Olive You Sleep

It's that time of year again! Fireworks will be lighting up the skies over the next few nights...and some parents may be wondering "Is my little one going to be able to sleep through the pops and booms?" Here's how to plan ahead to help your little one stay sound asleep:

1️⃣ Don't skip a nap during the day. This may sound really tempting, but it will make your baby more overtired. The result? A harder time falling asleep and staying asleep.

2️⃣ Aim for your little one to be asleep at least an hour before the fireworks begin. This helps to make sure they are in a super deep sleep before the start of the show.

3️⃣ Place another white noise machine (or even a fan, turned away from your baby so it isn't blowing toward the crib) close to the window to help cover up the sounds.

4️⃣ Don't forget: tomorrow is another day. If sleep gets off track, start fresh the next day. This might mean a slightly earlier nap or an earlier bedtime to help make up for some missed out sleep.

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Sleep Awareness week is the National Sleep Foundation's campaign for the public to see how important sleep is to their overall health and well-being. As a child sleep coach, I know this extends to our little ones, too!

Getting the sleep our bodies need is crucial. For children, enough sleep leads to improved attention, behavior, physical health, learning, memory, and mental health.

If you are struggling with your little one's sleep and looking for a way to help them get longer, more restful sleep, set up a discovery call with me! Link in bio.

Whether we are ready or not, the clocks are going forward this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time. Here's some ways you can help your little one's sleep adjust to the new time:

👉 If you have a child who is flexible with their sleep, you don't have to do anything. On Sunday, you will handle the nap(s) and bedtime at the same time you normally would have. It could take a few days to adjust, but your little one will get the hang of it.

👉 If you have a little one who may be a more sensitive sleeper, you can take a more gradual approach. You can do this by adjusting their sleep a little earlier each day leading up to DST. So, if you choose 20 minutes, you can start 3 days before the change. If you choose 15 minutes, you can start 4 days before. It's helpful to not only adjust your baby's sleep, but their feeding schedule, too, to help with circadian alignment.

Even though sleep may seem like it is off at first, you'll still have your foundation of nap/bedtime routines and a good sleep environment. Make sure it's super dark to help bring on sleep at nighttime...it may be a lot lighter outside now at bedtime.

Ah, newborn sleep. Disorganized, no patterns, no schedules. One of the (many) reasons why? Newborns don’t have matured sleep cycles with multiple stages just yet. They go between two stages: an Active sleep and a Quiet sleep. 

In the Active stage, your baby’s eyes may open a little, they could be moving around a lot, and they might even be making a lot of noises. Actually, you may even think they have woken up. If you think their nap is coming to an end because of these sounds and movements, try pausing for a moment to see if you can figure out first if they are truly awake or just loudly sleeping.

In the Quiet stage, your baby is in a much deeper stage of sleep. You’ll probably notice your baby is pretty still and their breathing might also be very regular.
 
Some more fun facts: A full sleep cycle (going through both of these stages) might only be 20 minutes. And, at this age, it’s also very common for naps to be only 30 minutes or as long as 2+ hours. This is why newborn sleep might seem so all over the place. Zero predictability! 

If you have a newborn (or are expecting) and want to know all about newborn sleep, check out my Newborn Sleep Package!

A lot of times, we find ourselves "rating" our little one's nap solely on how long they slept. Yes, the length of a nap is important (I like to see the first two naps be at least an hour), but quantity doesn't always equal quality. The best indicator of how the nap went? Pay attention to how your baby slept and what their mood is like afterward.

Some signs of a refreshing nap:
👉You saw consolidated sleep
👉Your baby woke relaxed and cooing or chatting
👉Your little one was happy until the next nap

Signs that the nap wasn't so refreshing:
👉Your baby woke up several times
👉When the nap was over, your baby immediately popped up and began to cry
👉Your little one was cranky until the next nap

If you are struggling with your baby's naps, I can help. Book a free discovery call for more info! Link in bio.

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One of the best things about being a sleep coach is hearing about how the whole family is getting more rest because the baby is now sleeping!

If you are trying to figure out your little one's sleep, I am here to help you and guide you. I'll listen to your goals, learn about your parenting style, and ask about your child's temperament to craft a sleep plan that not only works, but that is right for your family. Plus - I will support you every step of the way.

Reach out to learn more about how I can help your baby (and you!) get more sleep.

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'Tis the season for sickness! Who else has a little one who has been sick for what feels like the last two months 🙋‍♀️

When your baby is sick, here's a couple things to keep in mind:

💤 Sleeping when sick is so important to recovery. Don't be afraid to offer an earlier bedtime or longer naps. Clocking these extra minutes could make a big difference!

❤️ When it comes to sleep, your sick little one may need a little extra comfort and support. Give them what they need and get back on track when your little one is feeling better.

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If you are heading out on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday, your little one's sleep will probably not be perfect. And that's okay! Here's some helpful tips to staying on track or getting back on track with your baby's sleep:

Think Ahead: Can you align your time in the car close to your baby's nap time? If you can manage a nap on-the-go, this will keep your little one rested until bedtime or the next naptime. If a nap is needed at your destination, don't forget to pack whatever you will need: a pack-and-play, sheet, sleep sack, sound machine, room blackout solution, and your routine essentials (like a book).

Early Bedtime: If naps were skipped or short on Thanksgiving, can you get your little one to bed earlier than normal? If not, aim for an early bedtime the next night to help them catch up on much needed sleep.

And most of all - enjoy your time with family and friends! One off day of sleeping won't erase all the progress you have made.

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I've been there before. Your little one's sleep is finally in a good place and then all of a sudden, you look at the calendar, and realize the time change is coming up 😫 Here's some ways to help transition to the new time:

🐢 Take it nice and slow: If your child is more sensitive to their sleep times, you may want to take a more gradual approach. You can do this by adjusting their sleep a little later each day leading up to DST. So, if you choose 20 minutes, you can start 3 days before the change. If you choose 10 minutes, you'll start 6 days before the change.

Jump right in: For children who are older (or maybe you have a little one who is very flexible with their sleep), you can almost pretend like the end of DST didn't happen. On Sunday, you'll handle the nap and bedtime at the same time you normally would have, even though your little one may be tired.

Even though the schedule may be a little out of whack, you'll still have your foundation of nap/bedtime routines and a good sleep environment (make sure it's super dark to avoid those early morning wake ups). Another secret weapon: do a lot of outdoor activities during the day when the clocks go back. This will help reset that internal clock.

It’s completely okay to feel like your baby’s sleep may not be the same way at daycare as it is at home. It's a different environment! Here are my tips for setting up your little one for sleep success at daycare:


1️⃣ Talk to your daycare about your ideal nap schedule. Don’t be afraid to ask…they might be able to accommodate you! And if there’s a part of your pre-nap routine that’s easy enough (like singing a song), see if they can do that too.

2️⃣ If naps weren’t great, aim for an early bedtime. This will give your little one some more sleep cycles to make up for what was missed during the day.

3️⃣ Get back into your schedule on the weekends or days your baby isn’t at daycare. This is another way to help prevent sleep debt from building up.

Sleep may not be perfect in a different setting, especially in the beginning. By making sure your little one is catching up on sleep where they can, it can help make a big difference.

I talk a lot about the importance of a bedtime routine (cuing sleep is SO helpful), but have you heard me talk about the "routine before the routine"?

Moving from the craziness of the day right into your little one's bedtime routine can be abrupt. Take at least 20-30 minutes (or more) before the routine and:

💡 Dim the lights. Bright lights can interfere with melatonin production (that awesome sleep hormone), so keeping it dim is 👍

📺 Turn off all screens. Not just tv's, but also tablets, phones, computers, etc. Light from these electronics also impact melatonin production.

🧩 Play quietly. Take this time to connect with your little one. Work on a small puzzle together, look through a book, etc.

🪷 Keep the environment calm. Play soft music, talk softly, and relax!

Having some quiet downtime beforehand can help make the transition from day to night easier!

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As we head into the cooler months, you might be asking yourself again: Is my baby too hot or too cold while they are sleeping? Here's what I recommend:

🆒 keep your thermostat set at 68-72 degrees F
👶 dress your little one in pajamas and a sleep sack (younger babes may need an extra layer)
✔️ place a finger or two on the back of your baby's neck to feel if it is too hot, too cold, or just right
❌ don't just touch your little one's hands or feet. Because our extremities are exposed, they naturally carry a lower temperature and aren't a great indication of if a baby is too hot or too cold.

Keeping your little one's core temperature just right will help to promote sleep 🙌