What is a sleep association? A sleep association is the set of conditions that a baby needs to fall asleep, such as nursing, rocking, and/or being patted to sleep. Sleep associations can be a single thing (being rocked), or a combination of things (being rocked while listening to a specific song). [...]
How can I build good sleep habits for my baby? There are many ways to do this, particularly after 3 months of age when your baby’s crying should have settled down and your baby is becoming more alert and awake during the daytime. Start by establishing a feed-play-sleep pattern, that is feed your [...]
Can I keep breastfeeding and do sleep training at the same time? Nursing is definitely compatible with sleep training. Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year of life, but any amount of time you [...]
Should my newborn sleep in a bassinet or cradle? You can absolutely have your baby sleep in a bassinet or cradle before transitioning her to a crib! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sharing a room with newborns and young infants. Having your baby in a bassinet in your room can ensure [...]
My toddler always says he’s hungry at bedtime – what can I do? It’s a toddler’s job to test limits! A toddler saying he’s hungry at bedtime, perhaps to stall and test that bedtime limit, is very common. The best way to prevent this from happening is to try giving your toddler a snack in [...]
What is a dream feed? Dream feeds are great for babies about 2- to 6-months-old, and help the adults in the house get a bit more sleep at night! Put your little one to bed as you normally would. Before you go to sleep (a few hours after your baby went to bed), pick the child up while still asleep [...]
When do I stop giving her a bedtime bottle? There is no need to stop giving your baby a bedtime bottle – although when she is a toddler you may be able to replace the bottle with a small snack. Pay attention, though, to when you give her that bottle. Babies begin to develop sleep associations [...]
She cries through the entire routine. What can I do? It can be incredibly frustrating when your baby cries throughout the entire routine. What that does tell us, though, is that you are being incredibly consistent. The child already knows when you start those activities that it’s time for bed. [...]
Can I do sleep training and wean night feedings at the same time? Yes! Yes, you can. In fact, often when you go through sleep training to help your little one learn to fall asleep independently at bedtime, those night wakings and night feedings typically drop off on their own. That is because all [...]
Is it normal for my newborn’s sleep to change daily? Yes! It is completely normal for a newborn’s (0-2 months) sleep to change daily! Newborns typically sleep for short periods of time (30 minutes to 3 or 4 hours); the amount of time your little one sleeps is largely driven by hunger. So, [...]