Tag: sleep consultant

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Pediatric Sleep Training: The ABCs of Baby Sleep

Pediatric Sleep Training: The ABCs of Newborn and Infant Sleep

The journey into parenthood is often a sleep-deprived adventure, filled with tender moments and the soft melodies of baby sleep. As new parents, understanding the nuances between newborn and infant sleep becomes crucial for creating a peaceful bedtime routine to optimize baby’s night sleep.

In this blog post, I will unravel the intricacies of baby sleep, exploring the differences between newborn sleep and infant sleep, while shedding light on the crucial role of pediatric sleep training in the pursuit of a good night’s rest.

Understanding Newborn Sleep:

1. Unpredictable Sleep Patterns:

Newborn sleep is erratic and unpredictable. With sleep cycles as short as 30-40 minutes, new parents often find themselves navigating a landscape of round-the-clock feedings and comforting.

2. Short Sleep Stages:

Newborns experience brief sleep stages, including both REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM sleep. Recognizing these stages becomes essential in responding to a baby’s sleepy cues effectively.

3. Night and Day Confusion:

Distinguishing between night and day can be a challenge for newborns, contributing to irregular sleep routines. Establishing a day-night rhythm early on is key to promoting healthier sleep habits.

Transitioning to Infant Sleep:

1. Consolidation of Sleep Patterns:

As infants grow, their sleep patterns tend to consolidate. Longer periods of nighttime sleep emerge, offering new parents a more predictable routine.

2. Introduction of Sleep Training:

Infant sleep often introduces the concept of sleep training. Techniques such as the Ferber method or gradual extinction may be explored to encourage self-soothing and establish consistent sleep habits.

3. Coping with Sleep Deprivation:

New parents often grapple with sleep deprivation, especially during the newborn phase. As infants transition to more predictable sleep patterns, the burden of sleep deprivation tends to ease, providing parents with much-needed relief.

The Role of Sleep Training:

1. Seeking Guidance from Pediatric Sleep Consultants:

Pediatric sleep consultants or sleep coaches, like myself are invaluable resources for new parents navigating the complexities of infant sleep. I offer personalized advice, addressing the unique needs of each baby while offering extended support throughout the process. Click SLEEP SUPPORT OPTIONS for more.

2. Tailoring Sleep Training to Individual Needs:

Understanding that every baby is unique, sleep training approaches should be tailored to match the temperament and preferences of the infant, but also the family dynamics and . Sleep training is multifaceted, therefore, one-size-for-all is simply not possible here.

3. What really is sleep training?

Sleep training is simply a process of helping a baby to sleep well. Large focus of sleep training are sleep training methods to improve child’s sleep. All of them boil down ultimately to one goal – teaching a baby independent sleep. Most methods can be divided into 2 approaches: to let the baby cry it out or, the ones I advocate, comfort a baby, within a reasonable amount of time, with the intention of letting them fall asleep on their own in the end. 

In the realm of baby sleep, deciphering the differences between newborn and infant sleep is a journey filled with discovery and challenges. As new parents navigate the sleep cycles, the introduction of sleep training, and the potential for sleep deprivation, seeking guidance from pediatric sleep consultants and adopting personalized sleep training approaches can pave the way for a more restful and harmonious sleep experience for both baby and parents.

I promise there is more light, and sleep!, at the end of this tunnel.

To the balance your family deserves,

Ola

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Bad kids or Bad parents?

I have recently come across an online debate where people were weighing in on whether it’s kids that are just bad or parents. I didn’t participate in that discussion because I would have written an essay but I thought this is definitely something I can discuss here 🙂

Before I begin, I would like to point out I will be referring to kids between age of 2 up to 9 maybe. Teenagers are a lot more complex topic for discussion as there are a lot outside factors which influence them whereas the little ones’ environment is pretty narrow.

Do I think there are no bad children? Yes.

What are bad children anyways? Those who do not blindly obey or those who throw tantrums in the middle of Target shopping floor? What is BAD? I don’t know, honestly. Because if having emotional breakdowns, lack of impulse control (which is a part of development!) or not being able to express how one feels is bad, then, wow, adults are such hypocrites because sometimes they cannot do any of these 3 things but require a 4 year old to do so. That’s bad 😉

Do I think there are only bad parents? Absolutely not.

I strongly believe there are parents who are wonderful people but simply lack parenting skills. Many, if not most adults become parents without any knowledge of what it takes to be a parent. And no wonder – they have never done this! Children are unique little humans with their own needs, emotions and feelings. While it is absolutely transforming & life-changing, to become a parent and have kids, there is no manual on how to raise your kids to become great humans and survive at the same time. 

Unconditional love, support and a t t e n t i o n  are necessary ingredients to raise a happy child in my opinion. (Also, consistency but it is a secondary type of ingredient). I always say the best thing you can give your child is your TIME. This special connection is a way to understand your child. I say this because,sadly, there are parents who pass responsibility of raising their child onto a caregiver and assuming there is not much left to do, they lower their guard. Children that are nurtured don’t act out – they have no need to. Their needs are met, their world is safe and predictable. Boundaries, rules and discipline (the one that teaches, not humiliates) are healthy things. What is more, education has nothing to do with raising kids right. Values or principles cannot be taught anywhere except from your parents.

My advice would be: it will get really hard sometimes which is why is so important to establish rules, follow through and why being a united front is imperative. You are not the only parent who experiences parenting challenges. E V E R Y single parent does and every single parents is doing their very best.

You’ve got this!

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Crib to Toddler Bed Transition – everything you need to know.

crib to toddler bed transition

WHEN TO TRANSITION?

I have noticed that parents frequently wonder whether there is certain age by which their little ones should transition to a toddler bed. Some parents rush in and bring a bed at 18 months, some wait it out until their child is 3.5-4 years old. Which side is right?

Technically, neither.

I mean, no one really wrote a rule on a chalkboard “THIS IS THE AGE…”. What I would recommend is to wait until your child is at least 30 months (2.5yo) because it is then when their cognitive ability to make logical connections develops and so does their self-control.

Otherwise, you may be dealing with lots of escapes. I will share soon tips on how to delay the transition (because maybe your child is an escape artist and is trying to climb out of the crib before that age).

My advice then is: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it ðŸ˜‰ I.e. if your child is happily sleeping in their crib, and obviously if there are no safety concerns, no reason to transition just yet.

Let’s look at some signs of readiness for the crib-to-toddler bed transition:

I always encourage parents to base their decision regarding transition on their child readiness rather than need to free up the crib because new sibling is arriving. I really think it is better to rent or borrow a crib, pack&play than deal with a child who cannot comprehend the idea of staying in bed nor have self-control to do so.

“What if my child hasn’t reached the age but is trying escaping their crib?” Well, it can also be the case and I urge you to try to some of these things before deciding toddler bed is the next step:

– safety: bring the crib mattress to lowest point to make climbing more difficult. (DO NOT remove the bottom of the crib – it will affect its safety standards),

– if the crib has one short side and one tall, turn the crib around,

– you may use a sleep sack to prevent climbing.

PREPARING FOR CRIB TO TODDLER BED TRANSITION

Let’s look at safety aspects:

So we’ve got all basics covered! Let’s move onto tactics to facilitate crib to toddler bed transition.

1. Setup: put toddler’s bed in the same place as their crib. Let them keep their crib blanket with them (even if it is too small).

2. Help your child pick up the bed and sheets (favorite character, show etc.)

3. If the bed is a hand-me-down, draw a parallel to whom previously had it

4. “Talk up” the bed to family and friends (when they visit or over the phone to create sense of gravity and promotion around it 🙂

5. Use the crib transition as a signal of “status change”, e.g. “Wow, now you have a bed like mommy and daddy!”

6. Go all out and throw a BIG KID BED party.

7. If child is nervous, use a toddler bed instead of twin bed.

8. If a new baby is the reason for transition, have your toddler sleep in the toddler bed at least for two months before the baby gets the crib – you may suggest to your older one giving away the crib as a gift to the baby.

Resistance is normal! Especially when it coincides with new baby, potty training, pre-school. It may take time before your toddler understands that even without the crib railing the “barrier” is still there.

Transition happened too early if a toddler is very upset, they get out of bed many times and suddenly, it takes them longer to fall asleep at night, and subsequent nights. Additionally, if a child gets out of bed and wanders around the room, doesn’t understand the concept of staying in bed, or safety is a concern – the transition happened too early.

STRATEGIES FOR AFTER TRANSITION: staying in bed.

– I suggest lights off, doors closed – not to be cruel but #1. fire safety: closed doors is case of fire can be a difference of life and death, and #2. I minimized a possibility of child getting out of bed.

– If your concern is feeling of abandonment, you may leave the door slightly open with a dim light in the HALLWAY. Small lights in your child’s room they are not used to can create unnecessary shadows and their imagination might take of from there.

– To prevent child from leaving, use a child-proof door know or put up a gate in the door (only for a protesting child and an escape artist).

– If the child is really anxious, you may stay with them for the first few nights (no engaging).

– If you need to return your child to bed, it should be done in a matter-of-fact type of way. Don’t engage, just pick them up, bring back, use the key phrase, kiss, good night and leave. Do it at intervals so it doesn’t turn into a game.

That would be all for now! I think I covered all key points over here 🙂 Look out for my sleep coaching packages should you need support of a professional with sleep troubles – I cannot wait to help your entire family sleep! And please, share this post with other parents who might need it.

To the balance your family deserves ✨

Pediatric Sleep Consultant Blog: Baby & Toddler Sleep Training