Blog

The words “time change” have a way of making parents cringe. If things have been going well for you and your child sleep-wise, the last thing you need is a schedule change. If your days and nights have been choppy and unpredictable, you’re probably feeling cautiously optimistic that a time change will work in your favor. Here’s some good news: while an hour of time change can certainly take a toll on our bodies, it typically takes...

During a recent trip to Whole Foods, a small, strategically-placed package of chocolate caught my eye at check-out. The label said the product had 1mg of melatonin per piece, and users should take no more than four pieces. I had to laugh because, when it comes to chocolate, I have minimal restraint. “Watch out for that stuff,” cautioned the lady in line behind me. “Oh! You’ve tried it?” I asked. “No,” she said. “But people don’t use...

There are a lot of misconceptions about sleep. One that I frequently encounter is the idea that children need to be exhausted before they can fall asleep. Most of the families I work with are well informed about the importance of establishing a set bedtime and following a routine leading up to “lights-out.” Unfortunately, their little ones don’t always comply. Among infants, parents frequently report their little ones are either...

Daylight Savings Time is just around the corner and we’re springing forward! No better time than now for a refresher on how to prepare. When it comes to successfully navigating a time change with your infant or toddler, your approach will first depend on how adaptable they are. Children who adapt easily will likely require less “prep time” for the change than children who are more structured overall. Necessary Structure In many cases,...

Twice a year around Daylight Savings Time I find myself muttering, “fall back, spring forward,” just to make sure I’ve got my head (correctly) wrapped around the time change. It’s “fall back” this time around, so we’re about to set our clocks back one hour. Theoretically, that means we get an extra hour of sleep! Theoretically, yes. Realistically, no. Realistically, we’ll be helping our little ones through the time change before we...

Until a few days ago you had a miracle baby. Your little one slept like a champ, logging dreamy daytime naps and nice, long stretches at night. That newborn phase wasn’t so bad! But what is this? We’re talking overnight change from a little angel to a fussy, unpredictable mess. Your once-amazing sleeper is suddenly wide awake for hours on end; a nap might last 20 minutes, if you’re lucky; you’re cluster-feeding your way through the...