Here in the U.S., April marks more than the return of spring flowers and showers -- it’s also National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a growing concern not just in the U.S., but around the world: it’s estimated that 1 in 68 children has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). That means that even if you haven’t been personally impacted by autism, you likely know someone who has. A diagnosis of ASD presents numerous challenges to families -- challenges related to learning, to physical and
Sleep Training
Is Co-Sleeping Dangerous?
An article published in USA Today has added fuel to an already-raging fire -- the debate over co-sleeping. The article references a study which found that while the number of SIDS-related deaths has dropped by over 50% in the past two decades (since the introduction of the “Back to Sleep” campaign in 1994 began discouraging tummy sleeping), the drop has plateaued recently. What’s more, the number of SIDS-related deaths as a result of co-sleeping is actually on the rise. There’s no doubt
Can the “Wake to Sleep” Method Help Lengthen Your Baby’s Short Naps?
An older, wiser friend once told me, “Baby naps are God’s way of saying to parents, ‘I love you. Now go take a shower.’” Pretty accurate, right? Most parents look forward to naptimes. Ahhhh... Those brief interludes when you can actually pause for breath, do the never-ending chores, or have a little "me" time. Of course, when it comes to naps, not all babies are created equal, are they? Some of you may have babies who are marathon nappers. They may even provide you with hours of
Will Starting Solids Help Your Baby Sleep?
Sleepless, exhausted parents will do just about anything to get a few more hours (or maybe even a few more minutes!) of sleep each night. And as followers of this site know, there’s no shortage of advice out there on how to do just this. Everyone from your grandmother to your next door neighbor has probably offered you advice that’s “guaranteed” to get your baby sleeping well. Here’s a piece of advice many tired parents have heard at some point: “Just start feeding him rice cereal, and
Can You Teach Your Baby to Sleep On The Go?
If you’re a mom who thinks a lot about your baby’s sleep (and if you’re a Baby Sleep Site reader, you probably are), then you know that having a predictable, consistent schedule in place can go a long way towards helping your baby establish good sleep patterns. In fact, our sample baby schedules are some of the most popular articles on the site; clearly, parents are interested in establishing routines! For some of us, though, a consistent schedule for baby can lead to the onset of serious
How Weaning from Breastfeeding May Affect Your Baby’s Sleep
If you’re considering weaning your baby from breastfeeding to a bottle or cup, you’re probably thinking about which weaning method you’ll use. Or, you might be considering which bottle or cup will make the transition easiest. And, if you're reading The Baby Sleep Site, you are probably also thinking about how this may impact your baby's sleep. This article will discuss ways, both good and bad, that weaning from breastfeeding may impact your baby's sleep. Weaning from breastfeeding can
Ferber or Weissbluth?
We've talked about how Babywise may or may not be right for your baby's sleep, why Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution doesn't always work, and about Dr. Sears and Weissbluth's online chat about baby sleep. This article will talk about the differences and similarities between Ferber and Weissbluth and which one may be better (or not) for your baby's sleep. Who are Ferber and Weissbluth? Most people know Ferber's name because of the now popular term "Ferberizing," a method for sleep training your
Are Crib Baby Aquariums Bad For Your Baby’s Sleep?
To guard against SIDS, it is recommended not to have anything in the crib with your baby for the first year. But, what about crib aquariums in the crib? Are crib aquariums a good idea or bad idea when it comes to your baby's sleep? Safety-wise, this is a topic for your pediatrician. This article will explore how a crib aquarium can help or hinder sleep. Some books will warn against any types of crib toys indicating that if your baby can play, she won't sleep. Why, that would work against the
How My First 5K and Baby Steps Can Help You Sleep Train Your Baby
When you're a sleep coach, many other things in your life tend to remind you about babies or sleep training or sleep training babies. On November 5th, I ran my first 5K race. It was a race where a portion of the proceeds would be donated to The Honor Flight for World War II veterans to fly to Washington D.C. I can thank my son (who inspired this site) for the inspiration (I guess he inspires me a lot!). He ran his first 1K over a year ago and wanted to run in another race. Back then, I was out