Comment your baby’s age, schedule and sleep struggles and I’ll give you some tips 💕 #sleepconsultant #babysleep #gentlesleeptraining #babysleephelp
Let’s end those short naps for good! #sleepwell #BabySleepSolutions #babysleeptips #babysleep #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach
What are your thoughts? Hate it? Tried it and it worked? Let me know! 👇#sleeptraining #babysleeping #babysleeptips #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #babysleep
Short naps are developmentally normal until 6/7 months, but be aware of these things that can sabotage naps…
Let your little one work on some independence when they’re happy and calm in their sleep space! #baby #babysleep #NewbornSleep #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach
Comment SLEEP CHART or follow the link in my bio to download your free chart! Help your little one sleep better until they are 3 years old 💕 #babysleep #bettersleep #babysleeptips #sleepconsulting #sleepcoach #goldendreamssleep
Are you in charge of the bedtime routine?
…or is your toddler?
If you find yourself saying things like this…
“She refuses to let dad put her down, it has to be me.”
“He has a meltdown if I don’t read him 8 books.”
“I have to lay beside her until she falls asleep.”
“He won’t go back to bed in the middle of the night so he has to sleep in bed with us.”
…then your toddler is probably in charge (or thinks they are)!
First of all, I GET IT. Toddlers are so perseverant when they want something, and it can get to the point where you just do what they want so they’ll go the 🤬 to sleep.
Here’s the thing though; if a toddler keeps making demands and getting what they want, they WILL begin to feel like they’re in charge. Ironically, this makes them feel highly uncomfortable, because they’ve been given a power they don’t know how to deal with. They’re basically left feeling insecure about their role as the child and your role as the parent. This manifests in the form of more demands, protests, bedtime battles, and anxiety.
So instead, take back your power and be their confident, sturdy leader! Meet protests with empathy and compassion, but hold strong to your boundaries.
Here are some tips to ease those bedtime battles:
⭐️ Inform them of changes! “I know you’re used to mommy laying in bed with you, but I won’t be laying beside you tonight. I’ll be nearby if you need help.”
⭐️ Use transition warnings. “I see you’re having so much fun with your Lego! We’ll start the bedtime routine in 10 minutes, so it’s almost time to start cleaning up.”
⭐️ Offer choices! Yes, you need to be the leader, but that doesn’t mean you can’t let your toddler make some decisions. Choices are highly intrinsically motivating. Use choices such as letting them pick the order of the steps in the routine, and/or picking from two sets of PJs which pair they will wear to bed, picking 2 books to read, etc.
⭐️ Make a b
What to expect for your 18 month to 3 year olds sleep! #sleephelp #babysleep #2yearsold #3yearsold #sleepregression #tiredmom #toddlerhood #toddlerlife #sleepcoaching #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #goldendreamssleep
Has your baby started rolling?
This is such an exciting time! They have learned yet another new skill. This can definitely cause some anxiety for parents when they see their little one sleeping on their belly.
If you find yourself panicking and running over to roll them onto their back again, there’s no need to! AS LONG AS you can check these boxes:
✅ baby is able to roll onto their tummy completely independently
✅ baby isn’t swaddled
Also, there should be no loose blankets, positioners, stuffies, etc in the crib. Just baby, and a sleep sack or pacifier if you use them!
As long as you are placing baby down on their back in a safe sleep environment, whatever position they get into after that is fine! A lot of babies LOVE sleeping on their tummies once they get used to it, so there’s no need to fight it!
Wondering how potty training will affect sleep?
If you’re potty training, that means you have to do daytime and nighttime together, right?
NOPE!
Daytime and nighttime potty training are very different things. It’s actually normal for nighttime potty training to happen months, if not years after daytime training!
In order for your child to go to bed without diapers or pull-ups, they’ll need to achieve nighttime dryness first. This will only happen when:
- nerve pathways that send signals from the bladder to the brain are better developed
- their bladder grows and they can hold it in longer
- antidiuretic hormone (ADH) production increases (which means less need to pee at night)
You can absolutely still potty train at night, but until your child is old enough to stay dry the whole time, you’ll just have to deal with one or two potty visits in the night.
I find it best to keep your little one in diapers or pull-ups until they can stay dry overnight consistently. Avoid juice in the evening, and encourage them to drink fluids during the day so they’re not chugging water right before bed!
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#toddlersleep #Pottytraining #sleepregression #toddlersleephelp #momsofinstagram #momshelpingmoms #firsttimemom #babysleepproblems #babygirl #babyboy #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #goldendreamssleep
The dreaded 4 month sleep regression!
Yes, it can be a doozy for some babies. But for others, you may not even notice that their sleep cycles have changed. It really depends on the baby.
For my own little one, it was hard. She went from sleeping 9-10 hours straight to waking up a bunch in the night, crying a lot at bedtime and taking way shorter naps. I tried to get through it by doing the pick up put down method. If I’d known then what I know now, I never would have used that method. It was too stimulating for her and actually resulted in more crying 🥺
However you choose to get through it, just know that it will get better! Some babies may go back to sleeping how they were before the regression, while others may need a little more help from now on. How you respond could have a big impact on how long the regression lasts!
For those who don’t want to sleep train, I like to recommend rocking first, and then gradually reduce the amount of rocking and try shush patting instead while they’re in the crib. It’s all about gradually reducing the amount you have to help your baby to sleep!
Hopefully this was helpful, and always feel free to leave a comment or DM if you need more guidance 👇
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#sleepregression #babysleepproblems #babysleep #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #4months #4monthsold #4monthsleepregression #sleephelp #babysleephelp #sleeptips #momssupportingmoms #firsttimemom #newmomlife #momlife #newparents #firsttimedad #parentingtips #postpartumsupport #tiredmom #tiredmommy #goldendreamssleep
#sleepbetter #sleeptips #sleepregression #toddlersleep #18monthsold #12monthsold #babysleep #momstruggles #momsneedtoknow #momshelpingmoms #toddlerlife #parentingtips #toddlermom #naptime #goldendreamssleep
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone say “sleep training teaches babies to stop crying because they know that no one is coming.” This is so incredibly wrong! This is fear mongering at its finest. If you’ve read this or someone has told you this, I’m here to assure you that this is absolutely not how sleep training works. People who say this generally abhor the idea of sleep training, and they tell this lie to try to convince others to not sleep train either. Here’s the thing; no one should be trying to convince you to do anything. If you don’t want to sleep train your baby, then don’t! That’s perfectly fine. If you do want to sleep train, go for it! Don’t let anyone guilt you out of it. Us parents deal with enough worries and guilt; we don’t need others spreading false information to make us feel worse about ourselves. Babies who are sleep trained will absolutely signal to let you know that they need something. Once they’re able to sleep independently, it’s usually just easier to tell what they need. Before I sleep trained my own little one, I had no idea what she needed when she cried at night. I put her to bed with a full tummy, clean diaper, made sure she was warm… and yet sometimes an hour later (or less) she’d wake up crying again. It was so hard to understand what she needed at the time. Now, I realize she just didn’t know how to put herself back to sleep after a brief wake up. It was very frustrating, because I knew I wasn’t meeting her needs. I would try to feed her, even though I knew she wasn’t hungry. I’d try to rock her, but that somehow made her more frustrated and upset. With sleep training, babies learn how to sleep on their own, so when they do cry out or fuss in the night, caregivers are able to better understand their needs. How do you feel about sleep training? .....#sleeptraining #gentlesleeptraining #babysleep #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #tiredmama #firsttimemom #newparents #newmom #momproble
This age group is so much fun! I loved all the changes I was seeing in my little one during this time. She said her first word (dada of course 😒) and her sleep needs changed so much!
I had no idea what “normal” sleep was supposed to look like (if such a thing even exists) so here’s the low down on what’s typical:
✨ 2 naps a day (if your baby is still taking 3, keep an eye out for sleep problems, such as nap protest/short naps/bedtime protest/early mornings. They will be making the change to 2 naps very soon!)
✨ 3-4 hour wake windows
✨ Nap duration 1-2 hours each
✨ 2-3 hours of daytime sleep
✨ Ideal bedtime is 7-8 pm, so cut off naps by 4 pm to avoid interfering with bedtime
✨ 10-12 hours of uninterrupted overnight sleep. Babies this age do not need a night feed unless your doctor has a concern. If you feed for comfort that’s fine, but if you don’t wish to do this anymore it is completely fine to stop offering night feeds.
✨ If naps are not consolidating, try a set schedule! Example: naps at 10 am and 2:30 pm.
✨ Sleep regression again! It is usually milestone related (learning how to stand, walk, etc). You may find it affects naps more than bedtime. If your baby is suddenly protesting a nap, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready to drop it; it usually means they are experiencing the regression! Power through and it will get better. Do lots of standing-to-sitting practice during the day. Babies learn by frequency and repetition.
✨Lower than crib mattress to the lowest setting!
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#babysleepproblems #babysleep #babysleephelp #babysleeptips #sleepregression #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #newmom #firsttimemom #tiredmama #newparents #momsneedtoknow #momssupportingmoms #babylife #momlife #sleeptips #sleepislife #babywontsleep #goldendreamssleep
“My baby hates their crib/bassinet!!”
Do you ever find yourself saying that?
This is normal! A crib/bassinet is an unfamiliar space to them. They’re brand new to this world, and for the past 9 months they were all snuggled up in a warm, quiet, cozy womb!
You can imagine how being placed on a firm infant mattress would feel quite different and not altogether welcoming. This doesn’t mean they will feel this way about it forever! It just means they need some more time to get accustomed to it.
Will babies prefer sleeping on you? Absolutely! Especially if that’s all they know. If you are prepared to offer contact sleeps for the foreseeable future, all the power to you. If you would prefer to have some time to get some work done or just relax while your baby sleeps, try putting them down for a couple naps a day (and at bedtime). Stay consistent! It might not always work (or not work at all), but if you keep trying, you will have success eventually.
You can try warming up the mattress by throwing the sheet in the dryer before putting baby down, or even wear the sheet around for a bit to make it smell like you. After placing baby down, hold your hand on their chest and shush quietly.
Your little one will adjust eventually, and all the hard work will be worth it! Keep at it, you got this 💪
Questions? 👇
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#newborn #newbornsleep #babysleepproblems #babysleephelp #babysleep #babysleeptips #newbornsleeptips #firsttimemom #newmommyproblems #newmom #newparents #sleep #sleephelp #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #sleeptraining #gentlesleeptraining #babylife #momlife #momsneedtoknow #momssupportingmoms #goldendreamssleep
This is a really important topic to me. When I first got pregnant, I started scouring the internet for all the products I would need once baby arrived. I saw all kinds of products like the ones listed above, but I decided to do a bit more googling before buying any. It was then that I realized that these products can be great for awake time/soothing, but are never recommended for sleep.
Please don’t get me wrong; if you use these products for sleep, I am not judging you. I am simply trying to shed light on a topic that I feel is very important. I thought the baby hammock seemed like an amazing idea until I realized how unsafe it really was.
The reason these items become unsafe for sleep is due to positional asphyxia. This is when a baby’s head position restricts their breathing or blocks their entire airway. It is a major concern/risk when babies sleep in the devices listed above. A car seat is safe for sleep when it is properly installed in a vehicle, but not when it is taken out of the car.
Items such as crib bumpers are also very unsafe due to the risks of suffocation, strangulation and entrapment.
Weighted sleep sacks restrict movement and could lead to a baby overheating or not breathing properly. All of these things increase the risk of SIDS. The AAP acknowledges that more studies are needed on weighted sleep sacks, but they warn against using them until they can be proven safe.
So, if you’re using these products now, and you want to change that, follow the ABCs!
Place baby Alone (without blankets, pillows, bumpers, etc)
On their Back (even if baby prefers sleeping on their stomach, always place them on their back first. Whatever position they get into after that is fine)
In and approved Crib or bassinet! Drop side cribs are now banned, FYI.
If you start following ABCs from birth, it will likely be much easier for your little one to adjust. Babies get used to what they know!
If your baby only sleeps well in a swing/lounger/bouncer etc, it will
So many exciting things happening in this age range!
Rolling, crawling, sitting up, babbling, learning how to eat solids… there’s so much to learn. If your baby isn’t able to do some of these things, don’t worry! Babies develop at their own speed, and there is a huge range for what is considered normal.
My own little one didn’t start crawling until she was 14 months old, but she said her first word at 9 months 🤷♀️ She is now a perfectly healthy 2 year old. Definitely reach out to a doctor if your little one is behind though!
Here’s what you can expect when it comes to sleep:
- 3 hour wake window plus or minus 30 minutes
- 2-3 naps per day. After 8 months of age they should have transitioned to 2 naps
- naps lengthen as they learn to connect sleep cycles during the day. Ideal nap length is 1-2 hours. If there is still a third nap, it is normal to be less than an hour.
- avoid naps later than 4/4:30 so it doesn’t interfere with bedtime
- 7-8 bedtime bedtime is ideal
- 10-12 hours of overnight sleep (with or without a feed)
- May night wean completely. Babies with a strong feed-to-sleep association will probably need encouragement to drop night feeds.
- chance of separation anxiety (keep an eye out for a new post soon on how to handle this)
- sleep regression! With all the new developmental milestones, it is very common to see a sleep disturbance. Stay consistent as much as possible, and practice those new skills during the day!
What is/was your biggest struggle with this age range? Mine was the night weaning and early morning wakeups 🫠
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#babysleepproblems #babysleep #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #babysleeptips #sleepregression #6monthsold #7monthsold #8monthsold #9monthsold #momlife #tiredmama #momsneedtoknow #momssupportingmoms #tiredasamother #sleeptraining #goldendreamssleep
Being the parent/caregiver of a 4-5 month old baby is an exciting and exhausting time! Your little one is going through so many changes and learning a lot of new things, so it’s completely natural to feel like a fish out of water when dealing with their sleep needs.
The first major change you will probably notice is the development of the circadian rhythm (this is what causes the four month sleep regression). Newborns only have 2 stages of sleep, but around 4 months this reorganizes to become the same 4 stages that us adults cycle through. They now spend much more time in a lighter stage of sleep, followed by a brief awakening between cycles. This is why it is a major benefit to have a dark room! Light can be stimulating = short naps.
3-4 hours of daytime sleep is ideal, but don’t panic if your little one is getting less than that. Cat naps are developmentally normal at this age.
3-4 naps per day. If your baby does take a 4th nap, it is common to be short.
1.5 - 2 hour wake window for a 4 month old, 2 - 2.5 hour for a 5 month old.
7-8 pm bedtime is ideal
Practice rolling during the day so it is less likely to disturb sleep!
5-7 feeds a day (every 2-3 hours)
If baby is under 15 pounds, they probably still need a night feed. If over 15 pounds, you can discuss with your doctor about dropping feeds.
What are you struggling with the most with this age range? Let me know in the comments. For me it was definitely the cat naps!
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#sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #sleeptraining #babysleepproblems #babysleephelp #babysleep #4months #sleepregression #tiredmom #newmom #firsttimemom #goldendreamssleep
A Friday funny. I mean, we’ve all been there, right? 😂😮💨
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#sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #babymemes #parentingmemes #parentingmeme #babysleepproblems #babysleep #babysleephelp #sleephelp #sleeptips #babysleeptips #tiredmama #tiredmomsunite #tiredasamother #momlife #momlifebelike #babylife #babywontsleep #newmom #postpartum #toddlersleep #parentingsolutions #parentingproblems #firsttimemom #goldendreamssleep
Is my baby ready to drop a nap?
What a great question! I hear this all the time, so let’s break down when transitions typically happen:
4 to 3 naps ⏩ 4-5 months
3 to 2 naps ⏩ 6-7 months
2 to 1 naps ⏩ 13 - 16 months
1 to 0 naps ⏩ 3 - 4 years
Keep in mind that these are just the AVERAGE ages that most babies need a nap transition. Some babies are ready sooner or later than this, especially with the last two transitions. I’ve worked with 12 month olds who are already on one nap, and 2 year olds who are almost ready to drop napping altogether. On the other hand, I’ve heard of babies who didn’t drop to one nap until 18 months.
Clear as mud?
Keep an eye out for those cues and chances are, if your baby is showing at least 2 of these signs consistently, they most likely need to drop a nap!
I’m curious, did your little one(s) make transitions within the average timeline, or were they outside the norm?
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#naptransition #nappingbaby #babynap #babynaptime #babynaptips #babysleepproblems #babysleephelp #babysleep #sleephelp #babysleeptips #sleeptips #sleeptraining #sleepcoach #sleepconsultant #toddlernaps #tiredbaby #tiredmama #parentingtips #parentinglife #momlife #babylife #newborn #tiredasamother #tiredmomsunite #newmom #momsofinstagram #goldendreamssleep
