Top Sleep Blogs of 2016

As we celebrate a New Year, I always reflect on successes and struggles of the previous year. For successes, I am so grateful that so many families trust me with their little ones and allow me into their inner circle. That they trust me to guide their family on the path toward precious sleep. So many families now enjoy the amazing benefits of more sleep in their home for everyone.

Here is a recap of MSD Baby Sleep Coach's most popular sleep blogs of 2016.

#5 Is It Time To Move From The Crib To The Bed?

There are lots of questions around when is the best time to move your child out of their crib as there are many important factors to consider. This blog will help you answer the important questions so you can decide if now is the right time to make the move to a big girl/boy bed.

#4 Early Rising

Not surprising early rising is on this list as it is the second most common question I get, next to night wakings. Early rising is also the last stage of sleep to be learned so it's more difficult to fix, especially if independent sleep at bedtime hasn't been established.

#3 Is My Toddler Ready to Drop to One Nap?

Knowing when it’s time for your baby to make a change and drop a nap is no easy task. Not to mention most Mom's tell me: "I'm not not ready for less day sleep!" Read through this blog for tips on how to keep the two nap schedule for longer and if it really is the best time to drop a nap.

#2 Tips to Keep you Toddler in the Crib

I often get calls from parents in a panic as their toddler has discoved a new freedom and can now jump of their crib! Most children who are under 2 1/2 are not year and their parents are not ready ~ to make the move to a bed yet. This blog is packed with tips to help delay the transition until everyone is ready for this big change.

#1 Schedules, Naps and Awake Windows

This blog was the all time most viewed MSD Baby Sleep blog! Not surprising as a child's sleep changes every few months. Staying on top of how much sleep your baby or child needs is a daunting tasks. This blog also includes a recommendation on how to time naps to ensure your child is well rested.

Happy New Year to you and your family! May the New Year bring you health, peace, happiness and more sleep!

Written By: Michelle S. Donaghy, founder of MSD Baby Sleep Coach and Certified Gentle Sleep Coach

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Spring Forward - Top 10 tips for you and your family

In the US on Sunday, March 14th we “spring forward”! Be sure and turn your clocks forward 1 hour, before bed on Saturday night. I always think that losing sleep is a bummer, even if it's just 1 hour! If you have kids this change may help you sleep later. Here's how - If you/your child(ren) typically wake at 6am, then they will likely wake 7 AM on the new clock ... if 6 AM was their usual wake up time. If you like this change then YAY! This is a great fix for an early riser. See more tips below. Grown-ups and teens may have difficulty with this change as most go to bed too late as it is and to properly adjust to this time change we should go to bed earlier and on Monday we have to get up an hour earlier too. Here are 10 tips to help with the transition: 1. Do nothing to fix early rising If you/your child(ren) typically wake at 6am, then they will likely wake 7am. If you like this change then Y...

Time Change - Fall Back 2018

Summer is officially over and we are in the midst of the fall time change. Sunday, Nov 4th at 2:00 AM clock fall back by one hour. Spring forward...Fall back.... I love fall! Cooler weather, leaves changing colors, holidays around the corner and I get an extra hour of sleep. As a parent, I dread my kids waking up too early and having to adjust their sleep patterns. Do you? If so, here are some options to help you and your family through the transition when we set our clocks backwards one hour on Sunday November 4th. Gradual Approach: The gradual approach is usually recommended for younger children (3 and under) or those who do not adjust well to rapid changes in their schedules. Start the week before the time change and slowly shift your baby's sleep schedule later. For example: move bedtime, morning wake up time and nap times later by 10-15 minutes. Keep moving the entire schedule later every few days but ensure your child doesn't get overtired. By...

Tips To Handle Spring Forward - Daylight Savings

Sunday, March 10th we “spring forward”! Turn your clocks ahead 1 hour, before bed on Saturday night March 9th. If you/your child(ren) typically wake at 6am, then they will likely wake 7am. If you like this change then YAY! This is a great fix for an early riser. Keep naps and bedtime on the new schedule (1hr later). To protect this new schedule and time make sure you use continuous white noise for all sleep periods and keep the room really, really dark. If the new time doesn’t work for you, below are some options to help your family adjust: Gradually adjust: This is ideal for children under 2 or those who don’t do well with big changes. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier every night this week. Each day, wake up your child 15 minutes earlier in the morning. If napping, put her down 15 minutes earlier for each nap the following day. Continue to adjust the schedule earlier in 15-minute increments (wake up, naptime...

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