Slumber Time Solutions

👶 Friendly reminder to take a look at the pacifiers this week:

✅ Remember to regularly inspect pacifiers for any signs of wear or damage

✅Clean them properly

✅ Choose age-appropriate pacifiers for your little one

And if it's time to eliminate the pacifier? DM me for tips!

👉TIP TUESDAY!👈 Does your child ask for water at bedtime or in the middle of the night? It could be a stalling tactic, but it could definitely be legit!

​​​​​​​​​🥤Some kiddos (and adults!) get thirsty at night. Consider offering a water bottle or a sippy cup of water at bedtime. Put it in the same spot in their crib or next to their bed at bedtime every night. Make it a step of your bedtime routine and let your kiddo put their water where they want it. Then, if they ask for water at bedtime or at night, remind them that they already have their water and let them find it. At first, you can start with reminding them where it is by pointing, but don’t give it to them. We want them to manage their water independently so they don’t need to ask you for it. With some practice, they will learn to manage their water on their own! 👏

⚠️Note: usually kiddos drink a few sips at a time at night. If your child is gulping LOTS of water throughout the night, something else may be going on, so let your pediatrician know.

Excited for the new month!

🌻 My Weekly Sleep Support group has a new time - we meet at 10:30 am on Tuesdays!

🌻 The next Baby Sleep Basics class is coming up on June 3. We have a good group already and have space for a few more expecting parents.

🌻 And I love to visit the New Mom School! This time I get to talk about newborn sleep. Check out all the groups at New Mom School - it's a great way to expand your community, gain knowledge and enjoy motherhood!

DM me for details!

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! ​​​​​​​​⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📞 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.
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➡️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.
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🧒 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.​​​​​​​​
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🕯️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!