For parents of toddlers/preschoolers, the idea of giving up naps can be daunting. However, there are some tips and tricks that can make the process a little bit easier. In fact, many children transition to something that is commonly referred to as a quiet time for toddlers/preschoolers. These periods of quiet time are particularly essential to those children who still have ‘nap days’. This often occurs when your child is transitioning out of afternoon naps, but may actually ask for, or show tired signs — which indicate they need a nap — a few days a week. It’s actually quite common for pr ..read more

The drive to sleep is biological, but the way we sleep is a learned habit.  All humans wake in the night.  Babies who were held, fed, or rocked to sleep at bedtime, will ask for this same help when they surface from sleep in the night.   To be an independent sleeper, go down without help, and sleep 11 + hours through the night, your child needs to be at least 4 months of age and have this important skill. Mentions:  “Child Won’t Sleep? Start Here!” free guide  Sleep Timing and Quantity Chart  CSD Socials Instagram  Facebook ..read more

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that your baby should not sleep with a blanket until 12 months of age.  This is part of the Safe Sleep campaign to prevent the incidents of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This campaign also discourages the use of bumper pads in the crib and the use of pillows until age 2. Even just using a blanket on the lower half of her body is not safe as she could kick the blanket onto her face.  The risks of having a blanket in the crib with a young baby are suffocation and strangulation.  Is it safe for a baby to sleep with a blank ..read more

Here are 10 things I’ve learned doing sleep consultations and talking with Moms at different outreach events. Set up a discovery call “Child Won’t Sleep? Start Here!” free guide  CSD Socials Instagram  Facebook ..read more

he 12 Month Sleep Regression: Fact or Fiction? Let's Find out You thought you had it made!  After working so hard on sleep during your baby’s first year of life, you had finally reached a point where your baby was sleeping 11 – 12 hours a night of uninterrupted sleep. Feeling rested yourself, you thought, “yes, I can do this!”… and then it hit, the 12-month sleep regression and your baby started waking up either more at night or very early in the morning. 12 month sleep regression: Fact or Fiction? The most common causes of a 12-month sleep regression are: Developmental change, ie walkin ..read more

Here’s a technique that can help you shift your baby’s wake-up time.  Have you heard of “wake to sleep”? Here’s a technique that can help you shift your baby’s wake-up time.  Have you heard of “wake to sleep”?  It’s a technique coined by the Baby Whisperer, Tracy Hogg. If your baby is continually waking up at 5 am, she has developed a habitual wake-up, so she may be waking up at this time even if she’s still tired, out of habit rather than hunger, or perhaps after a bout of teething. Generally, if your baby wakes up at the same time every night then it is a habit.  For exam ..read more

You reached the point where you had to do some sleep training.  You could no longer rock, hold, or nurse your baby to sleep. Those multiple night wakings were killing your vibe, and if you had to sit in a dark room and hold your baby for naps one more time, you were going to lose it. You reached the point where you knew you had to do some sleep training for a nap to get your child and you more sleep.  Perhaps you invested in personal sleep coaching help or read an informative blog overviewing the different sleep teaching methods (coming soon).  Regardless, you have invested your ..read more

It’s a common issue – your baby won’t sleep in their bassinet. But why is that, and what can you do about it? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the reasons why babies might not want to sleep in their bassinets, and suggest some solutions to help get them back on track! So if you’re struggling with this issue, listen on for some helpful tips. Mentions: Set up a discovery call “Child Won’t Sleep? Start Here!” free guide  CSD Socials Instagram  Facebook ..read more

There may be a time when you find yourself up in the middle of the night for hours with your baby who just won’t sleep! A split night is easily distinguished from other situations where your baby may be up during the night: it usually only involves one long waking, it happens every night or every few nights, and most babies will be in a good mood during the long awake stretch, and no amount of comforting, nursing, soothing or sleep training will get your baby back to sleep quickly. A split night is largely a biological issue, arising from a dissociation between the sleep drives. Many babies wi ..read more

Decoding your baby’s night waking pattern can be very helpful if you are trying to make improvements in sleep.  Understanding if your baby is hungry, overtired, not tired enough, waking out of habit, or simply uncomfortable is very important so that you can troubleshoot appropriately. This blog describes five common types of night waking: False Starts, Difficulty Falling Asleep, Frequent Night Waking (Every 60-90 mins), Frequent Night Waking (every 2-3 hours), Frequent Night Waking (every 10-20 minutes). Note that your baby may have more than one type of waking in a single night ..read more