Nailing down a consistent nap schedule is often half the battle during of a sleep training process. Naps can take 2-6 weeks to solidify and until then, there will be “good” nap days and “bad” nap days, this is all within the realm of normal. The best thing we can do to get naps on the right track is establish …
Needing Sleep: High Need vs Special Needs
When people hear the term “high need baby”, many automatically think “special needs” which can stir up a lot of emotion for parents. In reality, high need and special needs are very different and need to be addressed differently. According to pediatricians Drs. William and Martha Sears, the doctors who coined the term “high need baby”, it underscores the idea …
Three Research-Backed Ways To Help Your High Need Baby Sleep
In a recent survey, I asked parents of high need babies about sleep. Based on what I’ve heard from parents over the past 9 years of running The Fussy Baby Site, I felt quite confident in being able to predict what they were going to say: that their high need baby had troubles falling asleep, staying asleep and overall, got …
Is Sleep Training Right for My Family?
The sleep training process is often a mystery for parents. I get calls from parents all of the time knowing they need help, but don’t know if sleep training is the right option for them. Here are some common questions and answers that help parents make an informed decision. My child has a difficult temperament and things like this never …
Never Underestimate the Power of Dad
When a new baby is born, many fathers don’t know how or when to step in and help. They might be confused about their role, wanting to be supportive, but not always confident in their abilities to care for an infant. Dad can actually be the “secret weapon” when it comes to infant care, many times they just need a …
A Plan of Attack for Naps
Naps are an important piece of overall healthy sleep, and nailing down a consistent nap schedule is often half the battle during the sleep training process. The best way to get naps on the right track is establishing timing, so you are able to put your child to sleep according to their biological sleep wave (learn more about sleep waves in …
When is One Nap Enough?
One of the most common situations I address when working with a family is the nap transition for their child to the appropriate number for his or her age. The biggest, and often most complicated, transition is from two naps to one, which typically happens around 18 months. Many times parents will try to transition too early, which almost always …
Making the Return to Work a Little Easier
I recently read how Johnson & Johnson and Vodafone, a large communications company, are both putting some pretty amazing policies in place to make it easier for new moms to transition back into the work place. Vodafone is not only are they giving their employees 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, but they are also letting them work 30 hours at full …
Creating a Happy and Healthy Sleep Environment
When you first bring home your little one home from the hospital, there may be a moment or two of doubt; “Do I have everything I need?” “Did I set everything up right?” Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure the baby nursery is set up for sleep success! Avoid Distractions Keeping the baby’s crib free from …
Staying Ahead of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time can throw anyone’s schedule off, especially a small child. Fortunately, while it might put a kink in your schedule for a few days, you can easily get back on track! Here are a few tips to make the transition to the time change much easier. Gradual Transition: Gradually shift your child’s sleeping schedule to help ease them …