Tiny Trees Sleep Coaching

Sleep Tip Tuesday: Bedsharing!

🌱 All of the information in this slide is from a document on safe sleep that I received from the hospital after giving birth (see the last slide for reference). This is from the BC government website, but interestingly when you read about bedsharing on the Government of Canada's website it is nor recommended and there are no guidelines for safe bedsharing at all. It just goes to show you that there are so many differing views on certain topics and it is up to us as parents to make the decisions that feel right for our families, regardless of all the conflicting information out there.

🌱 Bedsharing definitely isn't right for every family, but as someone who never expected to bed share and ended up doing it with both my children (and still do on occasion!), I'm thankful that I received information on how to do it safely. I think every parent has a right to know all of their options and make decisions that are right for their family.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Anyone else out there bed share at some point? I would love to hear your stories!

If you have more questions about bedsharing or want some help setting up a safe bedsharing space, send me a message!

Come see me at this awesome event I will be at tomorrow! I’ll be chatting about my business plus there will be lots of other great resources for families!

Sleep Tip Tuesday!

This goes hand in hand with last week's tip about trying to remain present and calm in the moment with your kids.

If you are in the middle of a frustrating bedtime routine, your child is screaming and crying and just won't go to sleep, and you can feel your stress levels rising, walk away. Put them in a safe space or with a safe person and leave the room. Take some deep breaths, scream into a pillow, do some jumping jacks -- whatever you need to do to calm your body and your mind. Like I mentioned in my last post, it is not helpful for you or your baby if you are stressed and anxious.

I myself have had to do this multiple times over my parenting journey and will definitely continue to do so. We need to be calm in order to show up for our kids (easier said than done, I know 😅).

It will be hard to walk away from your crying baby -- I'm not ever going to deny that, nor will I encourage it for long periods of time -- but it is sometimes necessary to have a quick reset before you jump back into parenting. Just know that those couple minutes that you are gone aren't harmful for your baby, and ultimately will give you what you need to make space for your baby's emotions without feeling completely overwhelmed by your own.

If you want more personalized tips or are just looking for more information, visit my website to book a FREE consultation call.

Sleep Tip Tuesday!

Does anyone else go to put their child down for a nap and immediately start thinking of all the things you're going to accomplish while they're sleeping? And inevitably, your baby refuses to go down? 🙋🏼‍♀️

A strategy I use to help me stay in the moment during these times is saying the mantra "I'm here for as long as you need me" in my head. It helps be slow down and be calm. Every time I do this, not only am I able to relax but so is my child. 💆🏼‍♀️

Kids and babies alike are so much more in tune with us than we realize. They can sense if we are stressed or anxious and they will pick up on it. No one can sleep if they are stressed and anxious and that goes for kids and babies too!

There will always be a to do list but unfortunately, baby snuggles don't last forever. Take them while you can!

If you are looking for individualized support for getting you and your baby more sleep, check out the link in my bio and book a FREE consultation call. I can help you determine what level of support you are looking for and start building a plan to help get you more sleep. 😴

One thing I’ve always loved about kids is the way they look at everything in the world with new eyes. Everything is new and exciting and amazing.

I’m so thankful I have two little people who remind me to slow down and enjoy the little things.

Seriously, dandelions are actually so beautiful, am I right?!

Self care. So important, yet feels nearly impossible when you’re a parent.

I constantly have to remind myself that self care looks different for everyone and it won’t always be a day at the spa or a night out. Sometimes it will be taking a moment to take five deep breaths. Or doing a quick stretch in the middle of the day. Or even just taking a minute to eat something!

For me, one of the small self care things I do is while I’m out for a walk or a hike with my kiddos, I will put one headphone in and listen to music or a podcast. This way I’m still present with my kids but I’m also fitting in a bit of something that fills my cup. And that helps keep me sane until I’m able to actually get a day off 😅

What are some of your self care routines? Let me know in the comments!👇🏼

This is me 10 days postpartum with my first baby. I was soaking in all the snuggles I possibly could and of course taking in that amazing newborn smell.

This picture may look serene but the reality behind it is much more chaotic. I was struggling with breastfeeding, my baby wasn't gaining weight, and we were on a strict feeding schedule that involved breastfeeding, topping up with a bottle, and then pumping for 15 minutes. Rinse & repeat EVERY 2 HOURS throughout the day (every 3 hours at night). To say it was exhausting would be an understatement. The days and nights blurred together and I remember thinking it would be easier if I didn't have to sleep at all!

Thankfully I had an amazing support system around me that included my husband, mom (who moved in with us for almost a month! Love you Mom 😘), family, friends, and my midwife. Eventually I was able to exclusively breastfeed but boy was it rough.

I'm not totally sure why I felt like sharing this but I guess I just wanted to remind everyone that social media only tells a small portion of what's happening in someone's life. Also a reminder to all the parents out there that I see you, I know your struggle, and I'm always here to talk if you need it.

Sending lots of love to whoever needs it ❤️

Sometimes a family fun day means naps in a quad bag 😆
(Don’t worry, we didn’t drive around with her like this!)

What’s the most random/unusual place your toddler has napped? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏼

One of my favourite things I learned in my certification course comes from Sleep Anthropologist Lenka Medvecova ():

People from Guinea-Bissau think that the worst thing you can do is wake a sleeping baby because they believe that babies are connected to the spiritual world in their sleep. So if you wake up a sleeping baby you are interrupting important conversations with angels.

What a beautiful thought! I think learning about different sleep practices can help us in really understanding what "normal" infant sleep is. We put a lot of unrealistic expectations on babies when it comes to sleep and I love learning different perspectives.

Anyone know of or use other sleep practices from around world? Let me know in the comments!

If you want your own baby's conversations with angels to stop being interrupted, book a free consultation call with me to find out how!

Connect Group for Caregivers with children ages 0-3 who are looking to strengthen their attachment with their child in the early years! $315 Runs Sundays 9-10am April 14, 21, 28 & May 5, 12 Dm or email [email protected] to register #connectandplay #connectgroup #children #earlyyears #attachment #vernonbc #vernonsocialworker #overwhelm #caregivers

Are naps a struggle? Small changes can make big improvements!

Before making any changes:
🌱 Make sure you have an idea of their nap rhythm and sleepy cues. Log their sleep for a couple days to see if a pattern emerges. Once you have an idea of their usual ‘sleepy’ times, watch for sleepy cues and act quickly to avoid them getting a ‘second wind’ (build up of cortisol from being overtired).
🌱 Create a simple nap routine that will signal to baby that it’s time for a nap (ex. Into sleep sac, read one book, cuddle with mom). This can even be a shortened version of your bedtime routine
🌱 Consider your baby’s temperament – sensitive babies often don’t need as much sleep and may take shorter naps
🌱 Build up a variety of sleep associations – loveys, nursing, rocking, white noise, pacifier, rubbing their back. The more variety the better!

Making Changes Around Nap Time
🌱 Start with the first nap only, one nap at a time. That way if you don’t get a long nap in the morning, you have the rest of the day to make up sleep
🌱 Throughout the day naps require more support, usually the 3rd nap is the most difficult and relying on motion/contact is needed
🌱 If they end up skipping the first nap, use the build up of sleep pressure to your advantage. Try moving the next nap to 30 minutes earlier than usual
🌱 20 minutes is the max amount of time you should try to get the nap, unless your child is really upset, then 10 mins max. Feel it out, don’t keep trying if you and baby are getting increasingly frustrated
🌱 Aim for the first nap in the crib/bassinet, and the 2nd (& 3rd if applicable) can be motion naps (car, stroller, carrier)
🌱 Remember to act and respond in the moment rather than being focused on the end goal. Take breaks when you need to. Go for a short walk outside, let your baby look at the sky and their surroundings. A change in environment can be really helpful.
🌱 Help your baby learn to love their crib. Spend time in there during the day doing fun/silly things. Sing songs, make faces, read books, have fun! Create some positive associations with their sleep space. Remember that its not the sleep space that baby doesn’t like, it’s the separation!

One of the greatest pieces of advice I ever got for dealing with tough days with your kids is to take them outside or put them in water. It can make a huge difference for everyone. Even just 15 minutes outside can help improve sleep, so why not give it a try?⁠
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Grab your stroller or sling on your carrier and head on out. Take a leisurely walk or simply relax by a river and skip rocks (like the picture shows 😊).⁠
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This beautiful weather has me so excited that we can spend more time outdoors! 🌱🌿🌻