Safe Sleep for Baby: The ABCs of Infant Sleep

Safe Sleep for Baby: The ABCs of Infant Sleep

Alone, on their Back, in a Crib - this is what we call the ABCs of safe infant sleep, and it's how the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends babies sleep, for the safety sleep possible for babe. 1. Alone: Baby should sleep alone, rather than in the same...

Three sleep coaching techniques, explained

Three sleep coaching techniques, explained

It’s 2 a.m. and your 18 month old is awake. It’s 3 p.m. and your 7 month old is refusing to nap in her crib. Do you go in right away so he doesn’t get more upset? Wait a few minutes to see if he’ll maybe go back to sleep on his own? Rock him? Stay with him? Check on...

From swaddle to sleep bag – when and how

From swaddle to sleep bag – when and how

Swaddling can be very helpful for newborns to help calm their Moro reflex (often referred to as the “startle reflex” - you know, the one that causes your baby to hit himself in the face and wake up very annoyed? Yeah, that one.). Swaddling is not a sleep prop, but...

Three signs your child is ready to drop a nap

Three signs your child is ready to drop a nap

Sometimes things aren't always determined by age! For some parents, it can be tricky to know whether and when your baby is ready to drop a nap and make a nap transition. This goes for 3 naps to 2 naps, 2 naps to 1 nap or even 1 nap to NONE. First, let's take a look at...

What’s a Dream Feed?

What’s a Dream Feed?

There are loads of different recommendations about the effectiveness of a dream feed. First, let's define it: A dream feed is something some parents offer during the night, and involves going to your infant while they are still asleep and offering a feed while they...

Can you room-share while sleep coaching?

Can you room-share while sleep coaching?

Health Canada recommends parents sleep in the same room as baby until at least 6 months of age. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work on sleep coaching before you’re ready for baby to sleep in their own nursery! It’s entirely possible to help baby learn independent...

Adjusted age: How your preemie’s corrected age affects sleep

Adjusted age: How your preemie’s corrected age affects sleep

If your baby was not premature, you may have never heard the terms “Adjusted Age” or “Corrected Age.” But, if your baby was born early (earlier than 37 weeks), calculating baby’s adjusted age can be very helpful for sleep!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Adjusted age is your baby’s...

Does your child need a pillow?

Does your child need a pillow?

Wondering when your little one should sleep with a pillow?      A pillow is generally only needed once your child transitions from a crib to a “big kid bed” and I recommend the transition to a bed occur around the age of 3. Before that, a clean empty crib...

How to succeed with the “Wake Up Clock”

How to succeed with the “Wake Up Clock”

First, let’s ensure you know what I mean when I refer to a “wake up clock.” A wake up clock, like the Gro Clock or Sleepy Sheep, is designed to help toddlers and preschoolers understand when it’s time (or “ok”) to get out of bed....

Helpful tips for keeping sleep on track on the long weekend

Helpful tips for keeping sleep on track on the long weekend

Gobble gobble! Long weekends are a fantastic time of year for reconnecting with family, starting new traditions with a new babe, and taking part in fun-filled holiday activities; but, none of these is particularly joyful alongside an exhausted wee one who has missed...

5 back-to-school sleep tips

5 back-to-school sleep tips

The end of summer generally comes with mixed emotions – some kids are bummed to see the sunny days of school vacation come to an end, while others can’t wait to get back to the playground to see their friends! Whatever the scenario, one thing is certain – back to...

Bedtime snacking “Do”s and “Don’t”s!

Bedtime snacking “Do”s and “Don’t”s!

Children and adults alike sometimes need a little nutritional top-up before bedtime to get through the night without feeling hungry. But, the types of foods we stock up on before bed can have big impacts (both positive and negative) on the quality and length of our...

5 ways to help kids sleep in the summer heat

5 ways to help kids sleep in the summer heat

The sunny days of summer are finally upon us! Pool parties, backyard BBQs, and days full of splash pad fun! But the extreme heat can have a tough impact on your child’s sleep. Here are five ways to help your kiddo sleep well in the midst of the summer heat: 1. Avoid...

Is a pacifier a sleep prop?

Is a pacifier a sleep prop?

Yep (even when baby can put it back in on his own) Many parents, even those who are well-Googled on the issue of sleep props, express to me that they feel a pacifier (or “soother”) is not a sleep prop. Why? Because their baby is old enough to have mastered replacing...

A sleep consultant and a four-year-old take on Disney World

A sleep consultant and a four-year-old take on Disney World

I know, I know, the title of this blog is ridiculous. It’s like a bunch of oxymorons all rolled into one hilarious, nonsensical line. But, it’s true – this sleep consultant, her husband, and her four-and-a-half-year-old, princess-loving, Minnie-mouse-adoring daughter,...

Is thumb sucking bad for babies?

Is thumb sucking bad for babies?

Everyone has heard the story of their friend’s sister’s college roomate’s brother who sucked his thumb until he was 12 and thus required extensive dental surgery to repair his teeth. Is this an urban legend? No. It happens.  Is it by any means the norm? It is...

The 45-minute nap – why it happens and how to move past it

The 45-minute nap – why it happens and how to move past it

Here is the scenario: You’ve rocked your baby to sleep; you’ve tip-toed over to the crib and ever-so-gently put her down; you’ve ninja’d your way out of the nursery using a brightly-coloured sticky note map on the floor to avoid the creaks in the hardwoods; and…...

From three naps to two – when and how to make the switch

From three naps to two – when and how to make the switch

While every baby is different, there are some sleep generalities that simply can’t be ignored, and one of those is when to make certain nap transitions. One of the most common conversations I have with parents is the awkward daytime scheduling that comes along with...

Baby sleep tips for Grandma and Grandpa

Baby sleep tips for Grandma and Grandpa

You’ve just learned that your son or daughter is going to become a parent – congratulations! You are going to be a grandparent!! You’re likely feeling the same joy you experienced when you learned you were expecting your own child – it’s a time of hope, renewal, and...

Guest Blog! Why you should become your baby’s RMT

Guest Blog! Why you should become your baby’s RMT

Raise your hand if you have ever fallen asleep during a massage! Most people correlate massage with deep relaxation, and an A+ nap is usually the collateral from this. Have you ever noticed that the night after having a massage you experience a more restful sleep?...

5 holiday sleep tips to help keep the peace this season

5 holiday sleep tips to help keep the peace this season

It’s that time of year! Excitement over the holiday season, loads of treats and sugar, and travel from one holiday party to another (and another… and another!) The holidays are a fantastic time of year for reconnecting with family, starting new traditions, and taking...

Trick or Treat! 5 Halloween sleep tips

Trick or Treat! 5 Halloween sleep tips

Once our kiddos are old enough to really grasp the whole concept of Halloween, they can’t get enough of it! So, how do we keep sleep on track amidst all this candy and chaos?! Here are my top tips for sleep success this Halloween eve: 1.    Carve out...

The big kid bed – When and how to make the transition

The big kid bed – When and how to make the transition

You’ve been sleeping in a “big bed” for decades, so of course it comes completely naturally to you. However, if your child is ready to make the change from crib to bed, don’t underestimate what a significant change this may be to him or her. This change represents an...

The daycare transition, and how to keep sleep on track

The daycare transition, and how to keep sleep on track

So, you’re about to head back to work and send your little one off to daycare for the first time. There are so many emotions around this big leap – from excitement over to heading back into the office, to anxiety over missing your little one during the day, this...

Five tips for managing the crib-climb

Five tips for managing the crib-climb

Got yourself a little monkey who’s already managed to jump from the crib? If so, what I’m about to say next is very important: Crib jumping doesn’t necessarily mean you should transition to a bed. Say it with me: Crib jumping doesn’t necessarily mean you should...

7 travel tips from a sleep consultant

7 travel tips from a sleep consultant

Whether it’s March Break, summer vacation, or a winter getaway, family holidays are a great way to reconnect and bond. However, all this travel also means long flights, airport layovers, lengthy car rides, and hotel stays, which can sometimes wreak havoc on children’s...

From one nap to none!

From one nap to none!

If your child is between the ages of three and four, he might be showing signs of being ready to drop his nap. For some parents, this is a welcome change, as they find naps inhibit their ability to get out of the house and get things done (i.e. feeling “trapped by the...

And then there was Kyte

And then there was Kyte

Anyone who knows me at all knows of my total adoration for sleep bags. When my own daughter was still in a crib (she’s in a big-kid bed now – eek!), I had tried so many different varieties of sleep bags; we had every style and colour under the rainbow! As a baby sleep...