Duwell Parenting

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Milwaukee, WI
Duwell Parenting

My name is Alyssa Duwell and I am a certified pediatric sleep consultant. If you're a tired parent and your child is having sleep challenges, I am here to help!

I offer one-on-one support and create a customized sleep plan to help you get more rest!

12/06/2024

The past three years running Duwell Parenting have been full of highs and lows and everything in between! I’ve learned so much along the way. Helping families find rest has been incredibly fulfilling. I met so many wonderful parents and kids. Moving forward, I want to do less. I want to spend my time with my family, my students, plan vacations, try new recipes, and learn something new. So, I’m ending my sleep consulting business. I’m walking away feeling content and proud. ❤️

01/30/2024

If babies are sick, we pause sleep training. Use your parental best judgement to decide how long you want to pause for. Sick babies and toddlers need and deserve comfort, especially at bedtime. Truly, rest is the best medicine. Remember, once your baby is feeling better and you begin again, there will be more protest.

Once babies begin to teeth, they do not stop. New teeth can take WEEKS to erupt. We continue sleep training, even when teething. If you want to give him pain medication and your pediatrician has approved, you can. If we paused every time a tooth was coming, we would never sleep train.

#2024

01/23/2024

I do NOT have a magic wand when it comes to baby and toddler sleep. It’s hard. Changing a habit takes work. The biggest toddler sleep secret I have is... consistency. Respond the same way, night after night, every night for 21 days in a row. You’ll see their sleep habit change. I can promise you that. They’re going to test the boundary and see if you’re serious because it’s age appropriate and that’s what toddlers do. I cannot emphasize this enough... BE SERIOUS.

#2024

01/16/2024

When siblings share a room, the concept of sleep training can seem daunting. If one child struggles with sleep and you anticipate protests at bedtime or during the night, the last thing you want is for that child to disrupt the other’s sleep. Instead of one child waking up at night, you might find yourself dealing with two.
If you’re considering sleep training but are hesitant due to multiple children sharing a bedroom, here are some practical tips:

Involve both children in the process. If you’re sleep training a younger sibling, explain the process and what to expect to the older child. Assure them that their sibling is not being harmed and that both of them are safe.

Create an optimal sleep environment. To minimize noise interference, use two white noise machines, each set at 50-60dB. Each child should have their own white noise machine.

Stagger bedtimes. If one child tends to be more disruptive at bedtime, put them down first and extend the bedtime of the other child until the first child is asleep. Remember, this is temporary. If bedtime is 7:00 PM, ensure that the child undergoing sleep training is in their sleep space by 6:50 PM. Meanwhile, the other child can temporarily do their routine and bedtime activities in a different room and go to bed once the first sibling is asleep. Even if this means going to bed 20-30 minutes later than usual, that’s acceptable.

Consider temporarily removing one child from the room. For 3-5 nights, temporarily relocate the child not undergoing sleep training to allow the other child to adjust to the new routine without distractions.

While sleep training with siblings sharing a room may seem challenging, it is achievable, and you can still get independent sleepers. It will require some creativity and effort, but any sleep issue can be resolved regardless of your home’s room arrangement.

#2024

01/12/2024

Can you sleep train while room sharing? The answer is yes! Room sharing, where a baby sleeps in their own designated space (bassinet, pack n play, or crib) in the same room as their parents, is compatible with sleep training.

While room sharing can present certain challenges during sleep training, it is certainly achievable with the right approach. Here are some tips for effective room sharing and sleep training:

Establish a consistent bedtime routine. The final step of the routine should involve placing your baby fully awake in their designated sleep space.
Optimize the sleep environment. Ensure the room is dark with blackout shades and utilize a white noise machine to maintain a consistent sound level between 50-60dB.

Create a physical barrier between your bed and your baby’s sleep space. This could be a movable wall divider, a sheet draped hung from the ceiling (out of baby’s reach), or even a stack of boxes. The goal is to prevent your baby from seeing you during the night.
Develop a plan for responding to nighttime wakings. Effective communication and teamwork between parents are crucial. Ensure both parents respond consistently to nighttime wakings.

#2024

01/02/2024

This time of year is a whirlwind of emotions: joy from reconnecting with loved ones, sadness as the holidays draw to a close, exhaustion from the festive frenzy, apprehension about the approaching long winter, and anxiety about the uncertainties of the new year.
Amidst the holiday cheer, many families take a moment to reflect and set intentions for the year ahead.
If one of your 2024 goals involves improving your family’s sleep, I’m here to help.

I want you and your child to start 2024 feeling well-rested and rejuvenated. Parenting is already challenging enough; sleep deprivation shouldn’t be an additional burden. This is the perfect time to prioritize your family’s sleep goals. With consistency, patience, and my expert guidance, we can transform your sleep aspirations into reality.

#2024

12/28/2023

I like my nap time routines to be 30-60 seconds long. Here’s an example of an efficient and quick nap time routine.

12/19/2023

When it comes to your baby’s sleep schedule during the holidays, you really have two options (neither of which is perfect):

Show up after nap time. This might disappoint your family members, and you might miss dinner, but if it will make you feel better, do it.

Be flexible. (This is much easier said than done.) Bring your portable sound machine and have your baby sleep in the car on the way there. You can also finish the nap in the car seat (temporary car seat naps are okay). You could also bring a pack ‘n play and find a separate room to put your baby down for their nap. Depending on your baby’s age, you can also babywear them and they can take a contact nap on you while you’re chatting with family members.

I know these aren’t the best options, but life doesn’t always give us the best options. Do what’s best for you and your baby. Know that one day of being “off schedule” will not damage or ruin your baby’s sleep foundation. I promise.

12/15/2023

Bedtime routines can be quick and efficient! If your baby is still taking a feed as a part of their routine, BEGIN the routine with the feed to ensure they are fully awake when you lay them down.

12/08/2023

If you do not want your toddler coming into your bed, don't let them come into your bed.

I know it's easier said than done but if you allow your toddler to come into your bed, they will want to do that every night. If YOU do not want that, don't allow it.

1. Have a plan.
2. Communicate the plan.
3. Follow through on said plan.

12/06/2023

At 3 years old, we cap the nap to 60 minutes! When toddlers are 3.5 years old, we drop it completely and have them do "quiet time" to ensure they're tired at bedtime. At this age, they need a total of 12 hours of sleep. If they're getting 1 hour during the day, they'll need 11 at night. If they take a 3 hour nap during the day, they will need only 9 hours at night.

Biggest tips with 3-year olds:

*Try and get outside after dinner to burn off all energy
*Screens off by dinner
*10-minute miracle with one parent at in the evening

11/29/2023

Dropping the swaddle typically happens when the baby is between 8-16 weeks old. You'll know they're ready if they're rolling, the moro reflex is gone, and they're regularly breaking out of it! You can get rid of the swaddle gradually (by releasing one arm for a couple days and then the next arm once you're ready) or cold turkey (Wham! Bam! Gone!) Be prepared for your baby to have a reaction. Have a plan with your partner with how you'll handle the transition.

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Milwaukee, WI

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http://duwellparenting.com/

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