You’re scratching your head on this one, right? The obvious answer would be pajamas, but the reality is that your baby can overheat quickly if they’re overdressed for bed. So, how do you dress your baby for sleep in the summer? Let’s take a look.
Being a new parent is exhausting in and of itself, but when your baby wakes at 3 am every night, it runs you completely ragged. The effects of sleep deprivation are dangerous when it becomes chronic. So, let’s take a look at why your baby is waking so early each morning and what you can do.
You’re likely already familiar with the circadian rhythm in relation to sleep cycles. To regulate those rhythms, the human body releases melatonin and cortisol. Melatonin relaxes the body to get it ready to sleep, and cortisol acts as a stimulant to wake the body. As perfectly constructed as the human body is, a predictable cycle is easily disrupted.
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As a Philadelphia-area pediatric sleep consultant, I’ve been asked almost every question in the book. Today I’m going to answer one of the top questions I receive: “What methods do you use?” The short answer is Sleep Sense™.
Authored by Dana Obleman, after countless hours of trial, error, and research, Sleep Sense™ is a complete system designed with easy to follow steps. The Sleep Sense™ program helps your little one learn and build the skills needed to independently sleep through the night. (more…)
If you’ve spent any time on my blog or my Facebook page, you’ll know that I’m a proponent of the sleep sack. And while you might find it strange to be talking about this as the summer heats up, but think about it—do you sleep without any covers? I didn’t think so. The sleep sack is a safe way to make your baby comfortable when they sleep.
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If you are one of the many families finding themselves at home more than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ve likely had your share of ups and downs over the months. While many families have enjoyed the additional family time, cabin fever is taking its toll. Here are some tips for staying sane with kids during the quarantine. (more…)
2020 was off to a great start. Your baby was a napping and sleeping rockstar, and all was well. And then a global pandemic forced people indoors, shuttered from the outside world, many furloughed or even fired from their jobs. If your baby’s suffered from a sleep regression, you’re not alone. While a milestone may not be to blame, a dramatic shift in your family’s routine or heightened stress and anxiety can be the culprit. (more…)
Just when you think you’ve got bedtime under control, your little one hits a milestone or some other developmental stages and all bets are off. The toddler years are full of hiccups when it comes to sleep, so I’m going to cover some of the most common toddler sleep problems today. (more…)
Thunk! Thunk! Each night you hear a rhythmic thumping coming from your baby’s room, and it’s happening so often that it’s causing you alarm. If your child bangs their head to go to sleep, you’re not alone. Let’s take a look at why the headbanging is happening and what can be done about it. (more…)
If you’re stumbling upon this blog from an internet search, you’re likely a co-sleeping parent. And odds are that you’ve encountered an obstacle with co-sleeping. If this is the case, then I’ll tell you now that there is no “best age” to transition from co-sleeping. Instead, the timing is more about when it’s no longer working for your family.
As a certified pediatric sleep consultant, my job is to help those families who reach out to me. So, if co-sleeping works for you, you more than likely don’t need my services. However, if it’s not working, I can help.
Because every baby is different, there’s really no best age to transition from co-sleeping — it’s really more situational. While I am not an advocate for bed-sharing, I trust parents to make the decision that’s right for their family. However, the basics of the Sleep Sense program require that I follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommendations regarding safe sleep practices. The AAP advises against sharing the same sleeping surface with babies and advocate for room-sharing as a safer alternative. (more…)
As an adult, you’re probably familiar with the interrelationship between physical activity, lower stress levels, and better sleep. In fact, you may have even begun an exercise regimen for those reasons, as many doctors now advise. So, it stands to reason that when sleep training a toddler, they wouldn’t be much different, right?