Your baby doesn't "hate" sleep

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Your baby doesn't "hate" sleep

Be 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.

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Navigating Sleep Regressions with Positivity and Practicality

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If 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.

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3 Common Baby Sleep Myths

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I don’t mess around when it comes to sleep and so when I hear these sleep myths being shared on Facebook Mom Groups or from well-meaning grandparents, I feel compelled to step in and set the record straight!

Sleeping too much during the day will negatively affect night sleep

No way, no how. NO. NO. NO. This myth is one that I hear SO frequently and it is the one that just makes me so upset.

Yes, newborns don’t have a developed circadian rhythm and can sleep more soundly during the day then at night. But once the circadian rhythm is established, consistent, well-timed naps will actually make night sleep better! If you’re keeping your baby up in the hopes that they’ll sleep better at night, all you’re doing is stressing your baby out and making them over tired, almost guaranteeing that they’ll sleep worse at night.

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6 Ways to Support Restful Sleep for Your Family

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6 Ways to Support Restful Sleep for Your Family

When 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!

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Preparing your baby to "fall back"

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Fall 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.

So rather than losing an hour of sleep, I'm here to share some pro-tips and make this dreaded time change a easier on all of you!

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How to survive sleep deprivation with a newborn

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The concept of exhaustion takes on a new meaning when you have a baby. New parents are often surprised at how tired they feel or comment that they were totally unprepared for how it would affect their mood and their overall lives. We’ve experienced first hand how difficult it can be to take care of yourself when your baby is waking to eat every 2-3 hours around the clock, but hopefully these tips will help you get some more shut yet until your baby’s development allows for longer stretches of sleep.

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6 Signs You Need More Sleep

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Is 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.

Here are six signs you need more sleep and should seriously consider hiring us!

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6 Reasons to Hire a Sleep Coach

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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.

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