Tis’ the season of family gatherings, parties, fun traditions, and more. It really is my favorite time of year. For some parents, it’s an extremely stressful time especially if you’re balancing all of the holiday fun while running on empty. Let’s talk about the holidays and your child’s sleep. If your kiddo is not a great sleeper, I can help. If you’ve got the sleep thing down, I’ll share tips on keeping it intact while during this season of joy.
As a child sleep consultant, I often hear from parents who are dealing with one of the most unsettling aspects of childhood sleep—night terrors. Watching your child experience a night terror can be overwhelming, but understanding what these episodes are and learning how to respond can truly be a light in the dark. My hope with this guide is to bring clarity, reassurance, and practical support to help you and your child navigate these challenging moments.
If you're a parent, you've likely encountered what I call a "false start." This isn’t industry jargon; it's a term that describes a common sleep issue many families face. Picture this: you’ve lovingly settled your little one down for the night. They drift off, only to wake up again 20-30 minutes later. Frustrating, right? Let’s dive more into what false starts are and how to address them effectively.
Motherhood is full of joy, excitement, and love. While these feelings are undeniably present, the journey is also marked by periods of exhaustion, loneliness, and overwhelming challenges—emotions that can be startlingly unexpected. The anxiety that accompanies sleepless nights, the frustration of an inconsolable baby, and the guilt that follows these intense feelings are seldom discussed openly.
How do you know if your baby is waking from hunger at night? Take a peek at this checklist to help you figure out if your little one still needs a night feed or is ready to sleep longer stretches at night. Often times a baby is simply accustomed to a feed to help get back to sleep. Once you know if this is the case or not, you can move forward more confidently.
When your baby is learning a new skill, there is a pretty good chance it’s going to disrupt their sleep. Babies love to practice these skills when they should be sleeping.
Rolling over is one of the first big developmental milestones that affects sleep. Most babies start to roll over around 4 months old. But, every baby is different and it may not happen until baby is closer to 6 months old.
If you’ve got a great sleeper, it can wreak havoc on your and your baby’s sleep. Below are a few things you can do to safely work through this big change.
Is your child’s sleep a hot mess after summer vacations? Oftentimes there is a change in a baby or toddler’s sleep that is significant enough to allow new habits to creep in. A child’s sleep can go awry for a number of reasons. It might be due to sickness, a change in schedule, or the arrival of a new sibling. But, one of the most common reasons is travel.
If you have more than one kiddo, you’ve probably considered having them share a room. There are pros and cons to room sharing. If you decide to make the plunge, there are several things you can do in preparation for transitioning your kids into the same room that will make the change so much easier and more successful.
Bedtime routines are beneficial for babies, kids, and adults. I have a routine that helps me settle my mind and prepare for bed. Here’s what I do: put on pajamas, wash my face, brush my teeth, put a glass of water on my nightstand (which I almost never drink) and layout my earplugs in case my husband snores, arrange my pillows and think about what I’m grateful for as I drift to sleep. The steps of the routine, which happen in the same order each night, help me anticipate going to sleep. The process is equally important for toddlers and big kids. And hey, if you’ve never had a routine for your kiddo, it’s not too late. Start tonight!
