All of us have just SNAPPED when our child's behaviour has pushed our stress over the edge. Our fight-flight-freeze mechanism in our brain kicks in and we react to our children in less than ideal ways.

Maybe we grab their arm too rough or we engage in a screaming match with our 4 year old.

Later we enter deep regret. "This is not the type of parent I want to be!"

To learn a better way involves education and self-control.

On one hand, many parents simply aren't aware of what is developmentally normal behaviour. We set our expectations too high or too low and then don't know how to respond.

On the other hand, when it comes to any relationship we can only control how WE respond. We can't control anyone but ourselves.

I can help with both.

But first let me give you some tips on how you can control your own response to your child's behaviour.

First, I want you to NOTICE. Notice what your body is telling you. What does your body do to let you know you are approaching peak stress? Does your neck become hot? Do your shoulders tense? Do you clench your fists or toes? Do you have stomach pains? Begin to notice these cues and listen to what your body is telling you and take a step back.

As you notice your body telling you you’re reaching your stress point, try this mindfulness practice. Mentally take a step back and STOP-PAUSE-PLAY.

Stop yourself from reacting.

Pause and think about how you can respond as the parent you want to be. Decide on an action or words.

Then press PLAY and follow through.

If you can’t in that moment, give yourself permission to take a time out, remove yourself from the situation, take deep breaths and then STOP PAUSE PLAY when you are able.

Need help talking through what barriers are in the way to you becoming the parent you thought you would be? Want to come up with a plan forward to communicate peacefully with your child, forgive yourself and parent with confidence without constantly second-guessing yourself?

I can help.

1. Join the FREE group Confident Parenting Solutions. The weekly units walk you through the steps to create change in your own life and approach to your relationship with your children. Download your first few worksheets here: https://www.cradle2kindy.com.au/confidentparentinglp

2. Book a Coaching Call to talk through your unique challenges and come up with a plan. This may be a once-off, weekly, monthly or quarterly arrangement. Whichever works best for you: https://www.cradle2kindy.com.au/book-online/coaching-call

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 your baby grows and develops, you allow more space for them to move independently. As they pull themselves up on furniture they may tumble and bump their head a bit. Does that mean we revert back to newborn parenting? Of course not. We respond and still allow age-appropriate space for your baby to learn what their body is capable of and responding to their own mishaps, training their muscles to avoid the next tumble. Eventually, with enough safe space and time to learn, they are running and skipping and jumping. All on their own ... with the occasional grazed knee that requires a sweet cuddle from you.

Many parents still use the same approach with their toddler to induce sleep that they did with their newborn. They are finding that it is taking longer and longer for their toddler to fall asleep and stay asleep. What worked for their newborn is no longer working with their toddler. As parents, we need to respond to our children's biological need for sleep in age-appropriate ways, allowing space for them to learn how their body falls asleep and how they can soothe themselves back to sleep during the night.

Are you ready to shift approaches and learn how you can help your baby/toddler/young child sleep and learn what their bodies are capable of doing?

I can help.

Become a member for just $10: https://www.cradle2kindy.com.au/parentingsolutions

Book a Coaching Call: https://www.cradle2kindy.com.au/book-online/coaching-call

Schedule a Home Visit:https://www.cradle2kindy.com.au/book-online/home-visit-hobart-tas

I can't wait to help your family make changes that help everyone get the sleep they need.

Every single family I've worked with, the parents WISH they'd contacted me months, if not years, earlier. Learn from them. Let me help your family develop healthy habits to get the sleep you ALL need.

It's so easy to become overwhelmed by all the information out there about parenting the first weeks and months and years after your child's birth. It's particularly frustrating when the sources contradict one another.

I once chatted socially to an 5 month expectant mum who was super organised and was already mapping out what her daily routine would be like once the baby arrived and reading up on every single blog and resource she could get her hands on. Her aim was to get everything JUST RIGHT so that transitioning to newborn parenting would be a breeze.

Those of us who have been through this stage, all want to sit this mum down, give her a big hug and tell her to relax. She has time. Babies are human. They are all different.

Here's my hot tip for you to avoid overwhelm.

...

While pregnant, READ A MAXIMUM OF TWO BOOKS AND HAVE ONE GO-TO PERSON FOR ADVICE.

...

Better yet, get that person to recommend two books.

You'll have that one friend or family member who you think really is a great parent and you think their kids are fantastic and you hope your kids will be as delightful as they are.

When I was pregnant, I invited myself over to a friends house once a week around lunch time so I could soak in the highs and lows and all the mess of parenting and get the real picture.

After my baby came, that friend became my go-to for any questions (in addition to our doctor and Child Health Nurse).

I do regret that I didn't bother to read any books, though. I thought mother's instinct would be enough. Sigh. My biggest challenge was not having a CLUE how much sleep or awake time a newborn needed. I eventually found a baby book at a used book store, flipped to the chapter on 3 month olds and found a schedule. CHANGED my parenting experience entirely.

Don't have a friend or family member to tap into? Consider ME your friend. I'm here for you. And I have resources. I can be your go-to AND recommend your two books.

This 4 year old boy has one proud mama (who also has one proud parent coach!)

With multiple sensory sensitivities, Laz has never found sleep an easy experience. His mum and dad had taken to sitting with him for up to 2 hours each evening to be a calming presence till he fell asleep. During the night he would wake frequently and call out or come and find them. He also beat the sun each morning to be the first one up. Sharing a room with his older brother was out of the question.

That's when Fiona reached out. With Laz beginning Kinder, she knew that sleep was vital for his well-being.

We came up with a plan that involved a weighted blanket, role-playing the four night time sleep rules and gradually moving his parents out of the room each evening so that he found sleep on his own each night.

Fiona sent me this photo while celebrating 7+ nights in a row of self-settling and sleeping through till at least 6am (if not later) each morning. All while going through moving to a new house and his first ever sleep over at a friends' house. CHAMPION!

I'm so proud of you, Fiona, Dan and Laz!

Need a plan and someone to help keep you on track? Book a coaching call or home visit.

Are you parenting under a fog of overwhelm, disappointed in your lack of joy? Working with clients surrounding their children's sleep, eating or behaviour has revealed that parents change themselves first before they help their children make changes towards healthier, more content lives. One client shared recently: "After nearly three years of next to no sleep every aspect of my parenting had been doubted (mainly by me). I needed Christine to tell us (my husband and I) that we knew what we were doing, that we were doing a great job and that we could turn this whole sleep thing around! It also wasn't just sleep that was giving our family grief. Our toddler was searching for limits and boundaries, I thought we were giving them to him, and we were, but he was also looking for how and why to our day, and even though I was talking to him, I wasn't being clear and consistent. Christine helped me to see that my anxiety around my son and sleep was contributing to friction across the board between him and his dad. When given the right tools for success, I felt comfortable in stepping back and letting the boys figure things out together. My husband desperately wanted to be more involved with parenting the kids, but I was accidentally standing in the way." Client feedback over and over has shown me that there is a need to work with parents on their own emotions, beliefs about themselves and parenting, goal setting and connections to those around them they love enabling them to do the same for their children. Essentially coaching the parents so the parents can grow and coach their own children in life. That is why I've developed a six week coaching program to work with parents one on one to lift them out of the fog and confusion of parenting. To help parents put one foot in front of the other growing towards confidence, sure that along the way they will make mistakes but able to learn and grow from them and become closer to their families in the process. Over the six weeks I will help you • ride the wave of your emotions surrounding parenting • challenge your beliefs about what you think you OUGHT to be as a parent • take steps towards genuine self care • create change in your life by shifting old habits of communication • mindfully be in the moment but also stepping back to observe the big picture • listen and observe before responding with truth and love • and ultimately grow in confidence as a parent, partner, co-worker and human-being After the six week program, you then have the option to continue the one on one coaching weekly, monthly, quarterly ... however frequently you think will benefit you as you begin coaching your children through life using the skills and tools I help you develop. In turn you will help YOUR children grow in confidence and loving connection. I want to acknowledge your heart for your family to thrive and flourish. You know that you need to be confident in yourself, first, to make changes your family may need to take. This year will be YOUR year to grow. Remember the client above? "I honestly believe that there is great value in paying a professional to help sort out a problem. Having Christine involved in our parent coaching meant it was not always MY research and therefore decisions that pointed in a direction to take. Christine was an independent, professional voice of reason that gave advice to my husband and I. This way there was no me versus him, there was just clear and relevant information and a plan in place to follow. And on top of all that, Christine helped keep us all on track. Reminding us of why we were doing what we were doing, helped keep our eyes on our goals, and was available for advice whenever I asked." Do not delay. This is the year for change. Sign up for Confident Parenting Solutions here. Let’s lift that fog and get started today.

After the holidays, you told yourself, "Right! This year we're going to get serious about helping our little one get better sleep." You've read a few blogs and have whittled it all down to a handful of approaches that you feel comfortable with. You'll start with one and if that doesn't work you'll work through your list till one method eventually sticks. You've been through all this before kids with the gym, being organised and holding your tongue when your temper flares up. How long did those New Years Resolutions last? What you needed then and you need NOW is accountability! What if you could inform your "parental instinct" with science-based knowledge and methods surrounding sleep for newborns - 5 year olds? On top of that, be accountable to one of the spunkiest parent coaches around for TWO WHOLE WEEKS! After sending Christine a selfie of her well-rested little boy, client Jess text the following: "I just wanted to tell you (because I am so pumped!) that I put him to sleep for his nap at 8:15am, heard a little bit of grizzling, then at 8:30am he was asleep! I cannnnnot believe it!!! He woke up just before 9am and I waited half a minute before patting him for 3 minutes and now he is asleep again! This is so crazy! Thank you, Christine! I can't wait to tell my husband when he gets home. He will be so proud of him!" With a bit of parent coaching, you'll have a better chance at succeeding and in the end you won't have a swear jar that is full to the brim 2 times over like you did in 2011. Ditch the resolution for coaching. Learn more about working with Christine Jolly, parent coach, and let's get started.

Potential Clients: "My baby can't sleep more than 25 minutes." Me: "Yet." Potential Clients: "My baby can't go to sleep without being nursed." Me: "Yet." Potential Clients: "My baby can't stay asleep without being held." Me: "Yet." Potential Clients: "My toddler can't stay in bed overnight." Me: "Yet." Let's do this!

ICE CREAM ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR MOMENT: You know what that's like. You've reached the bottom of what you are physically, mentally and emotionally capable of. The only thing you feel you CAN do is reach for a pint of ice cream, sink to the kitchen floor and numb the experience with a brain freeze. Don't let your parenting get that far! Reach out for help. A brief phone call with me might determine that you may need only a slight tweak to your day or you might actually need some hardcore coaching to get your family's life back in gear. You'll wish you had reached out for help months ago. Pick yourself up and improve your circumstances. Let's work together on your parenting struggles. You don't have to do it alone.

Resilience is such a buzzword these days. So is SLEEP TRAINING.

When we hear "Resilience" our spirits are lifted and we soar with the hope of tackling insurmountable obstacles and coming out on the other side victorious.

Teaching a young child to sleep through the night? Well ... that gets people's blood pressure soaring. "They'll learn it eventually. No child grows up and goes to Uni while still bed-sharing at night." For some their spirits plummet. "What if I help my son learn this new skill but at the end of it all he hates me and our relationship is broken?" For some their spirits trudge on determined to battle their offspring in a battle of the wills. But "Resilience" ... yes ... I can help my child learn resilience. Where do I start?

First of all, YOU need to be resilient. You can do this by having a chat with yourself and tackling your fears. What do I think might happen if I help my child get the sleep that I know his body needs to grow and thrive? Are these concerns valid? If so, how do I address them? If not, how do I let them go? Begin speaking "true statements" to yourself, allowing logic to overpower your emotional response to helping your child learn this important new skill of falling to sleep unassisted. You have a strong, loving relationship with your child. You adore each other and you always intend to do whats best for your child even when he or she cannot see the big picture like you can. YOU can do hard things and come out on the other end so proud of your child!

Now you need to help your child to prepare for a new way forward. Build a strong foundation of laying down the rules around night time sleep. Chat about it at dinner and bath with excitement. Our clients have a simple laminated poster to help them with these discussions. Role play with your child's toys and allow them to be the parent in the scenario. Your child will find comfort in clearly understanding what you expect from him and what he can expect from you when it comes to night-time parenting. Your child may not be convinced that he or she can do it. But as long as it's developmentally appropriate, you know your child can do hard things and come out on the other side ok.

Your child is not naughty if he resists this learning process. He will likely go through a whole gamut of emotions. This is entirely ok and appropriate. Shifting away from old habits is hard and not always welcome. Allow your child to feel those emotions in the moment. This is all a part of learning the life skill of Resilience. In the moment, life circumstances may feel "too hard" but then you persist, work hard, figure it out and come out on the other side victorious.

Mentally prepare yourself. You will need to be consistent in the steps you've explained to your child of what they can expect from you. They will be comforted when you hold up your end of the bargain. They will test this to make sure you follow through.

Ultimately, you cannot achieve sleep for them. You need to give them the space to learn to achieve this hard new thing on their own. But they will be certain of three things:

1. You are never very far away. 2. They somehow need to do this on their own. 3. While it may feel too hard or like the end of the world, when your child gets to the other side in the morning, the sun is shining brightly and you love your child and are so incredibly proud of what they can accomplish on their own.

Your child can do hard things. YOU can do hard things.

Need help with creating a plan forward with your young child 18 months - 5 years old? I can help. Book a Coaching Call.

Recently you confided in a friend that your lack of sleep is affecting your life. How you function. Your relationships. Your memory. Your physical health. You snap at everyone and everything. You have not been intimate with your partner in over a year. You cry at the slightest inconvenience. You look at your baby with resentment. You asked for help. Her "helpful" reply was ... "Well, you wanted kids! It's all part of the package. Deal with it." First of all. You need better friends! Second, sleep is a biological need. If you're not getting what you need to function at your optimal levels, good on you for being brave and admitting you need help! Third, if your child's lack of sleep is affecting your own, I can help. Book a Coaching Call.

Frustrated by night wakings? You may have done all the "right" things by keeping an eye on age-appropriate awake times, scheduled your naps just right, plenty of good outdoor activity during "up times", early bed time, helped your little one learn the skills of self- and re-settling ... but your toddler STILL wakes up a few times each night! It might be your toddler's diet. You see, your body at night needs protein to stabilise blood sugar. If there is not enough protein, that sugar gets turned into adrenaline which causes ... you got it! Night wakings. Make sure your little one is getting small, regular servings of protein throughout the day with the bulk of it being served at lunch time. Too much at dinner causes its own problems. A simple fix that might get you immediate results. Need help with moving forward to help your family get the sleep you all need? Book a Coaching Call.

I am the LAST person to tell you to stop breastfeeding. Instead I want you to begin reclaiming your breastfeeding experience. In the past, at some stage you made a choice. And that choice worked for you and your family. You fed your baby to sleep. You nursed to soothe your baby when she was upset. You enjoyed those moments and the power that came from creating calm using your body. But now that your little one is past 12 months you may have begun dreading your breastfeeding rituals. Your mobile toddler is grabbing at your top demanding "num nums". She "NEEDS" to be fed to re-settle when she wakes in the middle of the night. When you feed to settle when distressed, he wiggles away free and runs away after two minutes. You feel "used". You feel your body has become a dummy/pacifier. The experience no longer brings joy. You're not alone. Thousands of women have felt the same. Most have probably been too timid to mutter their thoughts aloud. At twelve months, your toddler no longer requires your milk to sustain their life. You continue by choice as you are convinced that the bonding and health benefits are worth it. YES! But at some point it stopped being mutually enjoyable. Your toddler was calling all the shots and you dutifully lifted your top to allow him to feed. You staggered into his room at 3am to nurse him back to sleep only to find after 2 minutes he's zonked out. "Well, a pacifier could have done that!" you think. Let's start #reclaimingbreastfeeding. Let's reclaim the joy and bonding around breastfeeding. Let's reclaim our bodies. Let's reclaim the nurturing moments. How? YOU decide when, where and how you are comfortable feeding. It is YOUR body. Feel empowered to say "No, not now." with all the love you have for yourself and your toddler. Not keen on being a midnight pacifier? You might decide that instead you are only comfortable breastfeeding as part of your bedtime, wind-down ritual. You might decide that you are only comfortable breastfeeding in the morning when your little one wakes up. Cuddles and a feed with the sun streaming through the curtains. Not keen on your clothes being taken off your body without your permission? You might decide that your milk is on offer upon waking up, morning tea time, afternoon tea time and before bed time. Continue the journey as long as it still brings you joy. Book a Coaching Call. I can show you alternate ways to encourage your little one to develop the ability to self-regulate and re-settle to sleep, if you need help.

Hobart mums and dads! Get your group of parent buddies together and book a 2 hour sleep chat with your local parent coach and sleep specialist, Christine Jolly. This open-ended Q&A style session will help answer a wide variety of niggling questions you've had about your little one's sleep. • Does my baby really have to sleep in a dark room? • When can my baby move in to their own room? • Does white noise really help? • When should my little one nap and for how long? • He will NOT go back to sleep after a short nap...... What do I do? • When should I drop a nap? • How much sleep does my baby really need over a 24 hour period? • How many feeds does my baby need in the night? • When can my baby sleep through? • What can I do instead of rocking my baby to sleep? • How do I stop feeding to sleep? • How do I get rid of the dummy? • My baby hates swaddling. What should I do? • When can I un-swaddle? Each parent or couple will go home with a handout suitable for your little one's age group that will set you up for parenting confidence over the months ahead. Book group session today.

Our goal is that the Sleep Solutions TM program will equip and teach you how to:1. Help baby or child: • Go to sleep independently (without outside assistance) • Resettle himself if he wake prematurely • Learn to sleep for longer periods, both day and night.2. Help you to: • Know your child’s sleep, feed and play needs • Maintain consistency in the message you are giving your child in regards to sleep and resettling • Persist in using the Sleep Solutions TM program which is specific for your child, till the infant responds and no longer needs your assistance. • Renew your confidence in parenting. • Freeing up your time for other things, and to • Enhance sleep for the whole family.3. Help your environment by: • Bringing order to confusion • Enhancing serenity and peace • Establishing a workable routine. The Sleep SolutionsTM program will help you establish a workable daily routine, develop a settling program suitable for your Little One's developmental stage from birth to early childhood, while still allowing for the individuality of you and your child. Our goal is to help you teach your child to learn how to self-settle and re-settle, not to be dependent on parents or an outside means to get to sleep. Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions Parent Coach and Owner, Christine Jolly, will be your guide along the way. During the two weeks program you will work together to create a sleep plan for your family.Clients benefit from • online courses • exclusive client-only Facebook group for your age group • information on nutrition, behaviour and development, • one-on-one coaching in-home or online • one or two weeks of follow-up and accountability

For many parents, crying is a trigger. They shift into a mode that swoops in to fix the crying, stopping it so that their baby doesn't feel the emotions that they themselves associate with crying. But all crying is not always emotional. For a baby, they have limited methods of communication and it's one of the few ways they've got to let you know that something is not right. When a baby communicates her needs we respond. What is she trying to tell you? We take a moment and observe. Is she cold? Uncomfortable? Hungry? Does she need a nappy change? Is she overtired? Then we meet those needs. Our aim isn't to stop the "communication" (otherwise known as "crying"). After you've met your baby's needs and she is still "communicating", listen to her. There are several ways that your baby communicates with you. Is her cry one of true distress? Are her physical signs that she's overwhelmed, red-faced, crying tears, struggling to breathe deeply, constant loud crying? That's a baby who needs connection. She needs you to hold her, to help her come down to ground zero, to help her see that you are there to help her come through her frustration on the other end and be ok. This is when you touch her, hold her, rub her back, hum a soothing song to her, nurture her. She needs you to help her breathe calmly again. Once calm, we can put her down again to sleep or to explore. If during these moments of touch and care, she still does not calm down after all needs have been met, you can take matters further and see a doctor. Are her sounds grunty, whingy, unsure, coming on and off again in irregular intervals? She's learning and needs her space to figure out her new environment. She's not ready for you to hold her yet. By all means be nearby and talk to her, letting her know that you are there, you see her, you are proud of her as she explores and learns and you know that she can do it. You proudly look on as she finds her own way. She will let you know if she's ready for you to help. Don't swoop in. Wait. Babies may cry when learning new skills. Mastering a new skill is difficult (even for grown ups!). Think of how many times people have a go at quitting an old habit. It's frustrating. Same for babies. Crying will be a part of that frustration. But that crying is ok. As they learn to move and crawl, they will be frustrated. When we teach them healthy sleep habits, they will let you know that they prefer the old way when they were a newborn and you held them to sleep. When we wean them off the dummy, it's a battle of the wills. As the parent, you want what is best for your little one. Helping them learn new skills, even when it's hard, is your job. You are your little one's coach. You know she can do it! Helping your little one come out on the other side as a master of new skills will be worth it. Your anxiety may try to convince you that your baby is not "ok". Learn to speak "true statements" out loud to help you achieve parenting confidence and calm. Clients and Parenting Solutions members have particularly enjoyed our Mantras Thru the Crying document to help battle their anxiety with Truth statements. Why not book a Coaching Call and discuss with your parent coach how to best meet your child's needs and be okay with their whole range of emotions?

Your midwife demonstrated his or her favourite swaddling technique while you were still in hospital. Your sister bought you the latest zip-up swaddle as a baby shower gift. Your mother-in-law swears that you should do it "this" way. But the reality is, your baby HATES being swaddled. So in a few days, you give up. It's not worth the hassle. Here are some tips for why you should try again: 1. Little babies lose control of their limbs when they are overtired or may be transitioning between sleep cycles. Unswaddled babies may only get 15-20 minutes of deep sleep before they wake themselves up with the movement of their arms. Bringing their arms in close to their bodies helps your baby transition to sleep and between 45 minute sleep cycles. 2. The firm wrap of a swaddle, bringing their arms down close to their sides or across their middle, is stabilizing and comforting like a strong warm hug. Even toddlers throwing a tantrum often quickly find calm when given a loving, firm cuddle. Older children who struggle with sensory processing find weighted blankets help bring them calm. Same with little babies feeling the pressure of the swaddle. 3. You don't need the latest, expensive name brand swaddles. A simple muslin swaddle (preferably more than 1 metre square), when done correctly, easily gets the job done. They're easy to clean and light-weight. They can double as a mat on the floor for "tummy time". 4. Swaddling combined with Harvey Karp's other 5Ss to settle a tired or distressed baby is suitable for babies up to 5 months (until baby can roll from front to back on their own). Layering the 5Ss one at a time provides comfort and reassurance. Baby: "Even though I'm losing it, someone has got me. Someone is in control. Someone understands what I need." 5. Always swaddle your baby immediately when you first notice the drowsy signs. Do not wait till they are overtired when they will "hate" being swaddled and will fight against it the most. Begin your whole sleepy time routine at these early tired signs. Watch for • pulling at ears • closing fists • yawning • fluttering eyelids or difficulty focusing – your baby might even go cross-eyed or seem to be staring into space • making jerky arm and leg movements, or arching backwards • frowning or looking worried • sucking on fingers – this could be a good sign and might mean that your baby is trying to find ways to settle to sleep. (from www.raisingchildren.net.au) Want to see a step-by-step of my favourite, slightly unconventional, effective method of swaddling? Click .

How do you occupy your other children while helping your baby get to sleep? Explain to your children in simple terms that baby needs your help to sleep. Explain that once the baby is asleep, Mummy will have time to spend with them. They may like to try and ‘settle’ their doll or put on a video, audiobook or soft music to dance or sing to during this time. Some families have a special Quiet Time Box that comes out during baby's settling times. These are filled with special activities meant to occupy your other child like special stickers, cars, puzzles, felt pictures, picture books. You could even save the Doll House, people and furniture for these special times. These are all put away when you come back to them after settling baby. Either way, this is a great time for your children to learn Independent Play. If you’re SUPER organised you could have a different Quiet Time Box for each day of the week! Each box could have 2 books, a puzzle, and 3-4 activities. Once the baby is settled, thank the child for letting you attend to the baby undisturbed and give them some quality time one on one with them to reward their efforts. Giving the child some special attention after the event will encourage them to help in a similar manner next time. This helps to reduce jealousy. They may even start looking for baby's tired signs, excited to play by themselves and have some special one to one time with you. Remain flexible and creative as you may need different strategies to keep your older child occupied and happy. Sometimes it might help to have another person entertain the older child while you settle the baby. Once your baby is in a good routine the older child will not be so demanding of your attention as you will not be leaving him to attend to the younger one. Give lots of positive reinforcement and attention to the older child when baby is asleep and try not to keep telling the older child to keep quiet because of the baby. Play quiet one-on-one games such as puzzles, reading and art during baby’s down time. Make morning tea together or snuggle on the sofa watching raindrops race down the window. Want a list of ideas to put into a "Quiet Time" box? Click .

What would you put in a box?

I know it's hard because it hurts like the Dickens but ... don't give a big reaction. It becomes entertaining for them. They don't actually realize they are causing you pain but they learn to enjoy the cause and effect of "If I do this, mummy reacts that way." Remove your baby from your breast and say, "No, that hurts me." End the feed. They are just playing and not focusing. If your baby protests, say, "Your were biting me. That's not ok. We can try again in 15 minutes." And then move on. Even if your baby is quite young, communicating with your words, tone of voice, facial expression and body language gets the message across that when feeding he's not to attempt to bite you again. Biting ends the feed. As your baby maneuvers through this tricky stage, be very vigilant during the feeding times. As you sense the feed coming to an end put down any distractions and pay attention to his cues. If you sense your baby start to clench his jaw or begin grazing (about to bite again), slide your pinky into the corner of his mouth planting the tip of your pinky in between his top and bottom gums. This will break the suction and also protect your nipple, giving it plenty of room to slide out without getting bit. Remember, your baby isn't intentionally trying to harm you. He can't feel the pain you do and he doesn't understand it. Don't take it personally. Be calm and matter of fact. If you sense the feed wasn't actually finished, try to feed again in 15 minutes after you have both had a break. He's learning cause and effect. Help him learn that the result of biting stops the feed altogether. Which is much less entertaining than hearing your squeal.

1. A questionnaire to assess the details surrounding your family's sleep struggles. Topics covered are:

your goals for change,your commitment to change,your child's details (age, weight, schedule, nutritional intake),description of sleep environment,your understanding of the sleep issues,your parenting style,and your child's temperament.

2. A thorough assessment of your questionnaire.

3. A 40 minute coaching call gently guiding you through the factors at play and discussing the plan forward in a way the works for your family's commitments, lifestyle and parenting approach.

4. A custom plan to address the challenges your family is facing.

5. One week of follow-up support.

6. Exclusive ongoing Facebook group for your age group.

7. Downloadable files and routines.

8. A process that not only "fixes the problem" but improves your bond with your little one as you respond to their needs in a developmentally appropriate manner.

9. A holistic approach to sleep, feeding, relationship, behaviour and development.

10. The complete library of Cradle 2 Kindy online courses for all age groups.

Ready to get a good night's sleep for your family?

Book your Coaching Call.

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 Oscar-winning supporting actor!

Your role is to provide the time and space and loving support for them to make their way over the bridge to slumberland on their own. You respond to their need for support in learning this new skill but ultimately no human being can MAKE another person sleep.

Ask yourself these 3 questions:

Is what I’m currently doing to help my little one sleep not working anymore?Do I not want to continue this method of helping my baby settle to sleep?Is my little one developmentally able to do more in getting herself to sleep than I am letting her do?

If you answered YES to ANY of these, let’s chat. Make a booking for a coaching call and I'll help you become that Oscar-winning support for your child.