Most parents know that a solid bedtime routine helps children’s bodies and minds prepare for sleep. What you may not know, however, is that morning wake up routines can be just as important as your child’s bedtime routine when it comes to maintaining healthy sleep habits. In some cases it can even promote better sleep.Morning wake […]
For years experts have advised parents to limit screen time, but if your child uses electronic devices you know how difficult it can be to get them to disconnect at the end of the day. TV’s, tablets and video games have an irresistible allure for even very young children, and today’s teenagers routinely do homework […]
We’ve all heard the old adage “never wake a sleeping baby” and when our little ones are snoozing we’re almost always going to be reluctant to disturb them. The truth is, though, that in some circumstances, waking your child up is necessary and can be useful in correcting a number of common baby and toddler […]
Did you know that certain bedtime snacks can promote better sleep? It’s true – foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid that has a sedative-like effect on the body. Tryptophan can be found in many common foods, including dairy products, eggs, soy, turkey, chicken, fish, cheese, oats, wheat, legumes, leafy greens, nuts and seeds. (Here’s the […]
If you’ve started the new year with a resolution to improve your child’s sleep, and you’re not sure where to begin, my article for Fairfield County Mom’s Blog offers five things that you can start working on today to make 2017 a more restful year for your entire family. Click here to read the full […]
In an effort to reduce the risk of sleep–related infant deaths, The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their safe sleep recommendations for the first time since 2011. Approximately 3,500 infants under the age of 1 die of SIDS or accidental suffocation or strangulation every year in the US, and the number has stagnated in […]
Does your child struggle to stay in bed after lights out? Do they get back out of bed, call out repeatedly or need you to lay down with them in order to fall asleep? If you’ve tried bribing, pleading and even threatening them to no avail, you may want to try the Excuse Me Drill. […]
Does your child sleep in a big kid bed and are you having trouble convincing them to stay in it? Do they get out repeatedly at bedtime, or wander into your room ready to start the day at 5 am? Are you tired of walking them back to bed over and over again, and worried […]
Night time separation isn’t a problem for some children. They may negotiate an extra book at bedtime or hop out of bed once or twice, but in the end, a tuck in and a kiss is all they need to drift happily off to sleep. For others, bedtime isn’t that simple. Disconnecting from the parents […]
Because I spend so much time with sleep deprived parents (and because I used to be one myself) I’m all too familiar with the guilt, defensiveness and sometimes even shame that can go along with having a child that doesn’t sleep. It’s no wonder! Parents are bombarded daily with information about what to do and […]
