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⏰️ I spoke about "false starts" last week in m

⏰️ I spoke about "false starts" last week in my stories. Many of you expressed that your little one wakes after 30 minutes - 60 minutes or so after falling asleep at bedtime. I wanted to dive a little deeper into why "false starts" can happen and hopefully better help you understand what changes you can make:

Sleep environment is not conducive to sleep - Sleep environment should be cool (not too hot/too cold), dark and white noise should be implemented, otherwise, it can be hard for your child to get the sleep they need.

Your little one is overtired or undertired - If your child is overtired/undertired, wake windows before bedtime may be too long/too short and therefore, wake windows should be shifted. This can help lengthen naps in the day and help build up enough sleep pressure (urge to sleep) before bedtime.

When you transfer your little one into their sleep space, they are either too sleepy or fully asleep - You want to try your best to ensure your little one is fully awake going into their sleep space. It will make it easier for them to transfer into more than one sleep cycle.

They have a strong dependency on sleep associations - Sleep associations are not a bad thing! However, if your little one is dependent on something in order to fall asleep, this can cause a "false start at bedtime". For example, if your child is dependent on the pacifier to fall asleep and it falls out, they may wake shortly after looking for the pacifier. This may cause them to fully wake up after one sleep cycle.

Bedtime routine needs tweaking - Does your child have enough time to wind down? If your child's bedtime routine is too short or slightly rushed, it can be hard for them to relax before bedtime. You want to ensure they are not too stimulated before bedtime as this can disrupt their entire night. Keep the routine calm and consistent and it can help eliminate night wakings.

In order to help eliminate "false start" bedtimes, keep the above variables in mind as it can really help prevent your little one waking after one sleep cycle. Creating independent sleep skills will help break "false start" bedtimes and can help your child sleep longer stretches.

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😭 Does your little one cry as soon as you enter

😭 Does your little one cry as soon as you enter their sleep environment and/or as soon as you place them into their crib?

If you answered yes, you are not alone. This is extremely common.

Here are a few reasons why this happens:

Your child is going through a phase of separation anxiety

There is no wind down routine at naptime or bedtime

Your child is making a connection to sleep and does not want to miss out on the fun

You are creating a new habit and your child is not used to it

You are putting your child down too early or too late

Crying is the only way they know how to communicate

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To help your little one feel more calm and relaxed when entering their sleep environment, try the following:

Spend more time in their room (not only during sleep periods)

Ensure you are creating a predictable series of steps leading to naptime and bedtime

Stay calm and patient as your child will feed off of this

Stay consistent when implementing new habits (and breaking old habits) to help set their expectations

Watch the clock and follow wake windows to ensure they are not undertired or overtired

Offer comfort if they are crying, but remember, crying is a healthy form of communication. Crying is normal and natural.

Crying does not mean your child is afraid of their crib.this is a myth.

If you are having trouble understanding why your little one is crying at naptime, bedtime or when they are simply placed in their sleep space, let me know and I can help.

💤Recommended Sleep Total💤 Please remember t

💤Recommended Sleep Total💤

Please remember that total sleep may vary from child to child and that this is only a guideline.

If you're little one is struggling to get the sleep they need, please book a free discovery call using the link in my bio and I would be happy to help!

⚠️SLEEP REGRESSIONS⚠️ What is a sleep reg

⚠️SLEEP REGRESSIONS⚠️

What is a sleep regression?

When do sleep regressions happen?

And WHY do sleep regressions happen?!

Swipe ⬅️ to find the answer to these questions.

Also, see below for some of the common sleep regressions your little one may experience:

4-5 months – sleep cycles become more distinct (light to deep stages of sleep and vuce versa), growth spurt, startle reflex, baby is more aware of their surroundings

6-7 months – sitting up, crawling, introduction of solids

8-9 months – brain development, crawling, pulling themselves up

12-15 months – walking, nap transition

18 months – language skills

2 years – learning about consequences and cause and effect

3 years – dreams, fears, potty training

Is your little one going through a regression?

Let me know below!

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