We are often asked for advice, and we have plenty! No shortage of opinions here. We were recently asked for our favorite advice specifically for new parents. Here are our responses. Share your own advice in our comments section! Continue reading…
Designed for babies newborn to six months, Melissa will help you and your baby establishing healthy sleep habits and avoiding common problems. This pro-active approach will enable your family to ease into a healthy sleeping pattern.
Making lasting changes to sleep habits typically takes around two weeks for infants (closer to four weeks for toddlers), but there are several things you can do TONIGHT to get started. Continue reading…
My daughter is now four months old and she is my second. My older daughter is five years old, so it has been a while since I’ve been through this! Here are the things that I have found most important and helpful:
Up until 10 weeks, do whatever you can to get you and the baby as much sleep as you can. Don’t worry about “spoiling” him or creating bad habits at this age! Rest is the most important foundation. That goes for new moms too. Ask for help and take a nap whenever you can.
After 10 weeks, start putting the baby down for naps in her crib in a dark room with white noise. Dark rooms make all the difference – I’m a fan of contractor bags and painters tape; it’s not pretty but it’s cheap and easy! Continue reading…
I’m not completely sure why, but most women seem to believe that we have to be able to do everything and do it well. I believe this is even more true as a mom. In preparing for the birth of our second daughter, this came up for me again when my sister suggested that I hire someone to help us with the baby. I balked at the idea – after all, wasn’t I supposed to be able to handle everything? I had done ok with our first (although I admit that I was overtired, overwhelmed, and over-extended). Shouldn’t I be more prepared for number two? Inside though, I was secretly thrilled with the idea that I might actually be able to get some sleep in the first few weeks post-delivery. Continue reading…
I became a mom for the second time a month and 4 days ago – but who’s counting? I had forgotten how hard this part of motherhood is. I’m feeling like I have a human attached to me at all times of day. Our daughter would much rather be held than put down. And I’m tired!
This time around, I am much more aware of our baby’s sleep patterns. I try to encourage her to sleep after being awake for an hour to an hour and a half. I recognize that the “witching hour” that everyone talks about from around 4-8pm is probably an indication that Julia is tired. Continue reading…
It’s been 5 years since I’ve had a newborn. It’s amazing how much my husband and I have forgotten! As I get closer and closer to “d-day,” I’ve been frantically emailing my friends and my sister to make sure I haven’t forgotten what I’ll need. In fact, many of the things I thought I needed have been replaced with newer, better, safer items. It’s pretty amazing how quickly the world of child-rearing changes! Continue reading…