for what might have gone down in the last couple of months. I know… I’m a child sleep consultant and you probably think that I’m going to harass you about the late bedtimes, unenforced rules, inconsistent schedules, or any number of things that may have taken place over your summer vacation. But that’s not going to happen. Because I get it. I really do

So….maybe that title is a little misleading. I’m not suggesting that you can remove yourself from baby’s bedtime routine altogether. Even if you could somehow say to your child, “Alright. It’s almost bedtime. Go have a bath, brush your teeth, get into your PJs, read yourself a story and tuck yourself in. Mommy will be out here watching The Bachelor with a glass of wine if you need me.”