Creating Healthy Sleep Habits!

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I learned the hard way with Luke about bad sleep habits that we started from the day he was born! We used to rock him to sleep and then had him tied to his pacifier so I had to get up in the night to put it back in his mouth when it would fall out! It was crazy and we got NO sleep for the first 3-4 months. Then I started doing a little more reading about what I could do to help him get more sleep and deciding what my comfort level was for all the various sleep training techniques that are out there. Ever since, he has been a great sleeper and at 4 years old he still sleeps at least 12 hours at night. At 6 months old we went back to England to see Julian’s family and we could put him down anywhere and he would sleep – it was amazing! There’s no doubt in my mind it was down to the sleep training we did!

With Emma, I started gathering information for what to do from Day 1 with her. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to teach them, from the beginning, how to fall asleep on their own. This is not the “cry it out” technique. It’s more about getting them in a routine and laying them down, in their bed, when they are awake but drowsy. There are times when Emma will fuss for literally 2 minutes (I’ve timed it!) and then she’s out and happily asleep. I think this is a big reason why she is sleeping 6 hour stretches at 5 weeks old, because if she wakes up between feedings, she can put herself back to sleep. The biggest thing I notice is after I do get up to nurse her she will lay in her bed for a few minutes and put herself straight back to sleep without a peep. The only exception to that rule is when I’ve eaten a lot of dairy or any caffeine in the evening before her 10pm feed, and boy does that make for a fun night! Our evenings are pretty simple too, both kids are in bed at 7pm. Emma will nurse between 6-7pm and then she has a bath and she sleeps until I wake her at 10pm for a “dream feed”. This routine didn’t happen overnight and it’s taken weeks to get to this point but I can really see the consistency pay off for us!

It’s always important to have some help, especially because baby’s personalities can also play a large role in creating healthy sleep habits. I have turned to Summer Hartman, Certified Child Sleep Specialist and owner of Sleeping Sweet Peas.

She has so many great tips for helping your little one sleep!! When I was having problems with Emma’s sleep last week she sent great info for good and bad things to eat while you’re breastfeeding. I’m actually thinking Emma might have a dairy sensitivity, being fussing at night when I have too much dairy in the evening.

Summer’s services include:

Works with single,  multiples and premature infants
Days/Nights or around the clock
Personal baby shopper
Baby Nurse/ First week home
Sleep training
Reflux and Colic
Consultations
Lactation support
Nursery setup
Customize a schedule for your needs

Summer has a lot of experience so if you’re trying to get your baby or kids to sleep better give Summer a call or email today! You can contact her HERE.

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