Is your little one ready to learn to sleep independently? Learning to sleep is like learning to fall. You are very hands-on and protective of your newborn, more so than your Kindergartner who falls off his bike but hops right back on after he comes to you to kiss his elbow. Your child needs age-appropriate space to explore what their body is capable of. As your child's parent, you respond and guide them in their learning process. Caring for your newborn is very hands-on. As y

Some things I hear parents say: “My baby needs me to do X to fall asleep.” “If I do everything right (routine, nutrition, environment, temperature) he must sleep, right?” “Tell me what to do to make him sleep.” Here’s the problem with these statements, you are the main player. Beyond the newborn stage you are not the main player in your little one achieving a good nap or night’s sleep. Your role has shifted as they develop and mature. You are now a supporting actor. But be an

How will you know your baby is tired? Look for the following signs: 1. Eye Rubbing (between 3-6mo. olds). 2. Jerky movements in their arms or legs. 3. A far off look in their eyes. No eye contact. 4. Seem bored. 5. Skin turns a bit red or pink on their eyebrows or under their eyes. 6. Pulling at their ear or hair. 7. Has the urge to suck. 8. Little hands making fists. 9. Grizzling leading to crying. 10. Are more likely to "spill" their milk. When you notice any o

How do you know your baby is overtired? 1. They will scream and cry and find it difficult to be comforted or settled. 2. They will have difficulty feeding because they are distressed and exhausted. 3. They will not show signs of healthy growth. Babies grow during their sleep. If they are not getting good sleep and and not eating well, on top of that (see above), their growth will slow down. 4. Any small annoyance or pain will be exacerbated by their tiredness. They mi

If you decide that a Parent Coach is a right fit for you to help you feel confident helping your newborn get the sleep he or she needs, here's what to expect: It is advised that you first meet with a lactation consultant at this early stage to be sure that feeding is not the issue with your newborn's sleep. Your lactation consultant will establish if your newborn's latch and sucking is helping it get the milk it needs to grow and thrive. Why should you engage a Parent Coa

This is the most common concern of newborn parents when they reach out to a parent coach for sleep assistance. Their newborn experiences and extended period of grizzling, feeding and crying during the evening till 9 or 10pm. The most common cause is that the infant is overtired. They may need to go to bed earlier. Try a bath at 6 aiming for bedtime at 6:30pm. It exacerbates the problem and over-stimulates the baby when parents constantly swap settling strategies and paren

Teamwork will set everyone up for success sharing the load with helping your newborn learn healthy sleep habits. Take turns doing night time feeds and settling. Breastfeeding mums can express before they head to bed at 9pm. Dad can then use the night time expressed milk to take on the first feeding shift at either 10:30pm or 1am. The night time expressing will ensure that all sorts of lovely sleepy hormones in the mum's night milk benefits the newborn's sleep. This extr

It helps most newborn parents to know they are not alone with the stresses of newborn sleep. It helps them know that most parents are required to persevere through six weeks worth of newborn wakefulness between 5-10pm. Some may cluster feed for six weeks but do great big chunks of night time sleep. All completely normal. The following guidelines might help you set realistic expectations for your newborn's sleep. Weigh your baby and decide where they fall. 1. From 4kg you

What are some of the Pros and Cons of setting up a routine for your 0-12 week old? Pros: 1. All babies thrive on consistency. 2. If you have a regular rhythm to your day it will be easier to spot issues or abnormalities. 3. A newborn on a routine will often adopt healthy sleep habits sooner. 4. Night time sleeps will group together resulting in fewer wake-ups. 5. Skipped feeds are not an issue. 6. Simple to plan for your day. Cons: 1. Adhering to a strict routine m

How does light affect your newborn's sleep? Light, especially sunlight, blue or white light cause the brain to produce Serotonin. The Serotonin hormone is converted to Melatonin when it's dark. Melatonin makes us drowsy but it is inhibited by light. This is why as adults we find it difficult to fall asleep after using our mobile devices at bed time. Build up plenty of stores of Serotonin in their system during the day with time outdoors and they'll be set for a nice, sn