PPD

  One day when my son was a couple of months old, I walked into my bedroom, in tears, and told my husband that I didn't feel safe taking care of Gus. I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling but I knew that I felt a gray cloud over what should have been a feeling of unconditional love.
I was surrounded by loved ones yet completely alone.

  Anything from anxiety to exhaustion can bring on emotions associated with post partum depression. Finding support is so important and I have been happy to pass on what I learned through my experience to the many emtionally drained moms I work with everyday.

A Mom Looking Back

A note written by a mom who wishes her two teenage sons had learned some better sleep habits from the start.

"As infants, my boys never slept through the night until they were at least 2 years old. I spent many nights rocking them to sleep, only to have them wake up a few hours later. I walked around like a zombie. As they got older I thought things would get easier, but because I rocked them as infants they didn’t know how to fall asleep without me, fighting with me when it was bedtime – so I sat by their beds until they fell asleep – sometimes falling asleep on the floor before they did. When I see children go willingly up to their rooms for naps and at bedtime it makes me appreciate how important good planning and preparation is. I truly wish I had a sleep consultant around back then."
- Ruth Ann (mom to Zack, 15yrs and Alex, 13yrs)

2012 Favorites List for Sleepy Moms and Dads

2012 Favorites List for Sleepy Moms and Dads

-Some of my new discoveries this year-

1.       When you just can’t make it home for a nap in the crib my favorite solution is The Snooze Shade.

http://www.snoozeshade.com/

2.       The crib system that I wish existed when my babies were newborns.

http://www.summerinfant.com/Products/Nursery/Nursery-Furniture/Furniture/Summer-Symphony-Bassinet-Crib-(1).aspx

3.       With reflux in infants on the rise and the small sleep wedges on the outs, these are a great option for babies of all ages.

http://dexbaby.com/products_sleeping_sl.htm

4.       Anxieties start from day one when it comes to your baby’s safety; these can offer those with a little extra stress, some peace of mind.

http://www.safetosleep.com/

5.       I have seen many swaddles over the years, these are the best around.

http://nestedbean.com/

6.       This one is for the locals…shopping local is a must and this second hand shop has all you need for babies and toddlers at such huge discounts!!

http://weplayreplay.com/

7.       Chamomile Tea has become one of my go to picks for not only moms but their babies too!! Chamomile soothes a baby’s belly, helps with teething pain, and offers an overall relaxing effect. I love this for a toddler’s Sippy cup at bedtime.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/chamomile-tea-for-babies.html

8.       LOVE this site for bedding, both for kids and mom and dad.

http://thecompanystore.com/

9.       Itchy skin will keep your baby up for hours. Try this soak for some relief.

http://www.aveeno.com/skincare/products/soothing-bath-treatment

10.   L.L.Bean pretty much makes the warmest stuff around and when it comes to PJs they are no exception.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/search?freeText=Kids+Sleepwear&qs=3005081_pmd_msn#/llb/search/289?freeText=Kids+Sleepwear&nav=ln-sr&page=infants-toddlers

 

 

 

Thanks Dad!

One of my clearest memories of bedtime as a little girl was knowing that no matter what time of night I could always call out for my dad and he would always answer. It was as though he was just laying there waiting for me to need a glass of water or reasurance that the noise I heard was the wind. I thought of this last night when my daughter called out for me to bring her to the potty, I sprang out of bed to answer her calls, both to ensure that she made it to the bathroom, but  really to give her that same feeing of security and comfort that I had all those years ago.

House of Horrors

 The week before Halloween we were out shopping at the Spirit Haloween store and  we had a bit of an incident. As we walked in, there was a large witch display, which appeared harmless enough however upon further inspection I discovered a button to 'activate' the witch. Looking back I realize that choosing to push this button may not have been the best choice, but I honesly did not anticipate such an extreme backlash.
 So needless to say once the witch was activated she deemed it a good idea to lunge forward into my daughter's face while emitting a high pitched scream. The consequences of this moment are what have been surprising. I could understand that she never wanted to set foot in this store again, or even drive through the parking lot, but her fears really have gone way past just what happened inside the Halloween superstore. It now seems that everyday she is running from a 'ghost', bat or 'monster.'
  Assuming that their are not actual ghosts and monsters chasing my 3 year old around the house, I wanted to find out the best way to explain to her that she is safe and sound. After much research I have found that how you handle this type of situation really depends on the age of your child.
 For older kids, around 6 to 8 years old, it really helps to explain that these beasts are just pretend. That the store is just full of scarey toys and that the creatures in the haunted houses are playing a game. Now when it comes to the younger toddlers, like my daughter, the strategy is competely different. This age group responds better to thinking of the monsters as "nice." Little ones find it much easier to cope with the idea of a "friendly" ghost, rather than the idea that its all fake. At this age the kids are simply not able to use enough reason to distinguish the difference between real and pretend so keeping the explanation clear and simple is key.
 I found that it is also essential to try to explain these creatures while you are in the moment. If your toddler tries to run from the scene, give some hugs and kisses and take that moment to describe what is really happening. If my daughter is watching TV and a scarey image is on I don't want her to run away  and hide, otherwise she will be left with that horrific image in her head for the rest of the day including at bedtime.
These types of images are nearly immpossible to avoid, so the best solution is to  know how your little one reacts to certain situations, and when in doubt don't push the "on" button.

Is it that Time Already??

(This was a piece featured by Zazoo Kids)

I know what you’re thinking, you just got your family transitioned to the school year schedule and it’s time to go through yet another nighttime adjustment as Daylight Savings Time comes to a close (here in Chicago.)
Since 1918 families across the country have been changing their clocks according to the calendar, and each year around this time parents continue to stress over one very important hour. While that single hour out of the day may not seem significant to those who do not have young children, it can shift not only schedules and routines, but temperaments and moods for those with toddlers on their hands.
Toddlers and young school aged children are not accustomed to sleeping and waking according to the time on mom and dad’s alarm clock. And for those of us who typically tell our kids they can get up “when it’s sunny” there may be a moment of panic when DST rolls around. Even parents who don’t mind an early wake-up call, should keep in mind that this one hour difference will not only mean waiting two hours for the Today Show to begin, it will mean that your entire day has been thrown a curveball. Meals and naps will be affected, as well as bedtime, due to the fact that your little ones are exhausted from rising with the sun.
Whether you have a new baby, a rambunctious toddler, or a child who has to wake to catch the bus, there are steps you can take to help your children through any transition, including DST.
Step One: create (and stick to) a bedtime routine. Kids catch on quickly to routine changes, so even when the time changes, keeping your path to bedtime the same will keep your little one’s anxieties at bay.
Step Two: install blackout shades. These are a must-have at any age, and especially for kids who have been told to “wake when they see the sun.” Room darkening window covers can be temporary, and are great if you’re on a budget. These can be found at almost any home improvement store in a variety of different designs.
Step Three: plug in loud sound machine.. Having continuous sounds play throughout your child’s naptime or through the overnight hours will help to create a sense of familiarity. The sounds allow for a calm to be felt during all those little nighttime stirrings. The sound of waves crashing or rain falling creates the same sense of comfort, similar to that provided by a special lovey or blanket. These calming noises also help to stretch nighttime sleep by drowning out all the outside noises of the world that tend to wake a little one’s curious mind. Once the shades have been pulled and that white noise fills the room your child will know it’s time for sleep.
Step Four: set your ZAZOO KiDS clock. The ZAZOO KiDS photo clock is one of my absolute favorite ways to teach your tots when to rise and shine,. These clocks are not only educational, by helping to teach your toddler time, but they actually give your child a fun reason to stay in their bed until the time YOU have chosen. ZAZOO KiDS employs the concept of “showing the kids the time before the kids can actually read a clock.” A moon image on the clock indicates “sleep” while a sun image indicates “wake up.” There is also an option to have your child listen to music or their favorite bedtime sounds while drifting off or once they wake. The concept of these clocks is easy for toddlers to understand and I have found that they actually enjoy watching the time change and waiting for the digital sun to shine.
If you feel that your toddler may be more ‘sensitive’ to changes in their schedule, it makes sense to slowly make alterations for a smoother transition. Beginning the week before DST (this week!), move your toddler’s bedtime forward by 15 minutes each night until you have reached that 60 minute mark. Or if time gets away from you and it is suddenly the day before DST, you can choose to move bedtime one hour later that night and within a few days you will be back on track.
The one problem that may arise with these two schedule change solutions is that they both have you stretching your little one past their prime at bedtime and that may lead to a second wind that is made of nothing but frustrated energy. The one piece of advice that I tell every one of my clients is that sleep begets sleep. From my experience causing a child to be overtired can lead him to have a night’s sleep that is restless and shorter than usual. So if you know that your toddler quickly becomes overtired and it’s difficult to get them back on track and settled at that point, I would avoid these methods and just stick to my steps above.
There really is no “right choice” when it comes to handling fluxes within your home, there is just the best choice for you and your family. DST is just one of many transitions that your youngster will encounter, and over time you will learn which methods work best. Whether your solution is a multimedia clock or scheduling out a gradual nighttime change, you will quickly see what alterations make life run a little smoother, and maybe next year you won’t find yourself saying “Oh no, is it that time already!?”

I Drove 200 miles for a Good Night's Rest

Last night's bedtime routine was the same as any other only with the soothing sounds of heavy rains and crashing winds. The power lasted until about 9pm, when it started to flash and flicker before completely abandoning us. With each brief blackout I headed upstairs to reset the kid's clocks and sleep machines trying to ensure they would not wake fearful in a room filled with nothing but darkness. Unfortunatly my efforts were for nothing, because the lights inevidably went dark and I was left anxious about how the morning hours would arrive. As if the hurricane outside my window was not enough, I was concerned that the kids would be scared and wake prematuraly. Stuffed animals, nightlights, clocks, sounds machines, and any other special objects are what create a sense of safety and comfort for a child. Without their "friends" surrounding them your kids might as well wake up on the floor because these are the key objects to create a feeling of familiarity.

 So a dark and stormy 6am rolled around and I awoke to hysterical cries of an extrememly frightened 3 yr old feeling lost in her sleep space. My daughter, who is used to having the route to her door lit by a soft glow, could not only not see her door she could not see her hands in front of her face. Her cries were quickly followed by the screams of my son, so needless to say this was not a sequence of events that I was going to put my babies through for one more night. And away we went to Nana and Papa's house. Yup I drove 200 miles so that my kids could go through their regular bedtime routine, which includes a warm bath, and fall asleep surrounded by the lights and whimsy that help them snooze soundly. We all know that a string of bad nights leads to a string of bad days and thats not healthy for mom or baby..and why I was willing to travel across 3 states to finally get everyone some rest.

Apps to the Rescue!!!

You would think that since this mega storm is bringing days worth of dark clouds, the kiddos would be able to sleep in a few extra hours. Unfortuanlty many of us are likely to loose power and when the power goes out so does your baby's sounds machine, your toddler's sleep/wake clock, along with any nightlight that is keeping the spooky monsters away. So in other words, startling wakeups are actually more likely in teh coming nights.

 A couple of helpful hints - Download the white noise app on your phone or ipod/ipad so your bbay will not go without. You can also use an app called Mr. Moonlight to help toddlers stay on track  and finally for your older kids who will not admit that they are afraid of the dark...the flash light function on your phone is key..or you can just give them a flashlight to keep close at hand.
 Oh ya...charge your devices in the car for a bit in the morning...so you will not be out of communication with the world:)

Questions from my Friends - No More Swing

How do I get my Baby to stop napping in the swing?

   For many parents the baby swing in a true godsend. However, there are a few negative aspects to having baby swing into dreamland everyday. When a baby falls asleep while in motion , whether it be in the swing or the car, it is less restful then if baby had been laying still. What I recommend is for people to turn off the swing once baby is asleep, this can also be a good way to begin transitioning baby from the swing to the crib, during naps or bedtime.
 Going through this transition can be difficult especially if baby is no longer a young infant or using a swaddle anymore. For older babies it will be important to start a naptime routine, similar to what you have been doing at night. Go to baby's room, turn down the lights, turn on the sound machine and if you are feeding her than just be sure that when you ley her down she is awake. It is fine to give her lots of extra love during this transition, but essentially you know that she is already capable of falling asleep on her own, as you were not sitting right next to her or holding her when she was in the swing. Keep that in mind while allowing your little one settle and if she is older than 6 mos give her a few of her favorite quiet toys to keep her company
 Before you start the transition it is a must to have an idea as to what sleep training techniques you want to use if she has trouble with the independance of the crib, this will make it less stressful for you when you have a plan ready.

Questions from Friends - Sleep Regression

Why is my Baby Suddenly Sleeping Poorly?

 Sleep regression happens to every baby at one time or another. Around 12-16 weeks is the most common age for the first regression to occur and it can be utterly baffling to parents. It is often a mystery as to how your baby suddenly took a turn for the worse when you have not changed a thing about your bedtime routine/schedule. Surprisingly enough this is actually part of the problem.
   As baby grows it is a must to keep up with his needs. A schedule change will most likely be necessary to move bedtime earlier and spread naps apart a bit, maybe even drop a nap in the afternoon.
Increasing your baby's caloric intake throughout the day will also become very important, especially when you are trying to wean off the night feedings. Adding in a dream feed to the nighttime routine can be a great addition at ths point.
Once your baby hits that 3 to 4 mons mark, you will want to be putting baby down awake at all times. He is now  aware of his surroundings and when he wakes up in the crib he will no longer be abe to ignore the fact he's not in your arms. So with the combination of a full belly and the falling asleep in the same place he is waking, it will make for much smoother nights.
 With sleep regression the most important thing to rememmber is that your baby has proven that he can sleep well into the nightime hours. His wakings now are most likely due to hunger, so you have to be diligent not to start any bad habit during these wak ups. Be care ful not to start rocking or walking baby to sleep every night  or the wake ups will soon become habitual, like a little internal alarm clock  that will go off each night telling baby its time for a attention, even if hunger is not an issue.

Questions from my Friends - Transitions

How do I transition baby to the crib or out of the swaddle?

 There are going to be a number of transitions when it comes to bedtime as your baby gets older. How to move infants from the Rock N Play to the crib has become one of the most common questions I receive. What I recommend to families is to start with having baby sleep in the crib during naps at first. (The room should have the blackout shades and sound machine) Your baby should be put down awake to see that she is not in your arms nor is she in the rock n play. This will help her to feel more comfortable when she wakes.
Making the move before 4mos can help with the transition as babies tend to become more set in their ways after 16 weeks. This will also avoid a situation where you are forced to make the move quickly because she is to mobile to be in the RNP anymore. Making the concious choice to do the move at an earlier point will allow you to try out a couple of differnent schedules and new routines.
The crib can feel very vast to young babies who have spent their days and nights in the cozy little cradle.  Try to move baby when she is still in the swaddle to help keep her feeling safe and secure as she gets used to the new surroundings. You can choose from a few different ways to help her settle in her new bed.
 When you decide it is time to get baby out of the swaddle, be certain that she is really ready. If your little one is rolling over IN THE SWADDLE or has simply busted out of it, then yes its time to make a change, but if are just worried about breaking the "habit" of the swaddle, it may be too early. I have worked with babies that are ready to be out of the swaddle at 8 mos and ones who break out of it at 8 weeks so there really is no age that every baby has to be done being wrapped up like a little burrito.
 If it is time then you can go about it in a gradual way by taking out one arm for a couple of nights and then the other arm for a couple more nights. Once both arms are out you can start having baby sleep in a sleep sack rather than the bottom of the swaddle blanket.

Questions from my Friends - Night Weaning

Night Weaning

If you are feeding your baby throughout the night he is on a 24 hr feeding schedule and the calories he is getting during the nightttime hours will need to be shifted to the daytime.
 To do this you will need to increase your baby's caloric intake throughout the day by offering some additonal feedings in the later afternoon as well as snacks if he is eating solids.
 Dream Feeds are great for young infants as well as older babies. These feeds allow you to offer your baby a final feeding for the night without feeding on demad. It is on your terms and no bad habits are being perpetuated. This will prevent you from wondering if baby is hungry during overnight awakenings.
Overnight you can either stop feeding all together (after the dream feed) or you can gradually decrease the amout your are giving at each feeding. If you are bottle feeding you can dillute the formula/milk with more and more water each night until his appetie shifts. If you are breast feeding you can simply offer the baby less and less each night.
Putting baby down awake will be essential during the weaning process. You can use quite a few different options to settle baby, depending on his temperment and your routines. You can continue to comfort verbally and with some physical intervention but the idea will be to not replace the feedings with another nightly habit, so slowly use less and less intervention every couple of nights until your baby learns this new skill of self soothing.

Questions from my Friends - Putting themselves to Sleep

  How do I get my Baby to put himself to Sleep?

The key to this is Putting Baby Down Awake!!!
Once you have gone through your bedtime routine, including bath,dress, read and feed,
the baby should be put down awake. If he is asleep he should be jiggled a bit, just enough to open his eyes and see that you are no loger ronkng him off to dreamland.
 If your baby fusses when you lay him down or if he wakes throughout the night, there are a number of ways to help baby back to sleep on his own, including being able to pick him up and rub his back but no matter what techniques you use to settle his cries, he cannot have constant contact from you when he finally dozes off.
 If you are holding, feeding or even rocking your baby to sleep, he will wake expecting you there and when he sees that you are gone he becomes upset and uanble to return to sleep. It would be similar if you fell asleep in your bed and then woke up on the couch. You would be scared and completely unable to fall back asleep, it is the same scenario for baby.

Questions from my Friends - Learning New skills

Baby is waking while teething or learning a new skill

When your baby begins to learn a new skill, such as sitting up or standing, they like to stay awake at night to practice. It is also common for babies to pull themselves up to a stand or be in a sitting position and not know how to lay themselves down. They are stuck in a sense, but of course this is just another skill they will soon check off the list. You can go in and gently lay them down but make the intervention as unstimulating as possible, just in and out. Also give your baby plenty of time throughout the day to work on these new skills and get out the loads of interest and energy they have.They are ulterly amazed at the new things they can do and that can be very stimulating.
 Hunger is one of the most common issues when babies go through these growth spurts and times of new development. Be sure that you are increasing the daily caloric intake to keep up with how much your little one is burning off.
 If getting some new teeth is what your baby is working on, you want to be aware that you are not starting any new bad habits while trying to comfort him. A little added love is always okay but if you find yourself walking or rocking baby to sleep everynight know that teething pain is typically only spread over a couple of days, so if you see a trend starting, change up your comforting methods. Walk one night and sing the next.
Giving your older baby with a sippy cup with Chamomile tea is a great comfort, from both the teas as well as the cup itself. It is similar to the Camilla drops which are commonly used for teething pain.
 Once you can rule out pain as a factor, either with nautral methods or an over the counter pain reliever, return to your usual bedtime routine and allow baby to go back to self soothing to sleep.

Questions from my Friends - Toddler Sleep Space

  How do I get my toddler to stay in his bed and want to sleep in his room?

Once you have made the appropriate changes to your child’s schedule to ensure that he is not overtired or under tired when trying to settle for bedtime, you want to make the space appealing. Have them make positive associations with the room aside from sleep. Extra playtime during the day or having them help pick out some decorations can really help. If they don’t have a nightlight take your toddler to pick one out, it will give a sense of ownership over the room as well as provide some comfort at night. Eliminating fears is important, do some role play with a toy to see if he expresses any concerns about the space or being left alone in the dark. Whether you feel that there are fears or not, a cape for boys and some wings or a magic wand for girls, can help make the room monster free.

A sticker chart works great as an incentive plan. Each night they stay in their room a sticker goes on the chart. If they have a good week, there is a prize to be had. Give big praise at wake up and let them add the sticker to they can visually see the progress.

Toddlers do well having a sippy cup to bring to bed with them, it really doesn’t need to have a lot in it. It is just an item they get to hold onto and is there in case they wake up thirsty. It works much like their special blanket or stuffed animal.  Filling it with chamomile tea can be calming and help with any teeth that may be still coming in.

If your toddler is potty training there is a bit more involved in the changes to the nighttime routine as you want make sure he is not anxious and lying awake with fear of having to go during the night.

 There are also changes to the routine which can be made if your toddler leaves his room each night and comes looking for you. Those solutions vary depending on each child’s temperament.

No Substitute Will Do!

We have been lucky enough to have a couple of really great babysitters over the past year. And aside from the one who simply disappeared, we have felt really good about the people we leave the kids (3 and 18mos) with each week.
With all of that being said, after the importance of safety comes the importance of following the kid's routines consistently and making them feel as though this night is like any other only with the addition of their "friend," the babysitter, putting them to bed rather than mom and dad.
 So last night our sitter seemed to have a bit of a memory lapse when it came to the fundamentals of bedtime for my babies, and as I was laying awake at 4, 5, and 6am I realized that she really holds our entire household's chance for a good nights sleep in her hands. I realized that even with the smallest misstep the s**t hits the fan.
When we first got home, our sitter of course said everything went well and the kids went to bed without complaint. I went upstairs to check on them and when I got to my daughter's room I found her in The Wrong Bed!! I can undertand maybe forgetting the sound machine or leaving up the shades, but the wrong bed? She has a twin bed in her room along with her toddler bed and she was randomly in the twin bed. Oh ya, and her blankie was downstairs on the couch and there was a different blanket next to her. I'm sure for those of you whose children are not attached to a specific stuffed animal or blanket think it sounds ridiculous, but I knew that my daughter was going to wake up completly disoriented and basically with a stranger in her bed; the foreign blankie.

 Okay so we go to bed after ranting for a bit, only to be woken up at 4am by my son. I see that he is soaking wet, as is his bed. After changing everything I go to lay him back down and realize...where are blankie and Monks?? These are my son's two best buddies in the world and suddeny I find myself half awake searching in the basement for these guys.
 Clearly everyone's sleep was very disrupted, everyone woke up very early and then spent today being extrememly cranky.
 I think ultimately what I learned over the past 24hrs is that no matter how much someone cares for your children or how much time they spend together, they will most likely not crawl through the ball pit looking for a monkey, or pull off some Macgyver moves to change bedding and pjs without turning on a light.
And what does all of this boil down to? The fact that there really is no substitue for you.

A Little Time for You

We all know that we are supposed to be getting 8 hours of sleep a night, however, I think whoever
came up with that number never had an infant. It can be incredibly difficult to get a decent amount of sleep when caring for a baby, never mind multiples or even a toddler or two. Exhaustion can set in quickly and suddenly you realize that you can not spend the day locked in the bathroom, hiding in the pantry, or catching a couple of ZZZs at that red light. Sometimes we just have to learn to deal with the extreme fatigue and for many of my clients I try to give them some tips on how to survive the day while anxiously awaiting baby to make it through the night.
 Eating well plays a major part in how your body handles the sleep deficiency.  Healthy eating habits will help prevent illness that often follows fatigue, and can help you feel at least somewhat energized for the day. Foods such as blueberries, mushrooms and green tea have antioxidants that will fight off those colds that the rest of the family is bringing home from school and work. This way you can still work your shift, which is of course 24 hrs. As we know you can not take a sick day or move your meetings around, for reasons of being sleepy, so try to avoid the drive thru and treat your body well.
 I have said many times that sunlight is super important for baby. It not only provides great vitamins for healthy growth, it also allows baby's biological clock to regulate and understand that day is for awake and dark is time for sleep. The sunlight is also essential for you throughout the day. It will increase your energy and give that little extra push you need to get out of your PJs. Even if the forecast calls for rain, artificial light can actually provide many of the same benefits. Your body will be faked into thinking you are outside, and a dreary and sleepy day can actually become an efficient day full of function.
  Taking a shower and actually putting on clothes also have to become a priority. The longer you linger in your slippers and cupcake pajama pants, the longer you will feel like climbing back into bed. Put baby in the jumperoo, the bouncy seat, or even his crib and take a 10 min shower. Refresh yourself, by yourself, for just a couple of minutes and you will really notice the difference for the rest of the day.
 The longest someone has even gone without sleep is 18 days, however, once a human has been awake for 17 hours their level of coherence is the same as someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.5. Your ability to make sound decisions, have patience and simply enjoy your children becomes so impaired at times that you just want to run away and hide, but the little things can make a difference. I know its hard to even think about YOU when everyone else is so in need, but it's important for your kids, as well as your other relationships, that you take a breath (and a shower) and take one day at a time. By incorporating these small things into your day, getting through the next one may seem a little less impossible.

Is my Baby Carsick?

As someone who has always suffered from motion sickness, one of my first thoughts of when I had babies in carseats that were facing backwards was," wow that would make me really motion sick, I wonder if the baby could be feeling the same way?"
  This week my family will be embarking on a very long car ride followed by a  2 hour boat ride so again I visited this question of whether my babies could be feeling motion sickness and is there anything I can do about it. The fact is that motion sickness is the result of confusion between the eyes and the ears and this of course can occur in a person of any age and may very well be hereditary.
 After researching quite a bit about the issue I have come to the conclusion that my children are not currently showing any signs of having motion sickness and since the symptoms tend to get better with age, there is a good chance that they will never feel the effects of a choppy surf.

 If you have noticed that your kids are excessively sweaty, fussy, having an increased amount of saliva, or are continuously yawning while in the car, they may actually be feeling ill rather than sleepy. These are some of the main symptoms to look out for, and if they seem to resolve when the vehicle stops you may just have your answer.
 Prevention for young babies can be difficult as they are facing backwards and that can immediately cause eye/ear confusion. However, there are steps you can take to help; you can give your little one a clear view of the outside, try to remove shades that may block their view, and give them some fresh air, with a gentle breeze blowing on their face.
Some things can even be done before you leave the house. Avoid feeding baby while you are on the road or in the air. Also for long trips plan baby's naps around your travel. Sleeping through any travel will help baby feel less of the bumps and jostling that comes with any movement.
 I know how difficult it can be to travel with motion sickness, so I want to stress, if you feel that your baby or toddler may have some belly trouble when in motion just keep an eye out for some of the big clues. If it is to the point where you are seeing complete belly eruptions day in and day out it may be time to visit the Dr. and ask about some over the counter meds that make life a little easier on everyone and cut down on the travel time anxieties.

Fill Baby's Belly with Fiber

A full belly is one of my Top 10 Must Haves for your little one to reach his optimal amount of sleep. With young infants it can be simply a matter of increasing the number of feedings each day, however, when it comes to an older infant or a toddler a full belly can be a much harder goal to reach.

Babies go from great eaters to extremely picky overnight and that is when it is important to know

exactly which foods you should be offering, because at that point every little bit counts. Your child's taste can literally change from one day to the next, so you may easily find yourself at the end of the day realizing; your toddler has really not taken in many calories, and he will most likely be waking overnight looking for a snack.

 As adults we tend to focus soley on fat, calories and sugar, but when it comes to introduceing food to your baby, fiber should be on the top of your list. Foods that are high in fiber take longer to digest and will therfore keep everyone fuller longer.  To decipher how much fiber you should be pushing, take your toddlers age and add 5. So if your baby is 1, you will offer 6 grams of fiber per day. To acheive this, it will be helpful to start learning which foods are fiberous and contain at least 2.5 grams per serving.

Below I have listed a number of foods that will help your baby's belly feel fuller longer -

- Whole Wheat Bread

-Whole Grain Waffles

-High Fiber Cereals

-Brown Rice

-Beans

-Whole Wheat Pasta

-Leave skins on fruits, such as apples and pears

-Freah fruit over canned

-Oven baked potatos/fries with the skins on

-Smoothies - Sneak in fruits/veggies and proteins

                  - These move quicker through the system so they are great for kids with reflux.

If you find that you have not been offering your baby much fiber up until now, you should make it a gradual process. Introducing too much too quickly may cause constipation, which really just replaces one problem for another. So if you are typically serving a sugary cereal in the morning, slowly mix in a healthier option day by day. Adding fruits can also be beneficial. Plenty of water and other fluids will help baby's body to keep things moving and avoid any backups as well.

Start offeirng these high fiber foods early on so your kids grow to like them and will expect them at each meal. Kids thrive off of consistency with their mealtime routines just as they do with their bedtime routines. So when they know what to expect, they will be more likely to eat a full lunch or dinner and and therefore be more likely to get a full nights sleep.

My Top 10 must haves to Help Baby Sleep!!

1. Room Darkening Shades - I mean DARK!!!
  - Whether it is time to go down for the night or just a nap, your baby's room should be pitch black. The darkness strongly contrasts with the daylight and helps to regulate baby's biological clock.
Day = awake, Night = Asleep

2. A Full Belly - Be sure your toddler isn't on a diet:)
 - Many people start to introduce solids to their toddlers and don't realize that they have replaced entire feeding with some peas and carrots, we don't want baby on weight watchers. Try adding some proteins into the mix.
 - For infants a Dream Feed can be a great option to help baby get through the night without waking to eat.

3. Sound Machine - I mean LOUD!!!
 - Be sure the sounds are not super robotic, it should be natural and calming and of course loud. Here is the one I like:
http://www.target.com/p/homedics-sound-spa-relaxation-sound-machine/-/A-10121441#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

4. A Friend - If baby is over 6 mos, he should have a BFF in his crib. This will help to comfort your older infant or toddler when he wakes throughout the night and give him some someone to play with when he wakes in the morning.

5. Swaddle - Every baby loves a swaddle..trust me. If your baby seems to struggle while in the swaddle, be sure it is super tights and baby's arms are straight down at his sides. Here is the swaddle I like:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3726439

6. A Lamp - Those incredibly bright overhead lights you have on during the bath and bedtime routine..TOO BRIGHT!!!
 - It is important that the bedtime routine, including the bath, has a relaxing atmosphere, and that begins with the correct lighting. A little lamp that you can bring from room to room with be helpful to have just the right brightness.

7. Wake-Up Clock - These are awesome for toddlers.
Love these:
http://www.zazookids.com/

8. Bedtime Relaxation Routine - A must for everyone to decompress, its shocking to go from alot of activity to the crib. At least 30 mins before your baby or toddler is due to be off in dreamland, you should begin allowing him to decompress. Head for the bath and then to his sleep space for some quiet play and book or songs. For older children this is still important, school age kids really benefit from discussing their day, letting you know what they enjoyed or had trouble with throughout their day.

9. A bright Morning Wake-up - A good way to say "yes this is the time I want you to get up everyday!"
 - When you go into your baby or toddler's room at wake up be as cheery as possible. Open the shades, let in the sunshine and praise the for having such a good night in their bed!

10. A relaxed Parent - A rushed routine, stressed mom, and anxious dad will only hinder baby's ability to relax himself.
 - Try to enjoy this part of the day, it will help everyone settle a little easier

The Reflux Generation

I have begun to notice that reflux is the new "in" diagnosis for babies. More than half
of the babies I visit have reflux to some degree. And even those families who have not formally received the diagnosis, suspect that their baby is suffering from this painful burning condition. Parents have now become so concerned with any bit of spit up that leaves their child's mouth, it has become yet another anxiety on the road of parenting an infant.
 As the parent of a baby who was diagnosed with reflux, I completely understand the difficulties it can bring. It is incredibly hard to listen to your baby grunt and cry while they try to digest they're previous meal. However, I have noticed that most parents, including myself, who have given their baby one of the many medication options, really don't know if the meds are what helped their baby get releif. There are so many formula options, suggestions for breastfeeding moms and special diets for toddlers, that how can you really know if your baby needs those drops twice a day?

Even with the grunting and my son's extended belly I wish that I had been offered all of the other solutions out there. I was never told that there are certain solids I could be offering my baby that would digest faster or that a smoothie would help my little one keep down his dinner through the night. I did not know until much later that babies with reflux sleep better on their bellies and that thickening the formula with cereal can help a baby belly. Doctors are just so quick to say, "which pharmacy should I send it to?" you don't even have the chance to get all the details and alternatives. Luckily most of us moms know to do some of our own research along the way, it would just be nice to know that we have heard all of our options when we talk to the professionals, not just handed  the bottle of elixir, that has yet to get a real stamp of approval from many of the moms I know.

Weaning baby from her BFF...the Pacifier

When I discuss sleep plans with my clients I typically advise them to introduce a pacifier to their newborns to give them a chance to use it as a soother at bedtime. I do however try to have parents limit the pacifier to the child's sleep space or carseat only, and after a few months it really can be taken away all together. For infants, there are few reasons not to introduce the pacifier but as a kid gets older it can inhibit speech and cause more temper tantrums as a child has difficulty communicating. But more and more often I have noticed that parents are afraid to even consider the introduction a pacifier for fear that baby will never want to give it up. While this can be true with some children, I find that giving a baby a pacifier is really nothing to fear, there are some easy and effective ways to eliminate it from baby's day to day when ever you choose.
 One of my favorite methods for saying bye bye to the "binky" is to bring the "pacifier fairy" over for a visit. For this you can either have a friend dress up as the fairy and come with her magic net to collect all the pacifiers throughout the house, or you can say that you are collecting them for the fairy and put them in the mail for other babies to use when they snooze. Another great aspect of this method is that the fairy leaves a  prize for your little one in exchange for being such a big kid.
A similar method could be used around a birthday or special holiday in exchange for some big kid gifts.
As the fairy is a "cold turkey" technique, there are also gradual options. Making the pacifier less appealing to the child can work wonders. You can cut off a small piece off of the pacifier each day until there is really nothing left to suck on and you will find that your baby or toddler quickly becomes disinterested.
Another idea I like is to sew the pacifier in the belly of your little one's favorite stuffed animal. If there is no favorite friend maybe you go pick out a new one, this will not only eliminate the pacifier use it will help your child to become attached to a new soother.

  So many new parents feel lucky when their baby does not want a pacifier, and while it can make some things easier down the road, the pacifier is a great way to help baby self soothe and trigger the calming reflex.

Crib Sheet Warning

This week a few clients expressed concern about their baby's crib sheets and the fact that in the morning the sheet would be off the mattress and at times the babies have actually been wrapped up in the elastic end of the sheet.  This can be a real concern with ill fitting sheets for babies who are mobile in their crib. When the sheet is not securly wrapped around the mattress even a light tug can cause it to come off and quickly become wrapped around an infant or toddler. The baby typically becomes wrapped in the sheet with the tightest areas around their necks or ribcages and as they begin to struggle the sheet only become tighter. Most children who end up wrapped in the sheet are at an age where they can roll themselves into the bedding, however they are not able to UNroll themselves.
 There are a few great options to ensure this does not happen with your child's crib sheet. Sheet clips and suspenders work well, there are also crib safety sheets which have a secure - fitting to help everyone sleep a little more soundly.
http://www.inventiveparent.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=SLEPSFSH

Potty Training Anxiety turns into Long Nights

Potty Training can be a serious cause of sleep disruption. Your toddler is just beginning to recognize the feeling of having to go and that can not only be a strange feeling for them physically, but it also causes some anxiety. They want so badly to please you and be a "big kid" and those thoughts can actually be why there is loss of sleep rather than the need to pee. 

 If you have found that your toddler is doing great with training during the day but seems to be apprehensive around bedtime it is fine to allow the use of pullups until the anxiety passes. You may find that when you eliminate that demand to use the potty during the overnight hours your little one begins to have a much more relaxed night. Even those who are capable of keeping dry pants throughout the night may not be ready mentally for the responsibility. There are so many changes taking place at that age. Maybe they are just getting used to a new room or a new bed. Maybe they have a new sibling or are starting a new school. With all of the changes every day that they are seeing, their sleep space and alone time each night should be a time of solace and relaxation, so just have patience and try not to rush them to grow up all at once.

Where are all the photos of Me?

When it was time for me to have some photos attached to my website and Facebook page, a face to go with the name of my business, I realized that there were are no pictures of me around. I don't think it is too unusual for a mom to say that they don't love having their picture taken, but I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's just that I am usually the one around when my kids are doing photo worthy stuff so therefore I am the one behind the camera. Maybe as the mom we are always the ones to organize the photo as well as the one to take it. I don't exactly know the reason, but what I do know is that I felt proud the other day when I had my head-shots taken. I was proud to have my kids see me get the attention, and proud to post my face next to the name Jessica Gleason Infant Sleep Consultant. I am proud of all the work I do for my family within our home and proud of the work I do for other families in their homes.
Sure, the years have taken a toll on my figure and there are a couple of new lines and wrinkles here and there but I am actually more proud of the person I see in these images today then I ever have been before.

-So many thanks to Photography by Caitlin Domanico, LLC-

New School Year..New routines

It's time to get started with some new routines as the school year begins. Whether you have toddlers starting preschool or newbies (young infants) who will be tagging along as their older siblings get ready for the big day..everyone needs to have a plan.

 The new routines should start the night before at bedtime. Start to include new aspects into the bedtime routine such as discussing the next morning and what you will expect of your child. They should know that when their alarm goes off or when you come into the room that means it's time to wake up and begin to prepare for leaving the house. Many kids have trouble with getting up in the AM. A few ways to help young children rise and shine is to have a favorite song you can sing when you go into the room or pretend to be a funny character. Kids will respond best to a happy and energetic wake up call. Singing and laughing as you go to open the shades will help the kids to start the day in a positive space and that frame of mind will stay with them throughout the day.
Help the kids to get excited for school by giving them a few choices for their outfit the next day. It should all be laid out, from top to bottom, including socks, shoes and hair accessories. This way in the morning you can say "time to get up and put on the clothes you picked out!!" Choices help the kids to feel involved and not so overwhelmed by all the changes. Even toddlers love to feel that they helped get ready for the day.
 As the morning routine moves out of the sleep space you  will want to have an idea of what everyone will be having for breakfast as well as a designated spot for the kids backpacks, shoes and jackets.
With each of these aspects of the morning planned ahead of time it will greatly decrease everyone's stress.

A Rainbow of Choices

Has anyone ever wondered if the color you chose for your baby's room has had an effect on their sleep?? I have heard many stories of people struggling for months choosing the colors of the nursery to ensure a good sleeper, only to find out their little one is a night owl. However, I also know families who swear that the coziness of the orange walls or calming effects of the green bedding was the key to overnight bliss. So I wonder how many moms and dads-to-be struggled with their little one's room decor? And with all the colors in the rainbow to choose from were you swayed by the possibility of more sleep?

Video Monitor Obsession

I know that the purpose of the video monitors is to provide a sense of security and reassurance that baby is safely settled, however, lately I have noticed that my clients are actually spending countless minutes staring at the small screen analyzing every twitch or lack thereof. I have seen a number of parents actually feel the need to go into the baby's room and intervene because they feel that baby is too still, or too close to the side. Many moms and dads also go running in if they see a pacifier flying across the screen or baby's best friend laying lonely on the floor. This is all just part of your little one's own routine. They develop rituals in their sleep space that help them to drift off and often your intervention can disrupt that routine.

Running into the room once or twice is okay but every night that nightly visit to replace a pacifier or roll baby back over will quickly turn into a habit and baby will learn that blankey on the floor means moms comes running. This simply pushes their bedtime later and later. Babies understand alot more than we give them credit so this is why I recommend a quick check on the monitor to be sure baby is safe and then set it aside and allow baby to settle and go through their own little bedtime routine.

Toddler Jealousy during Breastfeeding?

Time after time when I visit families with both a newborn/ infant and a toddler it is a constant battle for mom to make her older child feel included while breastfeeding. Toddlers often feel jealousy or loneliness when mom is so closely snuggled with the newbie and it is hard for them to understand that this is the way baby eats, it is not mom choosing one over the other. This closeness is also very difficult to mimic. No matter how many hugs your toddler gets somehow it just doesn’t seem the same as when you are feeding the new sibling. There are a couple of great ways to make feeding time enjoyable for everyone. It does not have to be 30 minutes of telling your toddler ”no,no,no!” as she tries to get your attention.

The important thing is to make it a special time for toddler too. Toddlers love to help and this situation really does not have to be any different. Allow her to choose where you feed baby. Give her a couple of options, on the couch or in the nursery, Should we play music or read a book? Maybe feeding times are when practice her big girl letters or her numbers using flash cards. And these items, such as flashcards can be in the special “mommy & me box.” This box can only be opened when it is time for baby to eat and you choose a special activity out of it. A particular book or coloring pages, even a book of songs that you sing can be great. The box can be restocked every week so each activity gets rotated in and out. These activities and items will create a positive association with nursing time and it will be enjoyable for all of you. The jealousy will dissipate and soon your toddler will be coloring pictures of all three of you snuggling together.

So Much Energy?!?!

It is really hard to understand why your baby, who has been up for 12 hrs, missed a nap and spent the day running around, does not want to sleep, but instead is acting like they just drank a 5 hr Energy. This is when you have missed your baby's "window" for a restful sleep. Now he has hit his second wind, which consists of extreme crankiness, hyperactivity, and he will be more difficult to console. Babies who are overtired do not settle easily and surprisingly that night baby will not make for those extra hour he lost. It is actually more likely that he will sleep LESS  next day or two until he completely back on schedule.
The best way to help your baby get back on schedule as quickly as possible is when they wake up the next morning keep the wakeful period very short before the first nap. You may notice eye rubbing or yawning as soon as 45 mins after wake up and you should take that as a cue to start getting baby ready to return to dreamland.
It can be difficult to avoid an overtired baby, especially during the summer months, around holidays and while traveling. Allowing your baby to get one quality nap each day can really be beneficial. This nap should not be in the car or stroller and should be for at least 1 hour. You will find that the effort to sneak in these little periods of rest will be well worth it in the days to come.

Top Ten reasons you may need a Sleep Expert

Top Ten - 

1. Your toddler says goodnight and you are the one going to bed.

2. You find yourself on the Elmo potty at 3am because you're afraid to leave your kid's room.

3. Your husband has found you crying on the bathroom floor 3 out of the past 4 nights.

4. You tell people that your baby just doesn't need alot of sleep.

5. You have brought your baby into your bed so often that now when you go in to get him he's ready with an overnight bag.

6. You do an army crawl out of your baby's room so you are sure not to step on the creaky floor boards.

7.You are so exhausted from nighttime feedings your husband is wearing one of these...

8.3 min, 5 min, 10 min and 12 min intervals means something to you.

9. The Master Bedroom is referred to as "Daddy's Room" by your kids.

And last but certainly not least...
10. You would rather sleep than do ANYTHING else.

Bedtime Battles

It seems that so many parents think that hating sleep is just a normal part of being a baby. Well, this is definitely not true!! Babies and toddlers can learn to appreciate the quiet and relaxation that comes with bedtime just as adults do. When a baby feel as though they are going to a  safe, comfortable and happy place, they enjoy to go up to their little nest. Their friends are there, and they are exhausted, to them it feels as though they have been playing for days even if they just got up two hours ago.
I find that when a child's room becomes a place of punishment  that is when they to do not get the chance to focus on the good and become overwhelmed by the bad. When a sleep space is used in a threatening tone such as, " if you don't behave you will go to bed early," how is a kid ever supposed to associate their room with happiness and a sense of calm, and surprisingly that idea stays with them for years.
 Even an infant is able to understand the fact that when they are getting into trouble or they are exploring a little too much they are put into their crib like it is a  pen, but at bedtime they are supposed to embrace this place??
 I am the disciplinarian in my home but one thing I can tell you is that I have never sent my kids to their room or bed early as a punishment, and when they are ready, my kids grab their blankies, Gus gets his monkey and my daughter Olive gets her Lamb and off they go.
Bedtime does not need to be a battle.For all those mini wars we fight with our little ones' throughout the day we just need to keep their sleep space out of it. If you treat it like a sanctuary so will they.

Storm Survival Guide

The sounds of crashing thunder accompanied by the bright flashes of lightening can be enough to keep a child from sleeping for days. I thought I would give a few suggestions for keeping your toddler's fears at bay and maybe even add some fun to those scary storms, so everyone can get a good night's rest.

- Many sound machines have "Rain" or "Storm" sounds, but if yours does not you can get a Storm Sounds CD. Play these sounds loudly a couple of times a week in between the storms so that your little one gets used to the noise and it does not seem so unusual.

-Also, preparing a child for the storm can make them feel in control. Show them on the computer or TV that the storm is coming and have a fun 'storm plan.' If the bad weather is during awake hours make it an event, with movies and forts in the living room. If the storm is due to come in the middle of the night, have your child wear their new "magic'" storm PJs, that protect them from the scary sounds and sights while giving them a storm survival kit to have in their bed. This could include a flashlight, a special toy and anything else that may give your him a little extra comfort.

Sunday Snooze Seminar!!!

Sunday Snooze Seminar!!!
 Visit Jessica Gleason Infant Sleep Consultant on Facebook and join our LIVE Q&A from 8pm to 10pm.
So gather all your infant and toddler sleep questions and be sure to invite all your friends and family who may have a sleep dilemmas in their homes. Hope to see you there!.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Gleason-Infant-Sleep-Consultant/183793565074723

Illness

Many of my clients contact me with questions about their children's change in sleep habits when they catch the flu or even a common cold. While the advice I provide can vary, one thing I always remind them is that sleep is the best preventative against illness. The immune system, especially in children, is designed to protect us from sickness, however exhaustion causes the immune system to function improperly, and consequently cause more sleepless nights.

Travel

You may notice that your older infants and toddlers no longer snooze through more than one sleep cycle (30-45mins) on those long family car trips. So here are a couple of tips to get baby's nap to last a little longer. 
-Keep the car cool and give your little one a blanket to cozy up to as well as their favorite bedtime friend
-Crack a window in the back to create a white noise effect that will mimic your at home sound machine
-Turning the radio on a staticy station can also be used to create white niose and works quite well if turned up loudly when baby starts to fuss.
Wishing everyone Happy Travels:)

Independent Play

We have all had those moments, a few minutes after putting baby down for bed you hear them making alot of noise and wonder whether or not you should go in. This alone time for baby is actually very important to the development of baby's sense of independence, confidence, and allows them to get out that last bit of energy that may be lingering from the day. 
So placing one or two age appropriate toys in your little one's crib fulfills that need for independent play and allows mom or dad a few extra minutes in the morning.

Fung Shui nursery?

Fung Shui the Nursery?
While it may sound a bit unusual, some parents will exhaust every option they have when trying to get bay to sleep. Here are a few Fung Shui Suggestions:

Baby’s room must be in a good location.
1. The sleep space should not be located over a garage or open space.
2. The crib/bassinet/family bed should not be:
- Against a window.
-Directly in line with the door.
-Against a slanted wall
-Against a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage room or utility space.


For many homes this really doesn't leave too many options.