You probably know by now that one easy way to help maximize your little one's sleep is to create a predictable bedtime routine. Routines help our children know what is coming next, so a bedtime routine signals to your baby or toddler that it is time to wind down, and to get sleepy. This can help greatly in getting your little one to fall asleep quickly. However, not all routines are created equal! And if there are problems with your bedtime routine, then it may not help your baby or toddler
baby sleep routine
3 Tips to Help Your Partner Put Baby to Bed
In our work with families over the years, we’ve discovered that often, one parent handles the baby’s bedtime routine. One parent does the rocking, one parent does the reading, one parent does the tucking...you get the idea. We’ve also discovered, however, that most parents would welcome some help from their partner at bedtime! And many partners would welcome the chance to tuck their little ones in on a regular basis. After all, bedtime provides the opportunity for some quality,
When Your Babysitter or Nanny Just Won’t Stick To The Baby’s Schedule
Those of you who rely on the aid of a babysitter or a nanny to help you care for your little one know what a blessing it can be to have childcare help. Raising a child is hard, hard work, after all! And while many cultures around the world consider it the norm to have extended family help with childcare, that's not usually the case in the Western world. Here in the West, many parents are often alone in their child-rearing. So having the help of a babysitter or nanny can be a real
5 Things To Do BEFORE Sleep Training
You just can’t take it anymore. The exhaustion, the bleary eyes, the waking-up-more-times-each-night-than-you-thought-humanly-possible...you’ve had it! “Enough is enough!” you’ve said to yourself. It's time to take action. It's time to reclaim your nights. This, readers, is the point at which many parents first visit the Baby Sleep Site. They’re beyond exhausted. They know their babies are waking more frequently than is necessary, but they just don’t know how to make the night waking
How Moving Homes Can Affect Your Child’s Sleep
For most of us, moving does NOT top our list of things we enjoy. Moving creates a multitude of things to worry about, after all. Once you’ve found a new place to buy or to rent, you’re still not even close to done. What about transferring your mail? Or shutting off your utilities? And if your move is an international one, the list gets even longer -- what about work visas and passports? Which possessions should you sell and which should you ship? Moving is not for the faint of heart,
Dr. Sears vs. Dr. Weissbluth in an Online Chat About Your Baby’s Sleep
About a month ago Drs. Sears and Weissbluth both participated in an online chat with Chicago Tribune's health reporter, Julie Deardorff. I think back to a few key points raised in the chat that still surprise me how disconnected doctors can be to parents. Perhaps it's because it's been a long time since they've been parents to young babies. Or, perhaps being doctors tend to give you a more scientific approach rather than a practical one. Either way, there are a few key points this article is
Getting Your Baby to Sleep in the Crib
When you were pregnant, you probably took great care in designing your baby's nursery and carefully selected the best items for your baby registry. One of the most important things in the nursery is your baby's crib. After all, she will sleep in her crib for 2 to 4 years, right? Unfortunately, for some of us, sleeping in the crib is just a nice dream. After you had your baby, you might have purposely decided to keep baby in your room in a co-sleeper bassinet and imagined transitioning her to