Understanding Your Baby’s Early Morning Wakings
Most of this article will apply to babies older than 4 months. Babies younger than four months still have developing circadian rhythms, and some might even still be balancing out from Day/Night Confusion. Circadian rhythms are internal clocks that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. In young babies, these rhythms are still maturing, which means they may not be able to sleep through the night as consistently as adults do. It also means that your little one may not have the same concept of Day or Night that you do. This will come over time, and if you are focusing on healthy sleep foundations, then days and nights will separate and become more balanced over time.
How to drop a nap when it’s time to transition
If your baby is suddenly fighting sleeps at naps or bed time, you might be wondering if now is the right time to be considering a nap transition? This is one of the hardest milestones to monitor as a new parent, as often nap transitions happen at the same or similar times as a sleep regression. How then, can you tell if your baby is in a period of transition or a sleep regression? If it is time for a nap transition, then how do you do it successfully? If you’re looking for answers to these questions and more, then you’ve come to the right place.
Top 10 Tips for Baby Sleep
When it comes to baby sleep, there is no one size fits all approach. By ensuring you have the right foundations set, you can help your little one learn to soothe independently. For some babies, this means simply allowing them a little bit of extra space at naps and in night wakings, and for others you may find your little one needs a less hands on sleep training approach. Remember that there is no wrong answer.
How to ditch unnecessary night wakings
There are so many reasons why babies wake through the night, and these persistent night wakings can cause everyone in the house to be so tired. When you are deep in the haze of waking with your baby, you might start to wonder, “are all these wakings are totally necessary?” Depending on the age and weight of your child, the answer might be no.
How to choose the right Sleep Training method for your family
If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that my whole journey to become a sleep consultant started with a boy who never slept. Those first few months with Liam felt so desperate, and I remember digging through countless articles on the internet looking for solutions that could help. There are articles upon articles with information about sleep training, and so many of them contradict each other. As a new parent, it can definitely feel intimidating trying to learn more about sleep training.
The Sleep Training Series: If you’re considering Sleep Training, start here!
These sleep foundations give your child the best opportunity for success, because you are providing them with everything they need to fall asleep, and stay asleep, getting them the rest they need.
What is Day/Night Confusion, and how can you help your baby through it?
If your little one is sleeping all day, and feeding all night, it can feel incredibly overwhelming. The lack of sleep is exhausting for everyone in the house, not just your baby. If your child is under the age of three months, sleeping all day and feeding all night, there’s a good chance they are suffering from Day/Night Confusion.
The Anchor Nap for Younger Babies
As a mother with babies that are highly sleep dependent, the Anchor Nap is one of my favorite tools. As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Expert, the Anchor Nap is my favorite place to start when nailing down a schedule for younger babies. Not only does the Anchor Nap allow for greater flexibility during the day for babies on multiple naps, it provides consistency as we work to train the extension of naps and connection of nap cycles.