Baby's Sleep

Getting your baby to sleep can be a struggle sometimes, but if you follow the three simple steps below, it should make it and easier experience for you. It’s easy as 1,2,3! 1. Timing Is Everything You know the saying “timing is everything” — that could not be more true when it comes to baby sleep. The best time to put your baby to sleep is when you notice the signs of drowsiness – quieting of activity, less movement of the arms and legs, eyelids that droop, sucking that may be weaker / slower, slight staring off, hint of calmness. It’s recommended that you put your baby down to sleep when the baby is drowsy but awake to teach them to fall asleep on their own Signs your baby will give to let you know that they are tired/overtired: Yawns: The reason humans yawn, is that as the body becomes fatigued, it doesn’t work as efficiently; the normal supply of oxygen brought in by the lungs, heart, and blood system diminishes a bit. Yawning is the body’s way of gulping down extra oxygen. They Bury their faces into your chest: They may also turn their head away from you or the object. They may make involuntary movements, flailing their arms and legs.  When they gain control of their limbs – babies rub their eyes, pull their ears, scratch their face When they begin to gain mobility – babies arch their backs and lean backward Crawl/walk – babies and/or toddlers become clingy Want to learn more about naps? Click here. So why do babies and toddlers get overtired anyway? Scientifically, it’s said that there are chemical changes that occur to fight the fatigue — this interferes with the baby’s ability to easily fall asleep and stay asleep. Since all babies are different, there may be variations on how this might happen. Watch and monitor how long the baby has been up for (new babies can only handle 1-2 hours of wakefulness!) 2. Create a Calming Environment Develop bedtime and nap time rituals. Try to have bed-times and nap times be done the same way each time. Babies are creatures of habit — just like we are. And just as we like our sleeping environment to be a certain way (ie. comfortable pillow and bed please!) babies get used to their sleep environment too. Research shows that even very young infants who have been conditioned to expect a particular stimulus are able to predict when it’s coming. Provide the environment for sleep – and guess what? There is no one right answer! Always get to know your baby and you will learn what works for them. You as a parent are teaching the baby EVERYTHING! Even how to fall asleep. If you co-sleep, then you will have to think about how long you will co-sleep with your baby given your circumstance. Once you condition your baby to fall asleep by co-sleeping, then your baby will naturally not like the idea of being transitioned to a room or a crib later, because they learned to fall asleep with you. If you want your baby to fall asleep on their own, you have to teach them to. If you rock your baby, cuddle them, or put them on the chest while sleeping, you are teaching them to learn to sleep in those specific ways. Regardless of how your baby sleeps; providing soothing activities such as moving the baby to a less stimulating place, swaddling or using a Dreamsuit (when they are able to walk), playing lullabies, giving massages, giving baths, reading books quietly will help them be comforted and fall asleep faster. 3. Consider and Follow AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Guidelines Until the age of 12 months, to reduce the risk of SIDS, AAP recommends the following practices for safe sleep: Keep loose items out of the crib - blankets, stuffed animals, comforters, etc. Place baby on their back to sleep and on a firm mattress Make sure your baby's head and face stay uncovered during sleep Do not overheat your baby. The best room tempurature is between 68-72 degrees F.  Offer a pacifier if the baby will take it

Will a Pacifier Disrupt My Baby's Sleep? And How Can I Wean My Toddler From a Pacifier? By: Brittany Sheehan of Bicoastal Baby B. Will using a pacifier disrupt my baby's sleep? And how can I wean my toddler off the pacifier when it comes time for that? There are so MANY questions when it comes to pacifiers! If you ask most parents who have pacifier lovin'  babies, they will tell you they are “lifesavers.” Pacifiers a soothing mechanism — the less a baby cries, the easier they can stay asleep. Pacifiers also help babies cope with colic and reflux and when it comes to sleep safety, pacifiers specifically are thought to decrease the risk of SIDS. Since there is such a strong parallel between pacifier use and sleep, we wanted to hear from a  sleep consultant more about pacifiers and possible benefits. There are many benefits to using a pacifier for babies. The biggest benefit  is simply that it’s an excellent soothing mechanism, especially for fussy babies and those with painful infant reflux or colic. Pacifiers are also thought to help decrease the risk of SIDS. This does not mean you need to panic if your newborn doesn’t like their paci. But, it's extra reassurance if they do. Oftentimes I have newborn clients who are concerned that introducing a paci will impact their baby’s ability to breastfeed properly. Great news - ”Nipple Confusion” is not a thing. Please do not be afraid to give your newborn a paci because you think it will hinder their ability to nurse. It won’t! Newborn parents are also often hesitant to introduce a paci because they’re afraid their baby will become too dependent on it. The truth is, this is impossible to predict. Some children do become quite attached and parents have to go through the process of removing the paci during the toddler years. But this is absolutely not a given. Many babies naturally wean themselves off of the paci in the first few months of life, especially as they’re going through the process of learning to self soothe and sleep. Independently. Another frequent challenge parents face is what I like to call “the paci dance” – you put the paci in, it falls out, baby cries, you pop it back in, it falls out, baby cries, you pop it back in….you get the picture! There are actually things you can do to help your baby get past this stage. Around 6-8 months, babies typically develop the motor skills required to replace their own paci.  You can teach them to do it themselves by gently guiding their hands to the paci and placing it into their mouth. If a  baby can replace their own paci, but seems to lose it at night, try putting several pacis in the crib for them to grab! Toddlers and Pacifiers. On the other end of the spectrum, parents of toddlers often ask when and how they need to give up the paci. Bottom line, It’s a personal choice, but by age 3 is strongly suggested to avoid an impact on your child’s teeth. If your toddler is reluctant to give up their paci, it’s time to introduce them to The Paci Fairy! The Paci Fairy is always looking for brave boys and girls to give their pacis to a baby in need. Think of a friend or family member (or even a character on TV!) with a new baby and explain to your child that pacis are for babies and this baby doesn’t have any. The Paci Fairy will come pick them up, and rumor has it......the next morning, there will be a fun gift for toddler from the baby who was so lucky to “receive” their new pacis!  Pro tip – make sure you actually DO get rid of all of them. Don’t leave yourself the option to give the paci back in a tough moment “just this once”. Once they are gone, they are GONE!

When you are juggling a career, caring for little ones, looking after your family in general, cooking dinner, trying to find your baby’s stuffed animal and doing EVERYTHING else us mamas do — sometimes it's really hard to put yourself first. Quick Self Care Tips For Mama We know first-hand how difficult— but how essential it is — to take time for yourself. Below are some self-care tips that you can do to take for mommy time. Some are more time consuming but are SOOOO worth it, others are easy peasy and fun to fit into even the craziest routines. Afterall you should enjoy your motherhood! Taking a break from a constant crazy working mom schedule We got you! When You Carve Out Time for Yourself: Take a Nap This seems like a no-brainer but it’s not just babies and toddlers who need a reset. Try making nap time a group effort, giving you the perfect opportunity to take a nap when they nap. Meditate Turn on some nature sounds or find a guided meditation, lay back, and close your eyes (5-10 minutes to start). Mindfulness for moms opens a gateway of clearing the stress you have, during those mommy needs a break moments. Clearing your mind is the greatest way to ensure you create a space for yourself and create balance. If you think you are the type of person who thinks non-stop and has a hard time meditating — keep working at it — it will come to you! This is even a great activity to practice with your kids!  Talk with a Friend/ Connect with People You Love Even while social distancing has become the new norm for most due to COVID-19, Facetiming or having a zoom call with people who make you feel good is such a great way to feel connected.  Go on a walk  Go outside mama! In your neighborhood, by the beach or on a hiking trail...wherever you can! Declutter  Have a closet, shelf or drawer that is absolute chaos? Most of us do. Take time to clear it out and throw away or sell any unwanted items. Your space will feel so much more clear afterward. Also rearranging furniture, adding wall art or taking time to do a creative project for your abode can absolutely shift the energy in your space, while also giving it a fresh look and feel.  Buy Something Cute (for yourself)  No shopping for your kids allowed! Go on your favorite store website and buy that top you’ve been eyeing, or that super cute dress you see on the never-ending Instagram ads all the time.   Self Care for Moms On the Go: Don’t forget Your Favorite Snack  Sometimes we are so focused on feeding our little ones that we forget to bring ourselves anything when we are on the go. Keep a bag of your favorite snacks in the diaper bag or the car so you are never without. Here’s a list of healthy snacks for mama’s on the go! Listen to Music that Makes You Rock Out  Have a favorite band or type of music that rocks your soul? Listening to your favorite song or artist will instantly boost your mood! Take Deep Breaths  Are you patiently waiting at that long, annoying stoplight at the corner? Take three deep breaths through your nose and out your mouth. Or try taking deep breaths for a minute. This will help improve your focus and release tension. It’s a great way to reset after a stressful day. Drink Some H2O  Drinking water is not only good for your skin, but it fights fatigue, protects your muscles and helps with all the body aches and pains (from lifting/ carrying our babes all the time) Being a mom always has its tough moments — and especially now during a pandemic, those tough times can often be exasperated. It's so important to show up for yourself and take the time you need to recharge and reset. Because when we are feeling good, we are able to show up for ourselves and our loved ones.  

By: Cynthia Kiser, Hush Little Baby Turn the shades down, change the little one's diaper, put on their Dreamsuit, kiss them goodnight and turn off the light. Getting your baby and toddler to sleep is a PROCESS mama. We know how you feel. Some night's are better than others and for those not so good nights, we asked a sleep experts her opinion on the top reasons why your babe is waking at night..  Top Reasons Why Your Baby Is Waking At Night Some lucky parents are blessed with amazing sleepers who learn to sleep through the night from a very early age. For the rest of us — who do not have super-hero sleepers —  below are some of the top reasons why your baby may be waking so frequently in the night. Sleep Cycles:  One (main) reason that a baby wakes at night is due to brain waves shifting as they move from REM sleep to non-REM sleep.  As they move from stage to stage of sleep, it’s common for wakeups to happen.  Even as adults we tend to wake up an average of 4 times a night when we are transitioning, the difference is that adults wake and fall back to sleep so quickly that we often don’t even remember waking in the first place.  For a baby, when they wake, they will often cry out for help because they don’t yet understand how to soothe themselves back to sleep on their own, which leads to reason number 2. Lack of self-soothing abilities: Did you know that infants are not born with the ability to self-soothe at all?  No wonder they cry so much when they wake in the night!  They literally do not know what to do.  As infants, most parents get into habits such as feeding to sleep and then transferring to the crib once already asleep, or similarly with rocking or driving to sleep.  These behaviors are extremely common and perfectly acceptable for an infant. The issue arises when these dependencies carry on too long past infancy and become a crutch that is needed for each and every wakeup.  This is when sleep training becomes necessary to redirect those sleep associations. Does your little one have a hard time self-soothing? You might be able to find some answers here.  Development: Developmental milestones can definitely be responsible for changing sleep patterns.  A milestone such as rolling over can be very scary for a baby at night.  They may roll over and not be able to roll back, so they panic and cry out.  A later milestone would be learning to pull themselves up to stand.  A lot of parents are unpleasantly surprised to find their 9-month-old waking up more often and standing up in their crib, and then not knowing how to lay back down on their own.  A big developmental leap also takes place between 6-9 months of age when a baby is becoming more independent and self-aware.  This brings on separation anxiety and the awareness that you are not there when they wake up, which will cause them to cry out for you. Teething:  Teething is a BIG one! Teething pain can last from just a few months old all the way through the molars in toddlerhood.  There is no question that teething can disrupt sleep and cause baby to wake! It's SO TRUE that babies tend to wake up more at night when they hit big physical milestones like standing up and walking! We have wearable blankets that will help keep your roly-poly babes warm, while also allowing them to be free to move around. Check out our Dreamsuits and Dreamsies!  Illness:  We all know we do not sleep so great when we are sick.  Around 6 months of age, a baby learns to put things in their mouth, especially their own hands. This is a great milestone because they can begin to use their thumbs to suck for comfort and self-soothing — but the downside of this milestone is that they tend to start getting sick more often because of the germs they are putting in their mouths.  Things like congestion, coughing, fever, vomiting and diarrhea can all contribute to waking in the night. Pacifier or Bottle:  Starting the day we are born, a baby is conditioned to fall asleep while sucking on something, whether it be a breast, bottle, or pacifier.  Many infants who use a pacifier will wake up each time that pacifier falls out of their mouth until they are old enough to find and replace the pacifier on their own.  This is probably the number one habit that causes sleep issues and warrants parents to seek out sleep consultants for help. Relevant Read: 5 Things You Must Know To Help Your Baby To Sleep Sleep At Each Stage: What To Expect Hunger: This one really only applies to infants up through roughly 4-6 months old.  Newborns  will wake and need to eat every couple of hours during the night, but this should lessen over the first few months and the stretches of sleep between feeds should begin to lengthen.  Depending on certain factors, some babies are ready to sleep through the night at 4 months old, while others may take closer to 7 months to reach this milestone. Habit:  If a baby is used to getting a bottle or some other kind of sleep prop at a specific time in the night, you better believe that baby will develop a habit of waking at that same time every night for that prop.  It could be a feed or another kind of prop, but they will certainly continue to wake and expect it.  Sleep is a complicated thing, and there is never a one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why parents benefit so much from working with sleep consultants instead of trying to go it alone.  Sleep training is HARD and requires structure and consistency.  You don’t have to do it alone! Good sleep habits are super important when trying to get your baby sleep — and for ensuring mama gets enough rest too. Learn how to establish good sleep habits here. Also, did you think about that your baby might be cold at night? Establishing and ensuring a good room temperature for your babe could make a huge difference in whether they will actually stay asleep or not. Check out our Dreamsuit — it comes in three different TOG ratings (of degrees of warmth). They will be so snuggly — trust us!   Look through all these explanations and still didn’t find a reason that applied to you? Your baby may be cold at night! A Dreamsuit can fix that and get your little cuddle bugs back to sleep in no time!   SHOP NOW! Cynthia is a mother to one daughter, Olive, who was a reflux infant and therefor a TERRIBLE sleeper.  At her wits 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 @hushlittlebaby.zzz or on the web at www.hush-little-baby.com.

WITH the newborn phase coming to a close, many parents find themselves exhausted when baby hits 4 months old, and often sleep is getting worse, not better! Never fear- there are many things you can do to help set up healthy sleep habits for your little one, and start getting the sleep you all need! Baby Sleep Tips 4-9 Months Ages 4-9 months are a perfect time to make sleep adjustments. A baby goes through a developmental leap around 4 months that causes their sleep patterns to become more adult-like. This is perfectly normal and healthy, but can also cause a regression because baby is suddenly cycling through more light phases of sleep, and therefore can start waking up more often, looking for help getting back to sleep. At the same time, at their young age they have usually not become too attached to their sleep habits, and therefore can make changes fairly easily. Implement the tips below to help baby sleep their absolute best in the coming months! Get Sleep Tips From Experts & Deals On Tealbee Sleepwear! Make your child’s sleep space a haven of comfort and calm! First, do a safety check to make sure there are no hazards in their room. Use the ABCs of safe sleep- Alone in their sleep space, on their Back, and nothing besides baby in their Crib. I love putting my babies in a cozy sleep sack to safely help them feel more comfortable and keep them warm at night. Secondly, use blackout shades or curtains so that street and car lights cannot come through the windows. Even a small amount of light can suppress melatonin production! If you don’t have blackout shades, you can even tape aluminum foil or cardboard onto the window for a budget-saving solution! Next, use calming sound machine on a steady sound setting (think less “lullaby,” “thunderstorm” or “ocean waves” and more “static” or “white noise.”) If you don’t have one, there are a ton of great apps you can use. Finally, I love to use lavender essential oil in a diffuser in my child’s room. Studies have shown that lavender promotes calm and sleep. Relevant Read: Teaching Your Child Strong Sleep Habit Gentle Sleep Training Method CREATE A SOLID SLEEP ROUTINE A good bedtime routine should be no more than 20-30 minutes long, and consistent every single night. I love to start our routine out with a bath, followed by the final feeding for the night (bottle or breast), jammies, and a song or prayers. Following this routine, lay your child in bed drowsy but awake. Nap times should also follow an abbreviated routine, about 5 minutes to allow them to wind down.  FOLLOW A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE Children sleep their best for both naps and nighttime when they are awake long enough to be tired, but not awake long enough to get overtired. Sound stressful? Not to worry. There are straightforward wake windows that work well for the vast majority of children that you can follow as they grow. For instance, most 4-5 month olds do well with about 2 hours of awake time at a time. I have a sleep schedule calculator that can give you a great schedule custom tailored to your child’s adjusted age, as well as your preferred bedtime!

Are you struggling to get that extra sleep with your baby? Are you rocking your baby, bouncing on the yoga ball, wearing your baby, whatever it takes to have your baby sleep calmly with limited fuss? You wonder how long you can go on…rocking and bouncing your baby with your increasingly aching wrist and shoulder…. This is for you. Get more sleep while your baby sleeps! 5 Things You Must Know To Help Your Baby To Sleep 1. Put Your Baby Down Early We sometimes rely on queues the baby gives – yawns, fussing or crying to know if the baby needs to be put down. But here’s the thing, when the baby is yawning, fussing or crying, he/she might be too tired already. Babies younger than 4 months quickly become overtired after only one-two hours of wakefulness, and some cannot comfortably stay up for even one hour! This 1-2 hours includes everything from the moment he wakes up, to feeding the baby, doing a diaper change, maybe giving him a bath, and a bit of play time. If your baby is a slow eater, this might mean that by the time you are done feeding and changing the diaper, the baby is tired already or you may only have 10-20 minutes of playtime before he needs to be put down. You might think that she just woke up and ate but to the baby, this might be a long time and tiring activity. So, do you monitor how long the baby has been up? Have you tried putting down the baby early, even if the baby doesn’t seem tired? These may help in getting the baby to fall asleep more easily. 2. Teach Healthy Sleeping Habits Do you know that pretty picture of a mom holding a sleeping baby wrapped in a blanket? I thought that’s how babies sleep before having my own. You just wrap them in a blanket and hold them and they fall asleep and you put them in a nice pretty crib and stare at them while they sleep. Boy was I wrong. For days, my son cried, to what seemed like for no reason, which made me bounce on the yoga ball, rock him, walk around with just right amount of little jiggle…just anything you would imagine a mother would do to make the baby sleep. As time went by, the problem was that when I tried to put my son down thinking he’s finally sleeping (YAAAY), he would always wake up and cry and I would have harder time doing it over again. What I didn’t know then was that I was the one who was teaching him how to fall asleep. I was teaching him to fall asleep with motion (jiggling, bouncing, rocking) and no wonder he woke up when the motion stopped. Just like we want to teach babies healthy eating habits, we want to teach babies healthy sleep habits. For adults, we have control over our sleeping environment. When we feel tired, we have the ability to change ourselves into PJs, turn off the light, and crawl into the bed and fall asleep. Well, babies can’t do that yet! They rely on parents to create that environment and when they are put in a different sleeping environment than what they are used to, then they will cry because they want that familiar feeing to fall asleep. Just like how we as adults wouldn’t be able to sleep well if we were all of a sudden left on a floor with bright lights on to sleep rather than in our bed in a dark room. So think about what healthy sleeping habits you want to teach your babies and begin as you mean to go. 3. Know That Your Baby Can Sleep Through The Night So here’s a bit of science about sleep. Just like adults, babies go through sleep cycles. We all heard about this and maybe learned it while we were in school. Sleep cycle basically means we go through stages of sleep, from light sleep, to deep sleep, and active sleep (basically period when we dream). During night, we go through multiple sleep cycles. Over time, adults learn to go from one sleep cycle to next seamlessly without waking up but since babies are not fully developed, they wake up in between these sleep cycles. It is said that each sleep cycle lasts about 45 minutes. Have you had your baby wake up from exactly about 45 minutes from his nap? This just means that the baby went through one sleep cycle and woke up. During night time, guess what happens when they wake up in between these sleep cycles? They want to fall asleep again but will look for the familiar sleep environment as to when they fell asleep. For example, if you rocked your baby to sleep, then they would want to be rocked again to fall asleep. If you nursed them to sleep, they would want to be nursed again. In order to help babies fall asleep again when they wake up from their sleep cycles, it would be important to create sleeping environment same as when they fell asleep. Marc Weissbluth in his book ‘Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child’ says this: By about 3 months of age, most full-term healthy infants are able to sleep through most of the night. If your baby has more than one or two nightly wakings at that age, or if he still hasn’t “settled” (started sleeping through the entire night) by five or six months, then you should take a close look at his bedtime routines. Of course all babies are different but knowing that babies do have the ability to sleep through the night at such a young age, gives us hope and encourages us to teach them healthy sleep habits. 4. Start Bedtime Early As a first time mom, I initially thought putting my baby down for sleep at 10pm is pretty good! After all, during my pre-baby days, I used to go to bed at midnight or maybe after that so I thought 10pm is extremely early. Newborns need 16-20 hours of sleep and babies over 1 month require 15-18 hours of sleep. Babies under 3 months of age require at least 8 hours of sleep at night and beginning 3 moths require 10-12 hours of sleep at night. If you expect your baby to wake up around 7am, then this means they are put to bed between 7-9pm when they are 4 months of age. So think about what time you would need to put your baby down for night time sleep based on when you would want the baby to wake up. 5. Be Flexible And Consistent There will be days when your baby wakes up in the middle of a night even after you thought they have learned healthy sleep habits. There could be so many reasons why they are waking up – teething, growth spurts, being sick and having stuffed nose, too cold, too warm, or just needing mommy. There will be nights when you would have to wake up and soothe your baby back to sleep. But know that unless you keep doing it and make it a habit, you can help your baby when the baby needs you. Key is consistency in putting your baby down. However sleep environment you put your baby in, keep that consistent and keep your bed time routine consistent. Babies learn fast and they will catch on! Every baby is different and the environment you are in might be different from others. So the way you and the baby learn to adjust to new life together as a family may look different and the time it takes to get a handle on it might look different. But hopefully this helped in learning a little bit more about babies' sleep and help your transition smoother. References: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems Baby Wise Secret Of The Baby Whisperer

By: Alexandra Axelrod Even though baby showers might look a little different these days — drive thru and virtual baby showers — it’s always good to know the best products for babies and stuff mamas will definitely love. We made a list of some great items to give at a baby shower or even to a mama who just had a little one. For Those Tough Stains: Noodle & Boo Stain Remover Spray:  This spray works miracles and is worth every penny. So many soiled and dirty baby clothes have been saved from the trash because of this spray. Not only does this work great on delicate baby clothes, but truthfully — it works wonders on adult clothes and linens as well. For Those Cool Nights:  Tealbee LoveMilk Dreamsuit: Of course, we had to put one of our own items in this list! The dreamsuit is great for littles especially as they are learning to walk and get more active, so they can sleep safely. Babes will stay cozy and warm in this dreamsuit. It also comes in great prints including checkered, croissant and brushed. For Those Hungry Bellies:  EzPz Mats: When you’re at home or out to eat, the EzPz mats create the perfect set up for your little one. The easy-to-wash silicone bowls and plates stick to almost every surface. These mats can be found at most big and specialty retailers and come in a variety of colors and sizes (infant, toddler and kid). EzPz also carries cups and utensils! For Those Messy Eaters and Droolers:  Much like the playmats, silicone bibs are great for catching all of the nutritious food that hits the mouth and then they spit right out. Don't like the feel of the silicon, or need something that baby can wear throughout the day? Tealbee has super cute organic cotton bandana bibs that work great and wash easy! For ALL Those Dishes:  The Boon Lawn Drying Rack is a great addition to the kitchen because (the large size) it holds a lot of bottle parts and comes with accessories — it is also SUPER easy to clean. This drying rack comes in green, gray and clear/white,  For Taking Care of Baby:  FridaBaby: When it’s time to clip those little finger nails or try to suck...yep...suck excess mucus from baby’s nose, definitely try out this care kit from FridaBaby. This power pack basically has everything for the first few months, and beyond. What’s more? FridaMOM has a postpartum recovery kit that’s pretty cool too! To Keep them Covered: Milksnob: Your little one will be safe from the sun and your car seat will be styling. Milksnob offers super cute prints, and the best part is that it can function as a nursing cover, shopping cart cover or an infinity scarf for mama.  To Keep the Milk Warm: The Baby Brezza bottle warmer is a great item not only because of its sleek design, but it is light weight and is very easy to use. The basket inside the warmer fits all types bottles and has an auto-shut off mechanism to avoid overheating. The warmer also offers a quick warm or slow warm option which is great depending on how you want the milk temperature. For the Dirty Diapers: So we know there are many great diaper pails out there to choose from, but the Dekor Hands-free Classic Diaper pail makes this list because the company offers biodegradable diaper pail liners in addition to the regular ones — which is pretty cool if you are eco-conscious.   To Keep The Hands Clean: So this one sounds a little odd to gift someone, but now, more than ever, it's important to keep everyone's clean when handling a new baby. Hand Sanitizer, is great to throw in as a small gift because mama and dad can use it quickly if they are not within reach of the soap and water. It comes in handy on the go or at home. For Those Curious Minds: Naturally as your baby grows they will develop their own interests and learn different skills at their own pace, but we figured we'd let you know about a couple of toy subscription boxes that help develop skills appropriate to their age group: - Loveevery (stage-based play) - HopiBox (Heirloom Quality Toy) For those Little Loungers: The Boppy lounger or the Dock-A-Tot make great gifts because the littles can just chill on them if mama or dad have to set them down for a minute. They both come in a variety of colors and are very durable. For The Ones Who Cuddle Close: You have all heard of the ERGO Baby and other baby carriers like them. These are great because they allow mama or dad to be hands-free and do multiple things at once — all while keeping the little ones close. If you are not into all of the straps and snaps that the Ergo has, definitely try out a WildBird ring sling. These baby carriers hold a good amount of weight and can grow with your child. What’s more? They come in super pretty patterns and prints.  To Keep a Watchful Eye: A baby monitor is a great gift idea for parents — they last forever and can be used in babyhood well into toddlerhood. While there is not a specific brand we can recommend — there are a lot of great options out there.  For the Mamas: LAST BUT NOT LEAST mamas who are expecting need to feel pampered too. There are so many things a new mama could use but gift cards for a restaurant/food delivery are a really good way to go — who has time to cook when you are constantly changing diapers and rocking a newborn to sleep? Comfy slippers, lounge clothes, or travel size beauty products for their hospital kit are always nice presents to give as well. 

Don't you wonder why babies wake up so often at night time when adults can sleep through with such an ease? In this post, we explain the science behind sleep to help you understand your baby's sleep better. And we promise you, it's not going to be like reading science textbook, so read on! Why Babies Wake Up So Often When we sleep, we go through various different states, most of which can be broken down to two: REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) sleep, and non-REM sleep. Non-REM sleep (Non-Dream Stage) Non-REM sleep is probably closest to what we normally think of as sleep. Our eyes are totally still, we lie quietly, with a regular heart rate and breathing pattern. This is the period of sleep that restores and refreshes the body and brain. This sleep is then also broken into three stages: Stage 1 - Drowsiness: This is the period you start to doze off into sleep. Stage 2 - Light Sleep: This is the period you are sleeping but you awake easily if someone calls your name or jostles you. Stage 3 - Deep Sleep: This is the period you are sleeping very deeply and get the most benefit of refreshing your mind and body. This is the time you would be able to carry your child from the car seat to their crib without them really waking up since they are sleeping like a log. Just like how Non-REM sleep is entered from drowsiness to light sleep to deep sleep, you would cycle back from deep sleep to light sleep to drowsiness and a brief arousal. We probably don't even know that we go through these, since going through these cycles become seamless. But the stage where we go from light sleep to a brief arousal is when we would be more prone to getting our sleep disrupted. (ie. outside noise) REM sleep (Dream Stage) REM sleep is when we dream! It is an active state where your heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and blood flow to the brain all increase and fluctuate irregularly. So now you know a little bit of science behind sleep, let's find out why babies wake up so often! Adults spend about 85% of their sleep in Non-REM sleep (restorative one) while babies spend about 50% of their sleep in Non-REM sleep.  This means they are in the sleep stage that is more sensitive to disturbances and wake up more easily. While adults' sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes, babies sleep cycle lasts only about 45-60 minutes.  This means babies zip through from light to deep sleep and then back to light sleep within a shorter period of time, and when the child returns to the light sleep stage, they are easily disturbed and wake up more easily. During the brief arousal's between cycles, while adults have learned to seamlessly fall back to the next sleep cycle, babies may need that 'sleep association' to fall asleep. (ie. pacifiers, breastfeeding, being rocked etc). If the same sleep association is missing, babies may have difficulty falling back to sleep and wake up looking for that same sleep association. This is one of the main reasons why we want to sleep train our baby to fall asleep independently and have healthy sleep association.  Here's a graph that shows how adult's sleep and baby's sleep cycles look like.  Do you see the difference? Baby's sleep cycle is much more cyclical than adults and they arrive at the 'awake' stage much more frequently than adults. Until babies' sleep cycles develop to look more like adults, you can expect your baby to wake up more frequently.  If you would like to teach your baby healthy sleep habits to minimize the frequent wakings, we've compiled few tips here.  Hope this was informative! Subscribe to our newsletter to get more sleep tips and get the latest on Tealbee sleepwear!

You may have heard about not putting anything in the crib, like blankets and plush toys, since it increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death). But as the baby starts to grow and become active, when can you start using blankets and pillows on the baby? According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), parents can safely start using pillows for children who are 1½ years old, about the same age at which parents can safely move children out of the crib and into a bed. Consistent with above guideline, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not putting any soft objects (blankets, pillows, or plush toys) until the baby is at least 12 months old. At around 12 months, the risk of suffocation goes down because most 12-month-olds are able to roll over and have the dexterity to move blankets away from their face. Previous guidelines suggested soft objects could be used after 4 months, but the new guidelines issued in Oct 2016 extend the restriction to a year, because about 10% of SIDS cases occur after the fourth month. However some of the common questions arise as to when  your baby or toddler will be able to cover themselves? Will they be cold because they can’t cover themselves with a blanket? Fear no more! In those early stages (and even in the toddler stage) there are options such as sleepsacks that provide warmth, comfort, all while keeping your baby safe. Tealbee offers sleepslacks designed with different TOG Levels (Thermal Overall Grade) to keep your baby warm and comfortable throughout the night. We also offer options such as Dreamsuits and Dreamsies that may be worn over your baby’s pajamas for extra warmth. These are some of Tealbee’s very own safe and warm sleep options.  Furthermore Riley Children’s Health has found that sleep sacks help provide babies with a feeling of security and even help maintain their body temperature in the night. How to keep your baby or toddler safe with blankets? There are tips parents should use when it is the right time to give their baby a blanket. How to keep your baby/toddler safe with blankets?According to the Healthline Parenthood they have identified some of the top factors to consider when deciding on the perfect blanket for your baby.  Avoid Large Blankets - Blankets that are too big for your little one can increase the risk of suffocation.  Aim for Breathable Fabrics - Although a quilt or heavy blanket may keep your tot warm on those cold nights, they too are a risk for suffocation. Blankets that are made from thinner fabrics like muslin present a lesser risk due to the breathable fabric. Additionally, weighted blankets should not be used for infants. Molly Shaw Wilson, a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist, with Harkla advises that children under the age of 2 should not use a weighted blanket.  Steer clear of Blankets with Strip Edges or Fringed Edges - Blankets that contain these frilly and cute designs edging a baby’s blanket can wrap around the baby’s neck (or other body parts) and cause suffocation.  Will a pillow be safe for my baby when she is 18 months old?  Although your tot has reached the appropriate age to have a pillow does not mean they are required to have a pillow. If a pillow is introduced there are some important tips that parents can use to find the right pillow. The below tips are recommendations provided by Very Well Family for a safe transition to pillows. Refrain from Pillows that are too Tall or too Thick - Pillows that fall in this category can cause strain to your little one’s neck.  Avoid Fluffy Pillows - Pillows that have too much fluff place your tot at risk for suffocation.  Pillows made with choking materials like small pellets, can be a potential hazard.  Remember that pillows and blankets are not requirements for your baby’s sleep. They simply increase your baby’s comfortability. Take into consideration the above tips when searching for the best pillow and blanket for your baby, when it is the right time.  Best Recommended Age for Transition  So based on the above safe sleeping guidelines, we can confidently say that after about 18 months (1½ years old), we can start giving blankets and pillows to our babies. As we know, the main reason for not allowing blankets and pillows are due to the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Until you can safely use baby blankets with your baby, it is recommended that safe alternatives to blankets such as sleepers, sleep sacks, and wearable blankets be used. How to Introduce a Pillow and Blanket for Your Baby When introducing a baby pillow, you want to give one that’s small (the size of an airline pillow) and firm. Feather pillows are not recommended since they are too soft, and can set allergies in small children and can also smother a child if the head sinks into it while sleeping. And what if you’ve got an active baby that won’t keep the blanket on to keep them warm? Then you would still need to use a wearable blanket to keep them warm throughout the night. Tealbee Dreamsuit and Dreamsies are designed for early walkers and toddlers who would need wearable blankets until they learn to put blankets on them or keep the blankets on. 

From the time your little one is cuddling in your arms at a couple days old, well past to when they are jumping up and down in their crib — your sweet little goes through a lot of changes; especially when it comes to sleep.  Physical and mental development can affect how — and when — your little one goes to sleep. Check out this quick resource below to see what you can expect depending on their age.

By: Natalie Willes from Baby Sleep Trainer Nearly every parent has asked themselves why their child seems to wake up so often at night. The answer is, it depends. We asked Baby Sleep Trainer, Natalie Willes, to provide us with tips to help babies from newborn to toddler sleep through the night. Newborns (Birth to 16 Weeks) Newborns wake repeatedly overnight for two main reasons. First, they need to eat. While some babies are capable of sleeping long stretches as early as just 2-3 weeks of age, many will wake up often overnight because their immature bodies need frequent milk in order to regulate their insulin levels. Also, during periods of rapid growth, newborns may legitimately be unable to consume the necessary amount of calories without eating very frequently, both day and night. Thankfully these growth spurts tend to pass within a few days, but they can seem never ending to parents. Second, newborns can wake constantly at night because their brains have not yet regulated their melatonin secretions enough for the child to have consistent periods of wakefulness (during the day) and lengthy periods of sleep (overnight). Thankfully, one sure fire way to combat both of these issues is to make sure that from 7 am to 7 pm, one never allows their newborn to nap for more than 120 minutes at a stretch. If your newborn has been asleep for 2 hours, do whatever you can to wake them up. Once they are awake feed them while doing everything in your power to keep their eyes open during the feeding. Then, keep them awake for up to 50-60 minutes total and then watch for signs of sleepiness (eye rubbing, staring into the distance reduced engagement, fussiness), and put them down for a nap. If baby sleeps less than 2 hours, simply feed them when they wake up, working hard to keep them alert during the feeding so they take a full feed. The younger the newborn is, the tougher these suggestions may be to implement but keep trying and as they grow older, things will get easier. Limiting daytime sleep to no more than 2 hours at a stretch, and ensuring frequent feeds during the day, will help baby sleep longer stretches overnight. Infant (16 weeks to 18 months) If your infant is waking frequently at night, it’s likely because they’ve matured into a sleep pattern in which they wake each time they finish one sleep cycle and start the next. This is how all humans aged 4 months and older sleep at night, and if your infant has not yet learned to fall asleep for naps and nighttime 100% on their own without the use of sleep props, then they do not yet posses the skill set to fall back to sleep on their own when they wake normally overnight. Until they learn the skill of independent sleep, they will call out to you for help to get back to sleep each time they wake overnight. Relevant Read: Baby Sleep Schedule 9-14 Months What is TOG? And what thickness sleeping bag do I need for my baby? Toddler (18 months and older) Like infants, toddlers will always wake as they complete one sleep cycle and begin the next. As your child grows older and learns to fall asleep on their own without sleep props for naps and bedtime, you will see that it is easier for them to link sleep cycles overnight without waking all the way up (like adults do). How to Solve Frequent Night Waking For children aged 4 months and older, frequent night waking is solved by teaching your child to fall asleep 100% independently and without the use of sleep props or reliance on caregivers for naps and bedtime. This is called “sleep training”.

Curious how Tealbee was started? Learn more about us as we interview Tealbee’s founder! 1. What motivated you to start Tealbee? How did you come up with the idea? I started Tealbee after my first son was born. As a first time mom, I struggled with making my son sleep and was really hit hard with the lifestyle changes of becoming a mom. I still remember the days I jiggled and bounced him to sleep. After I sleep trained my son, making sure that he is comfortable sleeping independently in his crib became really important. I went through so many sleeping bags and not happy with what I found in the market, I created Tealbee. 2. What did you do before Tealbee? I was in a corporate job for almost 10 years! I worked for Fortune 100 companies in various finance roles. I was far from doing anything creative but I've always enjoyed being in a creative environment. Being in corporate environment has taught me many skills in becoming a business owner, and I absolutely love running a business of my own and immersing myself in creativity. 3. Is there anything that has been especially challenging when building and growing Tealbee? Running a business comes with many many challenges. But now that I have two small children, balancing motherhood and work has been a big challenge for me. It's a constant balancing act and skill that I'm developing every single day. 4. How do you balance running a business and two small children? Do you have a daily routine? Focus is the key to getting anything done! And believe me, it's hard to get when you have two small children running around the house and you are constantly interrupted. I plan weekly and designate what I will work on each day of the week. And I always plan the night before. I also make sure my team know what their priorities are for each week so that they can help me run my business. 5. In addition to Tealbee products, what are must have items that you believe new parents should know about? There are so many depending on what age they are in. Right now, my second one is 8 months old. And for this age, he is becoming really active as he is starting to crawl and pull up. At this age, I am loving Stokke high chair as he is eating a lot more solids. I also love baby push toy such as this Vtech one. And we use Ergo 360 All Carry Positions every day since he was a teeny infant. And as he is starting to stand up in the crib, our Dreamsuit is a lifesaver! 6. What's your favorite Tealbee print? I like all of them! But if I have to really pick one, it will be Love Milk since that is the very first print I designed for Tealbee. 7. What are your five must-have items for new moms? Nursing Tops Water bottle (Swell) for hydration and warm water Comfortable yoga pants / leggings Good carrier like Ergo 360 Tealbee crib sheets of course! Relevant Read: How To Establish A Bedtime Routine How To Dress Your Baby For Bedtime 8. What are your top items for mamas-to-be? Good pregnancy pillow Prenatal yoga Nursing Bras (Get them early while you're pregnant!) 9. What are your favorite family activities? Going to the beach with the family! Ski trips in the winter Legoland with the kids Doing arts and crafts at home Attending sports games (baseball and soccer!) on the weekend

By: Meredith Brough, from Sweet Slumber Is your preschooler struggling to sleep well? Waiting for your child to sleep through the night at this age is no picnic!  Let’s put that sleep deprivation behind you! When it comes to building sleep habits, there are some strong advantages, but also disadvantages, when working with children two years or older. It can be simpler to teach them new skills and they may learn quickly. The process can be much smoother. But, children are also more aware of change, better at expressing how they feel and what they want and may become stressed out easily.  There can also be challenging behaviors to manage. Generally speaking, young children do NOT enjoy having their routines mixed up or new methods introduced to teach them to fall asleep on their own. Subtle, gradual changes work best. One more issue that parents should understand, is that young children continue to experience developmental leaps every few months as they grow up. These periods of mental and physical development can cause sleep disruptions, boundary testing, moodiness, clinginess and bedtime/naptime battles. Children are often unable to control how they are feeling and acting during developmental changes. They fight their sleep and struggle because they feel wired and overstimulated. It's uncomfortable for them and exhausting for parents! During these times, most parents surrender to bed sharing or room sharing after expending every bit of their energy into daily power struggles. At your breaking point, it may be tempting to overhaul EVERYTHING to do with your child’s sleep. But, a developmental leap period is probably the wrong time to tackle sleep hurdles. Working to change sleep habits during a mental leap would be like trying to do all of your holiday shopping at an empty store, the day before Christmas. You might spend all of your time, energy and resources trying to change the circumstances, and then wind up feeling depressed about it. It will bring you frustration to walk away empty handed. The better way to go would be to plan and prepare ahead, take advantage of optimal timing and make life as comfortable as possible during the demanding times. You are more likely to reach your goals, and have a smoother experience going about it this way. Here is a checklist to determine if now is the right time to teach your child new sleep habits, so you feel reassured and empowered to move forward. Is your child... Picking up new words and/or advancing in language skills?  Learning new abilities in other areas?  Having frequent tantrums or meltdowns?  Testing boundaries?  Wide awake at nap time, bedtime or at night, fighting sleep, waking more often in the night or waking early in the morning?  Acting more emotional or seeking extra comfort from you?  If you can answer “yes” to 2-3 or more of these questions, your child is probably in a developmental leap. Wait until the signs fade. When your child slows down in mental progress, acts less emotional, and sleep is almost back to normal (after 4-5 weeks), then go ahead and work to improve your child’s sleep habits. Keep in mind that teething can cause similar challenges, so it may be better to wait for your child’s teeth to cut, as well. Getting Started: Learning Your Child’s Sleep Cues The first important step is to spend a few days observing your child’s sleep cues. Ask yourself these questions: What are my child’s sleep cues? What time do they begin? How many minutes do I wait to respond to these cues before beginning the routine? How many minutes does it take my child to fall asleep once I begin the routine? What kind of behaviors do I see in my child, before and during the routine?  These questions matter. Did you know that there are three distinct levels of sleep cues? The early signs are important to catch because they warn you that your child is getting tired. For babies, this is probably when the routine should begin. Toddlers and small children usually have a longer sleep window, so the first signs of tiredness will help you know it is time to prepare yourselves for the routine.  Level 1 Sleep Cues: Slowing down, staring, looking tired, and the appearance of pink around the eyes and eyebrows. For very active children, you might see level 2 sleep cues for just a few minutes without any warning, because they have a short sleep window. Writing down your child’s patterns, behaviors and their timing will help you reveal the perfect bedtime. Sometimes children need their routine to start before the sleep cues appear.  For typical children, sleep cues become stronger and more frequent as time passes.  Level 2 Sleep Cues: Yawning, eye rubbing, lying down, and snuggling. You might notice that your child seeks out a comfort object, stops listening to you, becomes clumsy and loses focus. Some of these behaviors may seem very normal and can be easy to overlook near nap time or at the end of the day (when you are tired, too!). To illustrate the subtlety of sleep cues, I will share an example. Two-year-old Andrew was playing with his toys about a half an hour before bedtime. I was distracting his parents in conversation, so the time got away from us. After a few minutes, I noticed that Andrew’s voice grew higher in pitch while interacting with us (the beginning of a whine) and then he ignored his parents when they spoke to him. Five minutes passed and Andrew started throwing toys across the room and then he began hitting his mother. He told her “no!” when she asked him to clean up and get ready for bed.  I asked his parents if they noticed what his first sleep cues were. At this time, he was rubbing his eyes and squinting. They answered that he had been yawning for about 10 minutes or so. To their surprise, Andrew’s parents learned that his first signs of tiredness were when his voice got higher in pitch and he was ignoring them, long before the yawning started. This was when the bedtime routine should have started. There are cues that should rarely happen — level 3 cues. These late cues mean children are overtired and may miss their sleep window. Level 3 Sleep Cues:  Sudden bursts of energy, screaming, throwing tantrums, arching backwards and acting defiant. Some children reach level 3 cues on a daily basis. The problem with this is that it is a lot harder for them to fall asleep when they are overtired. They feel restless and their bodies produce cortisol and adrenaline — making it harder to relax. The hormones build up more energy, which makes them feel wide awake. It can take an hour to an hour and a half to get tired again. Children don't sleep well when they miss their ideal sleep window, either. This is true for naps and nighttime sleep. Overtiredness can be a hard cycle to stop if your child is constantly missing their sleep window. Be sure to observe your child for several days and experiment with the timing of bedtime (and naps). Your start time could be too late by an hour or more. Or, it could be off by 5, 10 or 15 minutes. If adjustments need to be made, it will be worth all of your effort! Optimizing Your Bedtime Routines Children who are full of energy at bedtime will respond well to low lighting and soft music for an hour or so before bedtime. It is important to keep your child’s activities as slow moving as possible and eliminate excitement before the routine begins. Children have an endless supply of energy, so it’s best to offer them lots of exercise and fresh air throughout the day to wear them out. Avoid exposure to the television, tablets, and phones for 30-60 minutes before beginning the routine. Remove white, yellow, or LED nightlights that trigger the brain to be awake from your child’s room and replace them with salt lamps, which give off a soft glow like moonlight.  Take advantage of natural elements that help children fall asleep quickly and deeply. Keep the routine close to the same time each night (within 30 minutes). The circadian rhythm and melatonin will regulate your child’s body. Melatonin is released and broken down when children’s bodies need to fall asleep, and the timing is not always convenient for parents. On average, this occurs between 7 and 8:30 p.m. for young children. (Going outside in the morning for 10-20 minutes can make this natural process more effective).  Follow the same order of activities in your routine, every day. Each step will trigger the brain to prepare for sleep. Have you ever seen a child yawn on the way to their bedroom or bathroom at night? This is a sign of consistency on the parent’s part. When mapping out your routine, remember that the activities aren’t as important as the pace. Slow your child down so that tiredness can set in, and then add meaningful opportunities for bonding. It can be helpful to make a picture chart to hang on the wall or create a flip chart that your child can handle, to eliminate your child’s objections and excuses. Here is an example of a simple routine: go potty, take a bath, brush teeth, put on pajamas, have playtime for a few minutes on the floor or bed, read 2 books, sing 2 songs, say prayers and lights out. Keeping the routine at the same time and in the same order will still leave room for you to be flexible when your child needs extra wind-down time. Some children aren’t ready to fall asleep at the same time every night. When it’s “one of those nights,” offer your child choices of longer songs and/or books. You may want to read 3-5 books if your child takes longer to wind down on a regular basis. Offer the choice of short books on sleepy nights. Ask your child to lie down for the last book. Winding Down and Falling Asleep One of the most important steps of gentle sleep training is teaching your child to fall asleep independently for naps and bedtime. This skill will empower him or her to connect sleep cycles throughout the night. The length of night sleep should extend naturally this way. Most children fall asleep snuggling or laying down next to their parents. This is okay! Some children will not lie still or settle down unless their parents are next to them. Another habit that parents worry about is rocking children to sleep, while they are small. Many children need motion or physical closeness to relax and surrender to sleep. You do not have to eliminate this part of your routine. Take your time shortening this part of the process so that it is only a few minutes long (it can still be 5-10 minutes long if that means your child has some time to fall asleep afterward). If your child depends on your touch (cuddling or patting, etc.), then you will have to speak to your child ahead of time and let them know that you are going to be doing this for a shorter period at bedtime. It may help to use reward charts or offer extra cuddle time during the day.   Relevant Read:  When, And How, To Successfully Drop Naps Gentle Sleep Training Method You should move slowly when making changes to this part of the routine. Let your child do what is comfortable and familiar for most of it, and change a short part of it. This could be at the beginning of quiet time when you usually snuggle or at the end before falling asleep. Either way, your child should be able to ease into something new and phase out the old. You can even make changes for 1 minute increments. For example, if your child is used to laying down with you for 20 minutes, then for the first minute of the routine, sit next to them for 1 minute, and then lie down. If you continue building this time at just 1 minute per day, eventually you are going to sit there long enough for your child to fall asleep. If you do it in the reverse order, it may work better for children who cannot sit still unless you snuggle them in the beginning. If your child is too awake or restless, go ahead and pat/rub your child until they fall asleep while you sit next to them. The next goals can be to pat/rub less of the time (intermittently) and build independence.  Let your child know that you need to step out of the room quickly to grab something, after staying with him/her for several minutes. Exit quickly and return right away. Leave like this consistently and extend the time slowly. Build it up to 15 seconds away, then 30 seconds and so forth. Your child will learn to trust you and wait for you to come back. Your child will eventually fall asleep waiting for you to come back. After this happens a few times, you can leave sooner. It is always good to spend 5-10 minutes with your child before leaving them to fall asleep. If your child calls you, continue to build trust by responding and add extra check-ins, at times.  You may need an even slower option to teach independence at bedtime and naps. Your child may need you to be more subtle. Use a chair to sit near your child. Move the chair 6 or so inches towards the door, from day to day. Eventually your child will fall asleep when your chair is at the doorway. The next day, you will move the chair around the corner and respond using your voice or appearing when you are called. Checking in on your child when you aren’t called may help to cement trust and reassurance. Do this as long as you need to.  Sleeping Through the Night Even though your child is learning to fall asleep unassisted and will be connecting sleep cycles without your help soon, there may be times when your child has night awakenings and wants companionship. It should be really effective to respond to your child and leave the room like you do at bedtime. When you interact with your child, remember to be boring, firm in giving commands, and offer a hug and kiss for comfort, but do not make it a fun and lively experience. If your child gets out of bed and comes to you, walk your child back to bed. If you need to, spend a weekend taking turns with your partner and walk your child back every single time they come to your room. It shouldn’t take long to get your child to stay in bed, if you are consistent.  It’s possible that your child will need one more measure of comfort and security to complete your sleep goals and create permanent sleep habits. If your child continues to wake often and craves comfort even though there is a soft glowing night light in the room and you have taught your child to fall asleep alone, then you may need to teach more trust and security. Spend a lot of time playing with your child in his or her room during the day and evening. Give your child alone time in there for very short periods and be responsive. Make the room a happy, pleasant place. This will create a feeling of security and familiarity that will help your child sleep better at night and keep the new sleep habits in place. Enjoy the Outcome Following these simple steps will create strong, lasting sleep habits that will set your child up for success in development, moods, study habits in school, behavior and emotional and physical health. Your work will pay off for your child, and your life will be more enjoyable, rewarding and relaxing, too.    About Author Meredith Brough, Sweet Slumber Sweet Slumber, LLC was founded in 2017 by Meredith Brough who, over the course of 15 years,  succeeded in establishing strong sleep habits for her own children and several of her friends and daycare clients. Meredith has now supported over 350 families professionally and has served thousands of others worldwide in her Successful Sleep Facebook Group. She is devoted to using her own gentle, “no-cry”, methods that support intuitive parenting practices to meet children’s needs. Meredith specializes in supporting mothers of children with high needs or challenging personalities, and women with postpartum mental health disorders.

By: Emily Varon When we look at sleep over the course of an entire human lifetime, the steepest decrease in the total amount of sleep needed, per day, occurs between birth and 3 years of age.  Within their first 3 years, children transition from about 18+ hours of sleep per 24-hour cycle, to about 11 hours of sleep per 24-hour cycle. Simply Put: Within the first three years, children naturally drop about 7 hours of sleep off of their schedules. Over the next 50 years, they will merely drop an additional 3 hours.  Interesting to put into perspective right? This extreme drop off in early childhood sleep can cause a tremendous amount of confusion and stress for families, especially when it comes to altering schedules. Creating a schedule based on ever-expanding “waking windows,” and not being committed to the idea that your child sleeps at specific “times” on the clock, will set you up for nap dropping success! Understanding your child’s “waking window” will save your sanity...trust me!   A waking window is the amount of time your child needs to be awake, before being able to fall asleep again. This window is constantly expanding. Every few weeks, your little one is able to tolerate more and more time awake in between sleep opportunities.  So what are the signs? Nap resistance  If your child is suddenly not falling asleep at their “usual” nap time, they cry or fuss when being put down for a nap or they now need help falling asleep, it’s a sign their body is ready to tolerate more awake time. It’s ok to push nap time ahead 20 minutes or so.  This is where panic typically sets in for parents! Putting a child down for their nap later, will inevitably push the next naps — and bedtimes — later as well. Don’t worry, here’s how to make it all work out... Once you notice that your child is resisting their first nap of the day, it’s ok to keep them awake a little longer. Try again for a nap later (20-30 minutes is typically enough) until you find the “sweet spot” when they fall asleep rather quickly (within 5 minutes, say). Now, take a moment and calculate how long they have been awake from morning wake-up time, to the time they fell asleep for their first nap (nap-dropping takes a bit of math!!). Was it 2.5 hours? 3.0 hours? More? Less? Whatever that time span was, that is your child’s natural waking window for now.  Knowing how long your child can tolerate being awake before needing sleep again will help you forecast when you should offer the next sleep opportunity.  There is a theory, out in internet-land, that the waking window expands as the day progresses. I have found, in my practice, that this simply isn’t the case. It’s best to keep waking windows evenly-spaced throughout the day, in between sleep opportunities. Bedtime gets later  If you’re noticing bedtime pushing ahead, it’s likely that your child’s naps have been getting later as well. These two factors, combined (nap resistance + later bedtimes) are indications that your child can tolerate more awake time. What happens, naturally, is that naps become later — this  eventually leads to the afternoon  nap getting squeezed out. If your child only has one nap, and is between 2.5 - 3.5 years,  you will see the whole schedule shifting — suddenly nap gets so late that it’s practically bedtime! Whether your child is dropping from three naps to two, or one nap to zero, the process is the same: Later naps (or no nap), and a really early bedtime.  When children are in the process of transitioning to less daytime sleep, it is not unusual to see bedtimes as early as 6 p.m. — Don’t panic mama.  Within a few weeks, bedtime will resume to its later time as your child’s body learns to tolerate more awake time. Often families who are set on a specific bedtime, have a really hard time navigating this transition. If bedtime is always 8 p.m., that just won’t fly if your 3-year-old woke up at 6:30 a.m. and has not had a nap! In this example, bedtime will be around 6:30 p.m., approximately 12 hours after morning wakeup.  Likewise, if your one-year old woke from their one-and-only nap at 2 p.m., again, they’re going to have a very difficult time making it to 8 p.m.  Dropping naps is a parental exercise in flexibility and math. You can do it! Naps drop one at a time, every 2-3 months from birth to one year.  Dropping naps is a transitional period, and doesn’t just happen in one day…every day may look a little different for about a week or two.  Some days your child will return to their previous nap schedule — and some days they will be able to tolerate their new nap schedule.  On days when children return to the previous nap schedule, bedtime will be later. On days when children rock a new schedule, bedtime will be earlier.   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 our baby’s short first few years, they’ll make many transitions in their sleeping. Whether it’s from a bassinet to crib or crib to toddler bed these transitions show even more ways your baby is growing. Deciding to move a baby from a crib to a toddler bed can be a difficult and emotional time for parents. From the physical logistics, to make sure baby (and mom and dad!) are ready and comfortable, to safety concerns, there is a lot to consider. But never fear - we’re here to help you navigate this terrain. Although there is no specific recommended age for when to move a baby to a toddler bed, the average age is anywhere between 18 months old (1 ½) to 3½ years old. Ideally, it is best to watch for signs of baby’s readiness and time the transition in conjunction with those signals. Read on for tips to help make how to transition from a crib to a toddler bed. 5 Tips On How To Transition From Crib To Toddler Bed 1. Signs your child is ready for a toddler bed: Some subtle and not-so-subtle signs to look out for include trying to climb out of the crib (especially if you’ve already lowered the mattress as low as it can go), during the potty training process (Being stuck in the crib makes this hard!) and, asking to move to a “big kid” bed. It may be time to convert your crib over to the toddler bed. Try not to have the big move coincide with major life events, such as the birth of a new sibling, since too many events at once can be overwhelming and stressful for everyone. 2. Give your babe a heads up about the change Believe it or not even our kids like a heads up with upcoming change. This creates a much more smooth process for your tot and for mom and dad! There are lots of great books on the market designed to introduce baby to the concept of moving to a bed. Some of our favorites are Your Own Big Bed by Rita M. Bergstein and A Bed of Your Own by Mij Kelly. Use these books and other personal experiences as a springboard for discussing the exciting new time in your toddler’s life. 3. Make the transition from baby bed to toddler bed an event! Plan a special shopping trip (physical or virtual) with your toddler to have him or her help pick out their new bedding. Look for bedding that baby relates to - whether that’s favorite colors, animals, or characters. Tealbee offers an all-organic cotton sheet that gives a soft and warm welcome to their new bed! Take to even showing them the transition they will be making. This gives your tot time to process and sees what is coming next with their new bed! Convertible cribs make a great and easy transition for your excited babe on their new sleep journey. These convertible cribs allow easy transitions for parents and babies with a baby bed to a toddler bed all in one.  4. Toddler bed Safety. With a (very) active and excited tot and their new bed, they are not used to having the same safety rails as a crib offers. Investing in toddler beds with rails or separate side rails, nightlights, and safety gates as needed keeps a secure sleeping environment for your babe. The newfound freedom of a toddler or big-kid bed means that your little one will have the ability to roam, even after you’re in bed. Make sure that you have systems in place to keep him or her safe and secure throughout the night. Relevant Read:  How and when should I move my child from a crib to a bed | Baby Center The Transition from Crib to Bed | Parents Tealbee Blankets and Pillows Blog | Tealbee 5. Stick to your usual routine. Just because you’re changing the sleeping space doesn’t mean you need to change the sleeping routine. In fact, this move will be most successful if you stick with the same bedtime routine you’ve always used. Your little one will know what to expect and won’t have the double-excitement of a new bed and a new schedule at the same time. If there are expected changes that may occur with the new toddler bed, transitions in bedtime should be made in small increments over a course of days if not over a course of a couple of days.  One other thing to keep in mind is that this process often requires extreme patience on the part of mom and dad. As What To Expect cautions: “be prepared for your child to constantly pop out of bed for a drink of water, a snuggle with Mom, or some other escape-from-my-room excuse. Calmly and silently return your toddler to bed as many times as it takes. Keep it as boring as possible and he'll “get the idea.” Remember, the signals you send to your child are just as important to this process as the ones he or she sends to you. Transitioning to the “Big Kid Bed” But what’s next after moving to the toddler bed? The next phase in the sleeping space transition is the big kid bed! The bed transition process should stick as your babe moves to the next upgrade, a new twin bed!  When to transition from Toddler bed to Twin Bed? When exactly is it the right time to transition from a toddler bed to a twin bed? The average maximum age for a toddler bed is set around 5 years old or about 50 pounds. On the other hand, a survey conducted by Sleeping Should Be Easy, has found that the average age to change to a twin bed for your toddler is between ages 3 and 4. However, this is not a set time frame and is dependent upon your preferences and your tots' comfortability. Other surveys have shown transitions to be as early as a twin bed for their toddler at 18 months. Keeping the above transition tips is a great way to prepare your toddler for their new bed (again). Twin Bed for Toddler Safety tips  But don’t worry there are safety measures just like with the toddler beds, bed rails can be added to a twin bed for kids that allows your tot to sleep comfortably and safely - especially at a higher and bigger bed. Other precautions to consider are pillows and blankets. Pillows and blankets that are too big or too fluffy can still pose risks for suffocation. Sleepsacks are acceptable and safe alternatives to your babe getting acquainted with their new big bed.

As soon as the baby is born, we all want our babies to sleep well. Yet, so many moms and dads are struggling with putting the baby to sleep. Why is that? Something that comes so naturally for adults, why does it seem so difficult with babies? Without really understanding baby's sleep cycle or their natural development stage, it is really difficult to know how to let them sleep well. And based on the baby's age and development, their sleep needs constantly change. The chart below explains what you can expect from your baby's first few years and a guideline on their sleep needs. Birth to 6 Weeks Baby's sleep pattern is unpredictable and irregular. Babies sleep a lot throughout the day in bits and pieces. 6 Weeks - 3 Months Babies are known to sleep longer at night. According to Babywise book, "by five weeks of age, most babies can extend their night-time sleep by 1 hour for each week. The average healthy five-week old can handle a 5 hour stretch at night. A seven week old can handle a 7-hour stretch at night." However, don't despair if your baby isn't sleeping according to the schedule or isn't sleeping longer hours at night. 'Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child' book provides this advice:  "Infants under three or four months of age, you should try to flow with the child's need for sleep. Don't expect predictable sleep schedules, and don't try to enforce them rigidly. Still, some babies do develop regular sleep / wake rhythms quite early, say at about six to eight weeks. These babies tend to be very mild, cry very little, and sleep for long periods of time " Relevant Read:  Baby's First Month Sleep Schedule and Feeding Guidance Baby Sleep Schedule 9-14 Months 3-6 Months Takes about 3 naps a day instead of many brief, irregular ones. 6-9 Months Takes about 2-3 naps during the day and it would be normal to have babies wake up once or twice in the middle of the night. 9-12 Months Takes about 2 naps and around 9 months, late afternoon nap disappears and each nap gets longer. Babies do not need bottle-feeding at night. As the baby takes only two naps a day, they tend to get more tired towards bedtime and it is recommended that you move bedtime 20-30 minutes earlier to accommodate the dropped nap.  Babies start to become active as they crawl, stand up, and scoot. This is the time you would need to transition to sleep sack with legs for safe sleep.  12-18 Months Babies take 1-2 naps a day. 18 Months - 3 Years Babies take one nap a day. On their 3rd birthday, most children (91%) are still napping every day. At age four, about 50% of children nap five days each week, and by age five, about 25% of children are napping about 4 days each week. Babies at this age do not know how to cover themselves with a blanket just yet. To have them sleep well, keeping them warm with toddler sleep sack is recommended at this age.  As your baby grows, there will be 5 turning points in their sleep pattern, according to 'Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child' book: 6 Weeks - Babies can sleep longer at night time 3-4 Months - Naps during daytime is more regularized 9 Months - Night time wakings for feeding and a 3rd nap starts to disappear 12-21 Months - Morning naps start to disappear and babies start to take one nap a day 3-4 Years - Taking a nap during the day becomes less common What If My Baby's Sleep Schedule Looks Different? Don't despair if your baby's sleep schedule looks different from the suggested sleep needs based on the age. Keep in mind that babies may go through sleep regressions, teething, or growth spurts. Also, if your baby is not sleeping well, you may want to look into sleep associations to see if it's disrupting your baby's sleep. Babies can also wake up when they feel too hot or too cold. You may want to dress them appropriately for sleep based on the nursery room temperature. Relevant Read: How To Dress Your Baby For Bedtime 5 Things You Must Know To Help Your Baby Sleep

By: Melissa Brown from Sleep Shop OC Do you want your baby to sleep better? What moms wouldn't? We asked sleep expert Melissa Brown to provide us 5 quick tips on how you can help your baby to sleep better. I get asked every single day, “How do I get my little one to sleep?” And while my answer varies based on the situation, the baby and the parenting style of the parent there are some things that no matter what remain the same. I refer to them as sleep fundamentals. While every baby is different and will sleep through the night based on a variety of things, there are little things every parent can do that will help with the process. Sleep is so important for babies, especially their first year of life! They will nap anywhere from 3-5 times a day the first 7-9 months of their life. At around 7-9 months they will usually take around 2 naps a day and by 15-18 months most babies transition to one mid day nap. Its important that we offer them the opportunity to sleep throughout the day because the better they sleep during the day, the better they tend to sleep at night!  The more consistent we can be with their sleep routines, the more sleep babies tend to get. Here are 5 things that parents can do that will greatly help their little one get the sleep that they need:  Relevant Read: How To Dress Your Baby For Bedtime Baby Sleep Facts 1. Set up the right sleep environment. You want to make sure that your baby’s room is ideal for sleep. It should be pitch black so that no light comes in from the outsides. This will help with naps but also to keep the light out in the early mornings so your baby doesn’t wake too early. Make sure you have a loud sound machine that goes the duration of the nap and bedtime, it will help block out noise and also brings comfort to the baby. You want to make sure that the temperature of the room is not too hot or too cold. A baby’s temperature fluctuates through different sleep cycles so you want to make sure the room feels just right. 2. Put your baby down awake. Don’t rock or feed your baby to sleep. A baby that is able to learn independent sleep is not only able to put themselves to sleep but put themselves back to sleep when they wake through different sleep cycles. 3. Try and get your baby to eat full feedings. Once a baby is old enough and big enough (and your get approval from your doctor) babies can take all of their calories during their daytime feeds and therefore don’t have to wake up to eat in the middle of the night. Full feedings help ensure that your baby is well fed. 4. Find your ideal wake time. Depending on the age of your baby, you want to make sure you are putting them down to sleep before they get overtired. Babies wake time can range anywhere from 35 minutes- 3 hours based on their age. You want to find the ideal wake time for your child and follow their sleep cues to get them down for both naps and bedtime more easily. 5. Establish a sleep routine for both nap time and bedtime. Babies LOVE routine and knowing what to expect. Make your routine sustainable, and get in all your cuddles before bed. The things you do will start to become sleep cues for your little one and will be part of the process of putting them to bed consistently and more easily. Relevant Read: How To Prepare Your Nursery Why Do Babies Wake Up So Often Melissa Brown is a Certified Sleep Consultant and has a Master’s in Counseling and Pastoral Care. She owns Sleep Shop which is a pediatric sleep consulting company and works with families all over the world helping them get their little ones on sustainable routines and sleeping through the night. She has extensive experience working with families during some of their most vulnerable times and has a back round in grief and bereavement counseling for families. Getting the chance to work with families and their new additions is such a joy and she loves walking alongside parents as they venture the peaks and valleys of parenting. She is a mother of 4, including twins. and believes that healthy sleep habits truly benefit the family as a whole. To learn more about Melissa and her work visit her at www.sleepshopoc.com.

By: Michelle Cormier from Sleepe-Zzz Consulting Parenting is a difficult role to play, and with the ever-changing aspects of it, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Knowing the fundamentals of sleep will propel your family towards success.  We have partnered with one of our favorite sleep experts, Sleepe-Zzz, to bring you the information on baby's sleep schedule for age group 9-14 months. The following sample schedules, tips, and information can make a difference in your family’s happiness as a whole. Areas of focus: Falling asleep on their own for all sleep Naps & nights in crib Set schedule vs wake time Age appropriate schedule What is independent sleep? And why is it so important? A baby who falls asleep by a sleep prop (feeding, rocking, etc) will expect that same sleep prop when waking in the night, or for naps. Since babies have many sleep-wake cycles after 4 months, a sleep prop dependency results in frequent night wakings, which causes restless and poor sleep for the whole family. A baby who knows how to fall asleep on their own, will do so without the assistance of anything/anyone. The effect of this will result in a child being able to transition sleep cycle flawlessly, independently, and will eliminate unnecessary night-time wakings and extending nap lengths. Every single person wakes through the night, even you. This may not be realized because most of us have the ability to fall into our next sleep cycle before our bodies are able to fully register that we are awake. So how do you get your baby to sleep without being held? And When do babies learn to fall asleep on their own at night? When you put a sleeping baby to bed, you are interfering with the development of your little one’s natural sleep triggers. Babies and Children need the opportunity to experiment and figure out what best soothes them. Learning not to jump in too quickly and save your little one from frustration is an essential part in developing. Not only does this apply to multiple taught lessons in childhood it also applies to sleep. Creating the perfect sleep environment for your little one: The environment in which your little one sleeps plays a huge role in the effectiveness of their sleep. To create the perfect sleep environment use the checklist provided below: Pitch black room. Your little ones room should be pitch black and have no nightlights. This means all monitor lights, and any sun peaking in should be covered. True white noise should be used, with a non-looping noise machine. No lullabies, rain, ocean sounds, etc. A non-consistent noise can cause more sleep disturbances. White noise should be kept at a volume of 50-65 decibels and should be placed at the opposite side of the room as your little one’s crib. The room should be kept at a comfortable temperature of approximately 20-22 degrees Celsius. Crib should be free of all distractions Always practice safe sleep (Alone, on back, crib) Nap & Bedtime Routines: Introducing routines for your little one with nap time, and bedtime creates predictability for your baby. Creating a nap time routine doesn’t need to be stressful, a simple consistent 5-minute routine is sufficient for your baby. Example: Diaper Change, Sleep Sack, White Noise, Lights off! Bedtime routines need to be longer than a nap time routine, but consistency is just as important. Lasting approximately 15-20 minutes, with feeds done outside of the sleep space and never at the end of the routine. Baths do not need to be present, but this is entirely up to you! Example: Bath, Pyjamas, Book, Sleep Sack, White Noise, Lights off! Example: Sponge bath, Pyjamas, Sleep Sack, White Noise, Lights off! Relevant Read: How To Establish A Bedtime Routine How To Dress Your Baby For Bedtime Set schedule Vs Wake times Set schedule: A schedule that doesn’t vary more than 15-20 minutes each day A set schedule at the age of 6+ months is important and should be implemented. The reason a set schedule is recommended at this age because it helps set your little one’s internal clock and adds more structure to their sleep patterns. By implementing a more structured schedule, your baby knows when sleep is expected which will help lengthen your child’s naps, and set them up for a successful night of sleep. Below are a charts for a little before the 1-year old sleep schedules up to 14 month old sleep schedule and a baby awake time chart: Wake time schedule: A schedule that is based on age appropriate wake times, which causes nap & bedtimes to vary (common for ages 0-6 months) Creating the perfect schedule can be tough. When trying to create an age appropriate schedule for your baby/toddler, keep in mind that each age has a maximum amount of time they should be awake before having a nap, or going to bed for the night. When transitioning from 3 to 2 naps, it is important to get the timing correct for your baby/toddler’s age. Nap 1 should begin between 9:00-10:00am, and nap 2 should begin between 1:30-2:30pm. Never be scared of an early bedtime during nap transitions, or bad nap days. No nap should ever begin before 9:00AM for this age group. As your baby grows, and daily sleep needs drop, it is important to “cap the nap” for first nap, in order to save sleep pressure for the second nap, and the same for second nap with bedtime. As a child becomes closer to the 1 nap transition, one nap may become shorter, and need to be spaced further apart. Transition from 2 to 1 nap 14-15 months is the most common age for your toddler to make the change to 1 nap. This nap transition is the toughest transition to make, consistency and patience are key to making this a success. If your little one is not showing signs of being ready, do not push. This push can backfire, and cause an overtired toddler, which results in restless, broken sleep for everyone. Signs your little one is ready:  Taking a long time to fall asleep, and then taking a short nap  Sleeping too long in the morning and shortening second nap  Starting to completely refuse one nap These signs should be happening 3-5 times a week, and for at least 2 weeks straight. By waiting 2 weeks this will ensure your toddler isn’t just experiencing a sleep regression or just a bump in the road. Shifting from 2 to 1 nap Start by shifting your morning nap by 30-45 minutes every 3-4 days. Afternoon nap should be shifted 15-30 minutes to accommodate a later morning nap, which will ultimately cause a later bedtime, this is OKAY and only temporary. Once your reach 11:00-11:30am, you will not offer an afternoon nap and will instead bring bedtime earlier to make up for the lack of second nap. Continue to shift until your reach your desired time (11:45am-1:00pm depending on morning wake up) Sleep Regressions The word regression doesn’t define what a sleep regression truly is. From here on out, I want to try and find a new word to explain a sleep regression, rather than the word regression. In fact these disturbances in sleep aren’t much of regression at all, but technically a progression in your little one’s development. This can be a difficult stage for most parents, and babies. Your once little baby is coming closer to toddlerhood and starting to develop their own personality and behaviours. There are two common periods of time in which your little one will experience sleep disturbances; 8,9,10 sleep regression 12 month sleep regression The 8,9,10 regression You’ve just barely made it out of the 4 month regressions, and now there is another one. The first two regressions both coincide with standard nap transitioning. Around the 4 month regression, babies go from 4 naps to 3; around 8-10 months, babies go from 3 naps to 2. Things typically settle down in sleep terms from 5 months until 8/9 months and then suddenly out of nowhere, your once sweet sleeper is now taking short naps, and waking frequently during the night. The 8,9,10 sleep regression is one of the largest sleep regressions your little one will experience aside from the 4 month regression. What makes this regression so difficult? The 8-10 month regression happens due to the development of your baby’s brain and physical milestones such as; crawling, standing, walking. There is a lot happening inside your little one’s head and body at this age. He/She may begin sitting up independently, crawling, scooting, pulling up, and even walking. This is a lot for a little baby to handle all at once, and sometimes the practice that goes along with these new found skills, can happen at the wrong times. When a new skill is developing, your little ones brain and body goes into overdrive and wants to practice, practice, practice even when they should be sleeping. The 12 Month Regression I know what you are thinking, how can there possibly be another sleep regression, right after the 8-10 month regression. Good news: The 12 month regression doesn’t hit as hard for most toddlers compared to the 8-10 regression, and is typically short lived. This regression is showcased by fighting naps, resisting bedtime and waking throughout the night. This regression almost ALWAYS causes your toddler to resist a nap, and is 90% of the time the second nap. This can cause parents to transition onto 1 nap too soon, resulting in even more sleep struggles. The 12 month regression happens due to walking, language development, separation anxiety, and a fear of missing out. Your toddler is becoming their own little person, which means they are interested in learning, and they do that by watching those around them. Pair their new found fear of missing out with separation anxiety, and frustrations are at an all time high. The best way to handle this part of the regression is to spend some quiet one-on-one time together prior to sleep, and try to make sleep times enjoyable rather than a stressful event for all. Surviving the regressions Maintain consistency within your child’s schedules and routines. Do not fall back on old habits as this causes the regression to last longer. Introduce a security item (if over 12 months) Shift bedtime earlier to avoid your toddler becoming overtired if short naps are happening. Set boundaries and check your reactions to the behaviours surrounding sleep. If all else fails - implement sleep training techniques! Staying consistent with your little one’s routines, and schedules will benefit everyone in your family. Restful sleep is an essential part of growing, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Lack of sleep can seep into all areas of your life, and is not a pleasant experience for anyone. Healthy sleep habits will follow your child through-out their whole life, let’s teach our children that their sleep is important. If your baby is 9-14 months and sleep is still tough, it may be time to contact a Certified Sleep Consultant, and consider a form of sleep training. For more insight and help, visit www.sleepe-zzzconsulting.com. It’s time for parents and children to get the sleep they need.

By: Desiree Baird Nutrition plays an important role in sleep, especially for babies and toddlers. When your baby relied solely on milk for nutrition, you may have been following a routine of eat, activity and sleep. This was important at the time to ensure that your little one wasn’t associating feeding with sleep (AKA: feeding to sleep association). However, once your toddler starts eating whole foods, you may have questions such as:  How often should you feed her/him? At what times of the day? What types of foods encourage the best sleep possible? Read below to find out how nutrition may affect toddler sleep! How does nutrition influence sleeping patterns in toddlers? Your little one should be offered 3 meals a day, and 2 snacks with milk / water.  Milk and water are the best drinks for your little one. It is widely recommended to avoid sugary drinks and juice as much as possible.  Offering your child regular meals and snacks throughout the day with lots of fluids may prevent behavioral difficulties (in toddlers) due to low blood sugar or / and dehydration.  When it comes to sleep, it’s recommended to offer lunch about 45 – 60 minutes prior to naptime, and to offer dinner approximately 1.5 – 2 hours prior to bedtime. This will ensure that your little one’s tummy is full, but not uncomfortably full going to bed.  If your little one does not like what is for dinner,  try to offer a small snack about an hour prior to bedtime. Bananas, yogurt, whole wheat toast with peanut butter (for littles with no allergies or sensitivities) or a bowl of whole-grain cereal works great! Additionally, children thrive on routines, especially toddlers. It helps them feel secure, so they know what is happening next in their day. Having meals and snacks around the same time every day is also equally as beneficial for their body. Here’s an example of a day schedule for sleep and mealtimes for an 18-month old: A full stomach does not necessarily translate to a better nap Believe it or not, a full stomach doesn’t necessarily translate to better sleep. Your child’s appetite will ebb and flow just like for us adults. Of course, you should offer your child lunch before nap time, but if they refuse  lunch or they only take a few bites don’t fret — it does not mean that their  nap quality will be affected. In fact, a toddler needs very little food to fill their small stomach.  So, the next time your toddler turns their nose up at lunch,  proceed with your day and get ready for naptime shortly after. Foods for better sleep and foods you should avoid Certain foods are hard on the digestive system and can pose some sleep issues for your little ones. On the flipside, there are sleep inducing foods that are high in tryptophan and help promote a better night’s rest.  Tryptophan, which I’m sure you already know is in turkey, has a calming effect on the brain making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.  The body converts the amino acid into serotonin and melatonin. Additionally, foods that are high in complex carbs and have small amounts of proteins will also improve sleep.  Dairy products (particularly milk) are jam-packed with tryptophan and a great option to have before bedtime.  Just be sure to make sure your little one brush their teeth afterwards, milk can cause tooth decay if consumed before bedtime. Below are a few examples of sleep -inducing foods to offer your toddler as part of their dinner (or pre-bed snack): Whole grain toast with a pat of butter Whole grain cereal (without sugar) Whole grain pretzels, crackers Whole grain bagel or pasta Bananas, kiwi, cherries Almond or peanut butter on graham crackers Turkey, Salmon Oatmeal Rice Cottage cheese Yogurt Milk Just like there are good foods, there are bad ones that you should do your best to avoid that work against sleep: Caffeine (soda, chocolate, chocolate ice cream, etc.) High protein or fatty foods such as burgers and red meat (takes long to digest) Beans and legumes High sugar cereals Dried fruit Pizza What about fruits and veggies?   As you may be aware, fruits and veggies are important for your toddler’s overall health — but some are definitely better than others when it comes to promoting sleep.   For example, fruits and vegetables high in calcium and magnesium: leafy greens (kale and spinach), oranges, blackberries, bananas, kiwis, avocados, grapefruit, etc., can help your toddler fall and stay asleep longer.   Magnesium and calcium are known to naturally calm the nervous system. Certain vegetables you may want to avoid before nap or bedtime include: broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, asparagus and cauliflower — all which are known to cause excess gas. Since fruit is easily digestible, you may want to offer it as part of an afternoon snack. Nutrition is only one piece of the sleep puzzle Nutrition plays an important role when it comes to sleep; however, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Room environment, age appropriate schedule, activity level and routines all contribute to sleep too. When working through sleep troubles be sure to assess nutrition; however, this alone is not going to fix sleep troubles if something else is affecting your little one. About Desiree Desiree Baird (@the_sleepcoach) 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.

By: Becca Campbell There’s nothing more frustrating than laying your baby down for a nap, settling into a work at home rhythm (or catching up on Netflix — yassss) and BAM!  Your baby wakes up the moment you get to a second email.  Is a 30 minute nap good enough? Why is your baby taking short naps?  We have asked sleep consultant Becca from Little Z’s  to provide us insight on how to help your baby to take longer naps. Becca worked with thousands of families who were frustrated with short naps and these top 3 ways will help prevent short naps from happening:  3 STEPS TO HELP END THE SHORT NAP CYCLE STEP 1: Ensure your child’s room is 100% dark You’ve probably heard that the darker the room, the better the sleep. SERIOUSLY, don’t skip this step! Here’s what’s really happening: You put your baby down for a nap and they fall asleep; their body lifts from one sleep cycle, ready to drift into another... BOOM! The sunlight enters closed eyelids sending a signal to the brain that it’s time to get up! Want to take a guess on how long that sleep cycle lasts? An average of 30 minutes.  So if you’ve been convinced that your child should learn to sleep anywhere, I get it! You want to have flexibility. But the truth is, if any speck of sunshine is peeking through the room, your child will more than likely wake up after one sleep cycle ready to resume their day.  One of the best solutions for blackout (that can be removed or lifted during the day) are the Blackout EZ Covers. They can easily be cut down to the window size, and are perfect for those odd-shaped decorative windows that may be in your baby’s room.  One of the exercises you can do is walking through the child’s room with the blinds closed, curtains closed and lights off. Sit down, let your eyes adjust to the darkness. If you can see lights coming in through the sides or you can see your hand in front of your face, we need to make a change! Need something quick before the next nap? You can also try a foil hack here. Relevant Read: 5 Tips To Help Baby Transition From Crib To Toddler Bed Baby Sleep Schedule 9 - 14 months STEP 2: Is your baby awake enough?  It sounds crazy,  but if your baby isn’t awake long enough, then they won’t sleep long enough. I’ve seen this time and time again with a 7-month-old who is switching to a two nap schedule. Baby has been waking in the morning at 7 a.m., and going down for a 9 a.m. nap. That’s just two hours of wake time, going on for about a month. All of the sudden, baby starts taking 30 minute naps instead of the 1 hour 30 minute naps. What’s happening? It’s dark...it’s quiet...baby had a great feed...what is going on?!  Awake windows for babies are changing! Yep! If you aren’t staying on top of your baby’s ever-changing awake windows and schedules, then chances are the short naps are happening because we need to tweak the schedule.  Use this table below for quick reference! Staying on top of a child’s changing nap schedule can seem exhausting, but trust me. If you *aren’t* keeping up to date on things, the short naps will become exhausting for baby and you! STEP 3: Don’t rush! Remember when you had a newborn and YOU woke up throughout the night because of their (cute) grunts, whimpers and coos? Babies are noisy! While they do grow out of many of those little whimpers, we naturally make noises and shift as we sleep.  No one gets into their bed and stays totally still for 8+ hours a night.  It’s very common that as your baby changes from one sleep cycle to another, they may make noises and more than likely will move their body around. Before you rush in because they are “awake” — just watch them!  The beauty of a video monitor is that we can see exactly what is going on! Watch and see.  Is your baby trying to roll over to get cozy again?  Is your baby trying to find their fingers to suck on to soothe themselves?  Is your baby going to let out a few drowsy cries before going back to sleep?  Just wait.  “But how long!?” This one hundred percent depends on your sleep philosophy and how you have sleep trained your baby.  If your little one knows how to sleep independently, you may need to wait around ten minutes (depending on protest levels) before calling the nap “over.”  If your little one doesn’t know how to independently sleep, you will need to get them up fairly quickly, or get them back to sleep quickly, as they are searching for whomever/whatever it was that helped them sleep in the first place.  Waiting a few minutes to see if your baby is ready to get up, or is going back to sleep, means the difference between a 30 minute nap or a 1.5 hour nap.  It’s powerful to allow your baby space and watch what they will do! Short naps are so frustrating! It can take as long as four to six weeks, or as soon as the next nap — depending on where your family is in the sleep journey.  As you’re reading this, it’s super easy to implement these 3 steps before the next naptime.  Head to your child’s room and check the darkness level Keep them awake long enough so they can sleep long enough Don’t rush right in. Wait to see how your baby may be trying to self-soothe Most of all, don’t just blindly work on short naps. Use a sleep log to keep track of your child’s nap progress. It may seem tedious, but you’ll be so encouraged by small wins as you work on these short naps and make progress.   Sweet dreams are coming soon! Relevant Read:  Baby's Sleep Explained - Why Do They Wake Up So Often What is TOG? And What Thickness Sleeping Bag Do I Need For My Baby?   Written by Becca Campbell, Owner of Little Z's   Before I began this consulting journey, I was an Elementary teacher with a massive sleep debt thanks to our first child. After waking up one night with my daughter in my arms and not remembering how she got there, I realized something had to change. This launched me into a world of solving our problem by working with a Sleep Consultant, and now 5 years later Little Z’s serves families around the world through our online courses for ages 0-5 years! My ultimate mission is to help you make sleep a thing for your family. No one needs to just survive these parenting years, and with a full night of sleep we can truly *enjoy* these precious young years with our children.