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Prenatal Sleep Coaching in Nampa, ID Builds Healthy Newborn Routines

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Prenatal Sleep Coaching in Nampa, ID Builds Healthy Newborn Routines

Prenatal sleep coaching in Nampa, ID prepares expecting families with gentle habit-building strategies, safe sleep guidance, and realistic newborn sleep expectations to support better rest from birth through 4 months.

How Do You Establish Routines Without Sleep Training?

Prenatal coaching focuses on creating flexible, calming routines and safe sleep environments that encourage longer sleep stretches without formal sleep training methods inappropriate for newborns.

Newborns require frequent feedings and close parental contact, making traditional sleep training unsuitable. Instead, you'll learn how to recognize sleepy cues, establish simple bedtime rituals, and create consistent sleep spaces. These gentle habits lay the foundation for independent sleep later without causing distress during the fragile newborn stage.

Families in Nampa benefit from understanding normal newborn sleep cycles, which include frequent wakings every two to three hours. Coaching helps you set realistic expectations and avoid unnecessary worry when your baby doesn't sleep through the night. You'll feel more confident navigating this demanding period.

What Is Day-Night Confusion and How Do You Fix It?

Day-night confusion occurs when newborns sleep longer during the day and stay awake for extended periods at night due to undeveloped circadian rhythms and limited light exposure.

You can help your baby differentiate day from night by exposing them to natural light during daytime feedings and keeping nighttime interactions calm, dim, and quiet. Gentle wake windows during the day prevent excessive daytime sleep that disrupts nighttime rest. These simple adjustments gradually align your newborn's internal clock.

Coaching provides a step-by-step plan to reinforce these cues consistently. Most babies naturally shift toward longer nighttime sleep by 6 to 8 weeks when parents support this developmental process. You'll see progress without stress or rigid schedules.

Which Soothing Strategies Work Best for Newborns?

Effective soothing techniques include swaddling, white noise, gentle rocking, and rhythmic movement, all of which mimic the womb environment and calm your newborn during fussy periods.

Prenatal coaching teaches you how to combine these methods based on your baby's unique temperament and preferences. Some newborns respond best to motion, while others settle with sound or touch. Learning multiple strategies equips you to adapt as your baby's needs change during the first months.

Nampa families often manage multiple children or busy households, making efficient soothing essential. When you know what works, you can calm your newborn quickly and return to rest yourself. These skills reduce frustration and build your confidence as a new parent.

How Does Nampa's Agricultural Environment Affect Newborn Sleep?

Nampa's rural surroundings mean many families experience seasonal noise from farming equipment, livestock, and early morning activity that can disrupt sensitive newborn sleep if not managed.

Using consistent white noise in your nursery masks unpredictable outdoor sounds and creates a soothing auditory environment. Coaching includes guidance on sound machines and safe volume levels appropriate for newborns. These tools protect sleep even when external conditions vary.

Families in Nampa also benefit from understanding how seasonal temperature swings affect nursery comfort. Maintaining a stable room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees supports safe sleep and reduces night wakings caused by discomfort.

Establishing healthy sleep habits from birth supports your newborn's development and your entire family's well-being during the early months. Natalie Shellworth Sleep Consultant provides prenatal and newborn sleep coaching to families throughout Nampa and surrounding areas.

Request your coaching details today at 208-559-3862 and prepare for better rest from the very beginning.

Understanding Baby Boot Camp for Expecting Parents in Meridian, ID

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:30:01 GMT

Understanding Baby Boot Camp for Expecting Parents in Meridian, ID

Baby Boot Camp in Meridian, ID equips expecting parents and families with newborns with safe sleep education, calming routines, and age-appropriate expectations to prevent common sleep challenges before they escalate.

What Topics Does Baby Boot Camp Cover?

Baby Boot Camp addresses safe sleep practices, nursery setup, calming techniques, and realistic newborn sleep expectations to help you feel prepared and confident from day one.

You'll learn how to create a sleep environment that meets current safety guidelines, including crib setup, room temperature, and safe swaddling techniques. Understanding these basics reduces anxiety and ensures your baby's well-being. The program also covers soothing strategies that work during the first weeks of life.

Expecting parents in Meridian often feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice from family, friends, and online sources. Boot Camp provides evidence-based information you can trust and adapt to your family's unique needs. You leave with a clear plan rather than uncertainty.

How Does Early Education Prevent Sleep Struggles?

Learning healthy sleep habits before your baby arrives helps you establish routines and environments that encourage better rest, reducing the likelihood of major sleep problems later.

Many sleep challenges develop because parents unintentionally create dependencies on rocking, feeding, or constant holding to achieve sleep. When you understand newborn sleep cycles and developmental stages in advance, you can build flexible routines that support your baby's natural patterns. Early habits shape long-term outcomes.

Families who complete Baby Boot Camp report feeling more confident during the exhausting newborn weeks. You'll recognize normal sleep behavior and know when to seek additional support. This proactive approach saves time, stress, and sleepless nights as your baby grows.

When Should You Start Preparing for Your Baby's Sleep?

Ideally, parents benefit most from Baby Boot Camp during the third trimester or within the first few weeks after bringing your newborn home from the hospital.

Preparing before birth allows you to set up your nursery correctly and practice calming techniques without the pressure of sleep deprivation. If your baby has already arrived, starting early still provides valuable guidance during the critical first months. The sooner you begin, the more confidence you'll build.

Meridian's growing community of young families means many parents face similar questions and challenges. Connecting with education designed for your stage reduces isolation and helps you make informed decisions. You'll feel ready rather than reactive as your baby's sleep needs evolve.

Do Meridian's New Housing Developments Affect Nursery Setup?

Yes, many newer homes in Meridian feature open floor plans and shared walls, requiring thoughtful nursery placement and sound management to support uninterrupted infant sleep.

Choosing a quieter room away from high-traffic areas and using white noise machines can buffer household sounds that might wake your newborn. Boot Camp includes practical tips for optimizing your available space regardless of home layout. These adjustments create a sleep-friendly environment even in busy households.

Families in Meridian's newer neighborhoods also benefit from guidance on managing siblings and visitors during the early weeks. Protecting your baby's sleep environment from disruptions supports better rest for everyone.

Feeling prepared before your baby arrives reduces stress and sets your family up for success during the newborn stage. Natalie Shellworth Sleep Consultant offers Baby Boot Camp to expecting and new parents throughout Meridian and nearby communities.

Plan your Boot Camp session by calling 208-559-3862 and start building confidence for the sleep journey ahead.

Why Strong, Capable Moms Still Need Support

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:38:28 GMT

Why Strong, Capable Moms Still Need Support

By Dr. Lauren Chase, LCMHC, PMH-C | Founder, Climbing Hills Counseling

Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren Chase. I’m a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Climbing Hills Counseling, where I work virtually with high-achieving women and overwhelmed moms across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

The women I sit with each week are strong. They are thoughtful, capable, deeply invested in their families, and used to figuring things out. Many are leaders in their careers, the emotional anchors in their homes, and the planners behind every detail of daily life.

And yet, even the strongest moms reach a point where they feel exhausted, anxious, or quietly overwhelmed.

If you are reading this on Natalie’s page at Nat’s Sleep Consultant, you are likely already doing something important. You are seeking support. You are not ignoring the impact that sleep deprivation, mental load, or constant responsibility can have on your well-being.

That tells me something about you. You care. You are proactive. You want to do this well.

But even strong, proactive moms still need support.

Being Capable Does Not Make You Immune to Burnout

High-achieving women are accustomed to pushing through. You have likely built a life where you manage things efficiently and anticipate problems before they arise. When motherhood feels difficult, especially during seasons of disrupted sleep or behavioral challenges, your instinct is often to work harder.

Research more.

Create a better system.

Find the solution.

That is one of the reasons working with someone like Natalie can be so powerful. Sleep is not a luxury. It is foundational. When you are chronically sleep deprived, your nervous system remains in a heightened state. Patience shortens. Anxiety increases. Emotional regulation becomes harder.

Sleep is mental health care.

But here is what I see clinically: even when sleep improves, many strong moms still feel tense, guilty, or on edge. That is because exhaustion is not only physical. It is emotional.

The Invisible Mental Load

Many of the women I work with carry the invisible labor of their households.

You are tracking appointments.

You are anticipating your child’s emotional needs.

You are remembering the forms, the deadlines, the snack days.

You are thinking several steps ahead at all times.

Even in supportive partnerships, the mental load often defaults to you.

When this constant responsibility combines with limited sleep, it can feel like you are always bracing for the next demand. Your body rarely fully relaxes. Your mind rarely turns off.

Strong moms often minimize this experience. You tell yourself it is just a season. You remind yourself that others manage more. You convince yourself that you should be able to handle it.

But chronic stress does not disappear simply because you are competent.

Why High-Functioning Moms Still Feel Anxious

Many of the moms I see are functioning at a high level. They are working, parenting, managing households, and showing up for others.

Internally, however, they may be experiencing:

Persistent worry

Irritability

Difficulty relaxing

Guilt when resting

A fear of “messing up” their child

If you grew up in a home where emotions were minimized, criticism was common, or you had to be responsible beyond your years, motherhood can activate those earlier patterns.

You may strive to be the perfect parent.

You may overcorrect to avoid repeating your parents’ mistakes.

You may feel intense pressure to get everything right.

This is where deeper therapeutic work can be transformative. Exploring how your upbringing shapes your current parenting can bring clarity and relief. I often guide women through this process in my work with adult children of emotionally immature parents: https://www.climbinghillscounseling.com/online-emotionally-immature-parents-therapy-north-carolina-south-carolina-florida

Understanding your patterns is not about assigning blame. It is about increasing awareness so

you can parent from intention rather than reactivity.

Boundaries Become Essential

Strong moms are often the dependable ones. You are the person others rely on. You do not want to disappoint anyone.

Without boundaries, however, capability quickly turns into depletion.

You may struggle to say no to extra commitments. You may feel guilty protecting your downtime. You may find it difficult to delegate or to hold limits with extended family.

Boundaries are not about becoming rigid or distant. They are about creating enough space so that you are not running on empty.

This is a core focus of my work with high-achieving women: https://www.climbinghillscounseling.com/online-boundaries-therapy-north-carolina-south-carolina-florida

When your child is not sleeping well, boundaries become even more critical. You cannot sustainably function on low sleep and high emotional output without protecting your energy somewhere.

Natalie helps you reclaim rest. Therapy helps you reclaim emotional capacity. Together, those

supports create a more stable foundation.

Trauma Is Not Always Dramatic

Many capable moms dismiss their own experiences because “nothing that bad happened.”

But trauma is not limited to catastrophic events. It can include chronic stress, emotional neglect, medical experiences, fertility struggles, difficult births, or prolonged seasons of feeling alone.

When sleep deprivation enters the picture, old wounds can resurface. Your nervous system is already taxed. It has fewer resources to regulate.

In my practice, I use EMDR therapy to help women reprocess painful memories and shift deeply

rooted beliefs such as:

I am not enough.
I have to do everything myself.
If I slow down, everything will fall apart.

You can learn more about EMDR here:

https://www.climbinghillscounseling.com/online-emdr-trauma-therapy-north-carolina-south-

carolina-florida Many capable moms dismiss their own experiences because “nothing that bad happened.”

But trauma is not limited to catastrophic events. It can include chronic stress, emotional neglect, medical experiences, fertility struggles, difficult births, or prolonged seasons of feeling alone.

When sleep deprivation enters the picture, old wounds can resurface. Your nervous system is already taxed. It has fewer resources to regulate.

Support Is a Sign of Strength

One of the things I appreciate about Natalie’s work is that it normalizes getting help. It reinforces the idea that you do not have to white-knuckle your way through sleepless nights.

The same principle applies to therapy.

Needing support does not mean you are failing. It means your nervous system has limits. It means you care enough about your family and your well-being to invest in sustainable solutions.

Strong moms are often the first to encourage others to ask for help. I want you to extend that same compassion to yourself.

You Deserve Support, Too

If sleep has been a struggle, begin there. Work with Natalie. Reclaim rest. Stabilize your foundation.

If you notice that even with better sleep you are still anxious, stretched thin, or carrying unresolved emotional weight, therapy can be the next layer of support.

At Climbing Hills Counseling, I work virtually with high-achieving women and overwhelmed moms in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. If you are ready for a space where you do not have to perform, fix, or hold everything together, you can reach out here:

https://www.climbinghillscounseling.com/contact

You can be strong and supported.

Capable and cared for.

Resilient and resourced.

The most grounded moms I know are not the ones who do everything alone. They are the ones who build the right support around them

Toddler Sleep Coaching in Eagle, ID for Bedtime Battles and Night Wakings

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Toddler Sleep Coaching in Eagle, ID for Bedtime Battles and Night Wakings

Toddler sleep coaching in Eagle, ID provides families with customized routines and boundary-setting strategies to reduce bedtime resistance, stalling behaviors, and frequent night wakings for children aged 18 months to 3 years.

What Causes Bedtime Resistance in Toddlers?

Bedtime resistance often stems from your toddler's growing independence, inconsistent routines, or unclear expectations around sleep time and transitions from daytime activities.

Toddlers naturally test boundaries as they develop autonomy, and bedtime becomes a prime opportunity for power struggles. Without clear routines and predictable steps, your child may delay sleep through requests for water, extra stories, or repeated exits from the bedroom. These behaviors are normal developmental phases but require consistent responses.

Families in Eagle often balance multiple children and busy evening schedules, making bedtime routines feel rushed or inconsistent. A structured plan establishes calming steps your toddler can anticipate each night. Predictability reduces anxiety and stalling while helping your child feel secure.

How Do You Set Boundaries Without Tears?

Setting boundaries involves clear communication, age-appropriate expectations, and consistent follow-through that respects your toddler's emotions while maintaining sleep routines.

You can offer limited choices within the bedtime routine, such as which pajamas to wear or which two books to read. These small decisions give your toddler a sense of control without derailing the overall process. When boundaries are gentle but firm, your child learns that bedtime is non-negotiable.

Coaching supports you in staying calm and consistent even when your toddler protests. Over time, your child internalizes the routine and resists less. This approach builds cooperation rather than compliance through stress.

Can Coaching Address Early Morning Wake-Ups?

Yes, sleep coaching adjusts bedtime schedules, wake windows, and environmental factors to help your toddler sleep later and wake at a more reasonable morning hour.

Early wake-ups between 4 and 6 a.m. often result from too-early bedtimes, insufficient daytime activity, or light entering the room at sunrise. Adjusting your toddler's schedule by 15-minute increments and using blackout shades can shift wake time gradually. Consistency is key to lasting change.

Eagle's sunrise times shift significantly between winter and summer, affecting toddlers who are sensitive to environmental light. A sleep plan accounts for seasonal factors and maintains routines year-round. Parents report calmer mornings and more manageable daily schedules after implementing these strategies.

How Do Growing Families in Eagle Benefit From Sleep Coaching?

Sleep coaching helps families with multiple children establish independent sleep habits for each child, reducing nighttime demands and allowing parents to manage bedtime more smoothly.

When one child's sleep struggles affect the entire household, siblings often experience disrupted rest and parents face exhaustion. Toddler coaching focuses on teaching your child to fall asleep independently and return to sleep after brief night wakings without parental intervention. These skills free you to support other children or simply rest.

Eagle's family-centered neighborhoods and active lifestyle make reliable sleep essential for everyone's well-being. A well-rested toddler is more emotionally regulated, cooperative, and ready to enjoy daily activities.

Establishing healthy sleep habits now supports your toddler's development and your family's long-term routines. Natalie Shellworth Sleep Consultant offers personalized toddler sleep coaching throughout Eagle and surrounding areas.

Connect with us at 208-559-3862 to explore how coaching can bring calmer nights and happier mornings to your home.

Infant Sleep Coaching Services in Boise, ID That Support Your Family

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Infant Sleep Coaching Services in Boise, ID That Support Your Family

Infant sleep coaching in Boise, ID offers personalized plans for babies aged 4 to 18 months struggling with frequent night wakings, short naps, or bedtime resistance through gentle, responsive guidance.

How Does Infant Sleep Coaching Address Night Wakings?

Sleep coaching helps your infant develop independent sleep skills by creating consistent routines and adjusting schedules to match developmental needs and natural sleep rhythms.

Many infants wake frequently because they rely on external soothing such as feeding or rocking to fall back asleep. A customized plan builds your baby's ability to self-soothe while respecting their temperament and your parenting values. You receive clear strategies tailored to your infant's age and stage.

Families in Boise often juggle work schedules and growing households, making predictable sleep essential for everyone's well-being. Consistent bedtime routines and optimized wake windows reduce overtiredness and support longer stretches of rest. These changes create stability that benefits both infants and exhausted parents.

What Should You Expect During the Coaching Process?

Your coaching begins with a detailed assessment of your infant's current sleep patterns, daily schedule, and any challenges you're experiencing at bedtime or during naps.

You'll work one-on-one with Natalie Shellworth Sleep Consultant to build a realistic plan that fits your family's goals and lifestyle. The plan addresses wake windows, bedtime routines, and soothing methods appropriate for your baby's developmental stage. Ongoing support guides you through implementation and adjustments.

Parents receive daily check-ins during the coaching period to answer questions and refine strategies as sleep improves. This responsive approach ensures you never feel uncertain or alone as you help your infant build healthier sleep habits.

Can Sleep Coaching Help With Nap Transitions?

Yes, coaching supports families navigating nap transitions by adjusting schedules and routines to match your infant's changing sleep needs as they grow and develop.

Between 4 and 18 months, babies typically move from multiple short naps to longer, more predictable daytime sleep. Mistimed transitions can lead to overtiredness, fussiness, and night wakings. A structured plan helps you recognize readiness signs and adjust nap schedules gradually.

Boise families benefit from guidance that prevents common pitfalls like dropping a nap too early or extending wake windows before your baby is ready. Proper nap timing supports nighttime sleep and reduces bedtime battles. The result is a well-rested infant and more predictable daily routines.

How Do Boise's Long Summer Days Affect Infant Sleep?

Extended daylight in Boise during summer months can delay melatonin production and make it harder for infants to settle at bedtime without environmental adjustments.

Installing blackout curtains in your nursery helps block evening light and signals to your baby that sleep time is approaching. Consistent bedtime routines reinforce this cue regardless of outdoor brightness. Families who maintain schedule consistency through seasonal changes see fewer disruptions.

Winter's early darkness can also shift sleep timing if routines aren't maintained. Year-round stability in your infant's sleep environment and schedule protects against seasonal challenges common in Idaho's climate.

Better sleep supports your infant's growth, emotional regulation, and your entire family's daily rhythm. Natalie Shellworth Sleep Consultant provides personalized infant sleep coaching throughout Boise and nearby communities.

Schedule your consultation today by calling 208-559-3862 to start building healthier sleep habits for your baby.

Why Is My Toddler Suddenly Not Sleeping Well?

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:51:20 GMT

Why Is My Toddler Suddenly Not Sleeping Well?

As a parent, it’s not uncommon to find yourself asking, “What happened to my great sleeper?” Toddlers and preschoolers who once slept soundly through the night may begin to experience sleep disruptions. But why? The reality is that as your child grows and develops, their sleep habits can change—sometimes dramatically. Let’s explore some common issues that could be derailing your toddler’s sleep and offer solutions to get them back on track.

Why Is My Toddler Struggling to Sleep?

Toddlerhood is an exciting yet challenging phase for both children and their parents. Research published in Sleep Medicine Reviews highlights that toddlers often delay bedtime, seek more attention, and wake up during the night as they assert their growing independence. These behaviors are normal and closely tied to the developmental changes happening at this age【4†source】.

Here are some common factors that may be affecting your toddler’s sleep:

Developmental Milestones
As toddlers grow, they experience major developmental changes, particularly around language and cognitive abilities. These milestones, though exciting, can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns. If your child is learning to speak or mastering new skills, they may have a harder time settling down for sleep.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Children in this age group may crave extra attention, especially if there have been recent changes at home, like starting daycare or welcoming a new sibling. This can lead to bedtime resistance and frequent night wakings as your child seeks comfort or company.
Increased Independence
Toddlers love to test boundaries! As they gain more independence, they may resist bedtime or nighttime routines. This can manifest in tantrums, defiant behavior, or even waking up multiple times at night.
Transitioning to a Bed
Moving from a crib to a toddler bed is a big milestone, but it can also cause sleep disruptions. The newfound freedom may tempt your child to get out of bed, making bedtime more difficult and leading to frequent night wakings.
Nighttime Fears
As a child’s imagination grows, so do their fears. Nightmares or a fear of the dark may start to creep in around this age, which can make bedtime feel like a daunting experience for them.
Inconsistent Bedtime Routine
If your toddler’s bedtime routine is inconsistent, their sleep habits can suffer. Routine is key to helping them feel secure and calm as they wind down for the night. Creating a predictable bedtime routine can help signal to your child that it’s time to sleep.
Illness
It’s no surprise that illness can disrupt a child’s sleep. Whether it’s a cold, ear infection, or teething, physical discomfort can cause night wakings or difficulty falling asleep.

Solutions for Better Sleep

If your toddler’s sleep has been derailed, don’t worry—there are steps you can take to get back on track. Here are a few tips to help:

Stick to a Consistent Routine : Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can signal to your child that it’s time to wind down and go to bed. Include calming activities like reading a book or taking a warm bath.
Set Clear Boundaries : While it’s normal for toddlers to test limits, setting clear and consistent bedtime rules will help reinforce good sleep habits.
Limit Screen Time : Try to reduce screen time in the evening, particularly in the hour or two before bed.
Monitor Diet : Keep an eye on what your child eats and drinks, especially before bed. Reducing sugar intake and avoiding hidden sources of caffeine can improve sleep quality.
Encourage Physical Activity : Ensure your toddler gets enough exercise during the day, but avoid overly stimulating activities right before bedtime.

Final Thoughts

Sleep disruptions in toddlers can be frustrating, but they are often temporary and can be managed with a few adjustments. By understanding the factors that might be impacting your child’s sleep and implementing some simple strategies, you can help them (and yourself!) get the rest they need.

If you’re struggling with your toddler’s sleep, I’m here to help! Feel free to reach out for personalized support and guidance.

Is This The Right Time to Get Started?

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:41:09 GMT

Is This The Right Time to Get Started?

There are two things I can pretty much guarantee you when it comes to teaching your baby to sleep through the night.

It’s going to be a challenge
It’s going to be eminently worth it.

I’ve never worked with a family whose baby went right down on the first night and just magically slept through from then on. Some have slept through the night on night two, most of them start seeing results on night three or four, but I won’t kid you, night one can be a trial.

I’ve also never worked with a family who didn’t feel like they had made a tremendous decision once their baby had learned to sleep through the night. The benefits to the whole family are almost indescribable.

Like many big decisions though, there are times that are ideal and times that are less so. Today, I’d like to offer some tips for deciding whether or not it’s the right time to take this challenging, but oh-so-rewarding journey.

Are you going to be around?

I’m not attempting to find a silver lining in this Covid-19 situation, but many parents are currently either working from home or not working at all, which does present the opportunity to be at home while you show your little one how to sleep independently. I usually recommend that at least one parent is home for two weeks while you’re sleep training, so this might be a great opportunity to take the plunge.

I don’t advise parents to start sleep training within two weeks of traveling, but I’m guessing that’s not a concern for most of us at the moment since we’re all sticking pretty close to our home base.

Are their accommodations ready?

Exceptions can be made in certain situations, but I really do find that putting baby into their own room is the best way to help them learn to sleep independently, and there are a few decorating guidelines to help baby get the hang of this thing as quickly as possible. Their room should be as dark as you can possibly get it. Put up some blackout blinds or, barring that, tape up some garbage bags over the windows. It’s not pretty but 100% darkness will really help with daytime naps.

Get rid of any mobiles, crib aquariums, or light-emitting devices that claim to help baby sleep . (I can assure you, they don’t.) An ideal nursery is flat-out boring. Baby should recognize it as a place to do nothing but sleep, so keep their toys and stuffies in another room.

Are the symptoms of sleep deprivation starting to show?

Are you starting to feel depressed, moody, forgetful, unmotivated, clumsy, or unfocused? Is your sex drive starting to wane? Have you noticed an increased appetite and carbohydrate cravings?

These are all symptoms of sleep deprivation and they’re no laughing matter. Society tends to make light of the whole, “exhausted new parent” persona, but the more we learn about the health effects of sleep deprivation, the less of a joke it becomes. If you’re sleep-deprived or feel like you’re on the verge, now’s the time to take some action.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment

Like I said earlier, now might not be the ideal time to take the initiative to help your baby sleep through the night. Getting started and having to stop because of some bad planning is likely going to cause some confusion and minimize your chances for success. Don’t wait for the perfect momentBut remember, there’s always going to be something that isn’t exactly ideal. Teething, crawling, rolling over, and other developmental milestones, shouldn’t impede baby’s ability to sleep through the night, and they’re not going to stop popping up until your little one’s about ready to graduate from high school.

So now that you know all that, if you feel like the time is right and you’re ready to get started, let’s get going! Get in touch and we can start putting together a plan for your baby right away I know it’s a big decision, (It certainly was for me when I first made it with my little one) but the outcome is almost indescribably wonderful for the whole family. I’m ready when you are.

Is the time right for baby?

The best chance for a quick and effective solution to your baby’s sleep issues is to implement the changes when they’re healthy and thriving. If baby’s dealing with reflux or colic, you’ll want to get that remedied before you start sleep training. There’s going to be some fussing and protest in the first few nights, and we want to make sure it’s only due to the change in their routine, not because of actual discomfort, and if they’re healthy, it’s much easier to pinpoint the reasons for their fussing.

Is your partner on board?

If you’re raising your baby with a partner, it’s important that both of you are committed to the process. This can be a trying ordeal for the first couple of nights and if your partner thinks it’s not a good idea, there’s likely going to be a point where they manage to convince you to give in and resort to whatever “sleep prop” you usually use to get your baby to sleep. So before you get started, make sure you and your partner have both signed on and can rely on one another for support.

Can you stand a couple of nights without a lot of sleep?

I won’t sugar-coat it. Changing up someone’s sleep habits is almost never met with a lot of enthusiasm for the first night or two, so nobody’s likely to get a lot of rest for the first 48 hours. If you have an important meeting or a major event coming up in the next few days that you need to be in peak condition for, you might want to wait until next weekend to get things underway.

Staying on Track Over the Summer Break

Sun, 26 May 2024 10:37:17 GMT

Staying on Track Over the Summer Break

Summer is almost here, and I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to longer days, family trips and a little more relaxation time! This being said, it is still important to make sure everyone is getting enough sleep.

A few days and nights of too much excitement and too little sleep can leave your kids in a state where they’re incapable of enjoying themselves no matter what they’re doing. With that in mind, I’ve put together a few tips to help you and your family enjoy this much-needed break while still keeping their sleep habits in check.

Blackout Blinds

In many parts of the world, the onset of summer means longer days, which means that the sun might not go down until after your little one’s bedtime. As much as we’ve all gotten accustomed to artificial light, the sun is still the primary influencer of our circadian rhythm, and it’s harder to fall asleep while it’s light out.

The simple solution to this is to keep the sun out of your little one’s bedroom, which sounds like a no-brainer, right? But when I say it should be dark in there, I mean dark. I’m talking pitch black. Even a small amount of sunlight seeping through the curtains can dramatically affect your child’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Luckily, there are some simple and low-cost solutions in the form of blackout blinds. If you’re not familiar with them, you may be envisioning some hideous, cardboard-thickness monstrosity that will completely destroy the beautiful esthetic you’ve designed in your child’s bedroom, but there are a lot of really stylish options available in a whole bunch of colors, and some are even playfully patterned specifically for kids’ bedrooms.

Can’t afford to drop the cash on a new set of blinds? Try taping some black garbage bags over the windows! It won’t look pretty, but how much does the feng shui of your little one’s room matter if they’re not getting any sleep?

Consistent Routine

If you follow me on social media, you may be thinking, “But you always talk about the importance of routines! What changes in the summer?”

And you would be absolutely right. I can’t overstate the importance of a consistent routine and the role it plays in your child’s sleep habits. This doesn’t change over the summer break.

Everything else does though, and that’s why I wanted to stress the importance of it here. Whether you’ve got your eye on exotic travel plans, local camping trips, or even just staying at home, the days off of school are almost guaranteed to throw some curveballs into the daily routine.

Now, I’m not suggesting that there’s no wiggle room here. A little leniency when it comes to bedtime is part of the magic of summer and I know nobody wants to deprive their kids of that. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t take long for problems to build on one another. Too little sleep on night one can lead to overtiredness on night two, which makes it more difficult for your child to get proper sleep through that night, which leads to even more overtiredness the next day, and so on.

If you’re going to make an allowance for a late bedtime, try to balance it out with a few days and nights of regular routine afterwards. That will help prevent things from getting out of control and help ensure that your child’s happy and well-rested to enjoy those magical summer days.

Outdoor Daytime Activity

We want to avoid sunlight when it’s time for bed, but during the day, getting outdoors and into the sunshine can work wonders for your little one’s nighttime sleep.

Natural sunlight does a number of cool things for us. It provides vitamin D, which helps regulate our moods, it stimulates cortisol production, which despite its bad rap as the “stress hormone” is actually quite beneficial at the right time and in the right amounts, and it promotes serotonin production as well. Serotonin does two wonderful things for your little ones. It enhances their mood during the day, and at night, the pineal gland converts it to melatonin, which helps them get to sleep. So the more sunlight, especially early-morning sunlight, they can get, the easier they’ll be able to drift off at night. (Just don’t forget the sunscreen!)

Watch What You Eat

I think the childhood summer experience was summed up eloquently by Bill Watterson in one of his classic Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. Calvin walks up to the bathroom mirror with a popsicle in his mouth, gives himself a quick inspection, and walks away saying, “It’s not summer if your tongue isn’t purple.”

Junk food is a bit of a summer tradition. Hot days are so much more enjoyable with frozen treats, and backyard BBQs, block parties, and theme parks wouldn’t really have the same appeal without the potato chips, gummy bears, Dippin’ Dots, and so on.

But all of those simple carbs can mess with your child’s sleep. High carb intake can increase the number of night wakings and reduce the amount of deep sleep your child gets, and leave them feeling lethargic and sluggish the next day.

Seeing how they’re likely to be in and out of the house, and breakfast and lunch might not be as easy to schedule as they would be during the school year, it’s a good idea to leave some healthy snack selections out on the table. Cut up some fruit, prepare some sandwiches and cut them into quarters, dump some healthy crackers into a bowl, and let your kids grab them as they please.

As long as they’re getting the majority of their calories from a healthy source, a few popsicles and a root beer float shouldn’t have too much of a detrimental effect.

Get Ready for School Early

Forgive me for bringing it up before summer even really gets started, but you’ll want to keep the inevitable return to school in the back of your mind so that you can prepare.

If your child’s gotten used to later bedtimes and sleeping in in the mornings, asking them to snap back into form on the first day of school is going to be a bit of a nightmare. It’s best to ease them back into their regular schedule, and the best way to do that is gradually over the course of a couple of weeks.

I see the best results from moving bedtime up by 15 minutes every two to three nights. So if your little one is going to bed about an hour later than they would during the school year, you’ll want to allow between 8 to 12 days to get them back on track before the first day of school. That way, they’ll be rested and ready to get back into the standard routine right from day one. On that note, If you’re planning a trip or vacation, try to avoid scheduling it for the two weeks right before heading back to school so you can make the necessary adjustments.

There you have it folks! Five simple solutions to survive the summer without sacrificing your kids’ sleep schedule. I hope it’s helpful, but more than that, I hope you all have a wonderful, magical couple of months, full of fun, friends, and all the magical experiences we were all so deprived of last year. All the more reason to go out and have twice as much fun this time around.

5 Common Myths About Baby’s Sleep

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:18:21 GMT

5 Common Myths About Baby’s Sleep

I can clearly remember, like most mothers I’m sure, the very moment I gave birth to my first child. I was absolutely buried in feelings of love and gratitude.

And then, about ten to fifteen seconds later, I was equally buried in advice, suggestions, and information.

This was all thrown at me with the best intentions, but it was overwhelming nonetheless. I can’t imagine the number of times I heard the words, “You should,” “You’ll want to,” and “You’ve got to.” If there’s no such number as a “kajillion,” it should be created specifically in order to measure the number of suggestions a new mother receives in her first year of motherhood.

Of course, those feelings of love and gratitude persist to this day, and so do the recommendations.

And that’s coming from an expert, a professional, in the child care field. I can only imagine the tidal waves of hints and advice that must overwhelm a mother who openly asks for it.

There’s no such thing as a casual mom. This gig is full-time, no matter if you’re a stay-at-home-mom, a working mom, or somewhere in between. Your kids are on your mind 24/7, no matter what else might be going on, so we tend to do a lot of research, and with access to unlimited data via the internet, Barnes & Noble, or your mother-in-law, (the latter having the most to say, by a mile) it’s inevitable that we get some

conflicting information. Although when it comes to kids, I think the discussion even eclipses politics for the sheer divisiveness and claiming opinion as fact.

So today, I want to focus on my area of expertise, that being sleep, and try to dispel some of the more popular myths I’ve seen in parenting forums, heard from Mom groups I’ve talked with, or had angrily shouted in all caps on my Facebook page.

Sleeping too much during the day will keep baby up at night. Not likely, except in extreme cases. Unless your little one is sleeping practically all day and up all night, you probably don’t need to concern yourself with the length of their naps. Newborns especially need a ton of sleep. In fact, up until about 6 months, I don’t recommend that your little one be awake for more than about 2 – 21/2 hours at a time. For newborns, that number is more like 45 minutes to an hour.What keeps babies awake at night, more than anything else, is overtiredness. You might think that an exhausted baby is more likely to sack out for a full night than one who slept all day, but it’s actually just the opposite. The reason we refer to it as being “overtired” is because baby has missed the “tired” phase and their bodies start to kick back into gear, which keeps them from falling and staying asleep. A baby who has gotten a decent amount of sleep during the day is far less likely to miss the sleep window.There are substantial variations depending on baby’s age and the length of their naps, but up to that 6 month mark, it’s really not uncommon for baby to be sleeping around 5 hours a day outside of nighttime sleep, so if your little one is still within those guidelines, let them snooze.
Sleeping is a natural development and can’t be taught. Sleeping is natural, absolutely. Everybody wakes up and falls back to sleep multiple times a night, regardless of their age. So no, you can’t teach a child to be sleepy. What can be taught, however, is the ability to fall back to sleep independently . baby using a laptopThe typical “bad sleeper” of a baby isn’t less in need of sleep, or more prone to waking up. They’ve just learned to depend on outside assistance to get back to sleep when they wake up. Once your little one has figured out how to get to sleep without assistance from outside sources, they start stringing those sleep cycles together absolutely effortlessly, and that’s the secret to “sleeping through the night” as most parents understand it.
Babies will naturally dictate their own sleep schedule The idea that infant physiology is so flawlessly, naturally programmed to regulate a baby’s schedule is, to be blunt, laughable. Nothing against Mother Nature, but she doesn’t provide us with a ready-to-run baby like she does with say, the blue wildebeest. (Seriously? Walking six minutes after birth? Outrunning predators within a day? Our babies are cuter, but clearly not as prepared for battle straight out of the womb.)Our babies need extensive care and help in their development, and their sleep cycles are unbelievably erratic if left unregulated. If they miss their natural sleep cycle by as little as a half hour, their cortisol production can increase which causes a surge in energy, and things quickly spiral out of control. So as much as I wish babies could just fall asleep when they’re tired, it simply doesn’t work that way. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t respond to their cues, but you shouldn’t rely exclusively on them either.
Sleep training is stressful for the baby and can affect the parent-child attachment. Nope. And this isn’t just me talking here. This is the American Academy of Pediatrics. If there’s a more reliable source of baby health information, they’re astoundingly bad at marketing themselves. And according to a 2016 study conducted by eight of their top researchers, behavioral intervention, (A.K.A Sleep training) “provide(s) significant sleep benefits above control, yet convey(s) no adverse stress responses or long-term effects on parent-child attachment or child emotions and behavior.” Not a whole lot of gray area there.
Babies are not “designed” to sleep through the night. Putting aside our religious beliefs for a moment, I think we can all agree that, even if babies were “designed” somehow, whoever did the designing left plenty of room for some upgrades. Trusting your child’s physiology to dictate their sleep schedule, their eating habits, their behavior, or just about any other aspect of their upbringing is a recipe for disaster.Is your toddler designed to eat three pounds of gummi bears? Surely not. Will they if you don’t intervene. Without a doubt. Is your baby designed to avoid predators? If so, nobody told my little ones, who would have happily hugged a hungry Siberian tiger if it approached them. (They might still, I don’t know. It’s never come up.)Our little ones need our expertise and authority to guide them through their early years, and probably will for decades after that. This is especially true when it comes to their sleep. Some babies are naturally gifted sleepers, for sure, but don’t rely on the advice of those who tell you that babies should dictate their schedules. You’re in charge because you know best, even if it may not feel like it sometimes.

There are obviously plenty more myths and misconceptions surrounding babies and their sleep habits, but these are some of the most important to get the facts on.

Remember, there are endless posts on social media and websites that portray themselves as factual, but there’s nothing stopping them from making that claim, regardless of their accuracy find peer-reviewed scientific study on all things baby-related, and trusted sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health, Britain’s National Health Service, Canada’s Hospital for Sick Children, the World Health Organization, and other national children’s health organizations are excellent sources of information you can feel confident about using to answer questions about your baby’s health.

And if you want more information about the benefits of sleep, I’m willing to talk about it to the point of obnoxiousness.

Why Does My Baby Wake Up at 3:00 am?

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:05:58 GMT

Why Does My Baby Wake Up at 3:00 am?

That right there might be the single most common question new parents ask.

Is it a developmental milestone? A regression? Are they getting too much sleep during the day, or not enough? Maybe they’re just hungry. Maybe they’re too hot, or too cold.

Well, the truth is that it could be any of those things, and it could be a combination of several of them.

What that means, and what you’re probably already aware of, is that baby’s sleep is tremendously complicated.

Their bodies and brains are rapidly going through significant changes, and by the time they have got one issue under control, a new one pops up to take its place.

There are factors you can control, obviously. If baby’s too hot, you can turn up the AC or put a fan in the room. If they are teething, a little Children’s Tylenol can often solve the problem, at least temporarily.

But those are the simple fixes. The reason most people have such a challenging time with their babies’ sleep is because of problems that are not so simple, and do not have obvious solutions.

Imagine this scenario: An 18-month-old child gets plenty of fresh air and sunlight during the day, goes down easily for long, restful naps, but when bedtime rolls around, suddenly they are full of energy and want to play. When they are told it is time for bed, they get upset and bedtime becomes a battle. Once they do finally get to sleep, they wake up several times at night and never sleep past 5:30 in the morning.

So, what is going on? Is baby getting too much sleep during the day?

That would be the reasonable assumption, for sure. After all, if us grown-ups were to take a 3-hour nap in the afternoon, there is a good chance we would have a hard time falling and staying asleep that night.

But the opposite is almost always the case. What baby’s demonstrating in this scenario is a need for more sleep, not less.

To understand this counterintuitive reasoning, first a little background on how this whole system of sleep works.

About three hours prior to when we’re naturally prone to waking up, our bodies start secreting a hormone called cortisol, and if you’ve done some reading on your baby’s sleep prior to this, the sight of that word probably causes you to flinch a little.

Cortisol is a stimulating hormone, and is also produced in times of stress in order to elevate the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system (in case, y’know, bears) but in the morning, it’s just trying to get us started. Think of it as mother nature’s caffeine.

And if cortisol is our morning cup of coffee, melatonin is our evening glass of wine. Once the sun starts to go down, our bodies recognize the onset of night and begin to produce this lovely sleep- inducing hormone, which helps us get to sleep and stay asleep until morning, when the whole process starts over again. Melatonin production is increased and starts earlier in the evening when we awaken to some nice, bright sunlight .

But as beautifully crafted as this system is, it’s not perfect and it’s easily confused. So in the situation we examined above, here’s what’s happening…

Baby’s taking great naps during the day, which is obviously wonderful, and she’s getting lots of time outdoors, so her body’s ready to crank out some melatonin when nighttime rolls around. So what’s with that burst of energy right before bedtime?

So when baby’s body has begun producing melatonin, there’s a narrow window of time when the body expects baby to be going to sleep. After all, she’s a baby. What’s she got to stay awake for? She doesn’t watch The Bachelor and she hasn’t discovered the Internet yet.

The brain instinctively decides that something isn’t right; that for whatever reason, baby can’t sleep, (probably because, y’know, bears.) And if baby’s got a bear to run from, adding a shot of cortisol should help increase her chances for survival. So that’s exactly what it does.

Baby’s system starts secreting cortisol and, before you know it, she’s a little bit cranked. This often shows up in the form of playfulness and an abundance of energy. In short, baby missed the window and now she’s going to have a hard time getting to sleep, but her behavior indicates anything but sleepiness.

So what does all of this have to do with the dreaded 3 A.M. wake ups?

Here’s what happens… Assuming your baby’s circadian rhythm is scheduling a 6 A.M. wake up, then her body starts to secrete cortisol three hours prior to that. and at this point, the melatonin production has ceased for the night. So baby hits the end of a sleep cycle around 3:00. She gets to that “slightly awake” state, and now there’s a little bit of stimulant and no natural sedative. This, combined with a lack of independent sleep skills, means that baby’s probably going to wake up fully, and have a really hard time gettting back to sleep.

So now for the big question you’ve probably been hoping I might have an answer for.

How do I fix it?

While there’s no quick fix for adjusting baby’s hormone production schedule, you can definitely help her out by getting her outdoors during the day as much as possible. As I mentioned before, natural light during the day is the big cheerleader for melatonin production at night.

It also helps to ensure that baby’s room is as dark as you can get it at night, and start turning down the lights in the house at least an hour before you put her to bed. Simulating the sunset will help to cue that melatonin production so that it’s in full swing when she goes into her crib.

Avoid any TV, iPhone, tablet, or screen time of any kind for that same hour before bedtime. (Preferably even longer) as these devices emit a geyser of blue light, which will stimulate cortisol production right at the time when you’re trying to avoid it.

But above all, the number one way to help your baby sleep through the night is to get her on a predictable, consistent sleep schedule and teach her the skills she needs to fall asleep independently.

Because the truth is that you’re never going to prevent nighttime wake ups. We all wake up in the night, regardless of our age. As adults, we just have the ability to calmly assess the situation when we wake up in the dark, realize where we are, see that it’s still nighttime, and go right back to sleep. Most of the time we don’t even remember it the next morning.

So although we can’t prevent baby from waking up at night, we can safely and effectively help her learn to recognize that she’s safe, in familiar territory, still tired, and capable of getting back to sleep on her own. You can find more information about how to do this by downloading my “5 Tips to Get Your Baby Sleeping Through the Night” guide.

And although I know I made light of it earlier, you should always check and make sure that baby’s room is absolutely, positively, 100% free of bears. Waking up to a snarling grizzly will set your baby’s sleep habits back immeasurably.

The Four Month Sleep Regression

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:56:57 GMT

The Four Month Sleep Regression

As a professional sleep consultant, I hear the term “regression” used in regards to just about every imaginable circumstance. Essentially, if baby doesn’t sleep well for a couple of nights, parents start dropping the ‘R’ word. Some people subscribe to the idea that there’s an eight month regression, a 9 month regression, a 1 year regression, as well as teething regressions, growth spurt regressions, and so on. Others see these as simple hiccups caused by extenuating circumstances.

But the four-month regression, everybody agrees on, and for good reason. It’s the real deal, and it’s permanent.

So in order to understand what’s happening to your baby during this stage, first you need to know a few things about sleep in general. So here’s the science-y part, told in plain English.

Many of us just think of sleep as an on-or-off situation. You’re either asleep or you’re not. But sleep actually has a number of different stages, and they make up the “sleep cycle,” which we go through several times a night.

Once we’ve gone through all of the stages, we either wake up or come close to waking up, and then start over again until the alarm goes off.

So what does this have to do with the dreaded regression we were talking about originally?

Well, newborn babies only have 2 stages of sleep; stage 3 and REM, and they spend about half their sleep in each stage. But at around the third or fourth month, there is a reorganization of sleep, as they embrace the 4-stage method of sleep that they’ll continue to follow for the rest of their lives.

When this change takes place, baby moves from 50% REM sleep to 25% in order to make room for those first two stages. So although REM sleep is light, it’s not as light as these 2 new stages that they’re getting used to, and with more time spent in lighter sleep, there’s more of a chance that baby’s going to wake up.

That’s not to say that we want to prevent or avoid baby waking up. Waking up is absolutely natural, and we continue to wake up three, four, five times a night into adulthood and even more in old age.

As adults, however, we’re able to identify certain comforting truths that baby might not be privy to. When we wake in the night, we’re able to recognize that, “Hey, I’m here in my bed, it’s still nighttime, my alarm isn’t going to go off for another three hours, and I’m reasonably certain that there are no monsters lurking under my bed. I can go back to sleep”

And we do. Usually so quickly that, the next morning, we don’t even remember the brief encounter with consciousness.

A four month old baby, of course, lacks these critical thinking skills. To a four month old baby who fell asleep at her mother’s breast, the reasoning could go much more to the tune of, “OK, last thing I remember, there was a familiar, beloved face, I was having dinner, and someone was singing me a soothing song about the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. Now I’m alone in this dark room, there’s no food, and there’s probably at least three, possibly four, scary monsters in the immediate vicinity.”

That’s probably an exaggeration, but who knows what goes on in the mind of a four month-old baby?

Anyways, now that baby’s suddenly realized that Momma’s not around, and they’re not entirely sure where they’ve gone, the natural response is to do a little freaking out. That stimulates the fight-or-flight response and, next thing you know, baby’s not going back to sleep without a significant amount of reassurance that everything is OK.

The other major contributor to this 4 month fiasco, I find, is that up until this point, parents have either been putting their baby to sleep with a pacifier, or by rocking them, or by breastfeeding them, or some similar technique where baby is helped along on the road to falling asleep.

Now that baby’s spending more time in light sleep, and therefore has a higher probability of waking up, this suddenly becomes a much bigger issue. These sleep props or sleep associations can be very sneaky indeed, because although they may be helpful in getting your little one to that initial nodding off stage, the lack of them when they wake up means that baby’s not able to get back to sleep again without some outside help. Cue the fight-or-flight, the crying, and the adrenaline. When this starts happening every half an hour, parents can find themselves in a nightmarish situation.

So, the good news for anyone experiencing the dreaded Four Month Sleep Regression is that it’s not, in fact, a regression at all. A regression is defined as “reversion to an earlier mental or behavioural level,” and that’s actually the opposite of what your baby is experiencing. This would be much more aptly titled the “Four Month Sleep Progression”

So, onto the big question. What can you do to help your little one adjust?

First off, get all of that light out of baby’s room. I’m not kidding around here. You might think that baby’s room is dark enough, or that baby might not like the dark, and that it’s comforting to have a little bit of light coming through the windows or seeping in from the hallway.

Nope.

Baby’s room should be dark. I mean coal mine on a moonless night kind of dark. Tape garbage bags over the windows if you have to, or cover them with tinfoil. (Just be prepared to explain it to the police when the neighbours accuse you of running a grow-op.)

Newborns and infants are not afraid of the dark. They are, however, responsive to light. Light tells their brains that it’s time for activity and alertness, and the brain secretes hormones accordingly, so we want to keep that nursery absolutely pitch black during naps and bedtime.

The other nemesis of daytime sleep, (and nighttime for that matter, although not nearly as often) is noise. Whether its UPS ringing the doorbell, the dog warning you that the squirrels are back and for sure going to attack the house this time, or something falling on the floor three rooms away. With baby spending more time in lighter sleep, noises will startle them easily and wake them up, so a white noise machine is a great addition to your nursery.

“Wait, isn’t that a prop,” you’re asking. Well, in a way, it is, but it doesn’t require any winding, resetting, reinserting, or parental presence. It’s just there and it can be on as long as baby’s sleeping, so it’s not a prop we need to avoid.

Bedtime routines are also an essential component to getting your baby sleeping well. Try to keep the routine to about 4 or 5 steps, and don’t end it with a feed. Otherwise, you risk baby nodding off at the breast or the bottle, and that will create the dreaded “association” that we talked about earlier.

So try to keep the feed near the beginning of the routine and plan the songs, stories, and getting into PJs towards the end. The whole process should be about 20 – 30 minutes long, and baby should go into their crib while they’re still awake.

If you’re noticing baby getting fussy before bedtime, you’ve probably waited too long. Four month old babies should really only be going about two hours between snoozes, and bedtime should be between 7 and 8 at night.

Now, there are going to be regressions, actual regressions, later on in your little one’s youth. Traveling, illness, cutting teeth, all of these things can cause your little one to have a few bad nights in a row. But when it comes to the four month “progression,” I’m happy to report that this is a one-time thing. Once you’re through this, your baby will have officially moved into the sleep cycle that they’ll essentially be following for the rest of their life. Four glorious stages repeated multiple times a night.

And by taking this opportunity to teach them the skills they need to string those sleep cycles together, independently, prop-free, without any need for nursing, rocking, or pacifiers, you’ll have given them a gift that they’ll enjoy for the rest of their young lives.

Of course, some kids are going to take to this process like a fish to water, and some are going to be a little more resistant. If yours falls into the former category, count yourself as lucky, take delight in your success, and go ahead and gloat about it on Facebook.

For those of you in the latter camp, I’m happy to help in any way I can. Just visit my website or give me a call and we can work on a more personalized program for your little one. The most common thing I hear after working with clients is, “I can’t believe I waited so long to get some help!” So if you’re considering hiring a sleep consultant , now is absolutely the time. I offer a free 15 minute evaluation so I can get to know the specifics about your little one’s situation, so book a call now and we can move forward as soon as you’re ready to get your little one sleeping through the night!

Stage 1 is that initial stage we’re all familiar with where you can just feel yourself drifting off, but don’t really feel like you’ve fallen asleep. Anyone who has ever seen their partner nodding off in front of the TV, told them to go to bed, and gotten the canned response of, “I wasn’t sleeping!” knows exactly what this looks like.

Stage 2 which is considered the first “true sleep” stage. This is where people tend to realize, once woken up, that they actually were sleeping. For anyone taking a “power nap,” this is as deep as you want to go, or else you’re going to wake up groggy.

Stage 3 is deep and regenerative. Also known as “slow wave” sleep, this is where the body starts repairing and rejuvenating the immune system, muscles tissue, energy stores, and sparks growth and development.

Stage 4 is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is where the brain starts to kick in and consolidates information and memories from the day before. It’s also the stage where we do most of our dreaming.