How Your Baby or Toddler’s Schedule Can Be Isolating

By Danielle Leave a Comment

I’m an extrovert. Always have been, probably always will be. So much so that I occasionally take on a catering job as a waitress just to get out of the house and talk with people. 😉

Being a mom is the most amazing job I’ve ever had. And I especially love the moments when time just kind of stops and I am overwhelmingly aware of how blessed I am. It often hits me the most after another long day has ended and I’m snuggling with my girls during their bedtime routine. That is my favorite time of day…though pre-sleep coaching, I dreaded it!

I realize I am so blessed! But, to be honest, being a parent has also been super isolating as well. My kids thrive on routine. And while my husband and I used to be very spontaneous (we were married 7 years prior to having kids), our spontaneity has changed since we had children.

If you have a sensitive sleeper, you probably understand why. My oldest daughter, at 4 ½ months, was waking 8 times a night when I contacted Nicole from The Baby Sleep Site^® for help. Through sleep coaching and working with my daughter’s schedule, I was able to help her learn how to sleep well at night. However, as a baby and young toddler, she didn’t sleep well on the go. We made exceptions for special occasions (traveling, day trips), however, for the most part, she slept in her crib, where she slept best. Working my life around her naps wasn’t always convenient, and at times, made me feel stuck at home.

Some people understood my need to make sure she got enough sleep, while others didn’t quite get it.

I oftentimes had to ask myself if I was willing to pay the consequence for a skipped nap or late bedtime. Sometimes an event was worth it, though oftentimes it wasn’t. I remember going to a wedding across the country when she was 18 months. She was in a sleep regression and wasn’t napping well. To spend time with family, I was keeping her up a half hour or so late each night. When the wedding rehearsal came a few days later, she was exhausted! The day of the wedding, she woke at 4 in the morning and never went back to sleep. I tried my best to help her get a long nap that day; however by 8:00 p.m. that night, she was a wreck. We left the wedding early. Some family members understood while others told us to relax! They said, “She’ll sleep in the next morning if you keep her up!” Not my baby…not my experience. 😉

Parenting can be challenging! Making sure your little one gets the sleep they need can feel like a sacrifice. If you’re feeling stuck at home or “controlled” by your little one’s naps, you’re not alone! We, at The Baby Sleep Site^® (I became one of your sleep consultants here!), understand what it’s like to need to put your child’s sleep first, in order for everyone in the house to be happy. However, I promise this too shall pass. My oldest is 4 years old now and thinks taking a nap in the car is an adventure. She and I just traveled 1,000 miles in the car for a two week trip to see family, and it was won-der-ful! And guess what… when we stayed out late, she slept in! So, hang in there! You won’t be stuck at home forever.

Struggling with your baby’s sleep? We can help. We have helped thousands of families around the world with their babies' sleep problems, and we can help you, too! Take a look at our consultation packages, and see which one looks like a good fit for you.

Click here to see all our personalized consultation packages.

Once you purchase, you will immediately receive access to the Helpdesk, and you can set up your account, fill out your family's sleep history survey, submit it to a consultant, and get started on the journey to better sleep!

Want more information about how personalized help works? Check out our FAQ page here, and get answers. Or, read parent stories and reviews here.

Need Baby and Toddler Sleep Help? We Have the Resources You Need!

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

Or, join our Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part – members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services!

Can't decide which product or service is right for you? Visit our Getting Started Page for help.

Sleep Awareness Week 2017

By Nicole Johnson

Sleep Awareness Week 2017 Plus a Giveaway!

Feeling like a mombie? Surviving the days on chocolate and caffeine? There is still much to learn about what happens to our brains and bodies during sleep, but in recent years, scientists have made some startling discoveries about the importance of quality sleep for adults and little ones, alike. We all know that we feel less than at our best when we don’t get good sleep, but we may not realize just how much these lost minutes and hours affect us. With that in mind, we decided that we would devote this entire week to Sleep Awareness as a way to help promote healthy sleep habits and to focus on the importance of good sleep (which we know many of you are desperately striving for!).

To get us started, here are a few tips and articles to help you maximize sleep for your baby or toddler:

1. Babies and toddlers need a lot of sleep. After all, their bodies and brains are growing at an amazing rate and sleep is an important part of that process. Check out this article with more information about your baby or toddler’s daily sleep needs.

2. Babies and toddlers love routines and do well when they have a consistent, predictable schedule. Bedtime routines help to signal to your baby or toddler that sleep time is coming and schedules help to set their body clock for knowing when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to be awake. You can check out our baby and toddler sleep schedule by age as a good starting place for determining a schedule for your child. You can also use our our custom schedule generator for additional help in figuring out your child’s schedule.

3. Getting your baby or toddler on a schedule. Figuring out a good schedule for your baby or toddler is just the start. The next step is to work on getting your baby or toddler on a schedule. This article offers tips and information for how to get your baby or toddler on a schedule.

4. Spring Forward Daylight Saving Time. Be sure to check out our article with tips for how to keep your baby or toddler on track with the spring forward time change. While this time change doesn’t typically cause as much trouble as the fall back time change, it can still have some effect on your child’s sleep.

As part of our Sleep Awareness Week activities, we have partnered with Project Nursery. In addition to a fun giveaway, Project Nursery has shared their top tips for creating a calming nursery to help maximize the window of sleep for your baby or toddler. You can read their article here.

And we are over on the Project Nursery blog with tips for how to make sleep a priority for your family. Be sure to check it out as well as other great articles on their site with ideas and advice for decorating your nursery.

We are also hosting a Facebook Live event on March 8 at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET where Nicole will be answering YOUR sleep questions. Go to our Facebook Page to RSVP for the event and to post your top sleep questions.

Giveaway!

It certainly wouldn’t be a celebration without a giveaway and we have some great prizes. See below for the list of prizes and be to scroll to the end to enter!

Entries to the giveaway will be accepted today through 11:59 pm EST, March 12, 2017. Please note that some prizes are only available to US entrants. Prizes will indicate whether they are only available to US winners or available internationally.

Grand Prize

baby-sleep-regression-resources Super Deluxe Email Consultation Package (value: $189) – The Super Deluxe Email Consultation Package is a comprehensive package that includes a full evaluation of your sleep history and sleep issues, a Personalized Sleep Plan which includes a day by day action plan PLUS five follow-up emails for additional support from your Sleep Consultant and for fine tuning your sleep plan as you go along.

Additional Prizes

Project Nursery Smart Band (value: $150) The Project Nursery Parent + Baby SmartBand is a first-of-its-kind wearable device created specifically for parents which makes it easy to schedule and track events for both mom and baby. The Parent + Baby SmartBand includes features for pregnancy tracking, fitness tracking, setting reminders for pumping and sleep and syncs with an app on your phone. We especially like that it helps mom track steps, hydration and exercise as it’s important for moms to also be able to easily focus on their health and well being. Read more about the Parent + Baby SmartBand on the Project Nursery website. One winner will receive a Parent + Baby SmartBand. Available to US entrants only.

AMAZON1 $100 Amazon Gift Card – Who couldn’t use an Amazon Gift Card? Whether you use it for more chocolate and coffee or for something more practical like diapers, one winner is sure to enjoy shopping a little shopping spree just for them!

PNP100_group_1000x1000 Project Nursery Sight and Sound Projector (value: $50) – The Project Nursery Sight and Sound Projector comes with pre-loaded lullabies to help soothe your baby or you can stream your own tunes or bedtime stories from your phone or device using Bluetooth. It also includes white noise and other nature sounds to promote a calming sleep environment. It also works as a nightlight with multiple brightness settings and the projector features helps to stimulate baby’s learning with fun shapes and images. One winner will receive the Project Nursery Sight and Sound Projector. Available to US entrants only.

ESP_babysleepsite Express Sleep Plan (value $49) With the Express Sleep Plan you get sleep help in a hurry. After a short survey about your child, your sleep issues and your sleep goals, the Express Sleep Plan is available immediately for instant download. (Recommended for babies who are 4 months and older.) Two winners will be selected to each receive an Express Sleep Plan.

p_feature_box_diy_membership Members Area Subscription for 3 months (value: $37) The Baby Sleep Site Members Area is chock full of premium sleep information and articles. In addition to case studies and access to all of our ebooks, the Members Area includes member only content, teleseminars and a weekly Member’s chat with a sleep consultant. Members also receive 20% off all of our personalized consultation services. One winner receive a 3-month membership to the Members Area.

Cover_Baby_STEPS_to_Better_Sleep_small Baby S.T.E.P.S. To Better Sleep (value: $9.99) Baby S.T.E.P.S. to Better Sleep stands apart as the first resource to put parents in the driver’s seat. Other sleep books adopt a “my way or the highway” approach to sleep coaching, but not Baby S.T.E.P.S. to Better Sleep; this resource empowers parents with the tools and knowledge they need to gently coach their children to better nights and rested naps, in a way that fits their goals and parenting styles. The book outlines a step-by-step approach to help parents create their own sleep coaching plans; it also includes a number of helpful reference charts, including bedtimes and nap times, overall sleep needs by age, and sample daily sleep and feeding schedules. Three winners will each receive a copy of Baby S.T.E.P.S to Better Sleep. Available to US and Canada entrants.

Remember, the deadline to enter is Sunday, March 12, 2017, 11:59 p.m. EST. So don’t wait – enter today!

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How To Get My 14, 15 or 16 Week Old To Sleep

By Amy Bassett

How To Get My 14, 15 or 16 Week Old To Sleep

Previous: How To Get My 11, 12 or 13 Week Old To Sleep

Congratulations! You’ve just completed your “4th Trimester” otherwise known as your baby’s first 3 months ex utero and helped your 11, 12, or 13 week old sleep. What does this mean? For many babies it means they begin waking up more at night or have difficulty napping. Uh oh! So, it’s no wonder one of the most common questions we get here at The Baby Sleep Site^® is “How do I get my 14, 15 or 16 week old to sleep?”

While some babies can be challenging sleepers from birth, many will go through periods where they sleep well, only to regress. What’s a sleepy parent to do!? Let’s take a look at the 6 steps to help your 14, 15 or 16 week old baby sleep.

As soon as you get in to a nice routine with your new baby, sometimes 3 month olds will do a 180 and sleep quickly unravels. Whether your baby suddenly cannot be put down without waking up or has begun taking teeny tiny catnaps, you are not alone! And, we have the keys to getting your 14, 15 or 16 week old (and YOU) the best sleep possible!

How To Get My 14, 15 or 16 Week Old To Sleep At-a-Glance

Develop a consistent sleep routine
Review your baby’s schedule
Consider gentle sleep coaching/training
Create a sleep plan for your family
Gather support from your village
Prepare for the next sleep speedbump

And, now for a few details…

1. Develop a sleep routine for your 14, 15 or 16 week old

Setting the environment for sleep is crucial and part of cuing your baby it’s time for sleep is to have a consistent set of steps you do each sleep period, at night and at nap times. For those parents who aren’t that thrilled about strict routines, have no fear, the sleep routine does NOT have to be long. For instance, you can shut the curtains or blinds, change your baby’s diaper, sing a lullaby or two, feed the baby (if appropriate), cuddle the baby for a few minutes, and then lay your baby down for sleep while saying a key phrase (e.g. “Sleepy time for baby. I love you. Night night.”).

2. Review your 14, 15 or 16 week old’s schedule

For some 14, 15 or 16 week old babies, their sleep schedule is fundamental to helping them sleep well. Some babies are more adaptable or less sensitive and will not need a very regimented schedule, though for a lot of parents it’s a sanity saver! Since you may not know (yet) which type of baby you have at just 3 months young, I strongly recommend developing a good schedule to see what type of impact it may or may not have on your baby’s sleep. For all you know, that’s all you have to do! Some families, depending on their situation, can’t stick to a precise schedule as well as others, but just do your best. What type of schedule you ask? Check out our sample schedules here or make your own custom schedule!

3. Consider gentle sleep training (or coaching) for your 14, 15 or 16 week old

If the previous steps haven’t significantly improved your 14, 15 or 16 week old’s sleep and you’ve downloaded our free e-Book, 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep through the Night, it’s likely your 3 month old has sleep associations that need to be resolved with gentle sleep training. Ideally, you’d get a professional assessment of your baby’s sleep challenges, but if you feel certain a dependence on parental help is part of the issue, then you may want to consider gently sleep coaching your baby towards more independent sleep. This essentially involves helping your baby learn to fall asleep on their own, without as much help from you. Given your baby’s age and our experience, however, we do feel strongly this should be done using a hands-on, gentle sleep coaching method.

Not sure where to begin? Check out my tele-seminar No-Cry and Limited Crying Sleep Coaching Techniques (and Common Pitfalls)

4. Create a plan for your 14, 15 or 16 week old

If you’re considering gentle sleep training, you need to figure out what to do next. Some of us are planners and others simply “wing it.” If you’re not a planner, you can certainly skip this step, but if you’ve been trying to help your 14, 15 or 16 week old sleep for awhile now, you’ve developed a routine, reviewed the schedule and plugging along without a set strategy isn’t working out so well, maybe a plan is just what you’re missing. After all, it’s hard to know how to get to where you’re going without a travel plan. Make the plan as detailed as you want it, but having a step-by-step plan helps you stay on track, committed, and consistent. Not sure where to begin or need help creating your baby’s sleep plan? Consider making your own sleep plan or letting us create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ for you and your baby.

**5. Get support for your 14, 15 or 16 week old’s parents (you!)**

We hear everywhere that “it takes a village” to raise a child, but gone seem to be the days where we have a lot of help nurturing our babies. I don’t know about you, but my mom came out for one week when my first baby was a newborn, but that was about it. My husband and I were largely on our own. No Aunts to regularly hold the baby while I took a nap or enjoyed a (hopefully hot) meal. So, getting through this 14, 15 or 16 week old trouble spot can be tough without support. We sometimes have to recruit our own village. Consider hiring a sleep consultant or asking your partner, friends, or family members to help you implement your sleep plan. Having a support system in place can make all the difference in the world in reaching your sleep goals!

6. Prepare for your 14, 15 or 16 week old’s next speedbump

Whether you’ve already made some progress getting your 14, 15 or 16 week old to sleep or you’re just beginning your research into helping your baby sleep, it’s important to never lose sight of “what’s next.” Why? Because babies are constantly changing! So be prepared and make sure you plan ahead, and have a game plan in place, before the next sleep regression or speedbump emerges. Around 4 months old your baby may experience their first sleep regression. What’s a “sleep regression” you ask? Now’s the time to begin thinking about how you’ll help your baby through any potential setbacks (teething, travel, and illness are BIG ones!) – sometimes the key to overcoming or even avoiding setbacks is understanding when they are likely to happen and having a plan in place for how you’ll get through them!

So, is your 14, 15 or 16 week old sleeping? Or, maybe it’s time to learn how to get your 4 month old sleeping?

Need Newborn Sleep Help? We Have the Resources You Need!

If you are tired of wading through stacks of baby sleep books that just aren't working, if you are beyond exhausted and just can't solve your newborn's sleep problems on your own...than personalized sleep consulting is for you. Our team of expert consultants will create a Personalized Sleep Plan^® just for your family and then support you through every step of implementing your plan. We encourage you to consider our personalized, one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultation packages if you want to see real, meaningful results now. Your consultation package also includes ample follow-up help, designed to help you troubleshoot problems and tweak your plan as needed.

For even more help getting your newborn baby to sleep, check out our e-Book, Essential Keys to Your Newborn's Sleep . At over 90 pages long (and containing a variety of sample schedules for breastfed and formula-fed babies from birth - 16 weeks), this e-Book truly is a one-stop resource designed to help your newborn establish healthy sleep habits, right from birth. Whether you're a brand new parent or an experienced parents who needs to brush up newborn sleep basics, Essential Keys To Your Newborn's Sleep is a comprehensive and budget-friendly resource that will provide the information you need to work towards excellent sleep for your whole family, from day one. Grab your copy today!

Or, join our Members Area that will grow with your family. It's packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more and actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you'll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part - members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services! This is a resource that will truly grow with your child: it'll help you through the newborn phase and prepare you for the months ahead.

Can't decide which product or service is right for you? Visit our Getting Started Page for help.

Quick Tip: How To Tell If A Nap Transition Is Approaching

By Emily DeJeu

3 Signs a Nap Transition is Approaching for your baby or toddler.

Picture this. You’ve just gotten a nice, predictable daytime sleep schedule, you’re feeling good about life, and then, before you know it, your baby gets a little older and blows your perfectly-crafted routine to pieces.

I’m positive a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about (even those of you who’ve never been able to establish a nap schedule.) The first few years of a child’s life are full of changes, and those changes add up to mean ever-shifting sleep patterns and schedules.

This is really apparent when you consider a child’s typical nap schedule from birth to toddlerhood. Newborn babies take 5 or more naps each day; by 18 months, toddlers are taking one nap. That’s a lot of change! And transitioning between all those nap schedules can be a huge headache for little ones and for their parents.

Read on to learn more about how to spot a coming nap transition!

Common Nap Transitions: When They Happen

There’s no blueprint, of course, that’ll let you know exactly when your baby or toddler is due for a nap transition. However, here’s a general timeline that most babies and toddlers follow:

From 1-4 months, the number of naps your baby takes will be variable, but will hover around 4-5 naps per day, depending on how long his naps are and how long he can stay up between naps.
By 3 or 4 months old, she will lean towards just 4 naps, rather than 5.
From 5-8 months, most babies will have three naps per day. They will start to resist the fourth nap, no matter how tired they are. There are a few babies who will only have two naps at a very young age, but those naps are usually long.
From 9-15 or 18 months, on average, your baby will nap two times a day. Although many people believe most babies can transition to one nap at 12 months, the average age is actually 15 to 18 months.
From 18 months to 4 years, toddlers nap once a day. The age to transition away from all napping varies a lot, from 2 to 5+ years old, but the average age is between 3 and 4 years old.

The early nap transitions (from five, to four, to three) usually happen quickly and aren’t as problematic. It’s the other nap transitions (from three, to two, to one, to none) that tend to frustrate parents. Those nap transitions take longer, for one thing (my middle son has been transitioning from one nap to none for the past YEAR), and they seem to affect children more noticeably.

Common Nap Transitions: How To Tell If One’s On The Way

How will your baby or toddler let you know that a nap transition is coming? Here are a few signs to look for:

The timing of your baby’s or toddler’s naps begins to change: Before a nap transition, the schedule generally goes crazy. Nap time goes from being predictable to being all over the place. This can interfere with nighttime sleep, too — if the afternoon nap doesn’t happen until late afternoon or early evening, for example, it can interfere with bedtime.
Your baby or toddler begins consistently refusing a nap: Most parents find that their little one suddenly starts refusing a nap (usually an afternoon one) that, just yesterday, they agreed to without a problem.
The length of your baby’s or toddler’s naps begins to change. You may notice that one or more of your little one’s naps are suddenly much shorter than normal. This can be a sign that your baby or toddler is getting ready to drop a nap.

Can You Make Nap Transitions Easier?

For some babies and toddlers (especially those who are highly adaptable), nap transitions are a piece of cake — they only take a few days. If that’s the case in your home, then a sort of “cold turkey” approach to nap transitions might work well. Simply cut out a nap, re-vamp the schedule, and endure a few fussy days.

For others, though, nap transitions are difficult and loooong. If your baby or toddler is in that second category, you’d probably appreciate some suggestions as to how to make those transitions a bit easier, right?

We hear you. That’s why we’ve included so many nap-focused resources in our Members Area. Check them out below!

Special Members-Only Nap Resources

Mastering Naps & Schedules — For starters, all Baby Sleep Site^® members receive unlimited access to all our e-Books. That’s right – for the price of your membership, you can read all our e-Books at no additional cost! That includes Mastering Naps & Schedules. With over 45 sample schedules (all available for you to view in the Members Area), Mastering Naps & Schedules is THE e-Book for tired parents of non-napping kiddos! We tackle all your top napping issues, including how to get your baby or toddler to take longer naps, how to get your child’s naps to be more consistent and predictable, how to manage nap transitions, how to encourage good napping while traveling – and more! Become a member today, and access the e-Book instantly – no download necessary!

Nap Tele-Seminars — Another great members-only resource? Our tele-seminars. Hosted by Nicole Johnson herself, these 30-minute tele-seminars offer you insider-information and our trademark sleep coaching methods and techniques. And guess what? We have a special tele-seminar that’s completely focused on managing nap transitions. That’s right – as a member, you will have access to a 30 – 45-minute coaching session with Nicole herself! She’ll walk you through the basics of navigating nap transitions without destroying your existing daytime schedule, or ruining night sleep.

Members-Only Nap Articles — And now, we’ve recently added a special members-only article on this very topic: 5 Practical, Hands-On Tips For Managing Common Nap Transitions. Learn our 5 top secrets for how to gently and painlessly navigate nap transitions, and help them happen in a way that preserves your child’s sleep while also preserving your own sanity! 😉

For more details about all our member benefits (including weekly chats with a trained sleep consultant and 20% off ALL sleep consulting packages), visit our membership page, and consider becoming a member today!

No matter how you decide to handle a nap transition, the first step is to be aware of any nap transitions that are coming your way. Once you know the signs of a nap transition, and are prepared for the schedule-chaos they can create, you’ll be able to plan for how you’re going to get through the transition itself.

How have you handled nap transitions with your baby or toddler? Scroll down to share tips, to ask your questions, and to hear from other parents just like you!

Baby and Toddler Sleep Resources That Work – Guaranteed!

If you are tired of wading through stacks of baby sleep books that just aren't working, if you are beyond exhausted and just can't solve your child's sleep problems on your own...than personalized sleep consulting is for you. Our team of expert consultants will create a Personalized Sleep Plan^® just for your family and then support you through every step of implementing your plan. We encourage you to consider our personalized, one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultation packages if you want to see real, meaningful results now. Your consultation package also includes ample follow-up help, designed to help you troubleshoot problems and tweak your plan as needed.

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.

Or, join our Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you'll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part - members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services!

Can't decide which product or service is right for you? Visit our Getting Started Page for help.

Don’t Be a Grinch! Have a Well-Rested and Joyful Holiday Season

By Nicole Johnson

well-rested-holiday-baby-sleep-help

As parents, we cherish the Holiday Season and look forward to sharing these moments with our children and families all year. It is a magical time because although it may be cold and blustery out there, inside, our homes and our hearts are warm with love for each other and the power of togetherness. Most of us will host our friends and family or travel to see our friends and family who may be farther than we’d like. It is such a special time of the year; we want everything to be just right! We want to look and feel our best, we want our homes to look and feel their best, we want our children to feel and behave their best, and we want to be the best host or guest we can be. No one wants to be tired and grouchy and miss out on all the magic!

With the Holidays approaching, we, at The Baby Sleep Site^®, tend to get more and more parents desperate to get their babies sleeping well by Christmas. Most of these tired parents are at the end of their ropes and I remember what it was like to feel that way. But, there is one story that has stayed with me through the years. Knowing how especially tough special occasions can be when you are tired and struggling, I thought I would share Laura’s story today.

When I first met Laura over the phone, she was a dedicated mom with adaptable 3-year-old twins and a spunky ten-month-old. The twins had been mostly easy sleepers from start. So, when Zoe came along, Laura was caught off-guard completely. With the holiday rapidly approaching, Laura desperately reached out to us, because after 9 months of grueling sleep deprivation, she needed her sanity back!

After a tough year, the low point was Thanksgiving dinner. Laura told me that because of Zoe’s sleep issues, she canceled her anniversary dinner and missed half the twins’ birthday party because she was too tired to function and Zoe would still not nap. She was feeling overwhelmed and helpless even though she had researched every sleep book out there, and tried many strategies, but she could not get her daughter’s sleep under control. That is why Thanksgiving dinner was already an occasion she was dreading.

As everyone laughed and enjoyed their delicious meal, Laura nervously clutched the baby monitor. I could hear her voice breaking as she described how she heard Zoe’s repeated cries and having to leave her guests and family in order to soothe and rock her back to sleep. Laura was exhausted; she had only three bites of dinner and hadn’t finished one conversation. She hoped no one would see the tears welling in her eyes. She knew things could not continue this way and resolved to ask for help. Laura was determined she would not miss out on one more magical moment.

Two days later, Laura reached out to us and within a few weeks Zoe’s sleep was finally on track. Just in time for Christmas! She loved sharing every holiday moment with Zoe and the twins, especially when the twins opened their present from Santa. Things weren’t perfect just yet, but Christmas was everything she hoped it would be.

Don’t be a Grinch and let sleep problems ruin your family’s holidays. Here are some tips to help make your holidays magical too.

Simplify your routines: We love our bedtime routines with massage and bath and stories and song, but the holidays can be hectic and you may be traveling or have a house full of guests. So, have an abbreviated version of your bed or nap routine that your baby or toddler will recognize, but still get the job done in half the time 🙂
Keep the morning nap consistent: Missed naps may happen, so you’ll want to be prepared. If you have to miss a nap, it’s best to sacrifice the afternoon, rather than the morning nap, and opt for an earlier bedtime.
Don’t be too hard on yourself! For the majority of us, yours truly most definitely included, things rarely turn out completely perfect and that’s okay! As much as we want to be super-parents, it is important to know that it is okay not to be. Remember that all of us are under stress trying to get everything ready, too. Try not to compare yourself to other parents and focus on the things you DO have control over. Your friends and family love you for YOU! Not because of how moist the cheesecake turned out.
Ask for help! You don’t have to go it alone! If you’re tired of struggling with sleep problems on your own and want to make the most of holiday magic, we can help!

From The Baby Sleep Site^® family to yours – Happy Holidays!!