Slumber Time Solutions

Don't forget to sign up for the next Baby Sleep Basics class! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This live online class is designed for families who are expecting and/or have a baby 0-3 months old.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​⁣👶

In this class, you will learn how sleep develops in babies and what to expect during the first 6 months. You will get lots of practical information and helpful tips and tricks you can use at every stage.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​⁣👶

By the end of the class, you will have a clear roadmap of what to expect and what to focus on each month, giving you the tools to lay a healthy sleep foundation for your baby and encourage better sleep from the start!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

You will learn:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
👣 Basics of sleep science – understanding how sleep works helps us get more of it!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
👣 Sleep environment and safety​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
- Overall sleep development and important stages​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
👣 Sleep development by month: what to expect & focus on every month - and what not to worry about!

Don't miss it! Comment SLEEP and I will send you the link to register!

👉TIP TUESDAY👈​​​​​​​
Does your kiddo ever get their “second wind”? 🤪​

✳️ When kiddos get to the end of their “awake window” and are naturally sleepy, it’s easier for them to go to sleep. If we miss that window and they stay awake too long, they get overtired. Their body responds by producing more cortisol, which is like giving them an espresso shot – it wakes them up! Getting overtired can look different for different kiddos: some get a burst of energy, some get extra silly, others get clumsy or grumpy, etc.

✳️ When kiddos are overtired, they often have a harder time falling asleep. And often they don’t sleep as well: waking up more frequently throughout the night and/or earlier in the morning. ​​​​​​​

✳️ So we really want to avoid overtiredness when we can! We want to find that that sweet spot and do lights out when your kiddo is tired but not overtired. You can keep a sleep log for a few days and see what timing seems to work best. And remember that as your child gets older, their windows will get longer! ​​​​​​​​⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
​​​​​​​​⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📞 If you’re not sure what your child’s awake windows are, I would be happy to help you figure it out! DM me details!

👉 SLEEP TIP TUESDAY 👈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Do you have a baby and an older kiddo who go to sleep around the same time? Is it tricky to manage their 2 separate routines? 😣

Instead of doing 2 separate routines, try combining at least parts of the routine.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
➡️First, get both kiddos ready: diaper, potty, pajamas.

➡️Then I like to go to the older sibling’s room and reading some books together. You can offer a feeding to baby while you are reading.

➡️After a few books, leave the oldest one alone (with a book, an audio book, or a special quiet toy) and go put baby down. Read 1 more book with just baby, or sing 1 song. Then put baby down. 😴

➡️Finally, come back to your oldest, snuggle and talk for a few minutes together and then turn off the light and leave.

I would love to hear how you combine your kiddos’ bedtime routine!

👉 TIP TUESDAY 👈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Naps evolve a lot over time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​

👶 Newborns can take 5-6 naps/day​

👶🏿 By 4-5 months, they usually take 4 naps/day⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​

👶🏽 Around 6 months, babies usually settle into 3 naps/day. Usually the first 2 are longer and the last one tends to be a shorter "cat nap"

👶🏼 Between 6-9 months, they drop the 3rd nap and take 2 naps/day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​

🧒🏻 Between 15-18 months, they transition to 1 afternoon nap. I find that this transition can be pretty challenging for a few weeks as kiddos adjust to the longer awake windows.
⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
🧒 Some kids start skipping some naps around 2.5 yo and drop their nap completely between 3-5 years old. Others keep napping! (yes, that’s a big range!)

What phase are you in? If naps are hard or confusing, reach out!

Let's talk about how to support your child in their potty learning journey when you travel. Save this post so you have it when you are ready to go on your trip!

🚽 PACK THE ESSENTIALS:
Bring along a portable potty or toilet seat to make bathroom breaks a breeze, no matter where you are. Having your own gear will help alleviate anxiety about finding suitable restroom facilities. If you are flying, bring a portable toilet seat with you so your child can use it in the airport.

🏡 PRACTICE AT HOME:
Before your trip, practice using the portable potty or toilet seat at home to familiarize your child with the new setup. This can help reduce any resistance or anxiety about using unfamiliar bathroom equipment.

📋 STICK TO THE ROUTINE
While it’s normal for traveling to disrupt normal routines to a certain degree, try to maintain consistency with potty breaks. Encourage your little one to use the potty at regular intervals, such as before leaving for a hike, after meals, before getting in the car to minimize accidents.

🛑 RESEARCH REST STOPS
If you are driving, plan your route ahead of time & identify rest stops or public facilities along the way. Knowing where you can find restrooms can provide peace of mind & make pit stops more efficient. Even if your child uses a portable potty, it may be easier to find a private spot for your child at a rest stop rather than on the side of the highway!

😟 BE PREPARED FOR ACCIDENTS:
Accidents are part of the journey. They happen at home & they will happen when you are traveling. Pack extra clothes, underwear & cleaning supplies to handle any mishaps with ease & keep the adventure rolling. Reassure your child & stay positive to keep them feeling supported & encouraged.

Remember, every journey is an opportunity for growth and learning – including potty training adventures! With a little preparation, patience, and a sense of adventure, you and your little one can conquer potty training on the go like pros. Happy travels!

👉TIP TUESDAY👈
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Breathing exercises can be a great addition to your bedtime routine. You can do it with your kiddo at first, and over time let them take over.

There are so many variations, but here are a couple that I like:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
🧸Have your child lay down on their back and put a stuffed animal on their belly. Have them breathe in and move the stuffed animal up, then breathe out and bring the stuffed animal back down. This helps teach kids to use their belly to take big deep breaths.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
🕯️Place your hand in front of you and open your fingers.Pretend your fingers are candles and you are blowing all the candles in one breath.

What is your favorite breathing exercises?

👉TIP TUESDAY👈
Does your kiddo have endless tactics to delay bedtime? Solidarity to all of you parents who are battling bedtime stalling every night!

If your toddler/preschooler comes out of their room frequently at bedtime, has endless demands or is a tough negotiator, you are not alone! Know that we can turn your master staller back into a sleeper! My approach has 3 parts:

1. Make sure we have the right timing for bedtime. A kiddo who is undertired or overtired will have a harder time settling.

2. Create a bedtime routine that helps your kiddo wind down so that by the end they are calm and cozy in their bed.

3. Be clear on your expectations and boundaries. Clearly communicate those to your child and be 100% consistent! Developmentally-speaking, it is their “job” to test those boundaries... and it’s our job to be consistent to help them understand what those boundaries and that they are real!

👉 If you are ready for shorter and more peaceful bedtimes, reach out! I have an online course for you or we can set-up a consultation!

👉 POTTY TIP 👈 Let’s talk about privacy today.
Is your child looking for some privacy when they use the potty?

That’s one of the reasons why children hesitate to use the potty - that they feel uncomfortable when you watch them.
Just like adults, children may feel more comfortable and relaxed when they have some privacy during this personal moment. If your child used to go hide behind a sofa to p**p in their diaper, then they may indicate that they value some alone time!

👉 Here are some ways to provide more privacy:
- If you don’t feel comfortable leaving the bathroom, you can stay in the bathroom, but look away. You can even use a towel or a shower curtain to create a separation.

- If you feel comfortable leaving the bathroom, you can stay outside the door so you can go back in as soon as they are done.

🚽 Providing children with the space and privacy they need while using the potty can help them feel more confident and empowered.

And if your child prefers to have you around whent they potty for now, that's fine too!

What is your child comfortable with?

👉 TIP TUESDAY 👈 When it comes to kid’s sleep, MANY things feel counterintuitive. Here are a few:

🌙 MOVING BEDTIME LATER = LATER WAKE-UP TIME
We wish! Unfortunately, that does not usually work. If kiddos stay up too late, they get overtired. And that can cause more night wakings &/or extra early wakings. I cannot tell you how times moving bedtime 20 min earlier resulted in the kiddo waking up 30 min later!

🧒 MOVEMENTS = WON’T FALL ASLEEP
When babies are winding down to fall asleep, they tend to move a lot. They move & then suddenly stop -asleep!
Here are some examples: they move their head side to side, they kick/drop their legs with some rhythm, they scratch the sheet, they play with the sides of their crib, suck their fingers, play with their lovey, they roll around again & again, they moan, etc. In other words, they rarely just lay there until they fall asleep, unlike what we grown-ups do! So if you see your kiddo do some of these things, let them be! They are on their way to sleep!

❌ FALLING ASLEEP REALLY QUICKLY = GOOD FOR SLEEP
Once your kiddo is laying down on their mattress, it should take 10-20 min for them to fall asleep. That gives them the chance to practice their independent sleep skills. If they fall asleep very fast, they may not develop the sleep skills that they need to go back to sleep on their own later in the night.

🥱 SKIPPING NAP = BETTER SLEEP AT NIGHT
If only that was the trick to better nights!…When kiddos skip naps &/or don’t get enough daytime sleep, they can get overtired by bedtime. And being overtired can cause more sleep disruptions at night. The amount and time timing of the naps impact the night.

📧If you are not sure what an appropriate schedule is for your child’s age, DM me and I can share a sample schedule with you.

✴️ What other parts of sleep feel very counter intuitive to you?

When we are in the middle of potty learning, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing our child's progress to others. But every kiddo is unique, and what works for one may not work for another.

The comparison game can be a sneaky. Here's how it tends to play out:

1️⃣ Feeling Behind: You might start to feel like your child is lagging behind their peers if they're taking longer to master potty training. Seeing other kids effortlessly using the potty can make you wonder why your little one isn't progressing at the same pace.

2️⃣ Parental Peer Pressure: It's not just about comparing your child's progress; there's also the pressure from other parents. If you hear stories of how quickly someone else's child mastered potty training, it can leave you questioning your own methods or feeling like you're somehow falling short.

3️⃣ Unsolicited Advice: Along with the comparisons often comes unsolicited advice. Whether it's from well-meaning friends or relatives, hearing about how so-and-so's child was fully potty trained by age two can make you second-guess your own approach.

4️⃣ Self-Doubt Creeps In: Constantly measuring your child's progress against others can lead to self-doubt as a parent. You might start questioning your methods, wondering if you're doing something wrong, or feeling inadequate because your child isn't hitting milestones as quickly as others.

Any of this sounds familiar? If you find yourself comparing yourself and your child, try to focus on your child's individual journey. Every child is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to potty training. What works for one child may not work for another. If you’d like to talk about your journey, reach out to me!