Regardless of if your baby is sleeping through the night yet or not, you are an amazing mother.

There are SO many reasons I believe teaching your baby how to sleep is important. Growth, development, immune system support, overall health, just to name a few.

But one of the less-obvious reasons that isn't talked about enough is the way it strengthens your relationship with your partner.

Were you raised on the phrase "never wake a sleeping baby”? Same. Honestly, it makes sense that we were taught that because sleep training wasn't a huge thing when we were growing up! So, whenever a baby would finally fall sleep, you let them sleep.

However, research now tells us that capping off naps while your baby is learning to sleep can actually be beneficial to their ability to sleep at night.

This is going to be your year, mama. The year you prioritize YOU so that you can be the best version of yourself . Because when you take care of you, you can better take care of your babies:)

Did you know that using a sleep sack can promote better sleep? Imagine trying to sleep on top of a cold, hard mattress with zero blankets to provide comfort or warmth. Now imagine you sleeping inside a cozy, breathable blanket made of soft, organic bamboo material. Which situation sounds more appealing to you!?

With the holidays coming up, chances are you’re feeling a little bit stressed about your baby’s sleep schedule getting interrupted with all of the places you need to be! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’ve been there with all 4 of my babies, and I’ve learned a thing or two over the years:) 

When we were students, we had our little girl at that time and planned to travel home for the holidays. I had worked hard to teach her how to sleep, but I was a little nervous taking her to a new location, in a new bed, and wondered if all of my hard work was about to go out the window😅.

Guess what happened? She slept 12.5 hours every night the entire week we were there, and everyone was blown away.

Did you know that having a consistent bedtime routine is a simple yet effective way to help your baby learn how to sleep? Having a predictable routine at bedtime lets your baby’s body know it’s time to wind down, relax, and get ready for sleep. Bonus: studies show if you can gently engage all 5 senses in the routine (look, listen, taste, touch and smell), it can help solidify the routine and promote better sleep!

When I was a little kid, I knew I felt better when I got good sleep. As I’ve gotten older, the affects of sleep deprivation have become more and more tangible. Whenever I get less sleep, I FEEL my anxiety increase, I’m irritable, forgetful, I experience brain fog and I am never as productive as I’d like to be. For my kids, their emotions are always heightened, they are also more irritable, they fight more with each other, drag through sports practice and homework, and overall feel less like themselves.

The short answer? Absolutely! Using a sleep sack is one of my favorite ways to help my baby continue to sleep well, all the way into toddlerhood! As soon as my baby starts to roll from their back to their tummy, I make the transition out of the swaddle and into the sleep sack.

My first two babies took binkies right away, but my third gave me a run for my money with it! However, it was important to me that she took a binky for many reasons (acts as a sleep trigger, helps prevent SIDS, helps with acid reflux, to name a few), so I kept going and after a few months, it was a huge success. If you’re finding your baby is struggling to take the binky but you want it to happen, don’t lose hope! 

I have four children and am obsessed with sleep (nobody is shocked I became a baby sleep consultant), so trust me when I say I totally understand the stress leading up to traveling with babies! As a new mom, so many questions would circle through my head and I know I’m not alone in this. What if they skip a nap? Will they sleep in a new location? What if we’re going to a new time zone? Will they ever adjust?

As a baby sleep consultant, I’m often asked “how can I get my baby to sleep better!?”. And while I have a ton of resources to help with this question, I know that when you’re exhausted, you simply want a short, to-the-point answer. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to give you! 

Ready?

Use a sleep trigger. Seriously, it’s that simple.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “safe sleep” before, but what does that even mean? According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), safe sleep means that you put your baby to sleep in a way that helps protect them from danger.

As a new mom, I was always worried about whether or not I was doing things right. My goal has always been to provide a safe, loving and healthy environment for my kids, and I want that for you, too! Lucky for us, there has been a ton of research done that helps us know will help keep our babies safe.