Baby's Sleep

A quick guide on TOG for you to find out how to dress our baby properly for sleeping. We've put together a TOG rating guide that displays the different TOG levels with the different sleep sack types from the sleeping bag to sleep sacks with legs for big kids and kids on the run!

Transitioning from a crib to a bed is an exciting milestone in a child's life, but it can also be a stressful and overwhelming experience for both the child and the parents. It is important to make this transition at the right time to ensure that the child is ready and comfortable with the change. In this blog article, we will discuss how and when a child should transition from a crib to a bed. When to transition? There is no set age for when a child should transition from a crib to a bed. Every child is different, and the decision to make the transition should be based on the child's readiness and developmental stage rather than their age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents transition their child from a crib to a bed between the ages of 2 and 3 years.   Signs that your child may be ready to transition include: Climbing out of the crib: If your child has started climbing out of the crib, it's time to transition to a bed. This is a safety concern as they could fall and get injured. Crib too small: If your child has outgrown the crib, it's time to move to a bed. It's important for them to have enough space to move around and sleep comfortably. Potty training: If your child is potty training, they may need to have access to a toilet during the night, which can be difficult if they are still in a crib. Interest in a big kid bed: If your child is showing an interest in a big kid bed, it may be time to make the transition. This can be a positive sign that they are ready for the change. Ultimately, parents should consider their child's physical and emotional readiness for the change, as well as safety concerns when deciding when to make the transition from crib to bed. It is important to note that some children may be ready earlier or later than others, so it is essential to pay attention to your child's individual needs and readiness. Separation anxiety: Moving to a new bed can be a big change for a child, and they may experience separation anxiety when they are no longer in the familiar environment of their crib. Sleep disturbances: It is common for children to experience sleep disturbances during the transition, such as waking up more frequently or having trouble falling asleep in their new bed. Safety concerns: When children move from a crib to a bed, they have more freedom to move around, which can lead to safety concerns. Parents may worry about their child falling out of bed or wandering around the house during the night. Regression: Some children may experience regression during the transition. They may start having accidents after being potty trained or develop other behaviors that they had previously grown out of. Resistance to change: Some children may resist the change and refuse to sleep in their new bed. This can make the transition even more challenging for parents. Choosing the right time: It can be difficult to know when the right time is to make the transition. If it is done too early, the child may not be ready and have trouble adjusting. If it is done too late, the child may become too attached to their crib and have a harder time letting go. How to transition? Involve your child: Talk to your child about the transition and involve them in the process. Let them choose their new bedding or even take them shopping for a new bed. This can help them feel excited and in control of the change. Gradual transition: To make the transition less overwhelming, you can start by having your child nap in their new bed before moving them there for nighttime sleep. This will help them get used to the new bed gradually. Keep bedtime routine: Keep your child's bedtime routine the same as much as possible. This will help them feel comfortable and familiar with the new sleeping arrangement. Safety first: Make sure your child's new bed is safe and secure. Use guardrails to prevent falls and ensure that the bed is placed in a safe location in the room. Remove curtains, cords or cables nearby.  Be patient: Remember that it may take some time for your child to adjust to the new bed. Be patient and give them time to get used to the change. Types of Beds When transitioning a child from a crib to a bed, parents have several options to choose from, depending on the child's age, size, and personal preferences. Here are some of the most common types of beds that parents choose for their children: Toddler Bed: Toddler beds are designed for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old. They are smaller than twin beds and have safety rails to prevent the child from falling out. Toddler beds often have fun and colorful designs, making the transition more exciting for the child. Twin Bed:  Twin beds are a popular choice for older children who have outgrown their toddler bed. They provide more space for the child to move around and offer plenty of options for bedding and decor. Full Bed:  Full beds are larger than twin beds and provide more space for the child to grow into. They are a good option for children who are getting too big for a twin bed or who need more space to spread out. Bunk Bed:  Bunk beds are a fun and practical option for siblings who share a room. They save space and can be designed with built-in storage and desks. Trundle Bed:  Trundle beds are a great option for sleepovers or for siblings who share a room but have different sleep schedules. They have a pull-out bed underneath the main bed that can be used when needed. In conclusion, the decision to transition from a crib to a bed is a personal one, and there are no hard and fast rules. By considering the signs of readiness and following some basic tips for making the transition, parents can help their children navigate this important milestone with ease. Remember to be patient and supportive, and your child will soon be sleeping soundly in their new big kid bed.

Guest contribution written by: Rosalee Lahaie Hera founder of Baby Sleep Love If you’ve got a baby or toddler waking up too early in the morning, it can make for an exhausting day for everyone. You may wonder if they’ll ever learn to sleep later in the morning. Rest assured: they can! When should my little one wake up for the day? Let’s review developmentally normal morning wake-up times. Just as later bedtimes are natural for newborn babies, so too are later morning wake-up times.     As a baby becomes older and begins to sleep more regularly, a natural morning wake-up time settles between 6:30-7:30 a.m. If they’re getting an adequate amount of good quality nighttime sleep, waking up in the 6 o’clock hour is fair game for children.     So, when we’re referring to early morning wakings, we are usually referring to when a baby wakes up at 5 a.m. or earlier.     I recommend an ideal morning wake-up time of no earlier than 6:30 a.m. Before then, we try to avoid food (if age appropriate), light, and conversation, which signal that it’s time to get up. After, we say a cheerful “good morning!”, turn on the lights and get on with our day. This helps to set your little one’s internal clock to regularly wake up at this time.   Tip #1: Tune up your sleep environment A pitch-black room is key to improving early morning wakings. Humans sleep best in “cave like conditions”. If you’ve got even the slightest beams of natural light coming into your child’s room in the morning, the melatonin (sleep hormone) in their system can plummet, causing them to rise for the day. Invest in blackout blinds and curtains and use blackout tape or Bristol board to block out the perimeter of light that may leak through regardless.  If your little one has expressed fear of the dark, you can add a red nightlight. Red is a color on the spectrum that doesn’t disrupt the production of melatonin to the same extent that blue light does. If you use a toddler clock, ensure that it doesn’t force a blue nightlight on. You also want the room to be cool enough in the early morning (no warmer than 68-70F/20-21C). Try to cool the room without opening the windows, avoiding the noisy sounds of bird calls in the 5 o’clock hour. Using continuous pink noise (like the sound of rain) can also be helpful. It encourages the connection of sleep-wake cycles during the very light periods of sleep that can occur in the early morning.   If there is traffic outside your little one’s room in the early morning (e.g., someone getting ready for work), consider using carpeting inside and/or outside of the room to absorb noise. Tip #2: Ensure an age-appropriate sleep schedule If your baby wakes up too early in the morning, it’s likely that their sleep schedule needs some work. First, you want to ensure they aren’t going to bed overtired. An overtired child will find it difficult to sustain sleep throughout the entire night until morning. You will also want to avoid naps that are starting too early, lasting too long, or ending too late in the day. All these situations can decrease the homeostatic sleep pressure or drive to sleep at the end of the day, which makes it unlikely they’ll sleep until a reasonable time in the morning.    As an example, on a 1-nap schedule, your toddler’s nap should begin no earlier than 12:30 p.m. At first, they may be able to nap for 2+ hours and continue to sleep well at night. As they get older, you may need to decrease their nap and/or end it by no later than 2:30-3 p.m. to maintain a reasonable morning wake-up time. Tip #3: Avoid reinforcing the wake-up If your little one is unable to settle themselves to sleep at bedtime, when the homeostatic sleep pressure is relatively high, it may be difficult for them to stay asleep during the light periods of sleep that occur in the early morning. So, if your little one cannot yet fall asleep independently and you’re committed to improving their early wakings, then encouraging them to do so can greatly help. We also want to avoid irresistible rewards for waking up too early. For example, allowing your little one to watch movies with you in bed or heading to the playground right away. This sends a message that it’s perfectly okay to keep waking up at 5 a.m., setting their internal clock to keep waking at that time. Instead, you want melatonin to keep running high until at least 6:30 a.m. If you’re already on the path toward independent sleep and using a specific sleep coaching method at bedtime, then treat the early waking as any other overnight waking and apply the same method. If you’re not yet on the path toward independent sleep (totally okay!), then you may want to simply stay with or cuddle your little one in their own dark, cool space until it’s time to get up. Eventually, their internal clock will reset to a later time. For a toddler clock to work effectively, you want to set it at your toddler’s current morning wake-up time at first (yes, even if that’s 5:30 a.m.). You want to give them some time to feel the success of waiting for the sun to come up. Then, you can move it later in 5-minute increments every couple of days until you reach your desired morning wake-up time.    Applying these concepts consistently and simultaneously can really help you make headway with your baby or toddler waking up too early. All of this also assumes that your little one is receiving adequate nutrition and isn’t fighting off a viral infection that is making them feel uncomfortable or in pain. Both issues need addressing before applying these tips to your sleep circumstances.   There is no reason to rush your child if they are not ready to give up their sleep sacks, as they serve as a great sleep aid, as they often help our little ones settle quickly for sleep when used consistently. I often recommend dropping the sleep sack when you make the transition to a toddler bed, which I recommend doing as close to 3 years old as possible.  Rosalee Lahaie Hera is a Certified Pediatric & Newborn Sleep Consultant, a Certified Potty Training Consultant, the founder of Baby Sleep Love, the founder of Sleep Coach School, and the co-founder of The Parent Playbook. She’s also a Mom to two beautiful little humans. Rosalee is a researcher at heart with a background in healthcare management and a passion for sleep science. She takes a highly analytical approach and uses proven, gentle methods to help families (like yours!) get the sleep they need. Rosalee is a big fan of fancy coffee and great food (both cooking and eating it!).

Guest contribution written by: Kelley Thompson founder of Serenity Sleepers Your little one has worn a sleep sack since the day they transitioned out of the swaddle. They love it,  recognizing it as a positive sleep cue, but you’re stuck wondering: “When do babies stop wearing sleep sacks?” The simple answer: When it’s no longer working for your child. My professional opinion, as a certified sleep consultant: when they transition to the toddler bed around 3+ years old!  We’ve heard it more times than we can count: 12 months of age is when you should transition your little one out of a sleep sack to sleeping with a blanket; however, there is no set age that you have to stop using a sleep sack and the benefits of continuing to use a sleep sack are numerous! Can my toddler sleep with a blanket after their first birthday? Babies and toddlers are active sleepers, meaning they move around a lot in their sleep. Blankets often get kicked off or lost in the corner when given to toddlers. Sleep sacks are wearable blankets that help keep your child's temperature regulated while they sleep. A key factor in helping your toddler sleep well, is making sure they are dressed appropriately for sleep times. Ideal temperature is 68-72 degrees 𝗕𝗨𝗧 you need to also factor in where you live and the normal for your household. A good rule of thumb is to go by your own internal temperature. What are you comfortable wearing in your home? Do you tend to get hot or cold easily? For example, as the weather is warming up now, I often sleep in a t-shirt + shorts under sheets + mid-weight comforter. I dress my youngest similarly in that he wears a onsie and a 0.8 tog sleep sack. Many parents overdress their little ones out of fear of them being cold but often overdressing can cause more sleep issues, as babies become fussy, unsettled, and hot. Check your baby's chest or neck to feel how comfortable they feel: ✅ if they are warm (sweaty), remove a layer ✅ if they are cool, add a layer (be it a onsie, a thicker sleep sack, etc.) My baby is walking. Should I transition from the sleep sack to a blanket? The acquisition of new motor skills bring about a new realm of new challenges, often including the worry about your little one climbing out the crib. Our goal is to keep our little ones in the crib until as close as 3 years old as possible so they fully understand the concept "stay in the bed".  Sleep sacks prevent our littles from becoming escape artist by making it difficult to swing their legs over the top of the crib railing.  Sleep sacks play an important role in keeping our toddlers safe. If you’re looking for a sleep sack that your little one can walk around in, we absolutely love the Dreamsuit, which is a sleep bag with legs!   

Guest contribution written by: Bonnie Dimmick founder of Sleep Love and Happiness You hear a lot about sleep sacks for young babies, but a question that comes up frequently is ‘when should my baby or toddler stop wearing a sleep sack?’ The answer may surprise you.  Keeping babies in their sleep sacks into toddlerhood can actually help improve sleep! Before we get into the why’s of this, let’s start with the basics.  What is a sleep sack? A sleep sack is basically a blanket that kids can wear. It is a comfortable outer layer that can go on over pajamas or a onesie. It serves as a blanket for babies and young toddlers for whom it is either not safe to have a blanket in the crib or they cannot keep or don’t want a blanket on.  You may be questioning how this could possibly help a toddler actually sleep better so let’s get to it. Here are 4 reasons a sleep sack can help your baby and toddler sleep better: 1. A sleep sack can be a sleep cue Putting on a sleep sack can serve as a sleep cue for toddlers. A sleep cue is when their brains and bodies learn that certain actions, sensations or sounds mean that the transition to sleep is coming. Then it allows them to fall asleep more easily.  You want to put your toddler’s sleep sack on at the same part of their bedtime routine every night. Then they get warm and cozy at the same part of the routine so those sensations coupled with the rest of the routine trigger in their brain that sleep is coming.  Consistency in the bedtime routine is key to establish these sleep cues.  2. Sleep sacks keep toddlers warm Sleep sacks also help keep babies and toddlers warm. Being cold is a common reason for early morning wake ups because our body temperatures are at the lowest point in the 4:00-5:00 AM range. Having the extra layer of the sleep sack helps kids feel warm while they sleep. And since 5:00 AM is not morning in my book, ensuring that being too chilly is not a reason for my toddler to start the day at that time is a must.  Make sure to check the TOG rating of the sleep sack you purchase and adjust accordingly based on the ambient room temperature and what your child wears to bed. Overheating can be dangerous, so you want to help your child stay warm but not too warm. 3.  A sleep sack doesn’t fall off Toddlers often aren’t great at getting their blankets on and many parents report that toddlers are waking up at night wanting their blankets put back on. Wearing a sleep sack can help eliminate toddler night wake ups from being cold or just uncomfortable and upset that their blankets have fallen off or gotten twisted. Sleep sacks are also a safe extra layer for babies under 12 months when having a blanket in the crib is unsafe per the American Academy of Pediatric Safe Sleep Guidelines. After 12 months it is up to the parent's discretion as to whether to let their child have a small, light blanket. This small light blanket is not likely to keep kids very warm on a cool night, even if they can keep it on. Think of a sleep sack as a helpful and safe toddler blanket. Continuing to have your young toddler in a sleep sack often eliminates some worries parents have about safety. Sleep sacks, especially those with feet for walkers, are safe to use instead of a blanket.  4. Sleep sacks help toddlers feel cozy and safe Don’t you just love cuddling up under your favorite blanket? Sleep sacks can be that for your toddler, especially when they have been wearing one for their whole lives. It is something they associate with comfort and feeling cozy for sleep. Being comfortable both in the physical as well as emotional sense, is incredibly important for sleep because sleep is inherently a vulnerable process, where children are not only separating from their parents but also separating from consciousness. Present their sleep sack as a positive object designed to help them feel good. Getting a buttery soft sleep sack with a cute design or color can help excite toddlers about it, get them used to wearing it and allow it to help them feel cozy and safe for sleep.  A note about crib climbing Sleep sacks for toddlers can also potentially deter crib climbing. This is especially true for sleep sacks without the legs because it makes it much harder to get a leg over the crib rail to attempt to climb out. However, it is not a certain thing. Many crafty toddlers can still climb out with a sleep sack, so it is not a fool proof way to keep kids in the crib. Setting boundaries, making the crib their safe place and using visual cues (such as an ok-to-wake light, my favorite is the Hatch) to show them when they should be in bed and when parents will come get them are a must for helping avoid crib climbers. Other tips for toddler sleep Unfortunately, wearing a sleep sack is not going to solve all your toddler sleep challenges such as night wake ups and struggles getting down for bed. It can help when other important aspects of toddler sleep are in place, including: An appropriate toddler sleep schedule Toddlers between 12-18 months toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period with 2-3 hours of nap sleep split into 1 or 2 naps and bedtime between 6:30-7:30PM. Toddlers between 18 months and 3 years old need 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period as well. That is 1-2.5 hours of nap sleep consolidated into one nap (keep in mind that nap sleep decreases as toddlers get older)  and a bedtime for kids this age between 7:00-8:00 PM. Independent sleep skills If your toddler needs a lot of help getting to sleep such as being fed, rocked, back rubbed to sleep, they will likely need that help during the night too when they wake between sleep cycles. (We all wake up like this, but often don’t remember these wake ups because we know how to get ourselves back to sleep.)  These wake ups can be frustrating and exhausting for everyone. There are many different methods out there for helping babies and toddlers learn to fall asleep independently. Pick one that feels right for your family and that you can be consistent with so your toddler can best learn what to expect. Consistency is key!  Once they are able to get themselves to sleep, they will be able to get themselves back to sleep when they wake up at night. Helping toddlers learn how to fall asleep independently is a skill and gift you are giving them! Blog Contributor, Bonnie Dimmick and Founder of Sleep Love and Happiness Bonnie Dimmick is a Sleep Consultant who teaches parents gentle sleep strategies to help babies, toddlers and young children learn to sleep independently, take good naps, fall asleep easily and sleep through the night. She takes a holistic approach that weaves positive and respectful parenting strategies and tools into each of her sleep plans, creating sustainable independent sleep habits so the whole family can get more sleep. Bonnie currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two young daughters and dog.

 Guest contribution written by: Leann Latus founder of Tender Transitions Toddlers need bedtime routines too The toddler years are exhausting, but also the amazing time that you get to see your child’s personality grow. They’re more interactive, they say the funniest things, and steal your heart. However, often just as they’re coming into their uniqueness and developing a sense of autonomy, they’re resistance to sleep and bedtime increases. Hi, I am Leann Latus, Sleep Coach and Owner of Tender Transitions Sleep Coaching. My team of sleep coaches help parents teach their children independent sleep skills so that they can sleep through the night.  You may notice that I wrote children, not babies. There is a misconception that sleep training is only for infants or babies, not toddlers. But, that isn’t true. We also work with families with toddlers and help families understand how sleep training toddlers works. Why do toddlers struggle with sleep? Maybe you didn’t have sleep struggles when your child was younger, but now that they hit the “terrible 2’s”, it’s all changed. Or maybe you thought that once you have kids, sleep is thrown out the window. I am sure you heard that “advice” at your baby shower.  I have hinted at one big reason that toddler’s struggle with sleep – they’re growing personalities and testing the boundaries of independence. Or how I prefer to call it, “I Do It” phase.  Their stronger opinions often result in an avoidance of sleep. You’ll start noticing an increase in stall tactics at the same time. The “one more story”, or “one more glass of water” request. Or my favorite – the “streak down the hall after a bath” tactic. Being afraid of the dark and getting comfortable Another toddler sleep struggle is the fear of the dark. Their imaginations are growing as well as their bodies. And with imagination comes scary monsters in the closet or the boogie man under the bed. As adults, we’re experienced enough to recognize that the dark isn’t inherently dangerous, (although a piece of Lego on the stairs can tell you another story). But for a toddler, there’s no history to draw on to assure them that they’re safe and secure after the lights go out. And finally, the other huge sleep struggle that toddlers experience is the move from the familiar comfort of their crib to a big kid bed. Now, they have the freedom to just roll out of bed, slowly open the door, and check out what show mom is watching downstairs.   What next? How can you help your toddlers through these sleep hurdles? It sounds like it comes as a natural developmental stage, but there are several things you can do to help bedtime run more smoothly. Tip 1 – Establish a Solid Bedtime Routine This is tip number one for a reason! This is the fundamental step that will help with each of your toddler’s bedtime battles.  Despite their need to test boundaries, your toddlers crave the security of routine and consistency. They like to know what’s happening next. It gives them a sense of control. Your child is still trying to understand how things work in the world and if each night has different expectations, it can be really confusing for them.  Of course, we all know as parents, that things come up and sometimes your routine might have to shift a bit. But if you’re consistent much of the time, you’ll start noticing a steep decline in the bedtime protests. Tip 2 – Avoid Natural Sleep Aids Such As Melatonin I’m asked this question a lot, “Can I give my child melatonin to help him sleep better?”. Melatonin is the natural hormone that you and your child release when your body is ready to wind down. It doesn’t make you fall asleep. It is just the signal to tell your body that it is time to sleep. In short, melatonin will not help your toddler sleep through the night.  It might help them get to sleep. But, it becomes a crutch to use. It doesn’t help your toddler learn and develop beneficial sleep skills that will help them fall asleep and stay asleep all night long. Tip 3 – Don’t Minimize the Fear of the Dark As toddlers mature, they develop a long memory and they have more life experiences. They’ve almost certainly fallen down at the playground or had a child tell them about monsters. These incidents make your toddler aware that there are things out there that can hurt them. Don’t minimize this fear but acknowledge their emotions. Dismissing your toddler’s fears as irrational or unfounded isn’t helpful, so try to understand where their fear is coming from. Ask some questions during this fearful time to seek the source of the fear. Then you can address some of the misconceptions.  Plus, you can then start creating some positive associations with the dark. The dark is often the only time that they spend alone, so of course their imagination is peaked. Spend some time in the dark with them, create a fort, use flashlights for shadow puppets, or play flashlight hide and seek. Tip 4 – Don’t Rush The Big Kid Bed The transition to the big kid bed is a big one, not only for the toddler, but also for the parents. There is no longer anything keeping your toddler in their bed. My first piece of advice is don’t rush it. Let your child stay in the familiar comforts of their crib as long as you can. The older the child is during the time of transitioning to a bed doesn’t correlate with it being tougher. Their age can help them understand and own the process more. When it is time to make the transition, keep tip 1 in mind. Keep the rest of the bedtime routine consistent. There is no need to revamp your whole routine just because they have now transitioned to a toddler bed. Tip 5 – Implement a Bedtime Routine Chart You can start this tip right now! Make a fun chart for your child and hang it in a place where they can add stickers or checkmarks as they go through the bedtime routine. This will help them stay on track and have a little fun along the way. Sleep is important for your toddler’s growth and development and their body is designed to ensure that they get this sleep. Sometimes they just need a little guidance and support to develop healthy sleeping skills. So, before running out to get the latest product or toddler sleep aid, consider reaching out to a sleep coach that will help identify a bedtime strategy that will create life-long sleepers. Leann and her experienced team have been sleep coaching for nearly ten years and helped thousands of children sleep better. You can find them, and download your free sleep guide, at www.tendertransitionsmn.com.

By: Elizabeth King, founder of Sleep Baby Consulting These 4 tips will help bedtime go smoothly with two babies under two!  A mom story from a “two under two” survivor Just typing out the words “Two Under Two” makes me feel tired and, if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you might be feeling pretty tired too. But, as a Two Under Two survivor and a Professional Sleep Consultant, I am here to tell you that this phase of parenthood might be exhausting but doesn’t have to come with sleepless nights!  Good sleep with twins or two babies under two years old is possible (and easier than you might think) with just a few tools.  I’m going to be sharing my baby sleep consulting secrets so that your whole family can get the rest they need! You still might not match your toddler’s energy level, but at least you won’t be falling asleep on the floor while they tear the house down. Tip 1: Craft a Consistent Schedule and Routine I’m not sure this can be overstated. Plan for what your days will look like and stick to it. Children and babies thrive with consistency.  Start each day at the same time and start your bedtime routine at the same time each night. Even when you know the day might get off, having a home base to come back to makes all the difference. Another secret to consistency? Keep your bedtime early. At the end of the day, you are exhausted and your kids are too. When we push our toddlers or babies to stay up longer their bodies go into overdrive and, instead of being extra tired, they get overtired which makes it difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can also lead to early morning wakeups which no one wants!  Nothing like starting your day early with two little ones who need you. Overtiredness can also be caused by too much time awake before bed, even if they had an amazing day of naps! For twins, consistency is even more important. As a parent of twins, you need as many tools as possible to make your life easier. Keeping each day looking the same helps you and your babies know what to expect and how to adjust if the schedule doesn’t go according to plan. Tip 2: Keep a Synchronized Schedule Just the word schedule can be a turn off to a lot of parents but I want you to see it as a tool that is going to save your sanity.  When you have two little ones, having a roadmap for your day is important and it’s the best way to make sure you get them napping and eating at the same time. Plan out your schedule in writing so you can maximize that overlap. For parents with a toddler and an infant both under 2 there is nothing like a synchronized afternoon nap! Getting a good break for a few hours is important! I recommend focusing on building great, independent sleep habits so that your children can also become strong nappers. Sleep training can feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be!  Having support from a sleep expert can help make the process go smoothly and make sure you have a plan that is a good fit for your family. If your toddler is no longer napping, we recommend having an afternoon quiet time instead. If your children share a room, this can be done in a playroom or another safe space. They can learn to play independently while your baby naps so you can still have a break to reset and come back as a stronger parent. Tip 3: Make consistent boundaries and expectations around sleep Even for our littlest babies, you want to have consistency in the way you expect them to sleep. Babies should be in their own safe sleeping space like a crib or bassinet. Toddlers may be in a toddler or twin bed or they may still be in a crib.  Twins should each be in their own crib or bassinet for safety as well. Twins sleeping together is very sweet but is not the safest! Twins co-sleeping or toddlers co-sleeping is also not a safe option for sleep. Plus, everyone sleeps more soundly in their own space! A toddler bedtime routine should be short. That’s right, no more than 15 -20 minutes – and include activities that help them wind down for the day. Once you’ve finished their routine, tuck them into bed and let them put themselves to sleep for the night or a nap.  Babies over 12 weeks can also learn these independent, self soothing skills! When you’re trying to get two under two sleeping, you want to make things as easy as possible for everyone and self soothing is a big key to that.  Being able to put your little ones in their bed and walk out of the room gives you much needed mental and physical space in the evening or at naptime which is vital for your own health and well-being. Tip 4: Don’t protect the Sleeper Finally, keep this simple rule in mind – don’t protect the sleeper.  Even with two babies or twins sharing a room, you don’t want to rush in there when one starts making some noise. This teaches the loud baby to expect an immediate response to their sounds rather than giving them the space to learn independence.  It also creates a very light sleeper for your other child! Instead, let them learn to sleep through each other’s sounds, whether that is in the same room or just nearby. Everyone will be grateful for it and sleep better!  This doesn’t mean to completely ignore cries or sounds your baby is making – just make sure your response isn’t an attempt to protect the other child. Having two babies under two is exhausting and it may feel like it will never get easier but, it does!  Being rested while you are parenting two babies at once helps make every bit easier and even the hard days more tolerable. You can do it! Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support when you need it, having someone in your corner cheering you on can make all the difference. Elizabeth King is the founder and CEO of Sleep Baby Consulting, a baby and toddler sleep consulting firm based in Charlotte, NC. With a team of consultants across the US, Sleep Baby provides encouragement and sleep help to parents around the world. We love helping parents teach their babies to sleep all night! Follow us on Instagram for free sleep tips, giveaways, and more!

Contributed by: Lola Sanchez Liste, founder of Rockin’ Blinks Tips on how to keep your baby from climbing out of the crib Your baby has been sleeping like a champ and suddenly he starts climbing out of the crib by himself. You find yourself struggling to keep him in the crib. Your perfect bedtime routine has now transformed into an endless battle until your child finally falls asleep. Is this you? Don’t panic! This is just a small sleep regression. Here are some tips to help your baby stay in the crib during rest time: At what age toddlers might start climbing out of the crib? The age when kids might show interest in climbing out of the crib varies. For some children, this happens very early, before the first year of life, but most frequently toddlers will start experimenting with climbing (anything!) after 2 years old. Many other toddlers show no interest in leaving the crib until mom or dad comes to take them out (lucky parents!). So even if you got a little escapist, don’t stress about this, it’s actually a good thing! Your child is growing and mastering motor development! But just because your child can climb out of the crib does not mean they should start sleeping in a bed. This is actually a great time for you to start setting the boundaries and expectations about what happens at night. Setting clear boundaries Setting clear boundaries during rest time is always part of establishing healthy sleep habits. While it might be exciting for your child to see he can be in control of when and how to get out of the crib, it’s important to help him understand what happens during rest time. “Our bodies need to rest now. We need to stay in bed to let the body sleep”. Ideally, every time your child climbs out, you will put him back in the crib. Do this very calmly, and very patiently. The message behind this action is “I see you are climbing, but it is time for sleep now.” When it is time for sleep, it’s important to show what our body needs to relax and fall asleep. If you are clear and consistent and don’t make a big deal about it, the novelty will pass quickly. Ideally, you will do this all through the night, even when your child decides to pay you a visit in your room at 3 am. “It’s not time to wake up yet. Let’s get you back in your crib”. Welcome the emotions When you set this new boundary, your child might not like it at first. You might see him start crying when you put him in the crib again, getting mad and frustrated. While you might naturally want to calm these feelings, it’s important that your child has the space to express them. It’s not your job to stop these feelings but to offer a safe space to let them out. Your job is to make sure he is safe and can rest well during the night (or a nap). Acknowledge these feelings and accept them. “I see you are mad. You want to keep climbing out of the crib. It’s fun, right? I hear you. It’s time to rest now. You can keep playing when you wake up.” Stay consistent and calm and let your child know that it’s ok to get mad, but when it’s time to sleep, he will need to stay in the crib. “I am afraid my child will get hurt when climbing out of the crib” Some toddlers master getting out of the crib (or climbing three security gates! Have you seen this on Facebook?) with an amazing ability without getting hurt. Other children might just go for a wild jump and hit the floor hard. Like any new ability, it will take some time for your child to get better at it, and it’s normal that at the beginning he tends to fall harder. You can always consider putting some pillows on the floor or even a mattress to make a softer landing. However, if you are truly worried about this or see that your child does not seem to be able to get out of the crib without major bumps, you might have to do an early transition to a bed. Is it time to transition to a bed? Typically, it is suggested to wait until your child is 3 years old to make the transition from sleeping in a crib to sleeping on a bed. It is an age when they can better understand the routines and have more control over their impulses of getting out of bed when they are awake. But at the same time, it’s totally possible to make an earlier transition if necessary. It will require the same consistency of taking your child back to the bed every time. Including a security gate at your child’s door is always a good idea and it will transform his room into a big crib. Tricks you might hear Some sleep experts will suggest offering your child a sleep sack and putting it backward for sleep or changing the side of the crib (setting the lower side against the wall), to make it more difficult for your child to get out of the crib. While these tricks might work for some, know that even without those strategies, your child is totally capable of understanding he needs to stay in the crib if you are clear and consistent during his sleep routine. Having him in sleep sacks with legs, like the ones from TealBee below might be a lot more appropriate for this age and will allow your child more freedom when he moves. Lots of practice during the day Discovering this new ability to climb everything, is like a new toy for your toddler. Try to give him a lot of freedom, space, and opportunities to climb while he is awake, so he is less interested in practicing during the night. New movements can always create some rocky nights. Anything from rolling, crawling, standing or walking might make your child want to experiment during the night and show less interest in sleep. But rest assured that if you stay consistent with his routine, acknowledge the excitement of the new ability and set clear boundaries around sleep, it'll only take a couple of nights before your child is back sleeping through the night. Make your child’s sleep environment safe Now that your child is more independent, it’s important that his room is safe for him to be around if he gets out of the crib while you are sleeping. Make sure all furniture is attached to the wall. Cover all electrical outlets. Ideally, put away toys he should not use without supervision. Shades cords can also be a safety hazard. Make sure your child can not reach them or get stuck with them if he starts playing with the shades. Having a security gate in all the rooms that might be dangerous, like the kitchen it’s a good idea. You can also consider installing a security gate (like the ones you would use for the stairs) at your child’s bedroom door. Keep a healthy age-appropriate schedule. Always remember that when it comes to healthy sleep, it’s not only about where, and how your child sleeps but most importantly when he sleeps. Respect your child's natural need for sleep and follow an age-appropriate schedule. Toddlers need between 11 to 14hs of sleep between nighttime sleep and naps, and most toddlers have transitioned to one nap by the age of 18 months old. After nap ends, toddlers can tolerate between 4 to 5hs awake before bedtime. Recommended for the National Sleep Foundation. Blog Contributor: Lola Sanchez Liste, Founder of Rockin’ Blinks Today, the world of sleep education is growing. There are more resources for parents and more experts acknowledging the importance of healthy sleep habits. But there’s still a long way to go. My own sleep journey was the inspiration for Rockin’Blinks. I want to help families “rethink sleep” and push back against the many myths around sleep for babies and young children. And I want to give new parents easy access to basic sleep information for newborns, toddlers, big kids and beyond. Because sleep should not be a luxury; it is a basic human need. Here at Rockin’Blinks, we support good sleep as the foundation of health and a happy life. Parents don’t need to “suffer” to be good parents. Being sleep-deprived for years is not okay. Working (or parenting) full time after endless nights of broken sleep is not sustainable. Sleep deficits in early childhood is a thing in this generation, and we need to start talking about it.  

4 Baby Sleep Mistakes Parents Make That Hinder Sleep BY: Ashley Bell, Pediatric Sleep Consultant Parenting takes a lot of decision-making, especially with little ones who can’t make their own decisions yet. Every day, parents make decisions about how to dress, feed, entertain, and generally take care of their children. They also make many decisions about their sleep. Does he need an extra nap today? What time should I put him to bed? What should he wear to sleep? White noise? Darkness? Sleep sacks? Pacifiers? Loveys? … and the list goes on. There are a few decisions that parents commonly make about their child’s sleep in efforts to help, but that actually make things worse. Here are 4 common baby sleep mistakes that parents make that hinder their baby’s sleep: 1.   Using screens to help their child “wind down” at the end of the day. I’ve had many clients tell me that their child watches a TV show or uses some type of story app to help him wind down before bed. Sure, the child may be really chill while watching it simply because he’s captivated by it. Parents mistake this quiet captivation for calmness. However, what usually happens after is a bedtime fight. Stalling, fussing, pleading, and not being tired enough to go to sleep. So, what happened? While screens may appear to help a child settle down, they actually do the opposite. The brain is responsible for the production of melatonin, the natural hormone that aids sleep. You want your child’s body to produce this to help him sleep when bedtime comes around. Darkness is one factor that tells the brain it’s time for sleep. When it is dark, the brain will signal the production of melatonin. On the contrary, when there is a lot of light, it will tell the brain to stay awake. Screens emit blue light, which is the color that hinders the production of melatonin the most. When the brain gets the signal that it’s time to be awake, it will produce cortisol instead of melatonin. Cortisol is the natural hormone that helps a person wake up. So, to break it down, here’s what happens. When the child views a screen before bedtime, his body thinks it’s time to be awake due to the bright, blue light he’s staring at. Therefore, it tells his body to produce cortisol to help him stay awake. Then, when you go to put him to bed shortly after, his body is now working against him instead of helping him sleep.It will take even longer for him to settle and fall asleep, all because of that tiny little light box of entertainment. For this reason, I always recommend that my clients have a settling down period at least one hour before bedtime, with no screens or other bright lights. Making this small tweak to a child’s evening can really help bedtime go smoother. 2.   Giving the last feeding or snack right before laying baby down for sleep. When a baby wakes multiple times at night, a parent will do anything they can to stretch it out and get a little more sleep. One of the common mistakes parents make here is feeding their baby right before laying him down in the crib, sometimes even feeding him to sleep. For older children, this can look like offering a snack right before going to bed. Parents assume that if the child goes to sleep with a full belly, it will help him sleep longer and/or better. However, laying him down on a full stomach can actually cause more issues, like gas problems, upset tummies, and post-bedtime poops, to name a few. Have you ever tried to lay down and go to sleep when your stomach is really full? It’s not exactly restful. Any last feeding or bedtime snack should be done at the beginning of the bedtime routine. It is a complete myth that a baby will sleep longer or harder if fed right before going to sleep. You actually want your child’s digestion process to begin before laying down to avoid tummy troubles. Also, the sugar content in both milk and the most common kid snack foods will hinder sleep further. A bedtime snack is not necessary, but if you do offer one to an older child, it should be low in sugar and high in protein. A couple of whole-grain crackers with some peanut butter or a piece of cheese makes a good bedtime snack. 3.   Keeping a child up longer in order to help him sleep quicker/longer/deeper. I do understand the thought process here. I thought it myself as a new mom too. You hope that by keeping a child up longer and “wearing him out,” it will mean that he’ll go right to sleep, and sleep longer and deeper because he’s so “good and tired. However, this only results in the child being overtired. Children can only handle so much time awake before they need more sleep. We call this a “wake window” or “wake time” in the sleep world. For example, a 4-month-old can only handle about 2 hours awake before he needs more sleep. A 16-month-old child can handle 5-6 hours awake. When a child does not get sleep at the end of his age-appropriate wake window, he then becomes overtired. Being overtired does the opposite of helping him fall asleep faster and sleep deeply. As I mentioned with the first mistake above, when the body thinks it’s time to stay awake, it will produce cortisol to help him do so. Therefore, keeping him up longer than he can handle will only make it harder for him to fall asleep when you do put him down. Over-tiredness at bedtime can also cause more frequent night wakings and early mornings. Wake windows aren’t meant to be a ball and chain, but they are important guides to help make sure your baby is getting sleep when needed. 4.   Putting a child to bed late in hopes of him sleeping in later. It’s easy to assume that a later bedtime will result in a later morning wake-up. Any waking before 6:00am can be considered an early morning waking. If your baby is consistently waking early in the morning, it can be tempting to put him to bed later to get him to sleep in later. However, it simply doesn’t work like this. Early morning wakings can actually be caused by over-tiredness. In this case, an earlier bedtime is actually the way to go instead of a later one. Similar to wake windows, children also have a certain total hours of sleep they should get in a day, based on their age. For example, a 3-month-old needs an average of 14-17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour day. So that includes naps and nighttime sleep. A 3-year-old only needs about 11-14 hours total.  It is important that your child’s total sleep in a 24-hour day meets the age requirements. If he’s not getting enough, an earlier bedtime may be needed.If he is getting enough, and he is still waking early in the morning, then a napchange may be due. Or, it could be due to environmental factors (light, noise, cold, etc.). In any case, making bedtime later will rarely help children sleep in later. Each mistake above has a flip-side that will help your child sleep.    Avoid screens and bright lights at least 1 hour before bed.   Don’t feed your child too close to bedtime.   Use age-appropriate wake windows to know when your child should sleep.   Don’t push back bedtime to fix an early morning. Try pulling bedtime forward instead and make sure your child is getting enough overall sleep in a day. AUTHOR: Ashley Bell, pediatric sleep consultant Ashley is a certified pediatric sleep consultant and the owner of Little Bell Sleep Solutions. Her passion is helping people understand that sleep is a need for good health. She strives to help families get the healthy rest they all need by offering customized sleep plans and one-on-one coaching. She works specifically with babies through preschoolers.

By: Linda Szmulewitz, founder of Sleep Tight Consultants Don't Fear the Nap Transition! Nap transitions often are known for striking fear in the hearts of parents everywhere and never is this more true when your young toddler is transitioning from 2 naps to 1.  Never fear though, this information will guide you through the different scenarios to watch out for and talk you through how to navigate to your toddler’s new sleep schedule. At what age should you transition? What is often happening for children around a year old is that they are learning to walk.  This is great!  This is an important developmental milestone and your introduction to becoming the parent of a toddler.  There is a lot of brain activity that happens when children are learning and mastering large gross motor milestones such as walking.  This can make napping a struggle.  So if you put your 13 month old down for a morning nap at the normal nap time, but he just plays for the whole time and he is also just on the cusp of walking, this could be a result of the impending milestone and not an indication that he doesn’t need that morning nap anymore. Ensure that your child has plenty of opportunity to practice his new skills during non-sleeping times. It can also be helpful to push naps a little later in order to increase the sleep pressure and ensure that your child, who has a lot running through his brain, is really ready to fall asleep when he goes into the crib. If your toddler (under 15 months) is refusing naps, here is how to handle the situation: Make sure naps are not starting before 9am and 2pm.  If they are happening earlier then this, start by moving them to these target times to see if this encourages napping again.  If you are hitting 9am and 2pm, but your toddler still won’t nap, try to push them even a bit later.  They can even go as late as 10am and 3pm.  You may even find that you have to push the afternoon nap to as late as 3:30pm to ensure that it happens. What if your babe just won't nap? If, with later nap times, your toddler still won’t take both naps (especially if the afternoon nap is becoming very difficult to make happen), look at how long those naps are lasting.  Many toddlers LOVE their morning nap and will sleep for 2 hours in the morning.  At that point, he has had nearly all of the sleep he needs for the day so there is no sleep pressure left for the afternoon nap.  I would start by limiting the morning nap to not longer then 1 hour.  Yes, it is okay to wake a sleeping toddler.  This is one of the instances where this can be very important.  Sometimes this nap might even be as short as 45 minutes or even 15 minutes (more on that super short nap next). If even with the morning nap shortened to 45-60 minutes, the afternoon nap is still a struggle, then I find that a 15 minute morning cat nap can be very helpful.  The afternoon nap is actually the more important of the two naps as this is the one that helps your toddler make it to bedtime without being overtired.  This is why it is essential to make the PM nap happen.  Many children are still tired for a morning nap though so the cat nap that starts no later then 10am can be helpful to “take the edge” off that morning exhaustion and enable your toddler to make it to a long nap starting around 1 or 1:30pm without being overtired.  Be careful not to let this cat nap go beyond 15 minutes as you want to avoid going through sleep cycles at this time. Does your babe take early morning naps? If the above shortening tricks don’t encourage an afternoon nap, then as a last resort, you can start to push the morning nap later and later, knowing that the afternoon nap will not happen.  Often this looks like a nap that happens from 11am to 1pm.  While a 2 hour nap is great, ending at 1pm leaves a very long stretch to bedtime.  You will want to start inching this nap later so that it eventually starts no earlier then noon.  Some things to keep in mind about the 2 naps to 1 transition: Afternoon Nap is a Must! When your toddler moves to 1 nap, it needs to be an afternoon nap.  When only the morning nap happens, it produces a lot of overtiredness which can lead to an early morning wake up the next day.  Ideally, the nap isn’t starting before noon.  As your toddler moves closer to 18 months, that nap often starts around 1pm.  Naps are Naps! Even if they're short naps. When your toddler starts taking 1 nap, it isn’t always going to be a good nap.  It can take some time for your toddler’s brain to consolidate two shorter naps into one longer nap.  The bare minimum for one nap is an hour and a half.  If your toddler is waking after a shorter period of time, it can be worthwhile to give him some time to go back to sleep.  You may be wondering “How long should my toddler nap when down to 1 nap?”  Ideally, this nap is now around 2-2.5 hours.  Some toddlers will even take a 3 hour nap but this isn’t usually the norm. Take it slow, no rush. When you go to 1 nap, there may still be some 2 nap days in between 1 nap days depending on how your toddler seems in the morning.  This is okay, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.   Good luck adjusting to the new normal for your toddler’s sleep!

How to Fix a Sleep Schedule When Baby is Sick By: Holly Bollinger What if Baby Gets Sick? One of the most aggravating situations I see parents running into when they’re sleep training is the sudden onset of a minor illness when they’re finally seeing some progress. After months of sleep issues, they finally decide to take the initiative and get serious about getting their baby onto a sleep schedule. Once the baby starts getting the hang of it, the whole family is starting to see longer periods of consolidated sleep, and everyone’s getting ready to break out the champagne... And then BAM! Baby gets a cold, or an ear infection, starts teething, has diarrhea, a baby cold, or one of the other seven thousand illnesses that babies are prone to, and the whole thing goes off the rails.  And given how often babies get sick, it’s hardly a surprise. I’m always telling my clients to plan on starting  the program when they have a couple of weeks that they can really devote to the sleep training, but you can’t  create a sleep schedule around an illness. So, when it happens, it can really take the wind out of everyone’s sails. What you shouldn’t do when a sick baby won’t sleep With that, I have a few suggestions for you in case this happens. Hopefully these tips during your baby’s sick sleep can help you push through this trying situation and get you motivated to get back on track to that sleep routine.  Be Prepared For Baby Not Sleeping First off, be prepared if your baby won’t sleep and if your little one wakes frequently while he or she is ill. All babies wake during the night. With good independent sleep skills, they typically make an adjustment to get comfortable, grab their lovie and fall back to sleep. However, if the baby is sick, they’re likely uncomfortable and will need some attention upon waking.   Resist The Temptation To Bring Baby Into Your Bed My biggest suggestion to parents is to resist the temptation to bring baby into your bed. If you’re really concerned and want to be in the same room as them through the night, I suggest you bring an inflatable mattress or a camping pad into their room and sleep on the floor. Keeping them in their own room with familiar sleeping conditions will be much less disruptive than moving them into your room, and you don’t run the risk of them getting used to sleeping in your bed.  Do Not Give In To Offering Sleep Props Second, do NOT give in to the temptation to start offering any sleep props or baby sleep aids that you might have recently  taken away. A sleep prop is anything a baby uses to help him or her drift off to sleep- for example, the bottle, a pacifier, a mountain of toys, etc. I know it’s tough, because obviously you want to offer them any kind of comfort you can while they’re feeling miserable, but you really don’t want to reintroduce those things they were dependent on prior to starting sleep training. It can be really confusing and is often even more difficult to break the association the second time around.  How to Soothe Your Sick Baby Offer As Much Comfort As Needed Now, let me just point out that I’m not saying that you can’t offer more night time comfort to your baby  while they’re sick. On the contrary, I completely recommend it. You should absolutely feel free to go in and  check on them more often, take care of any needs they might have, and even give them a little cuddle or a  rocking session in order to comfort them.  Just be vigilant and be sure to put them back into bed before they fall back to sleep. Otherwise, you run the risk of them developing those associations where falling asleep requires a rocking session or a cuddle, and then you’re back to square one.  You may notice a slight sleep regression when the illness has passed, but not to worry. Your baby has learned some great sleep skills at this point and will probably only need a slight reminder of how things go before they’ll be back into their routine and sleeping soundly through the night again. Just get back to the program, reintroduce the old bedtime routine, and you’ll be seeing those same wonderful results in no time. Blog Contributor: Holly Bollinger and Founder of Bollinger Sleep Consulting Holly spent more than five years in the classroom helping children and their families. Then her son was born and he did not sleep! Sure, there were books about sleep on the market but they didn’t connect to her life, with her son. Then, she found the Sleep Sense program. Not only did she have a book for personal reference, she had access to a consultant to help her walk through her family’s sleep journey. Soon enough, her babe was sleeping through the night. She was a healthier, happier mom and he was a healthier, happier baby. Her life and outlook on parenting changed forever. Being a Certified Pediatric Sleep Sense Consultant is something she is honored and proud to do. Being a Parent is the hardest, best experience of her life. Being an educator gives her purpose and confidence. Sleep Sense is both. Have the confidence to help your family sleep!

By: Denise Gassner, from There's a Monster in My Closet, Inc. Toddler bedtime tantrums got you down? These six toddler sleep training tips can help make bedtime a breeze.   Toddlers are some of my favourite humans. Waddling around, discovering how their limbs move, how to express themselves, creating imaginary worlds and inviting us big people along for the ride. They are snuggly. They are sweet. They are wide eyed to all that surrounds them. Yet anyone who has spent time with these tiny people knows that it’s not all unicorns and rainbows (a shout out to my 3 year old). Toddlers love to explore limits. Test boundaries. Strive for autonomy. It’s how they gain an understanding of the world and their place in it. And one of their favourite times to put their newfound agency to the test is bedtime. And for good reason. Going from waking to sleeping is the biggest transition in any day. And toddlers are notoriously shabby at transitions. Gone are the days when you could read a story, tuck your little in, give them a kiss and leave the room. Suddenly they have turned into a master strategist, trying to think of anything and everything to avoid going to sleep. A glass of water. Another hug. What will happen if I call mama’s name one more time? Or throw my lovey on the floor only to cry out for someone to retrieve it? They might be missing me downstairs. I should let them know that I’m still here.   To add fuel to the fire, thanks to extending wake windows and an age-dependent shift in the circadian system, toddlers are capable of staying awake for longer periods of time. This inevitably pushes bedtime later and later, to the point that you may be thinking “is it negligent if I fall asleep before my 2 year old?” or “why won’t my toddler sleep?”. Limit testing + long wake windows + a circadian phase shift = a perfect storm for bedtime battles. Though the frustration and fatigue surrounding toddler tantrums at bedtime are real, this phase is completely developmentally normal. But, how can you help stop toddler tantrums before bed? Relevant Reads: 5 Things You Must Know to Help Your Baby Sleep Why is my toddler not going to sleep All about sleep regressions Six Toddler Sleep Training tips in managing toddler tantrums at bedtime These are tips you can use to bring the calm, cool, and collected back to bedtime. And if your toddler is going through sleep regressions, which often comes at around 2 years old, following these tips will also help you bring back the normal. 1. Run inventory on the sleep environment There’s a lot of debate over whether it’s necessary to have a completely dark or a completely quiet sleep environment. Isn’t it better that kids learn to sleep in variable conditions? Won’t different environments bring about more flexibility down the road?  On this one, it’s best to err on the side of rigidity when tantrums at bedtime arise. Remove any possibility that the sleep environment is working against you. Hang those blackout blinds and turn up that sound machine or your favorite toddler sleep aid that will help your toddler sleep. Remove any stimulating distractions. When sleep is restored and bedtime a breeze, you can experiment with switching thing up should you choose. 2. Make sure the body and brain are ready to sleep. Just like brushing teeth and bathing, sleep hygiene is crucial for taking care of the sleep system. Set the same wake time each morning. Follow with consistent nap and bedtimes. The body thrives on these daily rhythms. Bask in lots of natural light (and dark!). The brain responds to the difference between the lightest light and the darkest dark that it sees in the day. Nothing beats the sun when it comes to light, so take a walk or play at the playground to get a healthy boost of light exposure, especially in the early part of the day. Then turn the lights down dim in the evening to mimic the setting sun (use lights with a soft orange or red glow during the bedtime routine). And draw those blackout blinds when it’s time for lights out. Plan an earlier dinner. The digestive system and the sleep system can work against each other and make sleep difficult to come by. If you’re concerned about a picked through, half eaten meal, and a correspondingly hungry toddler, offer a light, healthy bedtime snack (try avocado on toast or plain yogurt with berries). Limit the use of screens in the hour or two before bed. Blue light may not be as bright as the sun, but it’s still bright, which means the brain has a hard time distinguishing whether or not it’s still daytime. Similar to the sleep environment, it’s best to be rigid with sleep hygiene when experiencing toddler bedtime battles to ensure that the internal system is primed and ready to sleep when the time comes. 3. Note the natural sleep time. With the capacity to stay awake for longer periods plus a shifted circadian rhythm, it may be that bedtime is simply drifting later than usual. Take tabs for 3 or 4 nights noting what time your toddler actually falls asleep.  You may be attempting bedtime at 7pm, yet they are not drifting off until 8:30pm. If this is the case, try shifting “bedtime” closer to the natural sleep time at first. Go for 8pm instead so that your little one is good and ready to sleep when you are asking them to. When bedtime becomes easier, you can always drift back to an earlier bedtime in small increments (try 15 mins earlier every 2 to 3 days) to reset to an earlier circadian rhythm.This is a great strategy to your toddler’s sleep training and will help make future bedtimes become more natural. 4. Allow some activity in your toddler’s bedtime routine. Part of becoming a toddler involves the desire to do more for themselves. They seek agency and a sense of control. Try using cue cards of the pre-sleep routine sequence (bath, jammies, teeth, story, song etc) and let your little one flip through as you go. Let them choose their pjs and story. Let them push the button on a toddler clock to signal the day is done. Or check off a step on their bedtime routine chart. These tangible actions help them to feel independence and accomplishment, while also sending a clear message when the routine is done. 5. Set firm limits. Know before the routine begins how many stories you will read. How many songs you will sing. How many hugs/cuddles will follow. Communicate these clearly and stick to your guns. Anticipate any requests and offer them up before your little one asks.  Hold the no and don’t fear the battle that may result.  Tell yourself that the fastest route to sleep is not the goal. Helping your toddler get to a point where their body can take over and initiate sleep with ease and confidence is the goal. Clearly communicated boundaries lets your toddler know what’s expected and in turn helps them feel safe and ready to sleep. 6. Celebrate desired behaviours. Toddlers are thirsty for your attention and approval. If battles have become a norm, make it very clear when they’ve done something you’re looking for. Did they climb into bed on their own? Lay their head down on the pillow? Let you leave the room momentarily while staying put? Praise the behaviour.  Tell them what a big kid they are becoming. How proud you are of them. That you’re coming back for one more big hug. Things not going quite as planned? Give little attention to undesired behaviours. Repeat the expectations, lay them down again, and keep calm. In their mind, attention is attention. Don’t leave them guessing over what it is you’re wanting from them. Toddler bedtime tantrums can feel like a marathon with the finish line far from sight. Structures, routines, and clear, consistent communication are your tickets to cross. Stay calm, hold your limits, rinse and repeat.  And then snuggle in for those bedtime cuddles you’ve been holding out on all day. Blog Contributor, Denise Gassner, PhD and Founder of There’s a Monster in My Closet Denise has been studying and teaching on various aspects of behaviour for nearly two decades. She turned her attention to sleep after having her own two little humans and becoming both fascinated and perplexed by how unnatural sleep can feel in those early years. She is driven to help make sleep less of a mystery for new parents and empower them to make informed decisions when it comes to healthy sleep practices that adhere to their unique parenting styles and family values. When not spilling about all things sleep, Denise can be found heading undergraduate classrooms at the University of British Columbia, dancing/running/exploring the outdoors, or hanging out with her husband, their two kids, and their pup in beautiful Squamish BC.

By: Jilly Blankenship Watching your baby reach big milestones and acquire new skills is one of the most exciting things about being a parent. It seems like just a few weeks ago you brought your newborn home from the hospital. Now he’s babbling, laughing and climbing on everything!  While each child is different, most babies will be able to pull to stand and crawl between 6-12 months. By 12 months, many babies have taken a few (wobbly) independent steps. And at 18 months most are toddling around on their own.  Developmental milestones are a sign that your baby is growing and developing as they should, which is great! What’s not so great are the disruptions to sleep that often accompany big milestones.  This guide gives you tips on how to handle disruptions to your baby’s sleep caused by milestones. Why your baby wakes at night when learning a new skill Standing, crawling and walking are three developmental milestones categorized as “gross motor milestones.” That’s because they’re associated with your baby’s body control and motor skills.  Interestingly, research has shown that babies who are exploring these kinds of milestones often sleep deeper, but have more fragmented sleep than babies who have not reached the same milestones. That’s because it consumes a lot of energy for your baby to practice these big physical skills. But it’s hard for your little one to sleep several consecutive hours (let alone the whole night) because his brain is still trying to understand this new skill. And, of course, he wants to practice it all night long!   It’s common to see increased night wakings in babies who are working on new milestones. Parents often tell me that their little one is wide awake in the crib in the middle of the night, sitting or standing up.  What’s unique about milestones interrupting sleep is that babies typically wake up happy and energetic at night. They want to practice their new skill! While a waking related to teething, illness or a sleep schedule issue usually involves a cranky or crying baby.  Of course, after a while your baby may start crying if she is unable to lay back down on her own or is wanting your comfort or reassurance. So now you know why your baby is suddenly waking at night, which can be helpful. But I’m sure the bigger question is what you can do to help your little one start sleeping all night. Here are my top 3 tips to stop developmental milestones from worsening your baby’s sleep.  1. If your baby wakes at night and is happy or quiet in the crib, leave him! When it comes to developmental milestones interrupting sleep, independence is key. When going through a big milestone, it’s normal for your baby to wake up and see an opportunity to practice their new skill, which usually involves standing or sitting up. This seems harmless enough. The trouble is that many little ones get “stuck” trying to lay back down.  If your baby is happy and awake, hanging out in the crib, give him space to practice. Even though it may feel like he’s struggling, your baby may actually be happily exploring his new abilities! It’s good for babies to be given the opportunity to learn how to handle night wakings on their own, instead of becoming dependent on parents to “rescue” them.   Given the space and opportunity, most babies will be able to lie back down on their own in a matter of days.  Most parents worry about their baby losing sleep, and that’s understandable. So, after 20 minutes, it’s okay to go to your baby and gently help him lie down. I recommend that you sit down on the floor next to the crib and pat the mattress, to encourage your baby to lie down. Remember, we’re working on independence! Sitting on the floor encourages your baby to come down to your level. Standing next to the crib makes your baby want to stay up! 2. If your baby wakes at night and is upset, wait 5 minutes then lay her back down once.  It’s so hard to see your little one struggling in the night. And at 3 am I know that we parents will do anything to get back to sleep. Just remind yourself that a small opportunity for your little one to resettle themself can help everyone get back to sleeping through the night more quickly.  If your baby is upset, wait just 3-5 minutes to see if she can lie down on her own. Just a few minutes! At that point, if your little one is still upset, go and sit down on the floor next to the crib and pat the mattress, to encourage her to lie down.  If this doesn’t work, go ahead and gently lay your baby down. Rest your hands on her chest lightly for a minute or two, helping her resist the urge to pop right back up. It’s best if you lay your baby down only once, otherwise she may think it’s a game and want to play jack-in-the-box all night!  If you know that your baby is able to get down independently, you can wait even longer before you go in, even if she’s a little upset. Remember, the quicker she understands that she needs to get herself back down, the quicker these night wakings will stop!  3. Let your baby practice new skills during the day While most of the work for hitting milestones falls onto your little one, there are things parents can do to speed up the process.  For example, give your baby lots of floor time during the day. Let your little one practice standing, crawling or walking as much as possible during the day in order for him to “get it out of his system” before bedtime. The more time your baby spends trying to understand and practice new skills during the day, the less exploration is left for night time!  If possible, spend time outdoors to help your baby explore his new milestone in various settings. This is also a great way to burn off energy, take in fresh air and be exposed to sunlight, which also helps babies sleep better. Developmental milestones are a sign that your baby is healthy, developing, and gaining control of their physical abilities. Nonetheless, it can steal a lot of much-needed sleep from both baby and parents. The key to resolving this issue is to allow your baby the space, both night and day, to practice and figure out new skills independently. The more space is offered to practice (safely), the quicker your baby’s night wakings will pass.  I hope these tips help you get through this phase quickly, so you and your baby can get back to sleeping all night!  If you have any questions about baby sleep you can find me on Facebook or Instagram.    Jilly Blankenship is a Neonatal Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, mom of two, and founder of Baby Sleep Made Simple. She offers sleep training solutions based on your baby’s age, temperament, and parenting style. 

By: Emily Varon You might already be freaking out, just based on the title of this article. Should you let go of your toddler’s sleep schedule during the holidays? You work so hard to keep your toddler on a healthy sleep schedule, because you know how important sleep and routines are! And well-done on achieving schedule-perfection!! It’s no easy task.  So why might I be encouraging a little more flexibility around the holidays (just a little)?  Because the stress/worry/anxiety of leaving holiday fun (and having to explain a thousand times about your child’s fragile schedule) to go put kiddo to sleep will never outweigh the joy and warmth of staying. The thing is, your toddler sleep schedule isn’t so fragile, even though it might seem like one more minute of awake time will send them into CryCityTantrumVille.  While the thought of a missed nap might be enough to make you start recalculating all of your child’s sleep to see where you can stick the nap in somewhere else, put your pencil down a sec.  The human brain is designed to miss a little sleep! It’s ok. You’re ok. Kiddo will be ok! So, let’s talk about that dirty word swirling around your brain; overtired. Wait, don’t run and hide! We can do this.  On an average day, overtired is U G L Y. It’s whiney, it’s tantrummy, it’s freaking cringy! And we want to avoid it at all costs, because who wants to walk themselves right into the emotional wreck that is an overtired toddler. Not me, sister. Not. Me. But here’s the thing, being overtired is actually a naturally occurring mechanism in the brain that is designed to protect us. During times of fun, it can actually work to our benefit and help the good times stay good!  When there are no sleep-signals on the horizon, and sleepy-cues get missed, the brain secretes regulatory levels of cortisol and adrenaline to keep the body awake longer. Because the body wants sleep, but doesn’t think it’s going to access sleep any time soon, we are able to stay awake and alert much longer.  It’s the college-effect, where we get tired, but suddenly feel like we could, uh, “study” all night! For little ones, it means more fun with grandparents and cousins, instead of tantrums and tears. You’ll be able to sit back and enjoy your little one running around with glee, leaving you thinking “gosh, they don’t even seem tired!”  Of course, they’ll eventually run out of steam, because eventually the brain tells our bodies enough-is-enough. They’ll fall asleep in the car on the way home, or in grandma’s arms, or under the tree, but it will be a delicious, deep slumber that will help you easily transfer them if needed. Remember to enjoy yourself. Indulge in the warmth of family and friends with the goal of pure delight! Your happiness, and the happiness everyone gets from your beautiful children, is so worth a little bit of a schedule-bump. Spending time connecting, especially in a time of so much DIS-connection, is even more important than your routine. Relevant Reads:  What is TOG? And What Thickness Sleeping Bag Do I Need For My Baby? Traveling During the Holidays? Check Out These Baby Sleep Tips While Traveling Tips To Keep Your Toddler Sleep Schedules For The Holidays If all of this “letting-go” still seems too outrageous, here are some tips to keep your toddler’s sleep schedules on-track: Schedule visits in-between nap times or before bedtime Communicate to family the specific time you will need to leave by Arrange a pack-and-play for early bedtimes so that you can stay and enjoy while your little one sleeps Be ok arriving to a gathering late, so that your child gets their full nap before a visit Have a loving family member take kiddo for a stroller walk to get them a little nap while you enjoy the eggnog Try to not schedule back-to-back engagements, even if it’s one day after another, to allow the sleep schedule to recover back to “normal” in between events Make sure your child wakes at their “normal” time the next day, to help recalibrate their schedule (no sleeping-in, sorry!) Have more questions about toddler sleep schedules? These may help you:  Why is my toddler not going to sleep? All about sleep regressions   About The Author Emily Varon is the founder of Ready Set Sleep. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a dedicated focus on sleep-related behaviors and has worked in the field of behavior analysis since 2000. Her practice has been devoted to improving the sleep habits of children since 2010.  With a background rooted in child development, Emily carefully considers a child’s current skills and abilities when selecting appropriate plans. She deeply values science and research to support the strategies she offers families, and will only recommend protocols that are valid, proven methods.  Emily resides in Irvine California with her husband and two fantastic sleepers (who did not start out that way). Her own feelings of hopeless exhaustion as a new mom are what now drive her pursuit of helping other moms get the sleep nutrition they need and deserve.  ** During December 2020, Emily is offering a $25 Target gift card for purchasing a service as a gift. Please visit https://readysetsleep.com/ for more details.

It’s two in the morning, and your toddler is up - again! At eight o’clock, you checked the temperature in your house; is he/she too cold? You wonder… you’ve been keeping an eye on the monitor, wondering if you should ignore recommendations and throw in a blankie. This is definitely not anyone’s idea of a fun night. So what’s the answer? Thankfully there are toddler sleepsacks with legs that take away the too hot/ too cold guessing game.  A Comfortable Toddler is a Happy One One of the most difficult things to judge as a parent is how much to bundle up your bundle of joy in different room conditions. Since toddlers are far less adept at regulating their own body temperature than we are, they usually require an additional layer of warmth than you would want for yourself. Obviously, all toddlers are different and have specific preferences, but this rule works for the majority of them. And since, blankets in the crib are a major no-no, you should consider a wearable blanket for toddlers.   Sweet Dreams Unfortunately, toddlers are also extremely particular about their sleep environments. Few like to sleep in a wet diaper, and fewer still like to be on the chilly side while they dream sweet dreams of colors and familiar faces. Since their only method of effective communication (at least till about 18 months) is crying, your toddler is definitely going to complain until you make things right as rain in their bedroom. Generally speaking, a cozy, fed, and dry baby will sleep quite happily until they wake naturally.  Benefits of Toddler Sleepsacks with Feet Some parents opt to simply dress their children in temperature-appropriate clothing for sleep, but many babies can find this too constricting and prefer the weight and drape of a wearable blanket for toddlers around their bodies. These toddlers will likely take extremely well to a sleepsack with feet - a zip-up blanket that is baggy and blanket-like without being a danger to them. Here at Tealbee, we offer multiple TOG rating toddler sleepsacks with legs  so that you can pick the right layer for the sleep environment du jour! Simply check the temperature of the toddler's room, refer to our chart on our TOG blog post, dress, and zip for success! Blankets Vs. Toddler Sleepsacks Receiving blankets are all the rage with new parents, but they often find within several months that blankets simply do not stay on babies. Babies are little Houdinis and seem to wriggle their ways out of even the snuggest of swaddles! According to the AAP’s recommendations regarding safe sleep and the avoidance of SIDS, babies and infants should not have loose blankets in their crib. So, then, the footed sleepsack is a great alternative as a wearable blanket for toddlers. Relevant Read: My Baby Doesn't Like Swaddling Anymore Why Your Baby Is Waking Up At Night When to Transition to a Toddler Sleepsack with Legs Honestly, it’s nearly impossible to keep some babies swaddled properly, even with giant stretchy blankets. If your little ninja is regularly busting out of even the tightest swaddle it’s time to look into a footed sleepsack. Sleepsacks with feet are designed specifically to stay on your Houdini, all while keeping them snuggly warm. Some sleepsacks are like a sleeping bag, without holes for baby’s feet. Traditional sleepsacks are great until they become more active - start to crawl, scoot, stand up, and walk around, at which point, a toddler sleepsack with feet is recommended for their safety.  If your baby seems to struggle with sleeping at night, make sure that the temperature isn’t the culprit. Try out our super cute, super soft sleepsacks. If you have questions, you can refer to our FAQ or get in touch with our team. From all of us at Tealbee, we wish you and your child a cozy sleep!

By: Cynthia Kiser, Hush Little Baby Whether you are a first-timer, or a more seasoned parent, traveling with babies is always stressful even under the best conditions, especially when it comes to baby sleep while traveling. Traveling is a part of life, and there’s no need to avoid it just to avoid the headache that comes with disrupting your baby’s routine.  It’s true, travel can wreak havoc on anyone’s sleep, especially a baby who will be in unfamiliar environments or possibly even different time zones. As parents, there are things we can do to help minimize the struggles and help our babies sleep better while traveling.  There really is no quick fix, but following these practical solutions may help to offer a better overall travel experience. Prepare a sleep station for your baby Upon arrival at your destination, make sure to designate a specified sleep area for your baby.  Try to incorporate as much from home as possible, within reason.  Bring the same white noise your baby is used to at home, bring the lovey they sleep with at home, the same sleep sack, etc.  If your child will be sleeping in the same room as you, be prepared to constrict their line of sight to you.  This means to wrap the pack n play in a blanket, or drape towels over the chairs, whatever you have to do so that your baby cannot see you, as this will encourage them to fight their sleep. Make the room dark Just like their room should be at home, your baby’s room while away should be nice and dark as well.  There are several commercial products that can travel with you to help you achieve room darkness.  Mini blinds or suction cup window shades are some good examples.  If you do not wish to invest in these items, the best trick in a pinch is to tape up tin foil to cover the windows.  It’s fast, inexpensive, and won’t damage the walls. Be consistent with your baby’s pre-sleep routine A consistent wind-down routine should be used before all sleep starting from the newborn stage.  This routine should remain in place while traveling as well.  The major benefits of these types of routines are to provide cues to your baby that it’s sleepy time, and with consistency, they come to rely on these cues.  Having these cues while away from home is extremely important for maintaining strong sleep patterns.  If your child seems fussy, overtired, needy, or generally cranky from traveling, it may be a good idea to extend your normal bedtime a bit to allow for some extra cuddle time and TLC. Be consistent with baby bedtime and wake-up times This is a big one!  It can be a challenge to stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time when on vacation, but this tip can help make all the difference.  By controlling the wake-up time, you are protecting the rest of the day’s layout.  Wake your baby at the same time they are used to waking up at home.  This means they will be ready for a nap at the same time and therefore ready for bed at the same time.  Staying on this routine, or as close to it as possible, will really help to encourage restorative nights and more predictable days. Do the best you can for naps Sometimes it’s just not an option to be a slave to your baby’s nap schedule while traveling.  If this is the case, do the best you can.  For example, if a mellow quiet time is the best you can do, that’s perfectly fine.  If your kiddo knocks out in the stroller, that’s okay.  If they skip a nap entirely because they are too excited by the family outing, it’s all good.  Skipping a nap every so often should not disrupt the overall patterns of the baby.  Do the best you can and if needed, you can move bedtime a little earlier to make up for a skipped nap.  Do your best to only skip naps entirely on a rare occasion, since skipped naps can lead to overtired kiddo. Relevant reads:  Put Your Baby To Sleep in Three Steps Sleep At Each Stage: What To Expect  Plan ahead for a few meltdowns If you are facing a major tantrum or sleep-deprived meltdown, try not to overreact and be prepared for this from the get-go.  In your diaper bag or travel bag, stash a few surprise toys that your kiddo maybe didn’t know were on the trip, or pack a few special snack treats to whip out in an emergency.  These little surprises and treats can go a long way in helping to calm an overstimulated or emotional child. What about time changes when traveling?  This is a big pain-point for a lot of parents when they think about what it will look like to travel with their kids.  The truth is, it’s not easy.  Even as adults, we know how hard jetlag, insomnia, and time confusion can hit us.  It’s only expected that it will be that much harder on a tiny human.  There are a few things you can do to help make things a bit easier for you and your family. First is to use the sun as much as you can to your advantage.  Our internal clocks are heavily reliant on light and dark, so keep this in mind with your children and get them outside and in the sun as much as possible during the day.  This will help prevent their bodies from beginning to produce melatonin and making them sleepy.  On the other hand, when it’s time to mellow out and get ready for sleep, turn down the lights, don’t expose them to any screen time, and keep playtime before bed very minimal for the last hour of the day. The most important things to keep in mind for time changes during traveling are to remain consistent with your wind-down routine, and also prep the sleep space for success.  Your child is used to the sleep cues that the wind-down routine provides them, so always make sure you have the time needed to go through that the same as you would at home.  Also, keeping the room as dark as possible is always going to benefit you. Back to the basics when you are home again If you have followed these baby sleep tips while traveling, then going back home and to your regular schedule should be fairly painless.  If everything went out of the window and you are feeling back at ground zero, don’t panic!  You have gotten your little one on a predictable schedule before, and you can do it again!  All hope is not lost, just be patient and consistent and it will fall back into place. No matter what, keep in mind that travels are temporary!  This one trip will not make or break your baby, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself or your child.  Try to enjoy the process, roll with the punches, and go with the flow the very best you can.  Believe it or not, it does get easier with practice and you will learn along the way the things that you can do to stay on track and avoid a breakdown in sleep patterns.  Every child is different, and everyone responds differently to the stressors of travel.  Be kind to yourself and love your baby, in the end, that’s what they truly need from you.  Traveling with children is hard!  But it's also incredibly rewarding.  My overall best advice is to do your best, be patient, and try to be as consistent as you can with as many things as you can.  Once you are back home, you can do some tweaking to get things back on track – there’s nothing that can’t be undone once you are back home.   About The Author Cynthia is a mother to one daughter, Olive, who was a reflux infant and therefore a TERRIBLE sleeper. At her wit's end, she contacted a sleep consultant for help. After the life-changing impact that the experience had on her and her family, she knew she found her calling.  She left corporate America, enrolled to get her certification, and has been helping families get more sleep ever since. Cynthia is a South Bay local, born and raised in the beach cities. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook or on the web.

By : Tracie Kesatie, M.A. It’s not uncommon for toddlers to resist taking naps or not going to bed. Have you ever asked yourself: Why is my toddler not going to sleep?  More often than not, this resistance is due to the fact that little ones are too busy to slow their bodies down. Separation anxiety and the desire to be with mom or dad can also contribute to this sleep resistance. Furthermore, limit testing (where children will go to great lengths to stall going to sleep) can also appear at this age. So what can you do to get your toddler to go to sleep? Here are some suggestions on how to handle sleep resistance with your toddler: Getting Your Toddler to Sleep Rule out illness or any possible underlying medical condition (allergies, eczema, teething, etc.) that may be causing sleep challenges in your toddler. If a little one is not feeling well that can lead to sleep resistance and sleep disruptions. The first step would be to treat or address the underlying condition. Once resolved or well managed, then you can work on addressing any possible behavioral sleep challenges that may be present.        Ask yourself if your toddler is currently going through a developmental milestone (walking, language burst, potty training, etc.) and/or sleep regression (a period of time when a little one’s sleep patterns shift) as they both can temporarily interrupt sleep. The good news is both developmental milestones and sleeps regressions pass - typically after a few weeks. The key is to stay as consistent as possible during these times following your toddler’s normal sleep schedule and health sleep routines so that new, undesired habits do not get established. Create a sleep-friendly environment. Like adults, toddlers sleep best in a cool, dark, quiet sleep environment. If your toddler expresses a fear of the dark it’s totally fine to use a dim night light (if you can read a book with the nightlight on, it’s too bright). And if you’re worried about household or outside street noise waking your toddler you can consider using a white noise machine. You just want to make sure that the white noise machine is not too loud or located too close to where your toddler is sleeping.  Typically placing the white noise machine on the other side of the bedroom and keeping the volume no louder than what it sounds like when your shower is running is best.   Relevant Reads: 5 Tips To Help Baby Transition From Crib To Toddler Bed When And How To Successfully Drop Naps Implement a soothing bedtime routine and stick with it. Having a calm, predictable, and consistent bedtime routine (which you can modify and also do before nap time) can really be beneficial. Having a routine helps children switch gears and prepare for sleep. An example of a bedtime routine for a toddler is: clean up toys, bath, put on pajamas, brush teeth, cuddles, books, last trip to the bathroom (if applicable), and into the crib/bed.  Keep stimulation before nap time and bedtime to a minimum. Watching TV, participating in active games, or playing with loud toys right before nap or bed can be very stimulating to young children and can cause them to have difficulty settling down to sleep. Quiet activities like playing with puzzles, doing arts and crafts, and/or reading books tend to be better before sleep time. Help your toddler shift gears between activities. Prepare your child to know that you will be helping him/her transition from one activity (playing) to the next (getting ready to nap). For some children, it can be helpful to use a timer to help them understand when one activity is finished and it’s time to move on to the next.     Nighttime fears are not uncommon amongst toddlers. If your little one is having some age-related fears this can lead to stalling and curtain calls at bedtime. Some things that can help include using a nightlight, playing/spending time in your child’s room during the day, demystifying the dark by making shadow puppets, giving your toddler a lovey or transitional object to cuddle with, and reassuring your child that he/she is safe.    Set clear, but loving boundaries with your child when it comes to sleep.  Having consistent boundaries actually helps toddlers to feel safe and secure. Since negotiating and fulfilling requests after lights out unintentionally lead to a delayed onset of sleep, make sure to fulfill all requests (one last question, more water, one more trip to the bathroom, etc.) before lights out. If your toddler is making requests or trying to negotiate once lights are out, one approach is to occasionally respond with “I love you, goodnight” or whatever brief, but loving phrase feels right to you.  By being present but not engaging your toddler will start to understand that once lights are out requests will no longer be fulfilled. About the author: Tracie Kesatie, M.A. is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and an experienced mother of four well-rested children. As a trusted expert in the field of pediatric sleep, Tracie works with clients all over the world. She specializes in working with families that have babies, toddlers, and young children. She works closely with each family to formulate a holistic, customized, non-judgmental sleep solution all while taking into consideration the family’s sleep challenge, goals, and lifestyle.

Suddenly, your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, staying awake for a couple of hours. This is called a sleep regression, and changes in sleep are part of your baby’s normal development.

By: Desiree Baird, pediatric sleep coach  September is baby safety month so it’s a perfect time to cover sleep safety for your little one. Whether you’re a new parent or a 4th time parent, it’s always good to brush up on the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as to how to create the safest environment for your bundle of joy. Parents, grandparents and caregivers can help create a safe sleep space for babies by taking the following steps: Think ABC’s of Sleep – Alone, Back and Crib. Follow these guidelines for all sleep times (naps + night sleep).  “A”- always let your baby sleep alone in their safe sleeping space.  “B”- baby should always be placed on their back.  “C”- always put your baby to sleep in a bassinet or crib. Use a Firm, Flat Sleep Surface, with a Fitted Sheet Make sure your baby sleeps in a safe sleeping place with a firm surface. Babies should sleep in a bassinet, crib, portable crib, or play yard that meets current safety standards.  The bassinet should be labeled “bassinet” and not labeled “lounger” or “sleeper.”  A lounger or sleeper is not a safe sleeping place for your baby. If your baby falls asleep in a car safety seat, stroller, swing, rock n play, lounger/sleeper, infant carrier, or infant sling, move your baby to a safe place with a firm sleep surface (crib, bassinet) as soon as you can. Same Room to Sleep; Not the Same Bed It’s okay for your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep, but not in the same bed. Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents, on a couch, or on a chair alone or with a parent, are at risk for SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation. Parents can roll onto babies during sleep and babies can get tangled in the sheets or blankets. You can keep the crib or bassinet within arm’s reach of your baby. The AAP recommends room sharing for at least the first 6 months of your baby’s life, or ideally until your baby is one year old. No Soft or Loose Objects Cover the mattress with only a tight-fitted sheet . Do not put blankets or pillows between the mattress and the fitted sheet. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskin, bumper pads, stuffed animals, pacifier clips, and toys can be very dangerous. Do not use positioners that claim to keep babies on their back. These do not reduce the risk of SIDS and pose a suffocation or entrapment danger. Keep soft objects, loose bedding, and other objects out of the crib. Additionally, use a proper fitting swaddle or sleep sack. Swaddle blankets or receiving blankets can become loose and cover the baby’s face. The AAP recommends stopping using the swaddle when the baby shows signs of attempting to roll over, or at 8 weeks, whichever comes first. A rolling baby can easily get stuck in a compromised position when swaddled. For healthy hip swaddling, make sure you swaddle properly with legs bent up and out. Sudden straightening of the legs as often done during improper swaddling can damage the cartilage or displace the bones out of their sockets.  This is known as hip dysplasia. Relevant Read: Help! My Baby Doesn't Like Swaddling Anymore Ensure your Baby is Not Too Hot nor Too Cold Do not let your baby get too hot, especially in their swaddle. Keep the room where your baby sleeps at a comfortable temperature (between 68 – 72 degrees). In general, dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear.  Your baby may be too hot if he or she is sweating, cheeks are red, or the chest feels hot. Relevant Read: How To Dress Baby For Sleep Safety first! Although sleep can be rough during those first few months of parenthood, just know that keeping your baby safe should always be your priority. You too can rest a bit easier knowing you created a safe sleep environment for your baby. If you find yourself struggling with lack of sleep, be sure to reach out to your support system so you can get the rest you need. About Desiree Desiree Baird is a certified sleep consultant and a mother of three. Her two eldest children are boy/girl twins. As a twin mom, Desiree experienced many sleepless nights the first 5 months of her twins’ life. She felt helpless and decided to study sleep on her own so that she could ensure her twins became better sleepers and were set up for success. Eight years later when Desiree became pregnant with her third baby, she decided to take her sleep education to the next level by becoming a certified sleep consultant. Her mission is to help moms —especially twin moms — all over the world with improved sleep. She resides in Seattle, WA. For more information, visit her website at www.pediatricsleepcoach.com and follow her on Instagram @the_sleepcoach.

Help! My Baby Doesn’t Like Swaddling Anymore! So, is this time that you stop swaddling your baby? One of the first skills all new parents quickly master is the art of swaddling. We realize the importance of this task as soon as we see how much it comforts and calms our new baby, and how much of a difference it makes on their sleeping habits. We then rely on the swaddle until that sad, sad day when your baby wakes to fight the swaddle, instead of being comforted. When To Stop Swaddling Why We Swaddle a Baby Swaddling restrains a baby's arms and legs to keep them from flailing about from their startle reflex, often uncontrollable until he or she is at least a few weeks to months old. The restrictive nature of swaddling reminds babies of the environment from when they were in the womb. It provides feelings of comfort, security, and peacefulness that allow the baby to settle. Swaddled babies are frequently better sleepers than their non-swaddled counterparts. Signs To Stop Swaddling So, when should you stop swaddling your baby? Here are signs that tell you that you should stop swaddling your baby:  When baby begins to protest being swaddled. This can often begin to feel like your baby is fighting the swaddle more than feeling comforted.  When baby starts to kick out of the swaddling, thereby creating a potentially  unsafe scenario where baby is in the crib with a loose blanket; When being swaddled starts to become preventative to baby exploring his or her world such as when the baby starts to roll over. Relevant Read: Put Your Baby To Sleep In Three Steps Why You Need to Transition to a Toddler Sleepsack Baby Sleep Tips 4 - 9 Months   The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following on swaddle transition: “The age for weaning off the wrapping varies from baby to baby. Many people think they should stop swaddling after a few weeks when their baby starts resisting it. But, actually, this is when swaddling becomes the most valuable. To decide if your infant no longer needs to be wrapped, try this: After she reaches 2 to 3 months of age, swaddle her with one arm out. If she gets fussier, continue wrapping (with both arms in) for a few more weeks. However, if she still sleeps well with one arm out, she probably doesn’t need swaddling anymore. Most babies are ready to be weaned off wrapping by 3 to 4 months of age, although some continue to need the wrapping to help them sleep up to 9 months of age” (American Academy of Pediatrics). Should You Stop Swaddling When Baby Starts Rolling Over?  Let’s first get to when babies start rolling over. Babies start rolling over between 3-4 months and they would master their skills by 6-7 months. While this is an exciting time and signs that your baby is growing up, this also poses the question whether it’s safe for you to keep swaddling your baby during this period.  The straight answer to whether you should stop swaddling when the baby starts to roll over is yes, you should absolutely stop swaddling. American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that you stop swaddling your baby when they start rolling over.  But, what about SIDS? Wouldn’t your baby have a risk of SIDS if they start to roll over and can’t roll back on their back? According to Healthy Children, as long as you keep the sleep environment safe (ie. no loose blankets, no bumpers, no soft objects like pillows, teddy bears etc.) and put the baby to sleep on their back, it’s safe for babies.  How to Transition out of Swaddling? There are few ways to transition your baby out of swaddling.   Transition One Arm out of Swaddle: This is one of the recommended ways by AAP to transition your baby out of the swaddle. They start by getting one arm out for a couple of nights (2-3). Then add the other arm out of the swaddle for a few nights. Finally, after a few nights, take the swaddling away completely and see how baby is sleeping. If baby is ready you could stop swaddling all together. Or you can look into alternatives.   Cold Turkey! Yes, you could just stop using the swaddling altogether and see how your baby responds. Not all babies like to be swaddled and this method could improve sleep for babies who do prefer to sleep without a swaddle.  Transition with swaddling alternatives: Although, if your baby is moving out of their swaddle or rolling over - but is still getting the same great sleep in the swaddle than without it - a sleepsack is a great transition! They provide the same cuddles with a much safer night! Even more so, sleepsacks can keep your baby warm throughout the night without risking a blanket and SIDS.  After the baby moves beyond the swaddling stage, both parents and baby can benefit from a swaddling alternative to assist with continued sleep habits. But how can you get baby to sleep without swaddling? A sleepsack is a great solution and the next step after swaddling and beyond. Sleepsacks create a warm and cozy sleep environment for a baby that mimics swaddling without any of the risks or negatives encountered when he or she has outgrown the swaddle phase.