When your baby won't nap in the crib, it can be a long, exhausting day for both of you. Your baby might take short naps or take long naps but only in your arms. It's hard to get anything done having just 30 minutes or being confined to a chair while your baby sleeps. This post will explain why babies don't nap in their cribs and give you 5 tips for getting baby to nap in the crib based on my 10+ years as a sleep consultant. Why Won't Baby Nap in the Crib? There are usually a few reasons a
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Baby Sleep Cycles By Age Chart
Understanding how your baby sleeps can help you get your baby to sleep through the night, take better naps, thrive, and be happier! Part of understanding how babies sleep is understanding how their sleep cycles work. This post will explain baby sleep cycles by age and provide a chart for guidance based on my 10+ years as a sleep consultant. What is a Sleep Cycle? It might seem like we adults simply fall asleep and then wake up in the morning. But, in reality, we go through different
Sleep Training Newborns: How To and When
When your newborn isn't sleeping at night or napping during the day, the entire family is exhausted! You might be considering sleep training your newborn. But, how should you sleep train a newborn? Is it the same as an older baby? And, when can you start? This article will answer these questions based on my experience as a pediatric sleep consultant for over 10 years. Can You Sleep Train a Newborn? Yes, you can sleep train your newborn as long as we keep realistic expectations and have an
Wake Windows by Age Chart: Help Your Baby Sleep Better With The Right Schedule
Putting your baby on the right schedule can do wonders for your baby's sleep. But, babies change so fast and it's hard to figure out the right schedule. As a sleep consultant for over 13 years, I'm sharing appropriate wake windows by age in this article. Use this chart to help set your baby's wake windows, get onto a good schedule, and, hopefully, solve some of your sleep problems! What is a Wake Window? A "wake window" is the amount of time your baby is awake between sleep periods, either
10 Things to Do Before and After You Have a Baby
There is no shortage of things to think about when you have a new baby. As a mom and sleep consultant for over 10 years, I'd love to share some wisdom with you as part of your "village." In this post, learn 10 things you should do before and 10 things you should do after you have a baby! 10 Things to do BEFORE You Have a Baby (or soon after, if you already had the baby!) Below are the 10 things to do (ideally) before you have a baby. 1. Build Your Village Gone are the days when we
Can Baby Sleep With a Pacifier? And, Should They?
As a sleep consultant for over a decade, I can tell you that I talk to many parents every year. If you have a newborn, you might be asking 'can baby sleep with a pacifier'? If you have an older baby or toddler, you might be asking 'how to get baby sleeping without a pacifier'! Learn what you need to know about babies sleeping with a pacifier in this post. Is it ok for baby to sleep with a pacifier? Is it safe? This is one of the most common questions for parents of newborns to ask. Is it
How to Get Back to School Schedule and Maximize Sleep
Summertime is fun-filled with trips to the pool, vacations, movie nights, and late bedtimes. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. School starts soon and you might be wondering how to get back to a school schedule. This post will share tips to help your family start the school year out right! Why is Back to School Difficult? First, let's review quickly why getting back to school schedule-wise is so difficult. Our bodies have internal clocks and light stimulating our eyes
How Much Sleep Do Babies Need? Chart for Parents
Babies need a lot of sleep but how much exactly at each age? Babies need 10-12 hours of sleep at night and 2-4 hours during the day for most of their first two years. However, how sleep is broken down will vary by age. This post will teach you how much sleep your baby likely needs and tips for how to make sure your baby gets enough. How Much Sleep Do Newborns Need? Newborns sleep a total of 16 hours a day in various length fragments. Most newborns will only sleep 8-10 hours at night but in
How Long Do Newborns Sleep?
Most newborns sleep the majority of the day and night, waking only to eat and dirty their diapers. But, is your newborn getting enough sleep a day? What about at night? This post will cover newborn sleep patterns and how long newborns sleep at various times in the day. How Long Do Newborns Sleep a Day? According to the AAP, newborn babies sleep an average of 16 to 17 hours a day over a 24-hour period but usually in 1-2 hour segments. And, according to The National Sleep Foundation,