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Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step

One thing that happens in the Spring, that parents either love or hate, is Daylight Saving Time. Some parents love it because their baby who has an early bedtime (6pm) will now have a later bedtime (7pm). This can be awesome for social reasons of course – parents don’t have to rush home so early to get their baby to bed – or the working mom and dad can now spend more evening time with their baby before whisking them off to bed for sleep.

So, as much as you think babies can just go with the flow, they really can’t. They need their sleep. Of course as your baby gets older (over two years of age) they will be a bit more flexible and you may be able to push them out of their sleep comfort zones moreso but for now, please keep your baby’s sleep schedules tight and HONOUR their sleep needs

Try to keep your baby’s sleep environment simple—very simple. The less sleep distractions, the better. Limit the aquarium to playtime, and trust me—your baby will enjoy it all the more.

The holidays can be so much fun for families! However, if sleep needs are not addressed, this time of year can be stressful. Here are some sleep tips on how to survive the festive holiday season so it’s FUN for everyone!

In all of my years as a sleep consultant, I’ve heard a lot of myths about sleep training, some of which I would like to address today! Read about three of the most common myths relating to sleep training.

It’s creeping up, the dreaded time change. I can’t think of one parent that LOVES Daylight Savings, especially if their young children MAY wake up earlier. Here are some tips to help with the time change this weekend.

“Does my baby need a night feeding?” Aaaahhhh the million dollar question that so many parents ask. Of course, it depends on many things…

When I was pregnant with my first child, I envisioned my child becoming accustomed to MY lifestyle. Months later, baby arrived and CRASH, BOOM, BANG…..REALITY!

I’m SOOO glad that we are into Daylight Saving Time as this means it’s almost SPRING!! Here are some tips on how to deal with the upcoming time change this weekend!

Many parents I know would hands down choose soother over thumb soother babysucking. The rationale usually is “eventually I can take a soother away, but I can never take the thumb away.” True, but your choice ends up being nights full of consolidated sleep (with the thumb) vs nights full of fragmented sleep (with the soother).

Sleep Training Myths In all of my years as a sleep consultant, I’ve heard a lot of myths about sleep training, some of which I would like to address today! Read about three of the most common myths relating to sleep training.
Night Feedings "Does my baby need a night feeding?" Aaaahhhh the million dollar question that so many parents ask. Of course, it depends on many things...
An Optimal Sleep Environment Try to keep your baby’s sleep environment simple—very simple. The less sleep distractions, the better. Limit the aquarium to playtime, and trust me—your baby will enjoy it all the more.
Overtired Baby When babies get overtired, they can be hard to settle. We want to prevent the overtired state so babies will go down for sleep easier. Here are some tips on how to prevent overtiredness in a baby as well as tips on how to get an overtired baby to sleep.
Easy Sleep Tips From being a sleep consultant for many years now, I have realized that most parents aren’t ready to jump into the sleep training process too quickly. Often, they do LOTS of research before even contacting me. Their research includes the internet, books, talking with mom friends and family members. Then, there is the pondering, should I? shouldn’t I? what are my own personal feelings? Is my baby old enough? etc etc. Believe me, I know because I have been there – the pondering (or indecisive stage) is my favourite – NOT!! My own pondering can drive me batty!!! Teaching your child great sleep skills isn’t a one-night operation. It takes some time, a lot of repetition, and plenty of discipline and diligence on the part of the parents, but for those of you who are desperate for just a little bit of relief, I have some tips that could help you and your little one get a few more hours of shut-eye, starting tonight without having to do full fledge sleep training. Once you have a bit more shut eye, you can ponder (eek) if you are ready for the next step! 1. Hello darkness, my old friend. Light, natural or artificial, sends a message to our brains that it’s daytime, and not time to sleep. Melatonin production is triggered by darkness, so start turning down the lights an hour before you plan to put baby down. Electronic screens, which emit a blue light are particularly inimical to baby’s shut-down process, so turn off those televisions and computers. For babies who wake up early, invest in some blackout blinds. This could be your one of the best sleep investments you make – we ALL sleep better in the pitch dark. 2. Turn down the heat New parents can be obsessive over their babies comfort, and making sure they’re warm enough while Mom and Dad are out of the room for the night is such a basic instinct that parents tend to overdo. Babies, like grownups, sleep best when they’re warm and snuggly inside of a cool environment. A warm nighttime onesie and a cool nursery, somewhere around 65°F and 70°F (18°C – 21°C) is the best way to ensure that baby remains comfortable through the night. 3. Keep it boring I know we all love the look of a cute mobile over the top of our baby’s crib, or the sounds of the little faux-aquarium with the little plastic light-up fish. Even though these gadgets may seem soothing to us, they can be too over-stimulating for your little one, during sleep time! Sure, keep them available for playtime, just not sleep time. 4. Be predictable A well-planned, consistent bedtime routine is conducive to a good night’s sleep, no matter what your age, but particularly with babies. Once their bodies and brains start to recognize the signals that indicate an upcoming bedtime, they will start preparing to pack it in for the evening as soon as that first step begins. Their energy levels will start to wind down, melatonin production will kick in, and muscles will start to relax. By the time you’re giving them a goodnight kiss, their system should be all set for a long, restorative sleep. Drop me a line and let me know how these tips worked for ya! Sleep Well!

Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step

Honouring Your Baby’s Sleep Needs

An Optimal Sleep Environment

Holiday Survival Sleep Tips

Sleep Training Myths

Daylight Saving Time and Children’s Sleep

Night Feedings

Benefits of Sleep for Babies

Spring Forward

Soother vs Thumb