Slumber Babes

02/01/2024

Check out the interview we did with Missy Marshall Photography. Thanks again for featuring Slumber Babes!

Be sure to reach out to Missy if you’re looking for STUNNING maternity, newborn, & family photos in the Louisville area!

Learn some great sleep tips from my interview with a certified pediatric sleep consultant. This Q&A is full of great knowledge!

01/29/2024

*Remember these are just examples, not schedules to follow to a T*

I recommend feeding every 2-3 hours, but always follow your baby’s unique cues & wake windows for feeding times & naps. Tweak the schedule to fit your baby’s needs each day. As baby gets older & naps lengthen, their schedule will become a little easier to expect & more routine.

Not sure where to start to get baby on a predictable schedule? Reach out!

01/08/2024

👦🏼 Let’s talk about separation anxiety with toddlers. It’s super common - add in their growing imagination & bedtime can turn into an uncomfortable time for them. Try these tips next time you have a bedtime battle with your little one.

💡Using a night light: complete darkness can be scary for toddlers. I recommend the Hatch Sound Machine because it has a customizable night light option allowing you to adjust the brightness & color!

🧸 Bedtime Bear: Visit your nearest Build- A-Bear & make a bear together as a family. Now when it’s time for bed, your child has their special bedtime bear with them that they can squeeze anytime they need some mommy or daddy love in the night.

📸 Family Photos: Give your child a picture of you with them to keep near their bed. That way when they miss you at night, they can look over to see your face as a reminder that you’re nearby.

👚 Mama’s Shirt: Wear an old t-shirt for a few hours (or maybe sleep with it for a night) then let your child sleep with it. They could even put in on their bedtime bear. It sounds kind of gross, but your smell can be so comforting.

🎶 Bedtime Songs: Record yourself singing favorite bedtime songs and then put a Bluetooth speaker in her room. Play yourself singing until your child falls asleep instead of actually being in the room.

🚪Leaving the door open: Sometimes it’s this simple act that can make all the difference. It feels less lonely when they can still hear you shuffling about & know that you’re just outside their room.

💌 Want more tips? Comment “toddler” & I’ll send you my 10 tips & tricks for easing your child’s separation anxiety!

📞 Wanna talk about your child’s specific struggles & problem solve? Schedule a consult! www.slumberbabes.com

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12/08/2023

💤 Typical sleep needs for 14 month olds & older!

Remember that these are just AVERAGES. Every baby is different — some may need more sleep & others might do better with a little less.

As baby gets older, their sleep needs will change some but not quite as quickly as they did that first year.

Have a toddler older than 14 months & want more specifics about their sleep needs? Is your toddler still not falling asleep independently? Are you having power struggles or noticing some separation anxiety around bedtime? Let’s chat so we can problem solve & get your kiddo & YOU sleeping better!

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12/06/2023

💤 Typical sleep needs for 11 - 14 month olds!

Baby is about to or just recently turn 1! You’re quickly approaching the toddler stage. If baby hasn’t learned to fall asleep independently yet, now is a great time since it gets a little tricker once they’re older.

Remember that these are just AVERAGES. Every baby is different — some may need more sleep & others might do better with a little less.

If you need help optimizing your baby’s schedule or helping baby learn to initiate sleep independently, reach out!

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12/04/2023

Let’s talk about newborns!👩‍🍼

That infamous 4th trimester can be SO hard. You’re learning your baby while baby is getting used to life outside the womb. It can be a trying time. Try these tricks to calm your newborn when baby is inevitably fussy!

Swaddle: baby may seem like they don’t like it (stay consistent), but it gives them that snuggly feeling that mimics the womb! I always recommend Velcro swaddles over swaddle blankets to ensure baby is nice & snug.

Side position: next, add in holding baby in a side position or even on their belly to soothe them. Never put baby to sleep on their side or belly, but for soothing purposes, in your arms is totally okay!

Swing: babies love motion! Lightly swinging baby or swaying with baby can help calm them down. Some babies might prefer faster motions like bouncing on a yoga ball or jiggling your arms while you’re rocking.

Shush: shushing baby is so calming because, again, it mimics the womb. Baby was used to hearing the constant whooshing of blood. You can do a simple “shh shh shh” or even use a white noise machine. To avoid overstimulation, try to avoid the sounds on the machine like waves crashing, storms, or water running. The variability in those sounds can be too stimulating.

Suck: pacifiers can be a baby’s best friend! Sucking to soothe is what babies naturally do. Baby will probably not be able to keep a paci in their mouth super well, so keep practicing & stay consistent!

Stroke: the eyebrow or nose stroke! Honestly this is soothing even for me 😂 gently stroke your baby’s eyebrows or between their eyes to the tip of their nose. Not only does this make them blink & close their eyes, making them sleepy, but that gentle touch is just so comforting & soothing!

Pro tip: try all of the 6 S’s together to get baby nice & calm before they drift off to sleep 😴

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12/01/2023

💤 Typical sleep needs for 8 - 10 month olds!

By this age, nighttime feedings are usually a thing of the past.

Remember that these are just AVERAGES. Every baby is different — some may need more sleep & others might do better with a little less.

Please know that it’s never too late to start the sleep learning process. If you need help optimizing your baby’s schedule or helping baby learn to initiate sleep independently, reach out!

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11/29/2023

💤 Typical sleep needs for 5 - 7 month olds!

By this age, nighttime feedings are usually down to once a night at most. You might even be floating around the idea of a dream feed!

Please remember that these are just AVERAGES. Every baby is different — some may need more sleep & others might do better with a little less.

Please know that it’s never too late to start the sleep learning process. If you need help optimizing your baby’s schedule or helping baby learn to initiate sleep independently, reach out!

✨ Save this post & share with another mama!