All it Takes is a Plan

Have you ever been worried about being out late with your baby or toddler because they might fall asleep in the car and you're not sure how to transfer them to their bed when you get home? Or have you ever tried transferring a sleeping baby to their bed for the night, and it just didn’t go well? If so, today’s episode is for you! I'm getting into the specifics of how exactly I recommend transferring your sleeping baby from their car seat to their crib at bedtime. And how to transfer your sleeping toddler from the car to their bed at night. I share what to do, as well as what to do when plan A doesn't work, and then what to do when plan B doesn't work. If you're listening to this episode in preparation for some travels coming up, and you’re nervous about what your baby or toddler’s sleep will look like, and you’re thinking through all of the potential challenging scenarios that might come up, make sure you check out our travel sleep guide! It was created with you in mind, to help take some of that sleep anxiety off your chest.

In today's episode, I'm interviewing Jennifer Barnard of Baby Begin. Jennifer has been a pediatric Occupational Therapist for over 20 years and is the owner of Baby Begin. Her goal is to eradicate plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) worldwide. She has become an expert on treating torticollis and correcting flat heads without a helmet and trains passionate therapists all over the world to do the same.To learn more about how Baby Begin can support your baby and family, check out their website. And make sure you're following Baby Begin on Instagram!

Most of us have heard a lot about the safe sleep guidelines for babies, but we don't talk a lot about safe sleep guidelines for toddlers and older kids! So in this episode, we're talking all about safe sleep for toddlers still in cribs, as well as big kids sleeping in a big bed. We're talking about:the importance of sleeping with the door closedsafe sleep guidelines for toddlers still in a cribsafe sleep guidelines for toddlers and older kids in big bedssafe sleep rules for bunk bedsAnd more!Our favorite bed railings and bumpers:bed railingsbed bumpersOptions to "lock" your child's door:door knob covermonkey lock

In today's episode, I'm diving into the ins and outs of the safe sleep guidelines for babies. We'll start with the basic ABCs of safe sleep, and then dig in even more. My guess is that whether you're a first-time parent or a fourth-time parent, you'll hear a safe sleep guideline you haven't heard before. (To learn more about how to dress your baby for sleep when it's colder in their nursery, read this blog post.)

As first-time parents, we blamed any and every challenging day or night on teething. We figured our baby must be teething since sleep was a disaster. As fourth-time parents now, I have to admit that teething really doesn't faze me. Because I know that it's not the big-bad-monster it's often made out to be!I'm not saying teething doesn't impact babies at all, but I am saying it doesn't usually affect babies as much as we assume it will.So on today's episode, I'm diving into the world of teething for both babies and toddlers. I'm sharing how teething might impact your little one (and how it might not), as well as how teething might impact their sleep, specifically. Here are some of our favorite teething toys:Silicone teetherPenguin teetherBanana massaging toothbrushFinger toothbrush

Today, we’re going to be talking about adult sleep with our adult sleep coach, Kathryn, and it might feel like a strange tip at first. But what if one of the best tools for better sleep isn’t melatonin, magnesium, or even a stricter bedtime routine—but more fun?If stress is one of the biggest enemies of adult sleep, FUN might just be one of the anecdotes!Not only is having more fun one way to get better sleep, but so is having great sleep hygiene! So if you're looking for another tangible way to start working toward better sleep, make sure you snag our free guide to the Best Bedtime Routine for Adults. And to learn more about how an adult sleep coach can help you tackle your insomnia, book a (free!) discovery call with Kathryn to learn more about how she can help you finally have restful nights again!

It is so frustrating when your toddler takes a short nap. You know they need more daytime sleep, but no matter what you do, they still take a short nap!So in this episode, I'll be diving into those short toddler naps. I share:What is considered a "short nap" How long your toddler's nap should be7 strategies to lengthen themIf you're looking for more personalized help when it comes to your toddler's sleep, see how we can help!

It is so common for babies to take short naps, and it's also so frustrating! And while short naps are sometimes developmental, there are also strategies we can apply to help extend those short naps!So that's what we're covering in this episode - why your baby takes short naps and how to extend them. I walk through five different strategies you can try to finally get a longer nap!FREE SCHEDULE GUIDESFor babiesFor newbornsAnd if you listen to this episode and you're still stumped by your baby's short naps, we'd love to help you make a plan to finally extend them! Learn more about how we can support you here.

Welcoming a new baby into the family is very exciting, and can also be very overwhelming - especially for toddlers and older siblings, as having another baby in the house is a big change! And big changes like this can often cause sleep regressions. In this episode, I am sharing some tips to try to prevent a sleep regression after bringing home a new baby, including things you can do BEFORE baby arrives, and AFTER.I also share what to do if your toddler does experience a sleep regression after becoming a sibling.

It is very common for toddlers and older kids to experience fears and anxieties around bedtime. AND those fears and anxieties do not need to keep them from sleeping - they are still so capable of great sleep. In this episode, I am sharing the following 8 strategies to help your child through their bedtime fears and anxieties, so you can start adding tools to their tool belt for the next time they're feeling afraid or anxious:Explain how the monitor worksUse a night lightWhy you should NOT use "monster spray"Use affirmations"Plan" your child's dreamsUse social stories"Cupcake breathing"The "what next" strategySome of our favorite social stories around fears and anxiety:The Kissing HandRuby Finds a WorryWhy We Say GoodnightThe Invisible StringIt Will Be OkayWhat Do I Do With Worry?ROUTINE AND BOUNDARIES FREEBIEIf you're looking for more one-on-one help with your little one's bedtime, learn more about how we can help you through a step-by-step plan!

We teach our kids “why”s all day long…We have to shut the door so bugs don’t fly in, or so we don’t waste the AC. We have to buckle up in the car so we are safe. We cover our mouth when we cough so we don’t spread our germs.From my experience as a mom and a sleep consultant, however, parents don’t usually teach their kids about sleep as explicitly, but we can and I think we should!So in this episode, I’m sharing different ways we can talk about sleep with our kids:Why they have to sleep with their door closedWhy they can't watch TV right before bedWhy the lights have to be offWhy they even have to sleepAnd more!The goal here is to not only teach them more about sleep and how it works, but to also equip them to start taking more ownership over their sleep that will even serve them into adulthood!And if you're looking for more one-on-one help with your child's sleep? Learn more about how we can support you.

Last week, I shared about my breastfeeding challenges with our son, James. I shared about the wonderful IBCLC who helped us get feeding on track, and this week I'm interviewing her!Allyson Wessells, of Nurture Columbus, is on the podcast this week talking about what tummy time is, the importance of tummy time, and how it has a direct impact on infant feeding, whether that's by the breast or bottle. Learn more about the (free!) tummy time classes Nurture provides at various Columbus libraries. If you're not local to Columbus, check out their pre-recorded virtual tummy time class. Learn more about the Tummy Time Method.

Although I had nursed three babies before, for a total of over 4.5 years, I had quite a few challenges breastfeeding our fourth baby the first several weeks of his life. In this podcast episode, I'm sharing all of the details! I'm sharing about what red flags we noticed early on, who we sought out for help, the terrible advice we got along the way, the bumps we hit after the frenectomy, and how the consistent support of an amazing IBCLC saved our breastfeeding relationship!If you're in or near Columbus, Ohio, and are looking for lactation support, reach out to Nurture Columbus!

I love the swaddled, baby burrito phase of newborn life - they're just too cute! And swaddles are a really helpful tool when it comes to newborn sleep.There does come a time, however, when it's time to transition out of the swaddle. Yes, once your baby is trying to roll over, the swaddle needs to be gone for safety reasons. But I recommend transitioning out of the swaddle based more on age rather than physical skills. So in this episode, I'm sharing:When you should stop swaddling your babyTwo ways you can transition your baby out of the swaddleHow your baby's sleep might change when you stop swaddlingWhat sleep sacks to use once you're done swaddlingAnd more! If you're curious to learn more about when and why to swaddle your baby, this swaddle transition, as well as other pieces to really build a foundation with your newborn's sleep, check out our online sleep class, Newborn Sleep from A to Z. Or if your baby is 4+ months old and they're still swaddled, or taking them out of the swaddle seemed to really mess up their sleep and you don't know what to do now? We'd love to help! Learn more about how we can personalize a sleep plan for your baby and family.

Traveling with young kids can be challenging enough, not to mention changing time zones and dealing with a jet-lagged baby or toddler. It can be rough!But that doesn’t mean changing time zones with kids is impossible, and I certainly don’t want you avoiding family vacations and all of those sweet memories because you’re afraid of the jet lag.In this episode, we'll cover:When to start adjusting your baby or toddler to the new time zoneTips for helping kids adjust to the new time zoneHow to adjust your child’s schedule when traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast, or from the West Coast to the East CoastWhat to expect when changing time zones internationallyTravel blogs:Air travel with kidsRoad trips with kidsCOMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL GUIDEGet your free baby sleep schedule guide here

Do you live in an area of the country where hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires are a pretty real threat? If so, this episode is for you! I’m interviewing my teammate, Maura, as she has been in or around her fair share of natural disasters. She’s going to be sharing about how she and her husband prepare for these potential storms, as well as how that has changed a bit with a child. We'll also talk about sleep - how to not only prepare for keeping your child’s sleep as normal as possible through these storms, but also what to do if their sleep gets interrupted or they have a harder time sleeping due to fears around the storm. Recommended Products:Battery-operated sound machinePack 'n playPortable toddler mattressSlumberPodAnd for more tips on how to help your child if they are woken up by a storm, read this blog post!

Have you ever gone to see the fireworks with your kids on the Fourth of July? Or are you hoping to go for the first time this year?In this episode, we’re going to be talking about your different options when it comes to celebrating the Fourth of July with kids. You can:Stay home, and maybe have some friends or family overGo to a friend's houseGo out to see the fireworks!And if you choose to go see the fireworks, we’re also going to get into all of the nitty gritty about how to go to see the fireworks with kids, including what to bring for your baby or toddler, how to manage their sleep schedules, and tips for bedtime/that night when you get home. Here are some of our favorite products to bring along:Portable fanTravel sound machineNoise-cancelling headphones for newbornsNoise-cancelling headphones for toddlersSCHEDULE FREEBIESNewborn Routine GuideBaby Schedule GuideAnd if you're staying in for the Fourth but are worried about the fireworks waking your little one, check out this blog post!

"Is there a wrong way to sleep train?" I’m going to be answering that question today with six mistakes parents often make when sleep training, including:Lying your little one down "drowsy but awake"Keeping the pacifierNot having a planNot having age-appropriate schedules or routinesMaking changes too quicklyNot making changes quickly enoughSnag your FREE BABY SCHEDULE GUIDE here!Check out our online A TO Z SLEEP CLASSES. Or if you're looking for one-on-one support as you sleep train your baby or toddler, we'd love to help!

We welcomed our fourth baby into the world at the end of February, and he was born at home! We had a homebirth for our last two births and really loved it, so in this episode, I'm sharing all about homebirth!I'm sharing why our family chose to have homebirths, and I'm also answering some frequently asked questions about homebirths.

At the end of February, we gave birth to our fourth baby and first boy, so in this episode, I share his birth story!If you're interested in reading about our other birth stories, check them out here:Our first baby's birth storyOur second daughter's birth storyOur third daughter's birth storyFor more sneak peeks into our family life and real-life moments, make sure you follow us on Instagram!