If you have a little one who is not sleeping well, please email me directly at: [email protected] to schedule a FREE 15 minute introductory phone call.
Yours in sleep,
Tracie / Rest Well Baby
Just because a baby is tired doesn’t mean he/she will fall asleep. This definitely caught me off guard as a first time mom. What can help is watching for what we call in the sleep world “sleepy cues”. These cues are really signs that your baby is getting tired. Some common sleepy cues are: yawning, getting fussy, getting red/pink around the eye, losing interest/looking away, getting a glazed look in their eyes, etc. By watching for these sleepy cues and paying attention to wake windows you can help your little one fall to sleep before he/she becomes too tired.
If you have a little one who is not sleeping well, please email me directly at: [email protected] to schedule a FREE 15 minute introductory phone call. Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby Traveling with children can be a challenge, to say the least. I like to say that traveling with young children is not a vacation, but a relocation. Those of you that have traveled with babies or toddlers probably know what I'm talking about. While traveling can throw anyone off schedule, trying to help your little one get the best daytime and nighttime sleep possible while away from home is key. A well rested child = a happier child. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when traveling with your young family:
*Try to follow the same naptime and bedtime routine that you do at home. Bring along a nightlight, his/her favorite books, and quiet toys, especially those that he/she associates with napping and bedtime. *Invest in a good travel crib and bring along properly fitting crib sheets. If your child is older and sleeps in a bed, bring along his/her favorite small blanket and lovey. *Bring a source of soothing background noise for where your baby will be sleeping: a sleep sounds app for your mobile device or a sound machine. *Plan your daily activities around your baby/toddler's nap schedule. If possible, let him/her sleep at least once per day in the travel crib or bed where he/she will be sleeping at night. *Enjoy your visit/vacation. Even if it means your child gets off schedule somewhat (you can work on getting back on track when you get home), making memories with your little one is priceless. Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby Daylight Savings comes twice a year - we spring ahead and we fall back. As the weather is getting colder and we are approaching the fall time change, here are a few tips to help you and your little ones adjust:
*Put your child to be at her regular bedtime the night before the clocks change. *Your child is likely to wake up a little earlier than he normally does (possibly 1 hour earlier according to the new clock). Try your best to start your day after 6am. *Plan your activities and meals according to the new time. *If your child is still napping, try to make sure she takes a good nap(s) so that she can make it to her regular bedtime according to the new clock. *If your child is no longer napping, do your best to put him to bed at his regular bedtime according to the new clock. If you think he cannot make it to his normal bedtime according to the new clock, then move his bedtime by 30 minutes for a few days until he adjusts. With some patience and consistency your child should adjust to the new time in just a few days. If you have a baby, toddler or young child who has difficulty falling and/or staying asleep and you would like some help getting your little one on a healthier sleep routine, please contact me directly at: [email protected] to schedule a FREE 15 minute call to learn more about the supportive sleep solutions I offer. As a general rule, babies (excluding newborns) and toddlers typically wake up in the morning sometime between 6:00-7:30 a.m. If your child wakes much earlier, then you'll want to treat that waking as a night waking. If your child sleeps much later, then you may want to wake him/her so that it does not interfere with nap and meal times.
If you have a baby, toddler or preschool aged child who does not sleep well, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at: [email protected] to schedule a complementary 15 minute introductory phone call to learn more about how I can help your family get the gift of sleep! Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby No - rather the opposite is true. Babies that skip naps tend to go to bed overtired, which then leads to a more difficult time settling into a restful night's sleep. Overtired little ones also tend to wake up more at night and wake up earlier in the morning. So, instead of skipping naps be sure to follow an age-appropriate nap schedule and remember that sleep begets sleep :)
If your baby, toddler or young child is not getting the sleep he/she needs please email me directly at: [email protected] to schedule a FREE 15 minute introductory phone call to learn more about the supportive, non-judgmental sleep services that I offer. Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby Babies bodies are programed for early bedtimes. When little ones are pushed past their natural bedtime they can become overtired, which causes their bodies to release adrenaline (they get a second wind), which in turn suppresses the body's production of melatonin (the natural hormone that makes us sleepy). All this usually results in a more challenging night's sleep for your baby and for you.
If you'd like to learn how I can help your family with an age-appropriate schedule, please feel free to email me directly at: [email protected] Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby @restwellbabysleep on Instagram @restwellbaby on FB For most families summer means longer days, later nights, more relaxed rules, and less structure. However, with school already back in session for some and around the corner for others it's time to start thinking about (re)introducing bedtime & morning time routines.
If your child has gotten used to going to bed late over the summer you can gradually move bedtime earlier in 30 minute increments over the course of several days till you reach your desired bedtime for the school year. Additionally, you can start waking your child up at the time he/she will need to wake up for school. This can help with pulling bedtime earlier as well as creating a morning ritual that allows your child to have a little bit of "me time" before beginning the day. If the word routine makes you cringe, it may be helpful to remember that children thrive with routines. In particular, a pre-bed routine helps children have an easier time transitioning to sleep. Bedtime routines do not have to be complicated. A routine of bath/shower, brushing teeth, books and cuddles done in the same order every night can help your child relax and sleep better. Here are a few additional tips that can help with your little one's sleep this school year: *Getting fresh air and exercise in the afternoon can help your child sleep better at night. *Engage in quiet activities (books, puzzles, coloring) leading up to bedtime. Loud toys and roughhousing can be stimulating and are not conducive to sleep. *Turn off electronics (TV, phones, computers, tablets, etc) at least 1 hour before bed. The light emitted by these devices can actually impede the production of melatonin thereby making it more difficult to fall asleep. *Preparing lunches, outfits & backpacks the night before can help reduce anxiety before bed and create a more peaceful morning. *Avoid caffeine, particularly in the afternoon, as it can interrupt sleep. Wishing you all a wonderful school year! Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby Who doesn’t want that quick fix? To wave the magic wand. We all do! But the truth is, in order to improve your child’s sleep you have to be willing to make changes and to stay consistent with new, healthy routines. And these changes can be met with resistance (at least initially). It can take time and effort. But if you commit to the process and follow the plan your child’s sleep should improve. And if you want help along the way, I’m here for you! You don’t have to do it alone!
If you’d like to schedule a free 15 minute introductory phone call to learn how I can help, please feel free to email me directly at: [email protected] Yours in sleep, Tracie / Rest Well Baby (@restwellbabysleep on Instagram) (@restwellbaby on FB) |
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