Our Blog Has Moved!
Hello everyone! Please note that our blog has moved to our new site. For all my posts on sleep tips and sleep training information please click here.
See you on the other side!
Deck The Halls With Your Well-Rested Baby via babypost.com
My top tips on maintaining your babys sleep routine during the holidays via babypost.com.
ABC’s of Safe Sleep
October is SIDS Awareness Month. Let’s make sure we are all practicing the ABCs of Safe Sleep.
Babies should sleep Alone, on their Backs, and in a Crib.
Moms, dads and your caregivers need to speak together on the main steps to reduce the likelihood of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths:
- The safest position for your infant is on their backs and they should be placed like that, every time.
- Choose to room share rather than share a bed with your baby. The safest place for your baby is alone in their crib or bassinette.
- Practice crib hygiene. You should be using a certified standard crib with firm mattress and fitted crib sheet. Take out the stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, and bumper pads.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy or after your baby is born.
- Communicate with all those caring for your child so that everyone knows about safe sleep practices.
At Good Night Sleep Site we want happy, healthy, and safe sleep for everyone.
Best Friends Forever.com
I just spent a much-needed weekend away with some of my best friends. 6 women who have known me for almost 5 years. We have watched our children grow and celebrated in new additions to the families. When we met there were 8 kids between us, now 16. We waited in excitement while one gave the beautiful gift of being a surrogate. We supported one while a marriage ended and shared in the joy when another began. We grieved together when one lost a family member, and was the courage for one while a parent was ill. They were some of my biggest rocks while I struggled during a tough year. While I waited in yet another lab for results, it was them I texted in tears. They listened to my anger and frustrations during my 2 year fertility struggle and when I finally became pregnant with the twins they were one of the first to know.
Yes, after all of that it was time to finally book a weekend off and go away together. No husbands and no kids. We were excited…and a little nervous. For most of us, this weekend was to be the first time we would ever meet face to face.
We met online. Funnily enough we met on a very popular baby site in a sleep training thread. I guess you could say they helped me discover my passion for infant sleep. We eventually branched out and through the magic of online groups and social media we built a solid friendship. When family and ‘real life’ friends found out I was going away with my ‘online friends’ some gave me strange looks or the “aren’t you worried?” comments. How come in today’s society when some turn to dating sites to meet “the one” people don’t even bat an eye but still to meet friends online, some consider it weird.
In my business I am always online, in these forums, using these social media outlets, and I see friendships, people who have never met in person, grow and thrive. How many of us send a text or email to our besties before picking up a phone? We live in a world of BFF.com. We are parents, workers, wives, and husbands. Going out with the ladies, or with your buddies on a Friday night isn’t so easy to arrange anymore. I’m pretty lucky that throughout my life I have kept a handful of dear friends, friends that will remain in my life for years to come. I certainly wasn’t looking for any more, let alone online. But I got lucky as I was able to add 6 more friends to that handful.
It was strange when we said our goodbyes after our weekend. We all knew it would be years before most of us would see each other again, but none of us were sad. While everyone had planes to board and families to get home to, we knew in a few hours we’d all be checking in on one another online and chatting away like we were all in the same room. We are always just a click away and there is something really great about that.
Question of The Day – When and How to Stop Swaddling?
Q: When do you know it’s time to stop swaddling and how do you do it?
GNSS: I normally recommend to stop swaddling when you baby shows signs of moving around and rolling over. At that point it’s a good idea to start weaning.We want to make sure the baby is safe if they do roll over with their arms free. Generally this can be around 4 to 6 months of age. Also if you’re looking to start sleep training and your child is at an appropriate age it’s normally a good idea to get rid of all sleep props.
You can gradually wean from swaddling by taking out one arm for 2 to 3 days, then taking out the other arm, for 2 to 3 days, then removing it completely. You can at the same time loosen the swaddle a little bit around the body and legs so the baby get’s used to being able to move around a little. Going cold turkey is also an option – it’s really up to you, and what you think your baby would respond to the best.
A great transitional item is a sleep sack. Many parents use this as an in between because it keeps the babies arms free for when they start rolling over but it also gives them the security of feeling like they are wrapped in something.
Remember the more consistent you are with any change the quicker your child will adapt. And they do adapt a lot easier than we think they will. Definitely a lot quicker than we do to change!
Fall Back Baby!
It’s that time again! Sunday November 4th we change our clocks and gain an hour of sleep. Ya right! If you’re ready this than chances are you have kids. Gone are the days of singlehood where you can bask in slumberville and enjoy that extra hour. Here are the days of early rising cries and late bedtime battles. So what do you do?
The first thing you do is take a deep breath. These time changes happen twice a year and we always manage to get through them unharmed. Say it with me – this too shall pass.
If your child isn’t super sleep sensitive, and some kids aren’t, then you may be able to just jump to the new times and wait for them to adapt. Consistency is key in whichever approach you take. It may take them a week or two to adapt but they do adapt just like we do 
.
For those who are a little more sensitive to routine and sleep the best approach to take is a gradual shift in schedule. You have to understand that with setting the clocks back, what was a 7am wakeup for your child will now turn into a 6am wakeup. It’s always a good idea to bump up your routine in the beginning. So for the little nappers of the house, because wake time in the morning will be earlier, it’s a good idea to bump up the morning nap by 30 minutes. So your normal naptime of 9am will get moved up to 8:30 am. The same will happen for your afternoon nap.
Because everything will be bumped up throughout the day, and naps will end earlier, you will also need to bump up bedtime by 30-minutes as well. This super early bedtime won’t be forever, dont’ worry! Once wake time in the morning and daily naps start inching closer to your original wake times you can start adjusting bedtime and naptimes to your normal routine again.
For the older kids who don’t take naps anymore, bump up that bedtime! At least until their sleepy biological clocks have adjusted.
Hang in there moms and dads. The shift in this new schedule normally takes a week or two for our kiddies to adapt to it. They will get there! Remember my two favourite words – persistance and consistency! You will get through this.
