If you’re the parent of a toddler, then a sleep regression is something you’re probably familiar with. Babies experience a regression around 4 months and then another at 8, 9, or 10 months. Some experience a regression around 11 or 12 months. And as if that weren’t enough, most children experience sleep regression again at 18 and 24 months.

So what’s a tired mom to do? This article will outline what the 18 month regression looks like, why it happens, why it can be one of the hardest, and steps you can take to survive it.

What is a “Sleep Regression”?

Most people use sleep regression to mean that a baby or toddler, who’s been sleeping well, suddenly (often without any warning) begins waking frequently at night and/or refusing to nap during the day. These regressions usually last for a period of time (anywhere from 2 – 6 weeks), and then the baby’s sleep returns to its normal patterns.

Why 18 Months?

Every sleep regression can be connected to a baby’s mental and physical development at that particular age. The same is true of the 18 month regression. 18 month olds experience some developmental milestones that can, unfortunately, negatively impact their sleep.

• Teething could be to blame. Around 18 months, children are cutting the 4 canine teeth as well as well as their first molars. This can cause discomfort that leads to disrupted sleep.
• Separation anxiety is still an issue for toddlers at 18 months. Most babies begin experiencing separation anxiety around 7 or 8 months, and for most babies, the anxiety is strongest from 10-18 months. This can lead to disrupted sleep as well — your baby may resist naps because he doesn’t want to be away from you, or he may wake at night and become upset that you’re not in the room with him.
• 18 month olds are gaining lots of independence and are able to do more for themselves. Children at this age are learning to feed themselves with a spoon, drink from a cup, build with blocks, and even take off some articles of clothing. This growing independence can lead to a stronger will, which means a baby may start exerting herself when she doesn’t want to go to sleep or stay in bed.

Why is the 18 Month Regression One of the Hardest?

All sleep regressions are difficult and exhausting, but the 18 month regression can be one of the hardest, for one simple reason — there’s a discipline factor involved in this regression that wasn’t present in the earlier ones. The previous regressions didn’t have anything to do with defiant behavior on your baby’s part, but this one does.

Being sleep-deprived always makes parenting harder. Add to this the fact that your 18 month old is likely starting to throw temper tantrums and exhibit plenty of defiant, oppositional behavior, and parenting can seem downright impossible! The stress of dealing with your toddler’s behavior compounds the exhaustion you’re already feeling.

What’s more, these two elements (your toddler’s newfound sleeplessness and your toddler’s oppositional behavior) can end up influencing each other. Your toddler’s willful behavior can lead him to refuse naps or to shriek stubbornly for you each time he wakes at night. And of course, the lack of sleep caused by this regression can make your little one cranky, which leads to more tantrums and temper fits.

Tips on Handling the 18 Month Sleep Regression

While there is no way to “fix” any sleep regression, there are steps you can take to minimize your baby’s sleeplessness (and your own!)

Again, part of this sleep regression likely has to do with the fact that your toddler is heading into the “Terrible Twos” and is starting to show some downright awful behavior. This is the time to begin setting limits for your toddler and enforcing discipline. Not only will this help minimize sleeplessness, it’ll help you develop a good foundation that will make your baby’s twos and threes a little less “terrible”.

If you’re in the midst of sleep training when the 18 month regression hits, you may wonder if you should just throw in the towel for awhile. We recommend that you don’t. It’s true that sleep training likely won’t produce fantastic results during this phase, but remember that you don’t want to promote bad sleep habits during a stage that is ultimately temporary. As Nicole says, “You don’t want to make or continue long-term habits for a short-term phase.”

If your baby’s extremely resistant to naps, you may feel tempted to just drop the nap altogether. Again, we recommend that you don’t. Most toddlers don’t drop their naps until between three and four years old, so don’t quit just yet!

Remember that this is a phase, and while it can feel like an eternity when you’re enduring it and may have you feeling even less confident as a parent, it won’t last forever. If your baby normally sleeps well and you feel confident that her recent sleeplessness is due to the 18 month regression, then be as patient as you can and wait it out.

That said, be careful about chalking everything up to this sleep regression (or any other regression phase, for that matter!) If your baby’s never slept well, and if you’ve spent the last 18 months waiting for your baby to outgrow her poor sleep habits, then you can’t blame everyone’s sleeplessness on the sleep regression. Instead, it may be time for you to tackle your baby’s sleep issues head-on. Consider purchasing a copy of our e-book The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep. Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Did your toddler experience the 18 month sleep regression? How did you handle it?

Weaning from breastfeeding can cause an otherwise great sleeper to wake and fuss more often, and if your baby already struggles with sleep, weaning can make your nights even more sleepless. On the other hand, if your baby is breastfeeding to sleep, weaning can improve sleep, in some cases.

A Word of Warning: A Reason Not to Wean from Breastfeeding!

Breastmilk digests faster than formula. For this reason, formula-fed babies do tend to sleep for longer stretches at night than breastfed babies, sometimes, depending on the baby. That said, if you’re considering weaning to formula in an effort to get your baby to sleep through the night, please reconsider. This isn’t a strategy we recommend here at The Baby Sleep Site, simply because we’ve found that it is possible to breastfeed your baby AND have him sleep well at night and for naps. Changing your baby’s food source probably won’t change his sleeping habits; instead, you’re better off working on the sleeping habits themselves. We work with many families who don’t breastfeed that have just as many baby sleep problems and babies who do not sleep through the night.

Why Will Weaning Impact My Baby’s Sleep?

The reason weaning can have a major impact on sleep is because weaning is about more than simply exchanging one food source for another. For our babies, the end of breastfeeding can be an emotional, difficult experience.

How Will Weaning Impact My Baby’s Sleep?

For starters, weaning means the end of prolonged skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby. Remember that breastfeeding is more than just feeding time; it has comforting associations for baby. Some babies even end up using mom as a “human pacifier”! For these reasons, weaning can make your baby much fussier than normal, which can lead to interrupted naps and lots of nighttime waking.

Weaning can also disturb your baby’s sleep if you’ve made a habit of nursing your little one to sleep each night. If that’s the case, then nursing has likely become a sleep association for your baby. Therefore, when you change that feeding, you’re changing the thing he needs to fall asleep. This can make bedtime an exhausting battle each night.

If your baby is no longer feeding at night, then her nighttime sleep may or may not be affected. Her naps, however, could be. If you’re weaning and find that your baby’s naps are disrupted because of it, consider downloading our FREE napping guide, 7 Common Baby Nap and Sleep Schedule Mistakes.

Weaning can also impact your baby’s sleep when the weaning is “mom-initiated” instead of “baby-initiated.” Generally, at some point between 1 and 2 years of age, a baby will show signs of self-weaning. Baby-initiated weaning like this is usually easier and takes less time. Of course, baby-initiated weaning isn’t always possible; sometimes weaning has to happen earlier! If you’re weaning your baby before the one-year mark, however, it’s important to remember that the process may take longer, and your baby’s sleep may be disrupted.

Once you begin to wean, you may notice that it takes a little time for your baby’s appetite to adjust. This can be another reason for sudden nighttime waking and sleeplessness — your baby’s appetite is adjusting to this new method of feeding. This adjustment can take 1-2 weeks. You can help your baby during this time by making sure you’re offering enough nourishment during the day. But, remember that breast milk and formula should be your baby’s primary nutrition during the first year, so do not overcompensate with solids, if it’s not time. Check with your doctor on adequate amounts of formula for your baby’s age.

Finally, it isn’t just baby’s sleep that may be disrupted during the weaning process — mom’s may be, too! Weaning can lead to engorgement and possible infection, called mastitis. This is especially true for moms who try to wean their babies quickly, cutting out multiple feedings at once.

How Can I Help My Baby Sleep Well During the Weaning Process?

Avoid a “cold turkey” approach (in which you abruptly stop nursing). This can be very upsetting for your baby, and, as mentioned earlier, it’s likely to cause complications for you. Instead, opt for a gentler, “slow and steady” approach; it’ll be far less disruptive to your baby’s sleep. A “slow and steady” approach would look something like this:

• At feeding time, nurse your baby as you normally would. Then, offer your baby a bottle of formula or cup of milk.
• When your baby has gotten used to the bottle/cup, then reverse these steps: offer the bottle/cup first, followed by a nursing.

Consider using the “Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse” method. This is the gentlest way to wean. With this method, you don’t offer your baby the breast, but if your baby is clamoring to nurse, you don’t refuse her, either. This method is slower, but if you have the time to put in, it’ll mean more restful nights and restful naps for your baby!

Don’t wean too fast! Nicole remembers that while weaning one of her sons, he’d start biting her shoulder when she’d hold him. That’s a classic sign of weaning too fast, and she had to slow down. Experts recommend that you eliminate no more than one nursing at a time; then, wait about a week to let your baby’s appetite adjust.

Like so many other things in life, weaning goes best if there’s a plan in place. Try to plan weaning during times when life is most normal — in other words, don’t wean around a holiday or a vacation, during a move, right before the birth of a new baby, etc.

That said, remember that you work the plan — don’t let the plan work you! Life happens, and unexpected things like teething, illness, a work-related trip, new medication for mom, etc. can sometimes destroy a mom’s best-laid plans. What’s more, you might find that your baby simply refuses to cooperate! You didn’t exactly consult him when you made your plan, after all. If this is the case for you, remember that like sleep training, weaning is not a battle to be won. Consider taking a break and trying again later if your baby is showing major signs of resistance.

What about you? Did you find that weaning affected your baby’s sleep? Do you have any weaning tips to offer moms who are struggling?

If you’d like help getting your little one to sleep soundly during the weaning process, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Who are Ferber and Weissbluth?

Most people know Ferber’s name because of the now popular term “Ferberizing,” a method for sleep training your baby, which involves letting him cry while you check on him at intervals. But, actually, if you read Ferber’s book, Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems, there is a lot more information that is useful to know, such as how sleep develops in your baby, how sleep phases and biological/internal clocks work, the difference between night terrors and nightmares, how to deal with bed wetting, and much more.

Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, stresses the importance of healthy sleep habits in young babies and children, introduced the term “extinction,” illustrates why an early bedtime is of extreme importance, and theorizes that some children diagnosed with ADHD really simply need more sleep (not all, of course).

Similarities Between Ferber and Weissbluth

For which they’re most famously known, both Weissbluth and Ferber both strongly advocate using a crying method to sleep train your baby. They both provide guidelines as far as how to do so. Weissbluth’s “graduated extinction” is similar to Ferber’s method which I call “check and console.” Neither Ferber or Weissbluth advocate this method for all sleep problems, however. It’s not like Ferber or Weissbluth suggest letting your baby cry it out after a nightmare or wetting the bed, for example. Both primarily discuss allowing your baby to cry in order to change sleep associations and teach your baby how to self-soothe.

Differences Between Ferber and Weissbluth

Ferber and Weissbluth do have some differences in opinion on quite a few things, which is what confuses a lot of people, because almost all of the books contradict each other!

The first big difference is the average amount of sleep your baby needs. If you look at Weissbluth’s averages (~14 hours in a day for a young baby) and then look Ferber’s, Ferber’s are MUCH lower, in general. In fact, pick up 5 books and read this site and we are all likely to have different averages.

Ferber says to go in and check and reassure your baby at intervals and Weissbluth, while offering 4 different methods of sleep training, strongly suggests “extinction” (or not going in at all) yields the fastest results and is least confusing to baby.

Weissbluth strongly urges parents to put baby to sleep early (as early as 5 p.m., if necessary), while Ferber suggests that later bedtimes are often required to avoid your baby waking too early in the morning. Ferber also recommends very strict schedules for inconsistent babies.

Weissbluth discusses how your baby’s temperament will be a guiding factor in your experience with your baby’s sleep, while Ferber doesn’t seem to touch on this much, if at all.

Weissbluth says that many babies will need 1-2 night feedings up through 9 months while Ferber indicates babies need just one feeding at 3 months and none after 4-5 months old.

These are just a few of the differences and there could be more. These are the ones that come up most in personalized consultations.

So, Ferber or Weissbluth for your baby?

First, if I asked 10 of you how much sleep your babies get and then asked another 10 people, I would get different averages from each group. Keep in mind that the sources of averages are based on a finite number of babies and is just a sample. Averages are just those and you should use them as guidelines, not the end all, be all. Your baby has unique sleep needs, so respect those. Log her sleep for 1-2 weeks every so often and you will know how much sleep she needs, on average (every day may not be the same), at that age. In my experience with my own children and thousands of yours, Ferber’s averages are much too low for young babies, but seem exactly right around 2 years old and up.

I am asked the question, on occasion, about whose camp I’m in and the answer is that I’m not really in anyone’s camp. Just like Pantley’s No Cry Sleep Solution will work great for one family, it won’t for another. I can tell you that, in my experience (which is skewed towards a small and select group of children that have sleep problems), it is better to follow Weissbluth’s early bedtime ideas in young babies and young toddlers up to two years old, in many circumstances. I have seen an earlier bedtime make HUGE differences alone in many family’s situations. However, I find a 5 or 5:30 or even a 6 p.m. bedtime not very practical for most families. Even IF your baby can sleep 12 hours (mine slept just 11 to 11 1/2 at a young age), that means a ~5 a.m. wake-up time and you can get yourself into a perpetual early schedule. And, if you’re a working parent, that means either not seeing your baby at night or simply an impossible bedtime. But, after 9-10 months old, the lines start to blur and I really see Ferber’s ideas on sleep phases and internal clocks kick in for many babies and toddlers, along with stricter clock schedules doing wonders. All in all, it really depends on the baby.

I will wholeheartedly disagree with Ferber’s notion that all/most babies only need one feeding at 3 months and none by 4-5 months old, especially breastfed babies. True, maybe a baby won’t lose weight or become unhealthy, but it doesn’t mean he can comfortably go long periods without feeding from that young age, either. I do see some babies do very well without feedings at a young age, but definitely not all. Both my boys and especially my youngest who was a great self-soother, actually, struggled a lot with this!

As far as check and console or cry it out ala “extinction,” I think it’s a lot easier to say “Just let him cry” than to actually see it through, especially as a new parent. It sounds, to some, like it’s an easy way out, but it’s far from that. I have found that many babies can and will make very good progress without either of these methods and I often start with no cry (or limited crying) methods with the majority of our families. Will sleep be perfect? Sometimes, but not always, unfortunately. I am in Weissbluth’s camp that your baby’s temperament will make a BIG difference in what you get to work, and not only that, but your patience level, too. You may be too much of a hare and your baby’s a tortoise or vice versa.

The bottom line? None of these books know you and your baby. You do. And, your approach will be as unique as your family, a big reason why the Personalized Sleep Plan™ here on the site even exists.

What about you? Ferber, Weissbluth, Ferbluth, or Nobluth?

If you’re looking for ways to to get your particular baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Nella’s story (one that you MUST read) is one that’s familiar for many families — families that are impacted by a child with a birth defect. In fact, about 120,000 babies, or 1 in 33, in the U.S. are born each year with a birth defect (an abnormality in structure, function, or body chemistry that results in disability or death). What’s more, birth defects are the number one cause of death in a baby’s first year of life.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. The 2012 theme, determined by the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, is “And the Beat Goes On…Looking to the Future for Healthy Hearts.” This year’s theme reflects the fact that heart defects are the most common types of birth defects. Of course, birth defects aren’t limited to heart-related issues; the spectrum of birth defects is wide.

Birth defects can be as varied and unique as the children who have them, but four particular types top the list of the most common.

• Heart defects rank as the most common type of birth defect, affecting as many as 1 in 100 babies born in the U.S. In addition, heart defects are the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths among infants.
• Cleft lip/palate is the second most common type, affecting about 1 in 700 babies.
• Down Syndrome, a chromosomal defect, affects approximately 1 in 800 babies born in the U.S.
• Spina bifida, a defect in which the spine fails to close properly during fetal development, affects about 1 in 2,500 babies.

One of the first questions people ask when considering birth defects is, “What causes them?” Unfortunately, the answer is far from simple. Birth defects are often the result of a combination of factors, and approximately 70% of birth defects have unknown causes.

Many birth defects cannot be prevented; however, there are steps every woman can take to lower the risk of birth defects for her baby.

• Taking 400 micrograms of folic acid, both before conceiving and during pregnancy, is the easiest and most effective step you can take to prevent birth defects. This has been shown to dramatically decrease rates of anencephaly and spina bifida, two defects related to a baby’s brain and spine.
• Pregnant women should avoid alcohol and cigarette smoke. Drinking alcohol while pregnant increases a baby’s chances of being born with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and smoking while pregnant increases a baby’s chances for cleft lip/palate.
• Pregnant women should never use illegal “street” drugs: these have been linked to an large number of serious birth defects in babies, including defects of the heart.
• If you’re pregnant, talk to a health care provider about the medications you’re currently taking. Never stop taking your medications abruptly; this can actually do more harm than good. Instead, discuss all of your medications with your doctor to determine if they’re safe to take while pregnant.
• Prevent infections during pregnancy by using proper hygiene techniques as well as common sense.
• Maintain a healthy weight, since obesity in pregnant women increases the risks for several serious types of birth defects, including spina bifida, cleft lip/palate, and heart defects.

Birth defects are a heartbreaking topic to discuss, but it’s an important discussion to have. Through conversations like these, people receive the education they need to prevent, understand, and treat birth defects.

And of course, it’s not a conversation without hope. Far from it. A birth defect is rarely a death sentence. Sometimes, it turns out to be the most unexpected kind of blessing. Kelle Hampton and her daughter Nella are proof of that. Nella’s Down Syndrome ended the story that Kelle had been imagining for her daughter, but it marked the beginning of a bigger, more beautiful story than she could’ve ever envisioned.

As Kelle eloquently puts it, “Life moves on. And there have been lots of tears since. There will be. But, there is us. Our Family. We will embrace this beauty and make something of it. We will hold our precious gift and know that we are lucky. I feel lucky. I feel privileged. I feel there is a story so beautiful in store…and we get to live it. Wow.”

If you planned to be a co-sleeping family, you are probably less likely to have felt you needed a baby monitor. But, for those of us who planned NOT to co-sleep (even if we did because having a baby rarely goes as you planned), a baby monitor is probably one of the first things you think you need, beyond the diapers, onesies, and burp cloths. How will you hear the baby if he wakes up, if you don’t have a baby monitor?

Let me start by saying all families have different styles of parenting and everyone has a different size and shaped house. If you have a 500 square foot apartment, that is obviously going to be WAY different than a family with a 3,000 square foot home with 3 floors. If you have a small apartment, you most likely do NOT need a baby monitor. I don’t know the “right” size home that you “need” a baby monitor, but let’s discuss when they may or may not be useful when it comes to your baby’s sleep, in general.

Baby Monitors to Help Baby Fall Asleep

When it comes to your baby falling asleep, one of the first things you’ll worry about is how to put your baby to sleep. As your baby grows and goes through his 4 month sleep regression or the 8 month sleep regression, he may begin to sleep worse than ever before. You may think about sleep training and this is where the baby monitor can come in handy, depending on the method you choose to help him learn to fall asleep unassisted.

When our eldest (who inspired this site) was a baby, we had a basic baby monitor. We did not have a video monitor. More on that later, but if your baby is put down to bed and is making noises, fussing, or crying, a monitor can help you…well…monitor his crying. Is it is hungry cry? Is he distressed? Is that his falling asleep moan? Is his leg stuck between the crib slats? This is all easier to do with a monitor than your ear to the door or poking your head in without he seeing you or army crawling across the floor to do reconnaissance.

Once our son became a toddler, we graduated to a video baby monitor. Although we toddler proofed his room, we didn’t know what kind of trouble he might get in. So, we thought it best to be able to watch him in there, especially when he stopped napping and went up for a one-hour “rest time” every day. Thankfully, nothing bad ever happened. He was cute to watch, though.

Once we had our second baby, we moved the video baby monitor to the baby’s room. Honestly, I didn’t know how we got by without one of those the first time! Being able to see what was going on was much less stressful. However, baby monitors aren’t always good.

Baby Monitors and Helping Baby Stay Asleep

Some people feel that baby monitors are a form of Helicopter Parenting, which may lead to your unhappiness as a parent. “Helicopter Parenting” is where you are overly involved such that you don’t teach your child how to be self-reliant. Others feel that baby monitors abuse a new parent’s vulnerabilities for a profit and are unnecessary.

When it comes to sleep training, the moment where baby monitors hinder your progress is that you can hear every sniffle, moan, and fuss. Having a fuss or cry magnified in a monitor may make your heart beat twice as fast and make you think that someone is either kidnapping your child or he is facing extreme harm. No doubt that if your baby does have a medical condition, it may be imperative you hear every breath he takes and you may even want one of those Angelcare Baby Movement Monitors. But, for the average healthy baby, we don’t need to hear every little noise the baby makes. In fact, that may make you get in your own way of having your baby sleep through the night. Fussing and crying a little between sleep cycles is very normal and expected, in fact. Go in too quickly and you may even wake your baby up!

One day when it was unavailable when my younger son began taking longer naps, when I could not tend to him right away, I learned that a delayed response is sometimes beneficial. I was making my eldest son’s lunch and had to finish up, so he could eat (can you say cranky when hungry?). No more than 4 minutes later, I was walking up the stairs, I kid you not, my hand was on the doorknob, and my son went back to sleep! I am not suggesting all babies will be that “easy” (he was by far not a perfect sleeper, by the way), but having a monitor where you hear everything is not always the best tool in your toolbox when it comes to sleep training if it leads to checking on your child more than might be necessary. Second case in point is when my eldest was a baby, he was a loud sleeper. Every time he rolled over or made a little noise or coughed, I could hear him. This was unnecessary and woke me up literally for no reason. Because of where our bedrooms are, I could hear him very well without the monitor, if he started crying (I birth screamers, by the way), so I turned off the monitor at night when I slept.

Baby Monitors Can Be Useful

Having said all of that, a baby monitor can be extremely helpful, in some situations. If your baby wakes up, it’s easy to look in the monitor to see what’s going on. Is she fussing, searching for her pacifier, finds it, and rolls back over and goes to sleep? Does your baby have reflux and because you lifted one side of the bed, is she at the bottom of the crib? A video monitor, specifically, helps you stop imagining that something terrible happened in there or helps determine precisely whether you should go in at all. Perhaps that is teaching your baby more self-reliance than if you were forced to check on her each time.

When it came to our boys, we used the baby monitors, and less once the youngest was three. We have 3 floors and would regularly watch TV or a movie in the basement. It could be 2-3 hours before we’d go upstairs and if your baby is sick and vomits everywhere, it doesn’t sound like a good plan to not be able to hear him. We’d sometimes take the older child outside to play while the baby was napping. What kind of quality time would it be to have to run in and check every 5-10 minutes if the baby was awake? Nowadays, they even have baby monitors that can text you when the baby has been crying for so many minutes, even when you’re out on a date with a sitter at home.

I will finish with this: As with many tools in your parenting toolbox, it’s not the tools themselves, but how you use them.

Did you use a baby monitor and how did it help or hurt your baby’s sleep?

If you’re looking for ways to to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

1. Be realistic

All babies will not sleep through the night at the same age, weight, or other arbitrary quality. Your baby is unique and may be 6 months or 8 months or 13 months old when she finally sleeps through the night. Once you do start “working” on sleep, your baby may or may not respond as quickly as some of the lucky few who have success in one or two nights. I wish they all did, but frankly, if they did, I wouldn’t have this site because my own son would not have been as challenging as he was and I wouldn’t have had to obsess about his sleep as much as I did! Please have realistic expectations for your baby that while he may respond in a few days to a week, he might not or he will and then backslide. If you are realistic, you will have less frustration and more success, since you are less likely to give up before he has time to learn. This is especially true for slow-to-adapt babies. It’s easy to read through our testimonials and get very excited that we can help you overnight, but that will only be true for some of you. Our track record is good, but some parents send just one e-mail, receive a sleep plan, and away they go, while others consult with us for 30 days where we can touch base very frequently to tweak their plan. A family’s solution is as unique as their baby, sometimes.

2. Be consistent

Boring, I know. “Consistency is key” is something we all hear all too frequently, but I can’t emphasize this enough. When we read through family histories, certain things jump out at us and lack of consistency is a huge factor. Sometimes it’s not your fault. It’s hard to know when to feed, when not to feed, when it’s okay to rock them to sleep, when you should try to have them learn to fall asleep on their own, etc. If your toddler is playing with the trash can, if you sometimes let him and sometimes not, he won’t understand the rules and what’s expected from him. Look at it from their perspective to see how your inconsistency could be confusing your baby. This typically increases crying, rather than lessens it, and none of us want that.

3. Make smaller goals

One helpful step you can make is to set (realistic) goals for your baby’s sleep. Even better to choose baby steps in sleep training. If you don’t know where you want to go, it’s very hard to find a path there. And, you should be more specific than making “sleeping through the night” your goal. That is too broad and you may be disappointed. You might first decide “Go to sleep without breastfeeding.” Then, you might say “Wakes up for less than 4 night feedings.” And, so on. Make smaller goals to help yourself see progress and avoid giving up before you achieve your granddaddy goal.

4. Make a plan

After you make your goals, decide on how you’ll achieve those smaller goals. If you’re going on a road trip across country, most people make some sort of plan. Some of us will plan it down to the finest details, including where we will eat a meal or go potty or what specific hotel to stay in. Some of us might make loose plans such as what city we’ll stay for the night, but if we are making good time, we might go further or, if we are tired, stop sooner. We see a lot of different personalities in our personal consultations. Some need to know every little detail about what they need to do and ask a lot of “What if?” questions (which is a big reason why we’re here!) while others don’t. Whether you are type A or type B or go where the wind blows you, success usually starts with a plan, even if it’s not super detailed.

5. Take the first step

Once you have your plan, taking that first step is often the hardest. Very often we build up how terrible sleep training will be in our head and, often, it’s worse in our head than in reality (unfortunately, not always). We’re afraid we’ll be sleep training a tortoise and we’ll feel guilty because our baby won’t sleep because it’s our fault and how guilty we feel that we’re changing the “rules.” The first step in solving any problem is usually the most difficult (usually admitting there is a problem or that you need help), but one of the most important.

6. Gather Your Support

Whether it’s another friend going through a similar situation, your partner/spouse, a friend on Facebook, your parent helping you through, or us, one thing that helps you succeed in making a big change in your life is your support network. Holding yourself accountable by “checking in” with someone also helps you succeed. So, try to get your support lined up before you start. Someone who is non-judging if you make mistakes and someone who can empathize.

7. Expect backsliding

No doubt that just when you figure out the first thing, a second thing pops up: “She was sleeping great and then learned to roll! AAAHHH!” When we potty train, we are not surprised by accidents, so I’m not sure why parents sometimes expect perfect sleep after sleep training. Your sleep training progress might look more like a roller coaster than climbing to the top of a mountain.

Only you can make the changes that your family needs to thrive in 2012. I hope these 7 tips can help get you started. And, if new year’s resolutions is what inspires you to take that first step, then just make sure you are one of the (only) 50% who will stick to them.

How Will You Make 2012 a Year of Better Baby Sleep?

If you’re looking for ways to to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

When I think back through my life, if I focus just on the negative things in my life, it can feel depressing. I think back to how my parents were divorced when I was eight or when my mom left after a nervous breakdown, and I went to live with my Dad when I was 12. I think back to being called names because of my racial background or to my (mostly verbally) abusive relationship back in college and wonder what I was thinking. Or, I get sad when I think about my sister dying from Breast Cancer right before I married my husband. Less than a year later, my husband’s sister died…in our house, no less. Just this past summer, one of my older brothers died from a rare blood disorder that led to cardiac arrest. These are just a few things that have had an impact on my life and who I am, and I sometimes wonder how I have become and remain a fairly optimistic, happy person.

I am sure many of you have had your share of stressful and negative things that have happened to you or your family, too. If I wrote an article that said if all of these things happened to you, you would be clinically depressed or on Prozac, would you believe me? This is a lot of sadness in one life, I think. But, what about all the good things, too? We can’t just focus on the negative, can we?

I think back to my family trips with my four siblings. I remember my brothers telling me about trying to catch a squirrel for me on one of our trips. Although my mom did need to leave when I was 12, it was both the best and worst day of my life, because I think she did the right thing. If she couldn’t care for us, it was better for her to leave. And, she lives with that guilt every. single. day. My Dad was a rock. He showed me the importance of school, taught me that a woman can do anything, and kept me on the right path. When I went away to college, I had a BLAST of fun with friends! I was able to live life to the fullest, went on girl trips, laughed til our sides hurt, and did all kinds of fun, youthful things! And, if it weren’t for my disaster ex, I never would have met my current husband whom I’ve now known for over 10 years (that was one good thing that came out of “911″) and we’ve been married for 7 years with two wonderful boys. I could go on and on about all the great things in my life. Not to mention this website and how rewarding it has been to help so many other parents with something I’ve become so passionate about!

What does this have to do with sleep and cry it out?

My mom told me that she breastfed me, but she also did let me cry it out, though she did not use that phrase. Maybe it wasn’t called that “back then.” LOL- I was her fourth child. I’m sure she couldn’t spend eons to get me to sleep. Of all the things in my life, having cried it out as a baby really doesn’t seem that significant. From each negative thing, there has been a lot of positives to go with it. I would say I’m a very well-rounded, educated, down-to-earth, mentally sound individual. I don’t battle with depression and I’m not unable to cope with life’s stresses.

Back to the “Dangers of Crying It Out.” One article suggested your baby won’t be as smart or will suffer from a lifetime of anxiety. Another article speculated that maybe we have a “Prozac Nation” because of cry it out and, overall, lack of nurturing from parents.

One thing that is thoroughly frustrating to me about these blanket statements is they never define what they’re truly talking about. In my experience, we all have a different definition of “cry it out.”

Are you talking about 10 minutes of crying at bedtime or 3 hours straight of crying alone? Any amount of crying? Does fussing count? Does it mean that the parent has to also NOT nurture the baby during the day, too, for it to be dangerous? What about a mom who breastfeeds ALLLLL day, literally, and wants a 30 minute break to eat dinner only to have the baby cry even in Dad’s arms? Will her baby be harmed for life? What if your baby is crying laying next to you in bed or in your arms? Is colic dangerous given it’s a lot of crying, even if you are doing everything in your power to stop it? If you are in a car accident, trapped in your seat, and your baby is in the back of the car crying for 15-20 minutes while the paramedics arrive, get their gear, etc. to cut you out of the car, would your baby be damaged FOREVER? That would be a very stressful situation, indeed, and according to these articles, the levels of cortisol would increase and damage your baby’s brain. Or, perhaps the real questions is: Is it the parent’s intent that matters?

Here’s the thing. I understand why people would not want parents to ignore their baby’s cries forever and ever. That is neglect. But, to tell a suffering family that sleep deprivation or not, you can’t let your baby cry AT ALL is equally “dangerous.” We see the effects of sleep deprivation everywhere. Other articles from Psychology Today discussing the ramifications of sleep deprivation: air traffic control, behavior problems, and poor decision-making just to name a few.

There is fear on both sides: what will happen if you don’t sleep train and what will happen if you do. I am not suggesting all babies or people would react the same way to sleep training using a crying method just like I’m not blaming others if they haven’t coped as well to life’s stresses such as mine above. And, I’m not even suggesting most families should use cry it out. In personal consultations, it is rarely even the first or second suggestion we have for a family. But, it’s not off the table completely, depending on the situation, either. I have parents running stop signs for goodness sakes, with their baby in the back! Sleep training is not for a cushy lifestyle or just to make it easier for the parents. Sleep problems have been shown to be a precursor to depression and as dangerous as driving drunk. Parents come to us for help because they are truly concerned that their children are not getting the sleep they need.

So, when Ms. Alphonse poses the question “Could a lack of nurturing (because of crying-it-out) explain our ‘Prozac Nation?’” I take offense to it. First, to label a large group of people and blame one aspect of parenting is extreme. A parent who does cry it out is not necessarily a non-nurturing parent! Second, I don’t doubt for a minute that many people suffering from depression had parents adamantly against cry it out, just like many probably had parents who did use cry it out- especially since clinical depression can often be genetic. Our lives are too complex to blame just one thing as defining our personality. As my very brief account of my own life above illustrates, we are all made up of many events in our lives and to point to one thing our parents did or did not do as what makes or breaks us does an injustice to the many sacrifices parents make on a daily basis for their children. Third, a person who is on Prozac is not a bad person. They may need help dealing with depression, which they may have been born with or life’s craziness led to a difficulty in handling stressful situations. We should all try not to judge or further stigmatize others for needing some help. I applaud those who can take that step rather than try to deal with these types of things on their own. What a much happier life they probably lead with, rather than without, these medications. Sometimes I wonder why I don’t need medication with some of the things I’ve had to deal with!

And, to Ms. Narvaez who tells me the dangers of crying it out and how to grow a smart baby, I tell her that I did let my son cry it out (though my definition may not be yours), I did put him down, sometimes, he wasn’t a calm baby, and as a Kindergartener, he is reading on a second grade level (but can read sight words through third grade, at least) and doing math above second grade level (actually, what they told us was that they haven’t found his ceiling, yet). I did breastfeed, but I would bet a lot of money that there are many pretty smart people who got formula. I have wondered if his intelligence is a major influence in how difficult sleep has been for him. Maybe he can’t turn off his brain and sleep! I do know that sufficient sleep has been instrumental to his ability to learn, retain what he learns, but most importantly, his happiness (when he was a baby and now). His younger brother, whom we never let cry it out (just different temperaments!), will likely read when he’s four years old, too, but we can tell he may need to “work” a bit harder in school. It does not seem to come as easily nor does is he as inquisitive to ask a lot of questions like his brother. They both have the same parents and got the same breast milk, they are just different.

I am in no way a doctor or psychologist, so take what you will from this. I am a mom who does not like the guilt trips that all these doctors (on both sides) give us new moms! I do not like extreme viewpoints that paint a broad picture without looking at the individual family’s situation. I do not believe that if you don’t sleep train, you are doomed to have a spoiled baby. In many cases, you can successfully establish healthy sleep habits while co-sleeping and/or without cry it out. I also believe that, within the right parameters, that controlled and temporary amounts of crying (along with a lot of nurturing!) is sometimes necessary for the greater good, health, and happiness of the family. As responsible parents, we limit crying as much as humanly possible and I have helped far more families sleep train without crying it out than with it.

Regardless, I know that we all do as best we can with our kids, we will make mistakes, and no matter what happens in their lives, I know that my boys will be who they will be because of all the experiences they have as they grow up, not because of one decision I made in a very short amount of time in their lives. I influence their lives, but I do not control it.

What do you think? Do you think our ‘Prozac Nation’ comes from crying it out?

If you’re looking for gentle ways to to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

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 very goal we are trying to achieve! Or, would it?

For adults, they say that if you have insomnia or difficulty sleeping, you should make sure to have your bed ONLY be a place for sleep. No watching TV. No reading books. I’m not even sure you’re supposed to make love to your spouse! I’m not an adult sleep expert by any means. I only know that some adult sleep problems have been tied back to childhood. Yet another reason to help establish healthy sleep habits in your baby!

For most of us, though, do we have trouble sleeping because we might read a book/magazine or watch a rerun of Friends, Seinfeld, or Family Guy before we turn in and go off to snoozeland? Usually not. In fact, it’s fairly hard for me to just put on my pajamas, brush my teeth, hop into bed, turn out the light, and fall asleep. I usually need that “unwind” time before I drift off to sleep and, now that it’s Winter, I need time to warm up my sheets!

So, what about your baby? What does your baby need before going to sleep?

Well, your baby’s temperament and personality will be a factor. Your solid bedtime routine will be his “unwind” time, so perhaps he doesn’t need his personal unwind time. Once you finish feeding him or cuddling, he should be able to drift off to sleep, right?

Not always.

First, if your baby is spirited, he may need a longer than average bedtime routine. It has been very difficult for us to get our eldest son’s bedtime routine under an hour for most of his life as a baby. The more I tried, the longer it would take and the more frustrated I’d we’d get. He’s slow-to-adapt and needs a long wind-down. Once I accepted it and didn’t try to fit him into the mold of a bedtime routine needing to be less than 30 minutes, we had a much more fulfilling experience. But, does that mean he’d fall asleep right when it was over. Ha! Nice try. Now that he’s older and can talk…A LOT…the longer I stay, the longer it takes him to fall asleep. I guess I am too interesting. At some point, I have to leave for him to fall asleep, except for rare days when he falls asleep during our “cuddling” stage of our routine.

Second, if your baby is introverted or reflective, she may cherish her “alone time” in her crib or bed before falling asleep. She may want to think about her day (if she’s older) or unwind on her own. I have one client whose daughter takes at least 45 minutes to fall asleep after she leaves the room. She can hear her daughter talking to herself about her day! My younger son, since he was a baby and even now that he’s almost 4, has routinely taken at least 20 minutes to unwind in bed after we’ve left the room.

But, can crib aquariums be bad for your baby’s sleep?

As with many things, what works well for one baby or child will not necessarily work for yours. The bad thing about crib aquariums is that they can be too stimulating. The crib aquarium we had had 3 settings and 2 volume settings, I believe. On the loudest and brightest setting, this was much too engaging to promote sleep. That setting is undoubtedly more geared towards play time in the crib while you’re putting away laundry, for example. This is a good idea for crib transitions to familiarize babies with a new place OUTSIDE of actual sleep.

If your baby is overly perceptive, using any setting with a light is likely going to keep her awake, rather than lull her to sleep. Music, as opposed to white noise, tends to sometimes keep you awake rather than lull you to sleep, too. Music can activate the brain, which goes against what we want: peaceful and restorative sleep.

How crib aquariums can be good for your baby’s sleep

Crib aquariums can be good, too, though. If you have done your bedtime routine, your baby is content in his crib, but just not quite ready to sleep, playing one or two rounds of the lullaby music may be enough to help him drift off to sleep without your help. With my eldest (who is perceptive), we would keep the lights off and just play the music one or two times (this was after we taught him HOW to sleep, mind you). As he got older, in the middle of the night I’d sometimes hear the music go on to help himself back to sleep. It was great! Of course, as they get even older, they can move the settings around, which isn’t always good.

All in all, crib aquariums are not necessarily going to be the silver bullet to solving your sleep problems. A crib aquarium can simply be one more tool in your toolbox. And, if it does keep your baby awake, simply take it out. It’s that simple. If you would like to get an idea of how a crib aquarium works, you can watch a video demonstration HERE.

Has a crib aquarium been good or bad for your baby’s sleep?

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Did I expect to win the race? No way! In fact, I came in 104th. Ouch. I was 14th in my age group, though (which was ahem, 37 but now 38 years old). It took me 32 minutes and 9 seconds. Not bad!

With many things in my life, I set goals that I wanted to achieve (not my friend or neighbor). They never have to be “Become the President of the United States” goals. My primary goal for the 5K was simply to do it. My secondary goal was to keep running the entire time. I achieved both that day and the feeling of accomplishment was AMAZING!

What does this have to do with sleep training?

I remember sleep training sometimes feeling like a race. All your friend’s babies were sleeping well. The babies in the playgroups were sleeping through the night. So many people making you feel like it’s your fault you can’t finish the race, too. It was because he was napping too much or my breast milk wasn’t enough or WHATever!

Unlike the 5K, I never trained for sleep training. Who knew that babies just don’t sleep when they’re tired?!?

One way my 5K race IS like sleep training is the small goals I made for myself and I started thinking this is EXACTLY what I did when I sleep trained my own son and EXACTLY what I do when I make a Personalized Sleep Plan™. I recently read Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover and he goes over “baby steps” to become “financially fit.” I related a lot to his “baby steps” because it is at the heart of how I view goals.

Will it work to do your bedtime routine, put your baby to bed, and not come back until morning, crying or not? For many, sure. Is that the way most people want to sleep train? Of course not! Do I recommend to parents they do that? Who needs to pay someone to tell them that, so no. That is usually the way a hare does it or someone who has done an extensive amount of sleep training, already. I am not a hard-core “sleep trainer” and never have been.

Instead, I think the reason I’ve been successful in many things I do is a) I’m not afraid to fail (that’s how we learn) and b) I make smaller goals that build to one big goal.

When I sleep trained my son, my primary goal was to stop taking THREE HOURS (yes, literally) to put him to bed each night. Sure, he fell asleep rocking in my arms, but then he’d wake up every time he felt me move to lower him into bed! My first goal was NOT for him to sleep through the night or even to stop waking up every two hours…yet (though he did anyway once we mastered bedtime, yay!)

When I created The Baby Sleep Site™, my goal was to help people. I had NO goals about how many. I had no idea what would happen, but all I knew is that I wanted to make a website to support other parents (even if it was only 10 people) who were going through what I had to go through essentially alone. Even my husband didn’t obsess about sleep as much as I did, of course, and frankly, I think he got tired of hearing about it. Now, he doesn’t have to, because you listen.

Breaking your goals into “baby steps” can help you sleep train your baby, too! I did finally help my son sleep through the night (though it wasn’t perfect every night by any means!), The Baby Sleep Site™ now enjoys over 150,000 visitors per month and has over 100,000 people who receive the weekly newsletter, and now, I’ve finished my first 5K and my next goal is to do it in under 30 minutes. And, who knows? Maybe one day I’ll even win one.

What’s Your Goal and How Will You Achieve It?

If you’re looking for your “baby” steps that help you achieve your long-term goal and ways to to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Just like last year, we will be hosting this giveaway on our Facebook page. Entry will be easy and you can share the giveaway easily with friends and family right on Facebook. You do not have to have a Facebook account to enter. Online entries are accepted HERE.

Here’s how it works, starting today and until 11:59 pm (EST) on Friday, December 9, you can submit your entry in the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway online. (Be sure to read the official rules and guidelines). Starting on Monday, December 5, we will randomly draw one winner from all entries and award a prize for that day. The Grand Prize (a $300 gift card to either Target or Amazon) will be awarded on the final day, December 16.

Keep reading below for the complete list of all our prizes we’ll be giving away each day during the Giveaway. As you can see below, we have an awesome list of prizes and for some of the prizes, there will be multiple winners! (*Note: Shipped prizes available to US Residents only. International winners will be offered an alternative Baby Sleep Site prize that does not require shipping.) The prizes listed below are not necessarily in the order that they will be awarded.

Grand Prize- $300 Gift Certificate to Target OR Amazon

The Grand Prize Winner for our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway will have their choice of either a $300 Gift Card to Amazon or to Target. Either gift card can be use to order easily online or the Target Gift Card can also be used in a Target Retail Store. *Please note that the Target gift card option is only available to US Residents. If you are outside of the US and are drawn for the grand prize, you will receive the Amazon Gift Card.

ZAZOO Photo Clock

The ZAZOO Photo Clock helps teach kids when it’s ok to wake up and when it’s still time for sleep- it’s a smart new way to enforce better sleeping habits (and parents may actually sleep through the night!). The digital clock displays images of daytime and nighttime to visually show kids what time of day it is. The screen displays the time as well and there is even a naptime setting! The ZAZOO Photo Clock is preprogrammed with “awake” and “asleep” images and can even display family pictures. The rotating digital photo frame can also be personalized with images that can be added through the SD card slot, USB port or flash drive. It can even play MP3′s and video’s on the 7″ LCD Screen. A great addition to every kid’s room! Find out more about this photo clock on the ZAZOO website. One lucky winner will be awarded a ZAZOO Photo Clock.

Mastering Naps and Schedules e-Book

One copy of our Mastering Naps and Schedules e-book will be awarded. If naps are a struggle or if you have questions about how much and how often your baby or toddler should be napping, then this is the book for you. This book covers how to help your child learn to nap longer, why naps are so important for nighttime sleep, how to break baby’s dependence on you to fall asleep, how to help your early riser learn to sleep later, and includes over 40 sample schedules…plus much more!

SnoozeShade

This Holiday season, babies can get the sleep they need when out and about with SnoozeShade – a range of award-winning, breathable blackout covers that make any time sleep time. Sometimes it’s just inevitable that your baby or toddler will fall asleep while you’re out running errands or shopping. The SnoozeShade can help your child to get some rest during those times!

SnoozeShade Original, fits all single strollers, and SnoozeShade Infant Car Seat, for most group 0/0+ infant carriers, are designed to help babies get the rest they need by creating a dark, comfortable sleep cocoon which blocks out 94% of light. SnoozeShades also provide baby with the highest level of sun protection with UPF50+, protect from wind and chill and can be used to shade delicate eyes.

Designed by a mom and endorsed by sleep experts and health professionals worldwide, SnoozeShade is soft, small and a cinch to use. So this Holiday season you can enjoy the sights, sounds, lights and crowds while baby snoozes happily through it all. You can find out more on their website about the entire line of SnoozeShade products. One winner will receive the SnoozeShade Original for a stroller and one winner will receive a SnoozeShade for an Infant Car Seat.

The 3 Step System to Help Your Child Sleep

We will also be giving away a copy of this ebook. This book helps you design a step by step a sleep coaching plan that works for you and your family. It also includes a quick reference guide with age-specific sleep guidelines and sleep log for tracking your child’s sleep patterns. Whether you are interested in co-sleeping, crying it out, setting schedules, night weaning or feeding at night, this book covers it all!

Bumbo Baby Seat

The Bumbo Baby Seat is a snug and cozy seat for your baby. This unique infant chair is designed according to the baby’s posture and is manufactured to the highest safety standards from low-density, non-toxic foam material, which makes it lightweight, portable, and comfortable for your baby. In addition to it’s durability, it’s easy to clean too. It’s a great alternative to the traditional booster, the Bumbo Baby Sitter aids in feeding and playtime without straps and fasteners. The Bumbo Baby Seat enables babies to be able to sit upright by themselves. It’s recommend as suitable for babies who can support their own heads unaided and up until they are able to get out of the Bumbo. One winner will win a Bumbo Baby Seat.

Please note that this chair should not be used on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surfaces.

Ninna nanna… Sogni d’oro- Lullaby Album

It was 2007 when a friend announced the birth of his beautiful daughter Bianca that Matteo Bosi wanted to make a great present so he decided to compose several lullabies especially for his friend’s baby. It was in that time that the first ten tracks of this album were recorded and the CD was named “Ninna Nanna… Sogni d’oro”, which could be translated as “Lullaby… Sweet Dreams. ” The new parents really liked the gift and found that the lullabies had a calm and soothing effect on their duaghter. A few years later when some other friends also had new babies, Matteo was inspired to record some additional lullaby tracks which brought about the last 9 tracks of this album.

In 2011, Matteo released all 19 tracks as a full length album to be distributed digitally with the hopes that others families and babies would enjoy the music as much as his friends had. The full album is currently available for purchase and download on Amazon, iTunes or CDbaby. You can also listen to samples of each of the songs. Get updates and news about this album and any upcoming albums on the Ninna Nanna Facebook Page.

3 winners will be chosen to receive an MP3 copy of this album.

The 5 Step System to Better Toddler Sleep

Many parents are surprised to learn that it is not that uncommon for a toddler to not be sleeping through the night or have other sleep related issues. With this toddler sleep book, you can learn how to get back in control with this comprehensive toddler sleep guide. This ebook includes a toolkit of strategies, sample schedules, and sleep logs will put your toddler on the right sleep track.

HALO Sleep Sack

The HALO Sleep Sack is a wearable blanket for babies or toddlers to replace loose blankets in the crib. To help reduce the risks of SIDS, it is recommended that loose blankets not be used with small babies and young toddlers. HALO Sleep Sacks help solve the problem of how to keep baby warm at night and minimize the risks that come with loose bedding. Sleep Sacks are loose fitting to allow your baby to still be able to move around in bed while helping to keep baby warm at night. Sleep Sacks are also designed to help keep baby from overheating at night which can be another risk factor for SIDS. Easy to slip on even while your baby is sleeping, Sleep Sack also have an inverted zipper to help make diaper changes easy.

Two winners will each receive a microfleece HALO Sleep Sack.

Fisher-Price Luv U Zoo Deluxe Musical Mobile Gym

The Fisher-Price Luv U Zoo Deluxe Musical Mobile Gym make baby feel right at home on this cozy mat with adorable animal friends! The spinning mobile has dancing lights and lively music and the elephant gives baby a boost for easier tummy-time play. Toys can be repositioned on the arches and mat or removed for independent play. With a large circular mate with 3 arches that provide easy access to your baby, this mobile gym has 3 modes: music only, music and lights and music, lights and motion. Recommended for ages birth through 18 months. One winner will receive the Fisher-Prices Luv U Zoo Deluxe Musical Mobile Gym.

The Sunset Dimmer

The Sunset Dimmer is designed to help make bedtime easy and fun. It is a good way to help your child wind down in bed, or look at books and read in bed while the gradual dimming of the light helps soothe to sleep. It can also help children get used to sleeping in the dark. The Sunset Dimmer transform any lamp into a gradual sunset in the bedtoom. The light to dark transition helps facilitate the natural release of melatonin in the brain which makes us sleepy!

The Sunset Dimmer can dim to completely turning off the light or dim just to a nightlight level. In nightlight mode, the light will remain on at soft, low level all night long which can work well for nighttime changes or feedings. Nightlight mode is soft but is brighter than most nightlights. You can find out more about The Sunset Dimmer on their website.

Five winners will be drawn to receive a Sunset Dimmer.

Baby Sleep Site Basic Email Consultation Package

Your baby’s sleep shouldn’t be stressful and The Baby Sleep Site strives to provide a strong, non-judgmental, support network to help you and your family sleep better. Our website has helped countless families through free online articles, step-by-step e-Books, and private and personalized sleep consulting services.

One winner will win a Basic Email Consultation package to help with your sleep struggles. With this consultation package, you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ which is like a mini book written just for you and your family. A follow-up email will help to fine tune the plan or provide additional support after you have put the recommend strategies to work. If you already have an account, your account will be credited.

Deadline to enter is Friday, December 9, 2011, 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Enter Here: Baby Sleep Site 12 Days of Christmas Sweepstakes