Got a Fussy Baby? Don't Worry! Here's How To Get Your Newborn To Sleep

A blog about how to get your newborn baby to sleep better from a Vancouver Sleep Consultant

Getting your newborn to sleep better is not always easy. Here are five tips to help you get your baby on a good sleep schedule:

1. Put your baby down drowsy but awake. This means you should rock or pat the baby until he or she is drowsy, and then lay the baby down in his or her crib. Don't pick her up again until he or she has fallen asleep.

2. Make sure your baby's room is dark, quiet and cool before putting him or her down.

3. Try to create some consistency in their routine. Put your baby to sleep at around the same time every night. If your baby wakes up during the night, don't pick him or her up unless he or she is crying.

4. Don't let your newborn fall asleep while feeding. If he or she falls asleep while feeding, wake them frequently until they have finished eating so that they can learn how to sleep longer at night.

5. You may want to consider introducing a pacifier. Pacifiers can help reduce the risk of SIDS by reducing your baby's risk of smothering or choking on his or her own saliva.

In order to get your baby to sleep better and longer, it's vital that you create a restful environment conducive to getting good shut-eye. You may find that the five tips I’ve shared above make a huge difference in your baby's ability to get the zzz's he or she needs. So give them a try tonight, and hopefully you'll be sleeping peacefully soon.

If you're interested in personalized advice for you and your family's sleep needs, you may want to work with a Vancouver Sleep Consultant. I offer in-person and virtual baby sleep consulting appointments. Feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call on my website.

-Kelsey

Baby, It's Daylight Savings Time! Sleep Consultant BC recommendations

How to Adjust her Sleep Schedule- from a Baby Sleep Coach Vancouver

When you change your clocks by an hour, it seems like a small thing, right? But the reality is, it throws your baby's whole day off and her sleep schedule with it. Here are some tips on how to help set your baby back on clock.

Adjust ahead of time:

November 6th, 2022 is Daylight Savings, therefore on November 2nd, you'll want to start adjusting her bedtime by making it 15 minutes later.

You can also adjust wake up time, feeding time and naps by 15 minutes, however this is likely unnecessary and can be an additional headache for most parents!

Keep it simple. Just adjust bedtime by 15 min for 4 days prior to Daylight Savings. Voila, you've now averted having to deal with a messed up schedule on the day of daylight savings.

Still struggling with your baby's sleep? I develop gentle and customized sleep plans to help your baby (and you) sleep better. If you're looking for a sleep consultant in BC, I offer in person appointments at my Sleep Consulting Vancouver BC office. I also offer virtual appointments as well! Contact to book a 15 min free intro call.

Newborn Sleep Tips- Sleep Consultant Vancouver BC

When your newborn baby gets up at night, you may wonder why she does it (and how to get her to stop). It can be frustrating for parents, who may worry that their child isn't getting enough sleep or growing properly. But there's no need for concern—here are some of the most common reasons why newborn babies wake up so frequently during the night and what you can do about them.

Don't worry if your baby isn't sleeping through the night, even at 2 months old.

Don't worry if your baby isn't sleeping through the night, even at 2 months old.

Your newborn will sleep in a predictable pattern for several months. Then the pattern will change overnight—and it may feel like you've been thrown into a bad dream. Your little one may go from sleeping 5 hours at once to waking up every few hours and needing extra help to get back to sleep again. This is normal! Babies don't usually start sleeping through the night until they're at least 3 months old and sometimes even older than that.

Don't worry if you can't get your baby to sleep through the night either--this is also normal! Babies wake up throughout the night for many reasons: hunger, discomfort or just because his brain needs more stimulation (which means he'll be alert for long periods).

Some babies begin to sleep through the night between 4 and 6 months of age.

Most babies do not begin to sleep through the night until they are between 4 and 6 months old. However, some babies may be able to sleep through the night earlier or later than this. This is normal and does not mean that your child is doing anything wrong!

There's usually no reason for concern if your baby wakes up several times during the night.

You don't need to be concerned if your baby wakes up several times during the night. Babies sleep in short spurts, so it's normal for them to wake up often.

Your newborn may need a feeding or a diaper change, or she may just be curious about her surroundings and want to see what's going on in the world outside her crib. Either way, don't worry—it doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with your child! She just needs a little extra attention (and love).

Encourage your baby to fall asleep on her own.

• Don't rock or nurse your baby to sleep.

• Don't fall into the habit of putting your baby down to sleep with a bottle.

• Don't allow your newborn to fall asleep in your arms, which can make it difficult for him to wake up when it's time for his next feeding (which will likely be every 2–3 hours during the day).

If a routine helps, create one, but don't stress about it too much.

For some parents, a routine can be helpful. This can help you and your baby feel more relaxed and secure in the early days. If a routine helps, create one, but don't stress about it too much. Babies are going to sleep better when they're ready—and that might not be at the exact same time every day or on their own specific schedule.

Consider your baby's needs when setting up a bedtime routine.

A bedtime routine is a calming series of steps you follow before your baby goes to sleep. For example, you can read a book, sing a song and turn on lullaby music as you cuddle with your baby in his crib or bassinet. A bedtime routine helps him develop a healthy sleep schedule and teaches him how to fall asleep on his own. It also gives you time to relax and unwind after putting your baby down for the night.

If you're having trouble getting your newborn to sleep through the night, try using these tips:

• Make sure he's comfortable in his crib or bassinet by keeping it at an appropriate temperature for newborns (around 21 egress C/70 degrees F).

• Swaddle him tightly so he feels secure at night—this will help prevent him from waking up during the night because he can't move freely or control his arms or legs. Swaddling also helps maintain muscle tone during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep—the most restful stage of slumber—which may help make it easier for him to fall back into deep sleep when necessary later on in life (and thus reduce awakenings).

Newborns have very different sleep habits than older babies and toddlers, so you shouldn’t expect overnight success right away.

Newborns have very different sleep habits than older babies and toddlers, so you shouldn’t expect overnight success right away.

Your newborn will need to eat every 2-3 hours, which means it can be a challenge for them to fall asleep on their own. They may also sleep for shorter periods of time, making it difficult for you to get much rest yourself. And because newborns often wake up several times at night, you may find yourself getting up with your baby in the middle of the night—this can cause your own sleeping patterns and daytime energy level to suffer as well!

It’s important not to get discouraged if your little one isn’t sleeping quite as much as you had hoped after birth—it doesn’t mean they don't love being held all day long (and night). In fact, newborns actually spend more time sleeping than adults do!

Conclusion

Hopefully, these newborn sleep tips have given you some ideas for how to get your baby to sleep. If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep habits or need more information about how to help him fall asleep, you may want to work with a baby sleep consultant. I offer newborn sleep packages, which help you set good sleep foundations from the start!

Sleepy tips from a Sleep Consultant Vancouver, BC

5 foods that will help your baby sleep better

The relationship between food and sleep is complex, and it's especially important for babies. A well-fed baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby is more likely to sleep soundly through the night. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best foods to feed your baby to promote good sleep.

1. Breast milk or formula: For the first six months of life, breast milk or formula should be your baby's primary source of nutrition. These liquids are easily digestible and contain all the necessary nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop.

2. Iron-rich foods: Once your baby is six months old, it's time to start introducing solid foods. Iron-rich foods such as fortified cereals, pureed meats or poultry, and cooked beans are excellent choices. Iron is essential for healthy brain development, which is critical for good sleep.

3. Foods high in tryptophan: Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps promote the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Foods high in tryptophan include dairy products, eggs, turkey, chicken, and fish. Incorporating these foods into your baby's diet can help promote good sleep.

4. Foods high in magnesium: Magnesium is a mineral that can help soothe and relax muscles, making it easier for your baby to fall asleep. Foods high in magnesium include leafy greens, whole grains, beans, and nuts.

5. Foods rich in vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of neurotransmitters that regulate sleep, such as serotonin and melatonin. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and poultry.

In addition to these specific foods, it's also important to consider your baby's overall diet. Avoid giving your baby sugary or caffeinated foods, as these can disrupt sleep. Instead, focus on providing a well-balanced diet that includes whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins.

Remember, every baby is different, and what works for one baby may not work for another. As always, consult with your pediatrician before making any significant changes to your baby's diet or sleep routine."

If you’re looking for a holistic sleep consultant in Vancouver, I offer in-person appointments in Cambie Village. I also provide sleep consulting in Lower Mainland and all over British Columbia. I use gentle sleep training methods with a holistic approach. Diet, environment, temperament, and nap schedules are all taken into consideration in my holistic approach to sleep training. If you’d like to set up a 15-min free sleep consultation intro call, please book though my website.

How do I get my baby to sleep longer?

Advice from a Vancouver Sleep Consultant

As a baby sleep consultant, this is one of the top questions I get asked. I get it, you’re exhausted and it seems that all the bouncing, jiggling and shushing isn’t cutting it anymore.

One of the key components to getting your baby to sleep longer stretches is through the use of age appropriate wake windows or awake time.

Wake windows

Wake windows refer to the time awake between sleep. Based on your child’s age these wake windows will vary. It’s important to get to know your baby’s unique wake windows as it will help you get them down for a nap or bed without taking too long to fall asleep. When working with families as a baby sleep coach, I find that one of the most rewarding things is getting these wake windows right. This can be a bit of science, a bit of luck, and a bit of trial and error. But once you get it right, better and longer stretches of sleep during the day and night can often be the outcome. Getting accurate wake windows also makes sleep training that much easier!

Sleepy cues

Sleepy cues are another way we determine when to put our little ones to bed. These are some common sleepy cues:

• Rubs eyes, red eyebrows 

• Stares, looks spacey 

• Gets clumsy 

• Yawns and/or hiccups 

• Gets hyper (silly or irritable) 

• Explodes into upset, or crying when there appears nothing wrong and it is not a feed time. 

• Pushing body away from you, or arching back (not in pain).

Although sleepy cues are important, did you know they become less accurate after 4 months old? And often when we see a couple of these cues, baby is already overtired and will either take a long time fall asleep or worst, have a poor sleep.

Once you figure out your child’s age appropriate wake windows, you’ll be better equipped to get them down for bed on time without running the risk of having an overtired baby. Because, let’s be honest no one likes an overtired baby!

Adjusting your baby’s wake windows by 15 minutes can sometimes be enough to get longer and more restorative sleep. I’ve included this wake window guide to help you determine when to put your little one to bed. This is a great starting place if you are wanting your child to sleep better. If you are looking for more help with your baby or toddler’s sleep and want to work with a sleep trainer in the Lower Mainland, I offer in-person and online appointments in Vancouver, BC. Working with a baby sleep coach can empower you to make the necessary changes in your child’s routine that will get your whole family sleeping better :)

3 Sleep tips to help with the Back to School Transition

Sleep tips from a Sleep Consultant Vancouver

September is pretty much synonymous with “Back to School”. Whether your toddler or preschooler is starting daycare for the first time or returning for another school year, getting into a new routine after summer can be a bit of a drag.

Here are 3 sleep tips to help ease that transition:

1.During the morning, get natural unfiltered light for at least fifteen minutes when you can. This will send a strong message to the brain and internal clock which helps with alertness. This also helps establish our circadian rhythm which helps with sleep.

2.In the evening, make sure to turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime. Blue light and bright white light inhibit the production of melatonin (the sleepy hormone).

3.An hour before bed, dim the lights in the house. Use dimmers or lamps whenever possible and swap out any bright night lights for red or amber coloured ones.

Getting into a new routine can be difficult but when you incorporate these tips into your child's routine it can make life that much easier. If you’re looking for help with toddler sleep issues and live in the Lower Mainland and would like to work with a sleep consultant in Vancouver, I offer in-person appointments. Online appointment are also available. Working together we can troubleshoot any issues you may be dealing with, including crib to bed transitions, separation anxiety, or night time fears. Toddler sleep training packages available.

Happy Back to School!