Readers, we have a treat for you today! Stephanie Parker, owner and creator of the Zipadee-Zip and mom to two cutie-patootie kiddos, is sharing some scheduling tips with us today. Specifically, Stephanie shares some of the benefits of creating a flexible schedule, as well as tips on how to create a basic eat-play-sleep schedule that will work for even the youngest of babies. And that's not all - Stephanie has graciously offered to give away a Zipadee Zip to two Baby Sleep Site readers. Be
putting baby to sleep
5 Common Baby and Toddler Bedtime Mistakes You May Be Making
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
How Rigid Should Your Baby’s Nap Schedule Be?
We talk a lot here at the Baby Sleep Site™ about how all babies are different (that's why we don't believe in any one-size-fits-all solutions for baby sleep problems!) Here's something else we believe: parents are different, too! Talk to 10 different sets of moms and dads, and you'll likely uncover a variety of parenting methods and philosophies. It's our belief that this diversity is a good thing. It keeps life interesting! These differences among parents often extend to the
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. It is time to start sleep training! 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
5 Ways to Help Your Baby or Toddler Nap While Traveling
So many of us LOVE vacation! Whether you’re off to a tropical resort, to a cabin in the woods, or just to your parents’ house, vacation offers you the chance to escape your real-life and spend a few days or weeks relaxing. Unless that is, you’re vacationing with a baby or toddler. If that’s the case, scratch the “relaxing” part; your vacation might feel like a whole lot of work! As this Momastery.com post puts it, “DUDE. Vacation is hard. Everyone came WITH me. And they all need the
Should You Let Your Baby Cry It Out?
When parents contact the Baby Sleep Site for the first time, they often say the same thing: "Are you going to tell me I have to let my baby cry? Because I can't handle that!" No parent enjoys the sound of their baby wailing in distress. That's why the cry-it-out methods advocated by Ferber, Weissbluth, and Ezzo are so controversial. Some parents feel like cry-it-out is a form of cruel and unusual punishment, but others are quick to point out that cry-it-out methods are fast and
Can You Teach Your Baby to Sleep On The Go?
If you’re a mom who thinks a lot about your baby’s sleep (and if you’re a Baby Sleep Site reader, you probably are), then you know that having a predictable, consistent schedule in place can go a long way towards helping your baby establish good sleep patterns. In fact, our sample baby schedules are some of the most popular articles on the site; clearly, parents are interested in establishing routines! For some of us, though, a consistent schedule for baby can lead to the onset of serious
Why Super Nanny’s Method Is Wrong
Recently, I had a client tell me that another sleep consultant was leading her towards Cry It Out by telling her something like "If you are in the room, that is like holding an aspirin in front of someone with a headache." and how cruel that is. This was an interesting statement that made me pause to consider whether this other consultant was right. Let's discuss! Let's go back to you teaching your child how to ride a bike without training wheels (and why crying is sometimes part of sleep
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
