If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Night feedings are a normal (and important!) part of life with a baby in the first few months, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. The good news? While you can’t skip them just yet, you can make them easier on yourself. With a little planning and some smart tweaks, those middle-of-the-night wake-ups don’t have to feel quite so exhausting.

1. Create a Cozy, Low-Stress Feeding Station

Instead of fumbling in the dark at 2 am, set yourself up for success before bedtime.

• Keep a small basket by your bed or feeding chair stocked with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, water for you, and maybe even a light snack.
• Add a dim nightlight — keep it as dim as you can, so you just have enough light to be able to do what you need to do. That will prevent you and baby from waking up fully.
• Use a red or orange colored light. The longer wavelengths are less disruptive to the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) and melatonin production, promoting sleep. Blue light (emitted by cell phones, tablets, etc.), by contrast, strongly suppresses melatonin and signals the brain to stay awake. It will be easier for you to go back to sleep after the feeding if you can avoid blue light in the middle of the night. If you want to use your cell phone during night feedings, try using a blue light filter or night mode.
• Bonus: keep a phone charger handy if you like to listen to music, a podcast, or a calming meditation while feeding.

Think of this as your night feeding survival kit!

2. Keep the Mood Calm and Sleepy

Your goal is to help your baby understand that nighttime is for feeding and going back to sleep — not playtime!

• Keep your voice soft and movements slow. Even if your baby is being funny and extra cute, don’t laugh and encourage their playfulness at 2 am. Keep it for daytime. At night, be calm, quiet and boring!
• Skip diaper changes unless truly needed (like poop, not just a slightly wet diaper).
• If you need to change the diaper, try to change baby BEFORE offering the feeding. Babies get sleepy during the feeding, and we don’t want to wake them up for a diaper change. And if your baby gets very upset if you don’t feed them right when they wake up and they don’t tolerate a diaper change before eating, then feed them right away. About halfway, pause the feeding and change the diaper, and then finish with the rest of the feeding.
• Use a swaddle or sleep sack to help your little one feel snug after the feed

The calmer the vibe, the quicker everyone gets back to sleep.

3. Streamline the Feeding

Even shaving off a few minutes makes a huge difference when you’re half-asleep.

• If bottle feeding: measure out formula and set up bottles before bed, or have pumped milk in the fridge with bottles ready. If possible, get the bottle before you get baby. Try to avoid taking baby out of the bedroom.
• If breastfeeding: wear easy-access pajamas and keep burp cloths handy.
• A chair with good back support and a small pillow for your arm can help keep your body comfortable.

A few minutes of prep in the evening saves your foggy brain later.

4. Take Care of You

It’s not selfish — it’s survival.

• Use pillows to support your arms, neck, and back so you’re not straining.
• Keep a glass of water within reach (nursing especially can make you very thirsty).
• Have a small snack nearby if you know you’ll get hungry.
• Need to stay awake? Line up a podcast, audiobook, or sleepy playlist. No guilt — this is about making it manageable.

When you’re comfortable, the whole experience feels less draining.

5. Share the Load (If You Can)

If you have a partner or support person, let them help.

• Split roles: one feeds, the other burps or changes.
• Trade off: one night you handle feeds, the next night they do. Another way to trade is that 1 person takes the first part of the night, and the other person takes the 2^nd part of the night.
• I recommend that the parent who is “off-duty” sleep in a different room, away from baby so you can’t hear baby and really sleep. The “on-duty” parent will come get you if needed!
• If breastfeeding exclusively, maybe your partner brings the baby to you and resettles them afterward so you can rest more.

Even one longer stretch of sleep can make a world of difference for your energy and mood.

6. Keep Perspective

Frequent night feeds are normal in the first few months. Your baby isn’t “broken” if they’re waking often — they’re growing, learning, and getting the nourishment they need.

And the silver lining? This won’t last forever. By the time your baby is 3-4 months, many families start to see longer stretches of sleep.

Babies usually develop 1 longer stretch of sleep at night, usually the first stretch of the night. So if it’s possible for you to go to bed shortly after baby’s bedtime, you will get the most uninterrupted sleep.

FAQs About Night Feedings:

How often should my newborn feed at night?

Most newborns need to feed every 2–3 hours, day and night. By 4-6 months, babies need 0-3 feedings at night.

Do I need to wake my baby to feed them at night?

In the early weeks, you may need to wake them up during the night. Check with your pediatrician. Once your pediatrician says your baby is gaining weight well, you can usually let them wake on their own.

When will my baby sleep through the night?

First, we need to define what sleeping through the night means. For some, it means 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. For others, it means 10+ hours of uninterrupted sleep, which is obviously a big difference! So when your friend says their baby sleeps through the night OR your pediatrician says your baby should sleep through the night, make sure to clarify the number of hours they refer to.

In my experience, many healthy babies can sleep for 10+ hours without a feeding between 4–11 months, which is a wide range, because babies are different. Please check with your pediatrician and/or feeding specialist before stretching/reducing/eliminating night feedings. You want to ask: “how many hours can my baby go without a feeding at night?”

Is it okay if my baby falls asleep while feeding?

Yes, especially in the first few months. Feeding is soothing and sleep-inducing. If it becomes a long-term challenge, gentle sleep strategies can help. I encourage parents to have more than 1 way to help their baby fall asleep, such as holding, bouncing, rocking, carrier, falling asleep on mattress, etc. We want baby to experience different ways to fall asleep from the beginning. We want them to have because it will make it easier to introduce additional ways in the future.

What’s a dreamfeed?

Dreamfeed can be a great way to offer a feeding at night while maximizing your own sleep. Read here for more details!

I am breastfeeding. Can I reduce night feedings?

Please reach out to your pediatrician AND lactation consultant to come up with a plan that will work for your baby and for you!

The Bottom Line

Night feeds might never feel “easy,” but with a little planning, a few smart shortcuts, and a lot of grace for yourself go a long way in making this stage more manageable.

You’re doing such important work — meeting your baby’s needs while running on very little sleep. And if you’d like to talk more about your nights, I’m here to help your family find longer stretches of rest.

You’re doing such important work — meeting your baby’s needs while running on very little sleep. And if you’d like to talk more about your nights, I’m here to help your family find longer stretches of rest.

Ready for more peaceful nights? Schedule a complimentary sleep assessment call and let’s make sleep less stressful for everyone.

The post Night Feedings: How to Make Them Less Exhausting appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

Set your goals

Before you start, be clear on your sleep training goals. Are you aiming for your baby to sleep through the night, fall asleep independently, or take longer naps? Once your goals are set, choose a sleep training method that fits your parenting style and feels manageable within your shared space. Options include the SleepLady Shuffle, the Ferber method, more gradual approaches, etc.

Set up the bedroom

Creating a room that works for both you and your baby is key. Think about ways to minimize distractions and promote a sleep-friendly environment:

Crib

Move the crib as far away from your bed as possible. We want as much space as possible between you and baby. Even moving the crib to the end of the bed is preferable to having it by the side of your bed.

visual barrier

Create a “visual barrier” so that your child cannot see you from their crib. This becomes especially important when your child can stand up in the crib. Here are some ideas:

• Use a room divider
• Use furniture, large plant
• Hang a sheet
• Put a free standing coat rack and hang many things, etc.

Sound machine

Use a white noise machine to block out disruptions. You can also use a humidifier or a fan, but having constant background noise will reduce the chance of waking up each other when you are in bed and prevent baby from waking up when you come in and out of the room.

Dark room

Use blackout curtains to keep the room dark when baby is sleeping.

Sleep training at bedtime vs. middle of the night

At bedtime, use the sleep training method you chose as intended. For example, if you’re doing the Shuffle, follow the typical positions. If you’re using the Ferber method, leave the room between intervals as instructed. However, during middle-of-the-night wake-ups, you can adapt to the room-sharing setup. Instead of leaving the room completely, return to your bed to wait out the intervals, or, if you’re using the Shuffle, support your kiddo from your bed once you are further from the crib at bedtime. This approach allows you to remain consistent with the method while accommodating the realities of sharing a room.

More tips for success

Here are some other tips when room sharing:

• Consider sleeping in a different room for the initial stages of sleep training.
• Fake sleep: Pretend to sleep to signal it’s time for your baby to rest.
• Be patient: it may take a bit longer to see progress, but with consistency and repetition, your baby can learn to sleep independently!

Room sharing doesn’t have to mean sleepless nights. With a clear plan and a commitment to consistency, you can teach your baby to sleep independently while sharing the same space. If you need support to create a tailored plan for your unique situation, we can help. You can learn more here. Reach out and schedule an initial call to get started. Together, we can find a solution that works for your family so you can all get more rest!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Sleep Training While Room Sharing appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

Ah, the elusive baby schedule. One minute you think you’ve nailed it, and the next, it feels like you’ve gone completely off course. If you’re wondering, “When will my baby be on a schedule?” you’re not alone. Every parent dreams of the day their little one follows a more predictable schedule. The truth is that it will take some time. But here’s what you can expect and steps you can take to establish a schedule.

Newborn Stage

For the first few weeks, your newborn is definitely calling the shots. Every day may feel different. Some days naps will be short, some days naps will be long. However, don’t let baby nap too long during the day, as it could throw off their feeding schedule or nighttime sleep.

Wake them up after ~2 hours to make sure they don’t skip feedings and don’t do their longest stretches of sleep during the day.

Their sleep patterns are still developing, and trying to impose too much structure can leave you both frustrated. Instead, focus on building healthy sleep habits little by little. As your baby grows, you’ll notice some natural rhythms emerging.

6-8 Weeks

Around the 6-8 week mark, you might start seeing small glimmers of patterns. Your baby’s sleep cycles are maturing, and they may begin to sleep for longer stretches at night (yay!). You’ll likely notice that the first stretch of nighttime sleep is the longest, though they may still wake up frequently after that first sleep. If you can go to sleep when baby falls asleep, you will get the most uninterrupted sleep.

2 Months

To establish a more predictable schedule, we start with anchoring the day and the night with a more consistent wake-up time and bedtime. Based on your baby’s natural rhythms so far, pick a wake-up time and a bedtime “range”. For example, bedtime = 8 pm ± 30 min

Bedtimes often start pretty late for newborns, and then shift earlier over time. Pick a bedtime for now, and know that it may shift earlier.

You’ll need to time the last nap so your baby is ready for bed around the same time each night. But since babies are not robots, the timing of that last nap will vary, and that’s why we picked a “bedtime range” above. Adjust bedtime based on that last nap.

Similarly in the morning, wake them up around that time every morning. Having a more consistent bedtime and wake-up time helps regulate your baby’s internal clock, which can mean longer, more predictable sleep in the near future—win-win for everyone!

3 Months

Around 3 months, the first nap tends to become more predictable. Because your baby’s wake-up time is becoming more consistent, their first nap will likely follow suit, giving you a bit of predictability to start the day.

The rest of the day may still vary from day to day because the durations of the naps tend to vary. If the 1^st nap is long, the 2^nd nap will happen later in the day than if the 1^st nap is short, and so forth.

4-5 Months

As your baby continues to grow, expect their nap schedule to begin shifting. At this stage, babies usually take 4 naps per day but will gradually transition to 3 naps between 4-6 months. Your baby will be ready to transition to 3 naps as their naps lengthen and/or their awake windows get longer.

6 Months

By 6 months, babies usually have transitioned to 3 naps/day. Many babies are on a pretty consistent schedule by now. Naps are usually well-timed, and you can predict when they’ll be sleepy or hungry. You can make plans around or during naps and feel fairly confident it will work out!!

Final Thoughts

So, when will your baby be on a schedule? It depends on their unique personality, development, and needs. For some, it happens as early as 3-4 months, while for others, it may take closer to 6-9 months. It’s okay if your baby isn’t following the books; every child is different, and you’re doing great. Focus on healthy sleep habits and stay flexible—because sleep (and parenting!) is never an exact science.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, remember: you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Slumber Time Solutions, we’re here to help you navigate the tricky world of baby sleep. Whether your baby is a newborn or 9 months old (or older!), we can guide you toward better sleep for your entire family. Ready to get started? Let’s chat and create a plan that works for your unique family!

The post From Unpredictable to More Regular Days: When & How Your Baby Will Settle Into a Schedule appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

In the first few months, babies love to contact nap! Here are some tips to help them take some naps on their mattress. This is a big transition and it may take some patience and time! When you make changes to naps, start with the first nap of the day, as it is usually the easiest time for baby to fall asleep. Once baby is asleep, place her on the mattress. You may need to wait a few minutes to make sure baby will stay asleep when you lay them down. Experiment with waiting for different amount of time, as each baby is different.

When you lay her down, keep your hand on her for a little while to make sure she stays asleep. If she wakes up as soon as you lay her down, you may need to take a more gradual approach. Consider how your baby is currently falling asleep. If baby is used to falling asleep on your chest “vertically” with their head on your shoulder, or in the carrier, that is a big change to go from sleeping vertically on you to sleeping horizontally on the mattress. We can break it down in smaller changes to help baby adjust more easily to each step. Here are some examples. Start with helping baby fall asleep in your arms more horizontally. Then, you can have baby fall asleep on your lap a few times. Baby is still on you, but we are teaching baby to sleep on their back–as if they were on a mattress–and further from your chest. Once baby has had a few naps on your lap, then try the mattress.

Once you’ve made some progress with the first nap, use the same approach for the second nap, and so on. Naps tend to become harder as they day goes. The last nap of the day is usually the hardest, and you may need to keep it as a contact nap to make it happen!

Pro Tips:

• When you lay her down asleep, let her bottom touch the mattress first. Then slowly lay 1 shoulder down and then finally lay her on her back. The top of our back is sensitive, and we want it to be the last part of the body to hit the mattress.
• As babies get older, babies become more sensitive to the environment. Offer naps in a dark room with white noise.

Transition to crib

When you are ready to move baby from a bassinet to their crib, start with playing in the crib during the day. When baby is in a good mood and not tired, put baby in the crib with the lights on in the bedroom. We want baby to have “fun” in the crib, so you may need to play with her. Bring a toy, make silly faces, play peek-a-boo, sing a song, etc. Play for 2-5 min, and then get her out. Repeat several times before baby starts to sleep in the crib. Next, start to do some naps in the crib, starting with the first nap of the day. Once you’ve done a few naps, you are ready to do bedtime in the crib!

Pro Tips:

• you can sleep on the crib fitted sheet for a few nights. That way your baby will smell you when they are in the crib!
• If your baby is not rolling yet and the crib feels very big, you can place baby along the short side of the crib so that baby can be close to 3 sides. Being close to 3 sides will feel familiar!

If you have any questions about your child’s sleep and would like more support, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together to improve sleep or contact me.

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Here’s how I see it. Sleep coaching is about teaching independent sleep skills WITHOUT DISREGARDING a child’s needs. So when your child is sick and they need extra support, go ahead and offer that extra TLC without any second thought about it. Trust that once your kiddo is healthy again, they will sleep independently again.

So, what does that extra support look like?

Think of the support you offer as a ladder, starting with just a little boost and climbing up as needed.

Here’s an example of what that support ladder can look like:

1. Check in more often
2. Stay in the room by the door and shush.
3. Sit by the crib/bed and sing/shush. Offer a drink of water if appropriate
4. Offer some gentle back or belly rubs/pats
5. Pick them up to help them calm down. Hold them vertically if congested. Then lay back in bed/crib
6. Hold them until they are asleep in your arms
7. Offer more frequent night feedings if appropriate
8. Plan to sleep next to their crib/bed all night
9. Anything else that works!

Start with step 1 and work your way up if needed. Use this ladder as needed at bedtime, throughout the night and for naps.

As soon as your kiddo feels better, go back to the usual sleep routine you had before they got sick. You may see a regression for a few nights (they were loving those extra cuddles in the middle of the night!). Stay consistent and go back to how you were responding before they got sick, and they will be back to sleeping independently soon!

If you have any questions about your child’s sleep and would like more support, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together to improve sleep or contact me.

You can also join my free private Facebook group for sleep support.

The post Helping Kiddos Sleep When They Are Sick appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

What is a dreamfeed?

A dream feed is when you feed your kiddo while they’re asleep. While your baby is completely asleep, you go in, pick her up and offer a feeding (just like you usually do at night).

To be clear, if your kiddo wakes up in and you respond by feeding her, that’s not a dreamfeed -even if she falls asleep during the feeding. It’s a night feeding, but not a dreamfeed. A dreamfeed is when WE initiate the feeding while baby is asleep.

How do we do a dreamfeed?

Just like you would do any night feeding! Pick her up, sit in the chair that you typically sit in to do the night feeding. You can nurse or offer a bottle.

She may wake up slightly when you pick her up. But hopefully she will easily go back to sleep while eating. And at the end of the feeding, put her back on the mattress.

Why would we take the risk of waking up a sleeping baby? We often spend so much time and effort to get our babies to sleep, and now I am suggesting we disrupt their sleep? Well, when a dreamfeed actually works, it’s not disruptive and it brings more sleep.

Here are some scenarios when it can be very beneficial to use dreamfeeds:

To align baby’s sleep with ours

As babies get older, their first stretch of the night is often their longest sleep. After that first stretch, they may wake up more frequently throughout the night. Let’s say baby sleeps from 7 pm to midnight, which means that they do a 5-hour stretch. If you go to bed at 7 pm yourself, then you also get five hours of sleep. But if you go to bed at 10 pm, then you’re only getting two hours of sleep before baby wakes up at midnight for a feeding. We can offer a dreamfeed before you’re ready to go to bed around 10 pm. Baby will have a full belly at 10 pm and we can expect her to start her 5-hour stretch at 10 pm. So there would be a feeding before bedtime before 7 pm, a dreamfeed around 10 pm and then the next feeding should be around 3am – because that’s five hours after that 10 pm dreamfeed. In this scenario, we’re not asking baby to go longer between feedings, we are just shifting the timing of the longer stretch to align it with your own bedtime so that you can get more sleep!

To provide consistency during sleep coaching

Dreamfeeds can also be very useful when we are helping baby learn to sleep more independently, while maintaining some night feedings. (often people think that sleep training requires to eliminate all night feedings, but that’s not the case!)

Let’s say we want to do 1 feeding/night around 2 am. That means that we want baby to learn to fall asleep independently and sleep through the night, expect for 1 waking/feeding around 2 am. In this scenario, if kiddo wakes up at 11 pm, we would help her go back to sleep without a feeding (because the feeding time is 2 am). When she wake up around/after 2 am, she would get to eat right away.

Getting to eat *sometimes* can get confusing and inconsistent for kiddos: sometimes she wakes up and gets to eat (around 2 am), sometimes she has to go back to sleep without a feeding (any other time she wakes up). However, since babies can’t tell time, our 2-am rule may feel “random”. From their perspective, sometimes they get to eat, sometimes they don’t, and that feels inconsistent. And when children perceive that we are inconsistent, they often continue to wake up throughout the night to see how we will respond this time.

One way for us to be consistent in the way we respond during sleep training is to provide that feeding as a dream feed. So at some point in the night, we would offer a dreamfeed. Then every time baby wakes up, we can respond consistently (without a feeding), because we took care of the calories through a dream feed. This is a technique that I use a lot during coaching.

Is the dreamfeed working?

When assessing if a dreamfeed is working for your kiddo, here are some questions I ask:

• Is baby getting a good feed during the dreamfeed. If they don’t eat much, then it won’t help them sleep longer.
• How easy is it to put baby down after the dreamfeed. If a dream feed works, baby would  wake up slightly, feed and go back to sleep easily. If you find that your kiddo wakes up during the dream feed and then is upset or it’s hard to put baby down afterwards, then that might not be a tool for your family.
• How is baby sleeping after the dreamfeed?

Those are the things that we want to keep an eye on to assess whether the dream feed is helpful or not.

If you introduce a dream feed, try for 3-4 nights in a row to see what happens. For some families it’s a game changer, for others it doesn’t seem to help. But you can’t know if you don’t try!

If you have any questions about your child’s sleep and would like more support, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together to improve sleep or contact me.

You can also join my free private Facebook group for sleep support.

The post Using Dreamfeeds for More Sleep appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

We covered the following:

• Why do children have problems falling asleep or staying asleep in two households?

• How can co-parents go about addressing their kid’s sleeping routine now that there will be two places where the kid sleeps?

• What should co-parents consider when setting up a sleep environment in each home?

• Is it necessary for each home to have the exact same bedtime systems in order to create a cohesive environment?

• How can you support your child during your visitation if they’re missing their other parent?

• Is it a hopeless cause if your co-parent won’t get on the same page about creating a cohesive environment and sleep routine?

Watch the video here:

Thank you Steve and the team for this conversation! If you find yourself in need of a family lawyer, reach out Pacific Cascade Family Law, you will be in very good hands.

The post Creating Supportive Environments for Children Sleeping in 2 Households appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

At what time do we start the do routine?

We talked about the routine lasting 20-30 min. Think about when your kiddo usually falls asleep and start the bedtime routine 20-30 min earlier.  We start the routine so that they are ready to sleep by the end of the routine. In other words, we don’t wait for your kiddo to look really tired to start the routine.

Where do we do the routine?

Do the routine in the room where the child sleeps. Your routine may start in the bathroom, but move to the bedroom as early as possible in the routine.

Do I need to do bath every night?

You don’t have to include a bath as part of your routine. But many families start their routine with a bath because they have found that it helps their child goes to sleep. And there’s a good reason for that. During a bath, our body temperature slightly increases. Then when we get out of the bath, our temperature decreases. And that slight decrease in temperature is exactly what happens to our body when we are about to fall asleep. So when we come out of a bath with an elevated temperature, we initiate that decrease in temperature (by coming out of the bath), which can help your kiddo feel sleepy.

Having said that, taking a bath is not helpful for every kiddo. For some, it’s extremely stimulating and it makes it harder for them to fall asleep afterwards. For other kids with skin issues, being in the water every night may cause some issues.   So if taking a bath helps your kiddo go to sleep, then keep it in your routine. And if it’s not beneficial, then skip it!

Do I need to read the same books every night?

When you first introduce the routine, read the same book(s) every night for a few nights. Once the routine is established, you can start to rotate books and read different ones every night. Another variation if you read multiple books is to finish with the same book. Let’s say you read 3 short books at bedtime. You can change the first 2 and always read the same third/last book.

Build some time to talk at bedtime (once your child can talk!)

If your child is older, you can finish your routine with turning off the light and talking for a few minutes. Have a consistent “format” for that time: you can ask them the same 3 questions every night, or you can tell them 3 things you noticed about them today. You could both share your rose (something you enjoyed during the day), thorn (something that was hard or you did not like) and bud (something you are looking forward to for tomorrow) for the day. Make sure to share yours too! This is when I get the “juiciest” details about my kids. They are relaxed in bed and have our attention and open up!

If you have any questions about your child’s sleep and would like more support, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together to improve sleep or contact me.

You can also join my free private Facebook group for sleep support.

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The circadian rhythm is our internal body clock. One of its role is to make us feel awake at certain times of the day and sleepy at other times. This means that we have windows of wakefulness throughout the day.  

Newborns have very short windows: they are awake for 45-90 min and need to sleep again. So that means that after eating, they may only have a few min before they get tired again! Over time, their windows get longer. By 4 mo, they usually can be up for 1.5-2 hours and by 6 mo, 2-3 hours.

When babies get to the end of their window and are naturally sleepy from a dip in their circadian rhythm, it’s easier for them to go to sleep. If we miss that window and they stay awake too long, then their body produces more cortisol, which is a hormone that is a mild form of adrenaline, which will keep them awake and going. That surge in cortisol is like having an espresso shot – it wakes up and keeps you going!! You know that “second wind” we refer to? Having that second wind usually means they are overtired.

When kiddos are overtired, it’s often harder for them to go to sleep (as you know, it’s hard to go to sleep after having an espresso!). Being overtired can also cause shorter naps, more frequent night wakings and earlier morning wake ups. So we really want to avoid overtiredness!

How do we do that?

Some babies give us signs that they are getting toward the end of their “window” and will need to go to sleep soon. We call those sleepy cues, and they will evolve as your child gets older Here are some common sleepy signs.

Here are some common sleep signs:

• Yawning
• Rubbing eyes
• Red eyes
• Slowing down
• Looking away, lack of interest
• Mild fussiness
• Zoning out
• Being clumsy
• Not listening as well
• Being cranky
• Asking for milk, lovey, pacifier, etc.

When your baby starts to show their sleepy signs, it’s time to get ready for sleep. We want to catch them before they have a meltdown because they are so tired!

However, some babies do not give us any warning. If your baby is very alert, active and has FOMO (fear of missing out), there’s a good chance that they don’t show any signs of being tired until they are OVERTIRED! For those babies, we need to initiate sleep. Here’s how:

• Instead of relying on his sleep signs, use the “clock”.
• When she wakes up, set a timer for X min (see average wakeful windows below). This will remind you that it’s time for your baby to sleep again.
• Even if baby does not look tired, go to a dark room, turn on the white noise and try to help them fall asleep.
• Keep a sleep log for a few days to see the patterns. Adjust the timer based on that.

Getting to know your baby’s natural rhythm AND encouraging them to sleep BEFORE they get overtired is a gentle and effective way to improve sleep – and it works at all ages!

If you have any questions about your child’s sleep and would like more support, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together to improve sleep or contact me.

You can also join my free private Facebook group for sleep support.

The post Understanding Your Child’s Clock = Better Sleep! appeared first on Slumber Time Solutions.

Newborns sleep often but not for very long, and their patterns can be surprising. Here are some facts that will help you better understand your newborn and encourage sleep!

#1 Night and Day Reversal

Some newborns are very sleepy during the day and more active at night. If your baby wants to “party” at 3 am, we want to change that! This is something we can start to focus on as soon as baby is born. 

Our internal clock uses light, food and activities as key inputs to figure out where we are in the day. Expose your baby to bright light in the morning and early afternoon. In the evening, dim the light so she knows it’s the end of the day. And at night, keep it dark and in sleep mode: be calm and quiet. Take care of your baby but don’t play. If we play at 3 am, we will reinforce that it’s time to be up! Over time they will gradually shift to be more active during daytime.

#2 Some Newborns Go to Bed Late

Some newborns go to bed around 10-11 pm. Over time, their bedtime will gradually shift earlier. Follow your baby’s lead and move bedtime earlier as they look tired earlier. By the time they are ~4 months, many babies go to bed between 6-8 pm.

#3 Awake for Short Periods

Newborns can only be awake for short periods before needing to sleep again. Between 0-6 weeks, their windows often are 45-60 min (but some may be awake for 90 min). That means that after you change and feed them, there’s not a lot of awake time before they need to sleep again!! If they stay awake for too long, they will get overtired, which often makes it harder for them to sleep. Over time, their “windows of wakefulness” will get longer.

#4 Newborns Can Be Surprisingly Loud at Night

Newborns make all sorts of sounds when they are sleeping! If you hear grunting, fussing, flailing, moaning – they may still be sound asleep! Make sure you don’t intervene unless they are truly awake!

#5 First Stretch = Longest Stretch

Babies usually have their longest stretch of sleep when they first fall asleep at bedtime. After that initial longer stretch, they wake up more frequently. As we get closer to morning, it’s harder to get them back to sleep and usually need more help from us.

#6 Look for Those Sleepy Cues

Some newborns fall asleep whenever they are tired, regardless of where they are and what is going on around them.  Some need a little more help, but give us cues that they are getting tired. These sleepy cues can include: yawning, looking away, rubbing their eyes, mild fussiness (but not a full meltdown), red eyes, etc.

When your baby starts to show their sleepy signs, it’s time to get them ready for sleep.  We want to help them go to sleep before they get overtired and have a meltdown.

However, some babies do not show any sleepy signs and can keep going on and on like the Energizer Bunny! They may seem ok and act like they can be awake for many hours at a time, but in reality, they are overtired.

To help your Energizer Bunny baby (we also often call them FOMO – fear of missing out – babies) get the sleep they need, use a timer. When they wake up, set the timer for their usual window (usually 45-60 min , see #3).  When the timer goes on, take your baby to a dark room and try to help them fall asleep. It may take a few days to adjust the right timing but eventually you’ll get in a rhythm.

#7 Naps Can Be Tricky

Newborn naps are inconsistent: some naps will be long, some naps will be short, and the pattern may change from one day to the next.  That’s normal, daytime sleep takes longer than night sleep to organize.  In the meantime, our job is to help them get some sleep throughout the day.

Babies tend to need more help with naps. Babies can have a hard time napping flat on a mattress (even if they sleep pretty well on that mattress during the night).  They usually need some extra help to nap: movement, being held, etc.  It’s good to have a few different ways to help them nap that you can rotate through.

The first nap of the day is usually the easiest. They get increasingly harder as the day goes on, so expect to help them take that last nap of the day (for example, watch Netflix, have some tea and hold your sleeping baby).

If you have questions about your baby’s sleep and would like some support to develop some good sleep habits from the start, head over HERE to learn more about how we can work together or contact me.

You can also join my free private Facebook group for sleep support.

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