When is it time to drop the nap for my toddler?
The age old question- is my toddler ready to drop the nap?!!? The age it happens varies, but typically most toddlers drop their nap between the ages of 2-5. From personal experience, my kiddo dropped his nap around age 4. The following are some signs that can help you decide if it is time to get away from the nap!
Your child is consistently refusing naps: If your child is fighting naptime and consistently refusing to nap, it may be a sign that they are ready to drop their nap. This may also be accompanied by an increase in nighttime sleep, indicating that your child is getting enough rest without the nap.
Your child is taking a long time to fall asleep at night: If your child is taking a long time to fall asleep at night, it may be a sign that they are no longer tired enough to need a nap during the day. This can lead to a later bedtime and disrupted sleep patterns.
Your child is staying awake during naptime: If your child is consistently staying awake during naptime, it may be a sign that they are no longer in need of a nap. This may also be accompanied by an increase in nighttime sleep, indicating that your child is getting enough rest without the nap.
Your child's age: As mentioned earlier, most toddlers drop their nap between the ages of 2 and 5 years old. If your child is approaching their fifth birthday and is showing signs of being ready to drop their nap, it may be time to start transitioning away from naps. If they are in a school setting, you may notice that they will not nap on the weekends at home.
If you think your child is ready to drop their nap, start by gradually reducing the length of their nap or pushing it later in the day. This can help your child adjust to the change more gradually. You may also need to adjust your child's bedtime to ensure they are getting enough sleep at night. Most kiddos after the age of 2 years old, require 11-12 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. If your kiddo takes a 2 hour nap (remember to cap naps at 2 hours), then they would probably only need 9-10 hours of sleep at night. Remember that every child is different, and it's important to watch for your child's individual signs of readiness before making any changes to their sleep schedule.
If you are having some toddler sleep regressions and need some help, set up a free 15 minute call with me and we can discuss how I can help you solve your problem!
Is my child having a nightmare or a night terror?
Nightmares and night terrors are two types of sleep disturbances that can occur in children, but they differ in their characteristics and causes. For the longest time, I thought my son was having nightmares, but he was having night terrors! Once I understood the difference, it helped me realize that there was a reason I was not effective in helping him out because there is not much I could have done (During it, I felt sooo helpless!).
Nightmares are vivid, scary dreams that usually occur during the second half of the night, during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. They can be caused by various factors such as anxiety, stress, or illness. Children who have nightmares often wake up feeling scared, upset, and sometimes with a clear memory of the dream. They may also have difficulty falling back asleep or resist going back to sleep for fear of having another nightmare. It is super scary for the kiddo.
Night terrors, on the other hand, are episodes of intense fear or panic that occur during deep sleep, usually in the first third of the night. They are more common in younger children, particularly between the ages of 3 and 8 years, and are often related to stress, fatigue, or illness. During a night terror, the child may suddenly sit up in bed, scream, cry, thrash around, or appear to be in a state of confusion or disorientation. My son would be rolling around, kicking and it was hard to watch! As a parent, you have to make sure your child is safe during them and not try to wake them up. They will wake up on their own. Maybe you have tried to wake them up and it was impossible...that was a night terror, not a nightmare. Unlike nightmares, children who experience night terrors typically do not remember the episode the next day. The parent will remember!
In summary, while nightmares and night terrors both involve disturbances of sleep, nightmares are vivid, scary dreams that occur during REM sleep, while night terrors are episodes of intense fear or panic that occur during deep sleep, usually in the first third of the night.
Recently, my son had an increase of night terrors and I could not figure out why. He was having them so vividly. Things we did to help reduce them was to do some physical activity before dinner time, stop screen time at least 3 hours prior to bedtime, and after dinner do a calming activity.
If you need help troubleshooting sleep issues with your little one, baby or toddler, set up a free 15 minute call and let’s see how I can help!
#nightmaresinchildren #nighterrorsinchildren #sleeptraining #sleepconsultant #babysleep #toddlersleep #sleepdeprived
Photo credit: Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
Can I Continue to Breastfeed While Sleep Training?
This blog explains the relationship of breast feeding and sleep training. And yes, you can do both.
The answer is “Yes!” Breastfeeding and sleep training are two separate entities. Also, to take it a step further, sleep training and night weaning can be done at the same time.
First, sleep training is the ability of a parent to teach their little one to fall asleep independently. Whether it is nap time or nighttime, daycare or at home, the goal of sleep training is for your little one to fall asleep independently without any negative sleep associations.
What are negative sleep associations?
These are things that your little one associates with sleep, such as a bottle or rocking or the mother’s breast. These may seem innocent, but then they become dependent on that association in order to fall asleep.
So, how do you get your breastfed baby to sleep without nursing? The key is not nursing them to sleep, even if you’re nursing as part of your nighttime routine.
For example, after breastfeeding your little one, put your child in the crib while they are drowsy but still awake. What if your baby falls asleep at the breast? No problem! Just take your baby off the breast, rub the gums with a cloth (never too early to start some dental hygiene practices), which arouses him/her a little bit, and put them in their crib. Even just taking this middle step will mean the baby will learn not to associate sleep with the mother’s breast i.e does not have to be breastfed in order to sleep.
Maintaining milk supply while sleep training
For most mothers, it is important to keep up their milk supply. Sleep training generally begins when your baby has gained enough weight and does not need to do feedings during the night for caloric intake reasons (even if they still like to!) However, even if this is the case, most breastfeeding mothers would like to keep up their supply.
If your baby is sleeping during the night, but you want to keep your supply up, you can choose to pump instead during that time and not wake your baby.
How do you sleep train an exclusively breastfed baby?
When you’re a new mom, details around breastfeeding, sleep training, and just generally having a routine with your baby can be overwhelming. Trying to figure out when to nurse in relation to bedtime can be a juggling act. Breastfeeding and sleep training can absolutely go hand in hand, you just might need some help to pull it off with a little less stress.
As a sleep training consultant, I work with you on a plan that makes sense for you and your family. We’ll talk about your baby’s specific needs and how we can build a plan that works for everyone. During the process, I’m available to you when you need me to answer questions and guide you along the way. Click here to set up an intro call with me.
Sleep Tips for Traveling with a Baby
You know that feeling… It is finally time..what time is it? VACATION TIME! You have booked the flights and hotels, packed the suitcase and you’re ready to relax! You’re left with only one thing to worry about: How will this affect your child’s sleep?
Traveling with a baby can make any vacation a bit more complicated. You have to think about what baby gear to pack, how to maintain sleep schedules, the best time for activities, and more. However, taking a baby on vacation doesn’t have to be such a headache. With a little extra planning, plus some flexibility, traveling with a baby can be a relaxing experience (well, all things considered!).
Here are some of my top tips as a baby sleep consultant for what to do when taking your baby on a trip. This includes flying with a baby as well as long car rides with a baby.
My top baby travel tips:
Start off on the right foot. Make sure everyone is well rested when you start your travel – that includes your little one and any other family members making the trip!
Keep the bedtime routine as similar as possible to normal. Things that you should pack to help with this transition: a travel noise machine and something to block out the light if there are not black out curtains. When possible, plan your activities around your baby’s normal routine to keep bedtime the same as it would be at home.
Plan ahead. Check to see if your accommodations, whether it’s a hotel/Airbnb/grandparents house, have gear available for your stay. From a stroller to a crib, having gear already at your destination will make packing (and traveling!) a lot easier. If you want to travel light and your hotel or Airbnb doesn’t already have these things, there are great baby rental companies such as Baby Quip, where you can rent a stroller or crib. That way you can keep your sleep routine as normal as possible away from home.
Drive at night. If you are traveling with your baby by car, you may want to consider traveling during sleep hours (night time) to keep the routine as normal as possible. This way, when you reach your destination, your baby will be awake and rested, ready to start the day. (Even if your driver isn’t quite as ready!)
International time differences. If you’re making a longer trek and traveling internationally with a baby, you’ll have to deal with a larger time difference. This can be confusing to a baby. Usually most flights time it so you will land in your destination in the morning. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to try to keep your little ones active and in bright lit areas so they can adjust to the time difference. This is obviously easier said than done, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself – especially if your baby was up for the whole flight.
Keep daytime nap schedules as similar as possible. Remember, if your little one shortens or skips a nap during the day, adjust their bedtime to a bit earlier to catch up on the sleep. Then the next day you should be able to resume your day as normal.
Separate your baby from toddlers. If you have more than one kid or have a toddler, you may want to consider getting an adjoining room so your toddler can sleep independently.
HAVE FUN! You are on vacation and the stress of your child’s sleep schedule should not deter you from having fun! Even if schedules get messed up during your trip, it’s okay. Don’t sacrifice your well-deserved time off! Sleep training can resume when you’re back home to a regular routine.
Even if you’re not traveling, time changes can affect your baby’s sleep schedule. Twice a year, most of us get to experience Daylight savings time, which can be a thorn in the side of many parents trying to sleep train their babies. If you’re traveling during Daylight Savings, or just battling the time change at home, here are two schools of thought on how to deal with the time change for your little one:
Adjust starting a few days ahead. For example, we are about to fall back on November 5, 2022. If your child’s bedtime is 7 pm, four days prior, move your child’s bedtime to 7:15 pm, then three days before move it to 7:30 pm, two days before 7:45 pm, one day before move it to 8pm. Then by the time DST rolls around, they have adjusted. It is important to note that a) you would have to adjust the wake-up time also b) still follow your child’s sleep cues. If they are tired, they are tired!
Do nothing- After a few days of adjusting to the new time (i.e fall back an hour or spring forward an hour), your little one will adapt. I favor this one. You do not have to worry about adjusting and anticipating an off schedule wake up.
When Should I Start Sleep Training My Baby?
Before any parent starts a sleep training method for their baby, it is important to talk to your pediatrician and get cleared. Before you begin, your pediatrician will want to ensure your baby is gaining weight appropriately and is achieving his or her developmental milestones. It is also important to understand that most babies do not have regular sleep cycles until about 6 months old. You can start as early as 4 months.
When you’re considering starting sleep training, here is what you and your pediatrician will likely look for:
– Startle reflexes disappear starting at 2 months and should be gone by 6 months. Once these go away, your baby will not want to wake themselves.
– Increased feeding, including more daytime feeding than nighttime, and appropriate weight gain. If you feed your baby during the day, the less your baby is dependent on night time feedings
– Ability to self soothe. Your baby will be able to calm themselves down, whether it is using their thumb or working through it. For instance, your baby goes from a 10 out of 10 cry (sounds like the cry to end all cries) and can calm down to a 5/10 to a 0/10. Not all babies know this skill, so this is the primary skill we will help them learn during sleep training.
Can you sleep train a 3-month old?
While you can start laying the foundation from day 1, I recommend official sleep training starts between 16-20 weeks. Here are some helpful tips to get your baby off on the right foot when it comes to sleep training:
– Getting them on a schedule (more so after week 8). This is of course easier said than done and something we can work on together with consistency.
– Lay them down on a flat surface to sleep, as outlined in the AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines.
When should I not start sleep training?
All babies are different, so you will want to talk to get approval from your pediatrician before beginning sleep training. As mentioned above, your doctor will want to see your baby is able to self-soothe; he or she is taking more feedings during the day and fewer at night; and startle reflexes are lowered.
There are of course other factors and reasons your baby might not be ready for sleep training, even by that 16-20 week mark. If you’re wondering what’s right for your child, set up a 15-minute intro call with me to discuss the specifics of your needs.
When can you start sleep training your baby to cry?
When one thinks of sleep training a baby, it is most likely that they think of crying, including the Cry it Out Method.
The Cry it Out Method (or full extinction) is basically what it sounds like. In this method, the parent will allow the baby to cry it out with no intervention from the parent so that they can learn to sleep on their own. It is a very rigid method and not all parents can just let their child cry it out. Of course there are less rigid ways than the Cry it Out Method. Many of these other sleep training methods involve crying in certain intervals, which in turn allows your baby the opportunity to learn to self settle themselves.
It’s so important that we remember that when a baby is crying during sleep training they are TRYING. By allowing them to cry, you are giving them an opportunity to self-soothe and find a way to calm themselves down on their own.
If you are struggling with where to start with sleep training your child, book a 15-minute free intro call with me (https://www.asweeterslumber.com/contact) and you can see how I can help with this process.
What you should know about the updated AAP Safe Sleep recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their Safe Sleep Recommendations on June 21 for the first time since 2016. The organization, which guides millions of parents in proper techniques and rules around safe sleeping for babies and toddlers, updated these recommendations after seeing evidence-based data.
Here are the most updated Safe Sleep Recommendations from the AAP to reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths:
Babies should sleep on a flat, firm surface. Their crib should have a fitted sheet and nothing else. That includes removing stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, and anything decorative.
Parents should not use products that are not for sleep, for sleep.This includes items like crib bumpers, inclined sleepers, and more. See more info at healthy children.org,
Strollers, car seats, swings, infant carriers and infant slings are not recommended for routine sleep in the hospital or home, especially for babies less than 4 months old
Breastfeeding reduces the risk for sleep-related complications and the AAP recommends human milk feeds for the first 6 months or longer if you are able and willing.
Parents should sleep in the same room as their baby for at least the first 6 months of your baby’s life. However, they do not recommend sleeping in the same bed.
Pacifier reduces risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Baby should maintain recommended immunization schedule
Avoid commercial products that state they reduce the risk of SIDS (i.e cardiorespiratory monitors)
Tummy time should be when the baby is awake and supervised. Your goal should be at least 15-30 minutes daily (broken down into smaller increments) by age 7 weeks.
There is no evidence that swaddling reduces risk of SIDS. If using a swaddle, put infant on their back. Weighted swaddles/clothing/objects are not safe for babies. To note, weighted swaddles or objects have never been recommended by the AAP. If a baby shows signs of rolling, then swaddling should stop.
As a pediatric sleep consultant, I’m constantly staying up to date on the AAP’s recommendations because they are backed by evidence. As a parent, whether you are working with a baby sleep consultant or not, it’s important to keep these recommendations in mind as you implement the sleep training process.
When in doubt, the AAP’s Safe Sleep website is full of resources and information to answer most questions you may have during this process. Every parent wants to keep their little ones safe during the night. As your sleep consultant, I’m always here if you have any questions. Feel free to reach out to me if you want more clarification on these recommendations.
Why becoming a sleep consultant is a great side hustle for medical professionals
Attention Nurse/Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants-this is a great side hustle for you!
I have been on a journey for the perfect side hustle for many years. The motivation? I would like to have a bit more financial freedom! Sure, I could pick up a second job/shifts as an NP, but that was not appealing to me and I was afraid of burnout. Then I started thinking of other service related jobs, like being an Uber driver or working at a grocery store, but that wasn’t it either. After all, one of my passions is caring for people and I wanted to do something that felt fulfilling.
In addition to helping people, I was looking for a side hustle where A) I could be in charge of my schedule B) the hours could be flexible C) I did not have to go to a physical location and D) I could actually make money.
In my internet travels, I stumbled on a post from Jayne Havens about the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management and how to become a pediatric sleep consultant. Personally, I was struggling with this (see Case Study #1: My son blog) with my 4 year old, so I was really vested in this idea. Most medical professionals are not trained in sleep-training issues; most suggest the cry it out method. Cry it out works well for some people, but it wasn’t the right fit for my family.
As a healthcare professional (Nurse/NP/PA), it made sense to build upon my existing body of knowledge. Because of the fact that I struggled with it personally, I knew the value of this service. It checked off all the boxes for what I was looking for as a side hustle. I know it’s going to take real work to find clients and develop relationships with them, but I am up for a challenge and I am confident that once I get started, I will be successful. If you are willing to do the work, want to help families to get their little ones to sleep, and use your medical expertise, would bring such a unique experience.
I am just getting started on my journey, so I will keep you posted…stay tuned (or feel free to reach out!)
#sleepconsultant #happyinternationalnursesday #nurses #RNsidehustle #sidehustle #nursesidehustle #entrepenuer #smallbusiness #nurseboss #nursepractitioners #physicansassistants
Case Study #1:My son
Case Study #1: My own son
Background: My son was born in 2017. The first 6 weeks were rough. He was five days late and under 6 lbs. at birth. The main focus for this time was just to get him to gain weight and all the while I struggled with breastfeeding (not fun times).
Then sleep…at first it may have been a cultural influence and then it became out of necessity, but we ended up sharing our bed. I looked for advice from my pediatrician and he suggested to try cry it out. I couldn’t do it. It didn’t feel like the right fit for our family.
Fast forward 4.5 years, and we hit our limit. I became a certified sleep consultant and now we have Case Study #1: My son.
The Situation: We had our solid bedtime routine (read books, talk about the day, snuggles), and then we would put our son into his bed…and then we had to stay in the room…until he fell asleep. This could be anywhere from 30 minutes to a 1.5-hour process. By the end of this, either my husband or I were so exhausted that we went straight to bed. Then usually 2-3 hours later, Jude would wake up and get in our bed. My son needed more sleep, and my husband and I needed more grownups-only time.
The Intervention: I took the course through Center for Pediatric Sleep Management, had a fellow CPSM’er Karen Winter of Winter Slumber, keep me accountable. We did the chair method.
The Post intervention: Within 14 days, we had him on a solid bedtime routine. After bedtime, my son would go to his bed, I would kiss him goodnight, and I was ABLE TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM. He was still awake but he was able TO FALL ASLEEP BY HIMSELF. Bedtime went from a 2-hour process down to a 15-30 minute process. He sleeps through the whole night. He has learned how to settle himself and go back to sleep. It is not always perfect, but if he tries to sneak into our room, I tell him to go back to his room, and he does!
Case Study 1: Success!
It is not too late to get your kiddos to learn how to sleep. And it’s never too late for you to get some extra kid-free time at the end of the day! If you are ready to put in the work and want some help, feel free to reach out. I am here to support you with a customized plan for you and your family. This is why I became a pediatric sleep consultant! Let’s talk!
TAGS: Sleep training, pediatric sleep consultant, toddler sleep, baby sleep
My journey to becoming a pediatric sleep consultant
Let me introduce myself
Hi, all! My name is Ramya Antony. I’m a mom/wife/nurse practitioner and now I am also a pediatric sleep consultant. You are probably wondering how I got here…
I got here because I was in the same boat you are now. My son is 4.5 years old and we struggled with getting him to sleep on his own from day one. I tried cry it out when he was younger, but it just wasn’t the right fit for us. So, we ended up co-sleeping. A few months ago, I hit my limit. No one in our house was getting good quality sleep (and you know how rough that can be). We had gotten our son to start sleeping in his own bed, but at some point in the middle of the night, he would get right back into our bed.
At the same time, I was in a Facebook group and stumbled on a post about becoming a pediatric sleep consultant. Hmmm... My initial thought was that I could either hire a consultant or I could build upon my work as a family nurse practitioner, do the coursework, and sleep train my son on my own. And that is exactly what I did! I did the coursework from the Centers for Pediatric Sleep Management and applied it to my son. I learned the tools and strategies and conversed with a fellow pediatric sleep consultant (shout out to Karen Winter), and we got my son falling asleep and sleeping on his own in less than 2 weeks! We were able to teach my son to sleep independently!
So now, let’s talk about you! If you are in need of help getting your little ones to sleep, I am here for you! I have been through the experience first hand, so I get it! I want to work with you to find the best sleep solution for your little one, which will then lead to more sleep for the whole family. And we could all use a little more sleep!
Tags: Sleep training, pediatric sleep consultant, toddler sleep, baby sleep