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Sleep Training Myths In all of my years as a sleep consultant, I’ve heard a lot of myths about sleep training, some of which I would like to address today! Read about three of the most common myths relating to sleep training.
Night Feedings "Does my baby need a night feeding?" Aaaahhhh the million dollar question that so many parents ask. Of course, it depends on many things...
An Optimal Sleep Environment Try to keep your baby’s sleep environment simple—very simple. The less sleep distractions, the better. Limit the aquarium to playtime, and trust me—your baby will enjoy it all the more.
Overtired Baby When babies get overtired, they can be hard to settle. We want to prevent the overtired state so babies will go down for sleep easier. Here are some tips on how to prevent overtiredness in a baby as well as tips on how to get an overtired baby to sleep.
Easy Sleep Tips From being a sleep consultant for many years now, I have realized that most parents aren’t ready to jump into the sleep training process too quickly. Often, they do LOTS of research before even contacting me. Their research includes the internet, books, talking with mom friends and family members. Then, there is the pondering, should I? shouldn’t I? what are my own personal feelings? Is my baby old enough? etc etc. Believe me, I know because I have been there – the pondering (or indecisive stage) is my favourite – NOT!! My own pondering can drive me batty!!! Teaching your child great sleep skills isn’t a one-night operation. It takes some time, a lot of repetition, and plenty of discipline and diligence on the part of the parents, but for those of you who are desperate for just a little bit of relief, I have some tips that could help you and your little one get a few more hours of shut-eye, starting tonight without having to do full fledge sleep training. Once you have a bit more shut eye, you can ponder (eek) if you are ready for the next step! 1. Hello darkness, my old friend. Light, natural or artificial, sends a message to our brains that it’s daytime, and not time to sleep. Melatonin production is triggered by darkness, so start turning down the lights an hour before you plan to put baby down. Electronic screens, which emit a blue light are particularly inimical to baby’s shut-down process, so turn off those televisions and computers. For babies who wake up early, invest in some blackout blinds. This could be your one of the best sleep investments you make – we ALL sleep better in the pitch dark. 2. Turn down the heat New parents can be obsessive over their babies comfort, and making sure they’re warm enough while Mom and Dad are out of the room for the night is such a basic instinct that parents tend to overdo. Babies, like grownups, sleep best when they’re warm and snuggly inside of a cool environment. A warm nighttime onesie and a cool nursery, somewhere around 65°F and 70°F (18°C – 21°C) is the best way to ensure that baby remains comfortable through the night. 3. Keep it boring I know we all love the look of a cute mobile over the top of our baby’s crib, or the sounds of the little faux-aquarium with the little plastic light-up fish. Even though these gadgets may seem soothing to us, they can be too over-stimulating for your little one, during sleep time! Sure, keep them available for playtime, just not sleep time. 4. Be predictable A well-planned, consistent bedtime routine is conducive to a good night’s sleep, no matter what your age, but particularly with babies. Once their bodies and brains start to recognize the signals that indicate an upcoming bedtime, they will start preparing to pack it in for the evening as soon as that first step begins. Their energy levels will start to wind down, melatonin production will kick in, and muscles will start to relax. By the time you’re giving them a goodnight kiss, their system should be all set for a long, restorative sleep. Drop me a line and let me know how these tips worked for ya! Sleep Well!