Gentle Dreams Sleep Consulting

I want to take a pause to remind all of you that your parenting isn't measured by: How well your baby sleeps When they hit their milestones How you chose to feed your baby... How you chose to schedule your day, including what can and can't be done Although I am a Sleep Consultant and advocate for the benefits of sleep, by no means is sleep an issue unless you feel like something isn't working and needs to change. There is information out there that can elude to your babies sleep being a "problem" and that can cause some stress, so no matter what your situation is, I want to remind you that you are doing an amazing job, and that to your baby, you are perfect. The information on this page is meant to be inclusive of a variety of different situations, helpful, encouraging and reassuring - I was that mama that didn't know about any of this, remember? So I am sharing with you, to encourage you and support you through your journey! #parenting #sleepcoaching #sleepplan #newparents #sleeptraining #healthyliving #babysleepexpert #babysleepconsultant #parentsupport #infantsleep #toddlersleep #sleeptricks #sleephacks #sleepsupport #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #professionalsleepadvice #sleepadvice #babysleeptricks #babyschedules #babysleephelp #helpmesleep #newparents #babysleeptips #supportnewparents #parentingjourney

Happy World Sleep Day! One would think that you would be celebrating this day by sleeping in or taking a nap but this can be really hard to do if you're working and have young children. I first want to just say to you, you are doing an AMAZING job! It is so difficult to cope with the circumstances we have been put into but you are all stronger than you think! ... For World Sleep Day I am sharing my top tips for healthy sleep hygiene: 1 Routines are not just for your little ones, implement a bedtime routine for yourself as well. It will help you de-stress before bed and help keep your mind from racing. 2 For you and your little ones, turn off screen time at least one hour before bed. The blue light interferes with the production of melatonin. 3 For your little ones, watch their wake windows and sleepy cues and remember that not everyday is going to be the same. Schedules HELP greatly but it's okay to compensate for a short nap or your little one sleeping in if you needed some extra time to yourself. It's okay, I promise! 4 Having a dark sleeping space is not only beneficial for your little one but for you as well, especially those early morning hours when light can start peeking through and cause some stimulation. 5 White noise isn't just for babies! There have been many studies that have shown white noise is so beneficial for sleep even for adults. I'll continue to share more tips through stories and posts as I believe in the importance of sleep! #parenting #sleepcoaching #sleepplan #newparents #sleeptraining #healthyliving #babysleepexpert #babysleepconsultant #parentsupport #infantsleep #toddlersleep #sleeptricks #sleephacks #sleepsupport #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #professionalsleepadvice #sleepadvice #babysleeptricks #babyschedules #babysleephelp #helpmesleep #newparents #babysleeptips #gentledreamssleepconsulting #gentledreamsconsulting #havegentledreams #napschedules #sleepschedules #worldsleepday #sleephygiene

Is your toddler ready for a "big kid bed"? A general "rule" is to wait until your child is three. Why? Because at three years old they have a better understanding of what it means to stay in bed all night and the discipline to actually do it. To me, three is just a number and many are ready to transition before that. Here are some signs you can look for to help you decide:... - Safety has become an issue (your toddler is climbing out) - You have tried to lower the crib mattress as far as it will go and turn the taller side of the crib outwards to make it harder to climb out - Your toddler has shown interest in, or has asked for a bed This is a BIG change! Your little one has to get used to sleeping without seeing and being restricted by actual physical boundaries (you can see why it can be difficult to get them to stay in bed when it's now so easy to come out)! Like everything else, a bed is completely new to them given the boundaries to constraint them no longer exist. This can be difficult for some toddlers to get used to, and to understand that they will still be safe. My number one tip is to never make this change when there are other major changes occurring such as starting a school program or potty training. Doing this simultaneously can be overwhelming for a child so it's best to wait until there are no other major changes happening. I include a section on transitioning to a toddler bed, strategies to involve your child to get them excited about the bed, and signs that you may need to re-assess, in the Client Resource Guide for all of my clients when the time comes! #parenting #sleepcoaching #sleepplan #newparents #sleeptraining #healthyliving #babysleepexpert #babysleepconsultant #parentsupport #infantsleep #toddlersleep #sleeptricks #sleephacks #sleepsupport #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #professionalsleepadvice #sleepadvice #babysleeptricks #babyschedules #babysleephelp #helpmesleep #newparents #babysleeptips #toddlerbed

I wasn’t much of a reader or into books growing up but I absolutely LOVE incorporating a book as part of the nap and bedtime routine with Mikhail and Elyssa and also suggest this to my clients. Why...? It's a low impact activity that helps to calm your little one before sleep!... It’s another way to get some extra snuggles in before sleep time! It’s a distraction free activity that lowers stress levels! Other benefits include: Exposure to words and mimicking conversation Helps to master language skills faster and gives exposure to different types of words and sounds Repeating books increasing logical thinking Toddler tip for books: Let them choose which book they want to read. Toddlers love showing independence and knowing they have a choice! In our house, I Love You Through and Through is an all time favourite. I asked a couple parent networks what their favourite bedtime books are. I've included the list in the comments for you if your'e looking for some new reads! #parenting #sleepcoaching #sleepplan #newparents #sleeptraining #healthyliving #babysleepexpert #babysleepconsultant #parentsupport #infantsleep #toddlersleep #sleeptricks #sleephacks #sleepsupport #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #professionalsleepadvice #sleepadvice #babysleeptricks #babyschedules #babysleephelp #helpmesleep #newparents #babysleeptips #gentledreamssleepconsulting #gentledreamsconsulting #havegentledreams #bedtimestories #bedtimeroutine #bedtimesnuggles

Everyone will have an opinion. . . .... Everyone will have something that worked for them as a parent, but doesn't seem to work for you. . . . Everyone will have their own struggles and challenges as a parent that can look very different from your struggles and challenges. . . . Be brave. Trust yourself. Have confidence in the decisions that you've made and will continue to make for your family. . . . #parenting #sleepcoaching #sleepplan #newparents #sleeptraining #healthyliving #babysleepexpert #babysleepconsultant #parentsupport #infantsleep #toddlersleep #sleeptricks #sleephacks #sleepsupport #sleepconsultant #sleepcoach #professionalsleepadvice #sleepadvice #babysleeptricks #babyschedules #babysleephelp #helpmesleep #newparents #babysleeptips #gentledreamssleepconsulting #gentledreamsconsulting #havegentledreams