Newborn sleep can feel like a mystery for new parents. You know your baby needs it, but figuring out how to get them to sleep well? That’s a whole different ballgame. Most of the time, it comes down to a lack of information about what newborns actually need and not understanding the science behind it. Let’s break it down.
Read MoreThe world of baby sleep can be a maze of conflicting advice and approaches, leaving sleep deprived parents feeling overwhelmed and uncertain how to help their babies get the best sleep possible. Two terms that often arise in discussions about baby sleep are "sleep training" and "cry it out." But are they truly synonymous? Or are there nuances that differentiate the two?
Read MoreMy baby woke up at dawn three mornings in a row last week. Literally, at dawn. And as a sleep coach (and tired mama!), it had me questioning the what and why behind it. After reviewing her schedule for a few days I was able to pinpoint some things that were contributing to her early wakeups, made some tweaks and we’re thankfully back to her regular 7am wake time.
As parents, one of the ultimate goals for your child is to ensure a good night's rest—for both your kiddo and yourselves. Those early morning wake-up calls can do a number on you, your child, and your whole household. Since you’re also likely a tired mama or dad and are possibly longing for just a little more shut-eye in the mornings, I’m here to share three practical tips that worked for my baby and could help your baby sleep in later.
Read MoreSo, you're about to embark on a family trip with your tiny human in tow. Yep, traveling with your baby – it can be a little chaotic to say the least. But fear not! While it's true that your kiddo might throw some curveballs your way, there are ways to make the sleep situation a tad less chaotic and keep everyone sleeping peacefully even when out of town. Here are five real-life, no-nonsense tips to help you survive – and hopefully even enjoy – traveling with your baby:
Read MoreAre you a parent in Southeast Michigan struggling to get a good night's sleep? You're not alone. Many parents face the challenge of getting their babies or toddlers to sleep through the night, leading to exhaustion, confusion, and frustration. However, there's a solution that could transform your family's sleep routine for the better: hiring a live-in sleep coach.
If you’ve been searching for a sleep consultant near you, stick around to learn more about the benefits of having in-person support.
Read MoreBe honest, are guilty of saying “my baby hates sleep”? As I sleep coach, I hear this WEEKLY!! I read regularly in Mom FB groups and get inquiries all the time with some form of this phrase. So many parents are convinced that their baby/toddler/child hates sleep or doesn’t NEED much sleep.
I hate to be the bearer of bad (or good?!) news, but children of all ages NEED sleep and WANT to sleep… often times they just don’t know HOW to sleep well on their own.
Helping an infant or toddler learn HOW to sleep is what we do and it looks differently for each child and family we work with. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways and in my experience there is no “one size fits all” solution, but I’m here to share some great tips with you to get you started.
Read MoreIf you’ve been a parent for any amount of time you’ve heard about the joys of sleep regressions. 4 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months… It’s fun, right?! But before you reach for that second cup of coffee, let's reframe the narrative. Sleep regressions, though challenging, are a sign of your little one's incredible developmental leaps. We’re here to share some positive and practical tips to navigating and surviving these sleep disturbances.
Read MoreWhen I tell people I’m a Pediatric Sleep Coach, I often get the response “Can you teach ME how to sleep better?”
My answer: “Yes, but you might not like what I tell you to do!”
That always gets a few laughs, mostly because it’s true and adults cognitively recognize that they don’t prioritize sleep as much as they probably should. But, I give the advice just the same because you never know what’s going to resonate with someone. It’s always possible that a simple tip surrounding sleep hygiene or nighttime routines will click and improve someone’s quality of sleep.
For clients, I tailor my guidance for each family’s own needs, routine, and lifestyle, but in general, here are the 6 most significant ways you can support restful sleep for the whole family!
Read MoreOne of my biggest pieces of advice as a sleep coach is to establish a bedtime routine early in your child’s life (or even in utero!) and to stick with it throughout their childhood. Creating a bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple with a bath, maybe a little infant massage, and include 5-10 minutes of stories or sleepy songs depending on the age of your child. Picking 1-2 books for a bedtime routine with your infant is a good start.
Here are a few of our favorite bedtime stories that can enhance your family’s bedtime routine and help your little one drift off to a peaceful sleep.
Read MoreFall is in the air! The days are feeling shorter, the sun is setting sooner, and things are cozier all around! And with the changing seasons, comes another change... the time change! I find this is something we all dread – not only because it means Summer is officially over, but because “falling back” often affects our mood and our sleep. And if it affects us as adults, you can understand how and why it would affect babies too!
As a Pediatric Sleep Coach, I help my clients and their babies adjust to time changes, address sleep regressions, and tackle any other major sleep issues. I find the easiest way to do this is to create a plan that you can execute with confidence.
Let's talk about baby sleep cues! As sleep coaches, this is one of the most asked questions for the newborn stage. It’s important to set the foundations of healthy sleep habits in the early months of your baby’s life before they are developmentally ready to sleep train.
Your newborn is so aware and communicates their needs to you throughout the day. Here are some signs that your little one is ready for a nap or bedtime:
Read MoreIs your baby up all night? Or waking constantly? Is “napping” basically a cuddle session that ends the moment you put your baby down in the crib? Are you beginning to think that sleeping through the night is a myth? If so, you might be a sleep deprived parent!
Frankly, sleep deprivation sucks and it's something that we at Detroit Dreams Tonight are on a mission to end.
Hiring someone to help your baby learn how to sleep is a reality of modern parenting and yet it continues to be a source of resistance for many parents. I know it can be tough to ask for help. Some parents have expressed feeling guilt over hiring someone to sleep train, others are worried they’ll be shamed for doing so and there are those out there that aren’t even aware that there are people they can pay to come help them! Wherever you’re at in this journey, I want you to know that it’s ok to ask for help. If sleep is a source of struggle in your house, I want to help you make restful sleep a priority, so today I’m sharing more about the benefits of hiring a sleep coach.
Read MoreAs a new parent you will receive so much advice once your baby arrives. And while that advice is coming from a good place, advice from your well-meaning friends can create confusion or doubt. Your own parents may insist that THIS is the only way to do it creating pressure and even guilt. The reality is, every baby and every family is completely unique and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to parenting. If there was, we’d have one (and only one) parenting book that everyone would read and follow.
One of the most talked about topics for you as a new parent happens to be a topic that we specialize in: baby sleep. People are so dang curious about your baby’s sleep.
“Is your baby getting enough sleep?”
“Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?”
“How many naps does your baby take?”
“Is your baby a good sleeper?”
And of course, “Do you plan to sleep train?”
That last one is a doozy too because there are so many misconceptions about sleep training. What one parent considers “sleep training” may be completely different than what another person considers “sleep training” so we’re going to take some time to clear up those misconceptions.
Read MoreAfter years of supporting families in Southern California, my husband and I made the move to Detroit where I am now setting up shop to provide in-home sleep training support. Upon my arrival I was curious to see if Michigan was any different then California in the way the culture and society deals with the postpartum period. Unfortunately, it seems to be quite similar and it’s clear that many families are struggling.
The months after a baby is born can be an intense period of adjustment full of physical & hormonal changes for the mother, relationship changes for the couple, and severe sleep deprivation. As a postpartum doula and sleep coach, I constantly see families battling this chronic sleep deprivation that often plagues new parents. I see babies with bags under their eyes and parents barely able to cope.
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