Sleeping Beauties Sleep & Parenting

Community submission: I'm starting a new series, featuring you! I love how incredibly diverse this community is, reaching from all walks of life and all corners of the earth. If you're interested in having your parenthood journey featured, send me a DM! I wanted to start off with this amazing couple who are just at the start of their parenting journey and need your help! Read on to learn more. . We’re not normally the type of people to sit back and wait f...or things to fall in place for us. If there’s something we can actively be doing to reach our goals, you’ll find us doing it. I’m sure we’re not alone in thinking that this past year has offered a firm reminder that fate isn’t always interested in your plans. Learning to let go of expectations has been THE lesson of 2020/2021 (thanks COVID). We're Baden and Zane, we live in Toronto and, due to a medical condition, we're unable to conceive. We're looking for a gestational surrogate to help us build our family. We love the outdoors, weekends at the cottage, and we're total foodies. Zane is the chef and Baden is the chief taste tester. We have a super-smart cockapoo named Dodi and have taught her over 20 different tricks and commands. We're big fans of the classics: Billy Joel, The Lion King, and McDonald’s French Fries! But what we'd love more than anything else is to start a family of our own. In Canada, gestational surrogacy is legal and is based on an altruistic model. Surrogates can be reimbursed for any expenses but cannot be otherwise compensated. We are seeking to do a funded cycle of IVF, so we do not yet have embryos created, but baseline tests look great. We will be excellent candidates for IVF when the time comes. If you are between the ages of 25-40, based in Ontario and would consider giving us the greatest gift, we would love to hear from you! DM @notmytummy to connect, and follow along our journey See more

... and it's also okay to voice your feelings over being tired without being bombarded by unsolicited advice. Being a parent is tiring. Being a parent in a pandemic is . ... If you're tired, and expressing that sentiment, this is not an invitation for others to suggest that you sleep train. If sleep training feels right for you, then go for it. But if it doesn't, and you've been looking for permission to run in the other direction, here it is: you're entitled to be tired. Frustrated. Touched out. It's okay to decide to vent, dust yourself off, and do it all over again without changing a thing. And it's also okay to decide to find solutions that suit your parenting style AND your child's temperament. . . Follow @officialsleepingbeauties to find solutions through responsive parenting practices, while building connected relationships. We are passionate about helping families improve parent-child relationships through positive and intentional parenting. Struggling with sleep? Sleeping Beauties can help your family get better sleep without resorting to sleep training See more

Why are you following me? This guy wants to know who hens sharing his mama with lately But for real - I’d love to know why you’re here, how Sleeping Beauties is helping you share more moments with your kiddos, and what you need help with right now. ... How did you sleep last night?

This week is INTERNATIONAL BABYWEARING WEEK! Babywearing doesn't get enough love from the sleep industry because it promotes too much attachment for your run-of-the-mill sleep coaches, but it's such a shame because there are so many benefits to babywearing! Gives baby the closeness he or she needs, especially during the 4th trimester... Boosts breast milk production due to close contact with baby Allows caregivers to be hands-free to get stuff done while still holding baby, especially if there are other children who need some attention Decreases risk of SIDS and flat-head syndrome Is amazing for contact naps! Not just for newborns, but also for older infants, when nap 3 needs to be on the go Allows babies to experience a new vantage point, especially when worn outdoors and for walks Babywearing is not just for infants, but for toddlers as well. It can give them the closeness and extra comfort they sometimes need, while making carrying so much easier! I love this quote from the @Ergobaby website - "Babywearing takes our babies back to their safe place- reminding them that we are home, their little bodies pressed up against ours, the beat of our heart right alongside theirs. With babywearing, love carries on." See more

WORLD SMILE DAY I love that there is a day to celebrate smiles, because it gives some weight to the importance of showing emotions for our children. Can you believe there was a period in time when babies were believed to not be able to perceive emotions?... The Still Face Experiment is an amazing example of how babies react to the emotions displayed by their caregivers. In this experiment, a baby and a mother were engaging in banter with each other, with smiles and laughing and contact. Then, the mother gave the baby an expressionless face. At first, the baby attempted to make the mother laugh again, but when that was futile, the baby begins to retreat and become upset. The 'still face' demonstrates how vulnerable we all are to the emotional or non-emotional reactions of the people they are close to. It demonstrates how babies who are just learning about their relational world try to achieve connection. So today (and every day!) be sure to give your children a positive display of emotions, connection, closeness and comfort. They need it more than you think See more

If you could pick three things you wished your partner knew about how to support you or baby in the newborn months, what would they be? I'm working on something very special for all the dads and secondary caregivers out there, but want some real-world input on what you (and they!) would find helpful! Drop your best tips for new dads/secondary caregivers below!

October is SIDS Awareness Month and I want to bring special attention to the fact that SIDS disproportionately affects our most vulnerable populations, and in Canada where I am based, that means our Indigenous communities see a higher rate of SIDS than the general population. According to Statistics Canada, from 2004-2006, SIDS accounted for 24% of First Nations infant deaths and 21% of Inuit infant deaths and was the leading cause of infant mortality in b...oth groups, whereas it accounted for 7% of non-Indigenous infant deaths. Factors such as the baby’s sleep environment, overcrowding, high maternal smoking rates (up to 80%), and preterm birth may partly explain high mortality among Inuit infants. With the exception of the last factor, if we invest enough time, energy and money in proper education of mothers. In the United States, there is a disproportionate representation of SIDS in black communities. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, African Americans had over twice the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites, in 2017. So in an effort to educate all families about the preventative measures that can be taken to avoid SIDS, I'm sharing these easy to remember tips from @la.leche.league @lalecheleaguecanada @lalecheleagueusa: If you are: 1. A nonsmoker 2. Sober and unimpaired 3. A breastfeeding mother and your baby is: 4. Healthy and full-term 5. On his back 6. Lightly dressed and you both are: 7. On a safe surface See more

As the world around us continues to change, one of the most common conversations (okay, let's be honest, the conversation) heard among parents is whether to do school in person or online. For many, the primary factor is the belief that children need social interaction to thrive. My husband and I struggled greatly with this, and started the school year on Zoom. Ultimately, we decided to send them back in person, at least temporarily, because we needed s...ome time, after 6 months of being home all together, to get our life back in order. We didn't feel like it was best for our kids if we didn't have the time to look after our own mental health (that's my little self care plug for the day ). If you have been struggling with the choice, I wanted to share this quote from the amazing book, , on why the idea of kids socialization is actually more of a social construct than anything else. "This brings us back to the essential hierarchical nature of attachment. The more the child needs attachment to function, the more important it is that she attaches to those responsible for her. Only then can the vulnerability that is inherent in emotional attachment be endured. Children don't need friends, they need parents, grandparents, adults who will assume the responsibility to hold on to them. The more children are attached to caring adults, the more they are able to interact with peers without being overwhelmed by the vulnerability involved. The less peers matter, the more the vulnerability of peer relationships can be endured. It is exactly those children who don't need friends who are more capable of having friends without losing their ability to feel deeply and vulnerably. But why should we want our children to remain open to their own vulnerability? What is amiss when detachment freezes the emotions in order to protect the child? See more

I feel like I say this everytime I work with a new family, but I loved working with Emily and her husband Chris. I really love when dads get involved and it's so nice to be able to see the entire family dynamic in play. Emily had such kind words to share and I am so thankful they found our time together helpful, but it was really so beautiful to watch this family grow and trust their instincts when it came to caring for their baby. He is so lucky to have such awesome parents!

I couldn't be more honoured to have so many new followers, I truly appreciate you taking the time to be a part of my community Given that there are so many new faces here, I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you a little more about myself. My name is Cayla and I am a Certified Baby Led Sleep and Well Being Specialist. I am a mom to three amazing kids whose personalities you can see shine through in this photo, and are so very different from eac...h other: the caregiver the highly sensitive thinker the lovable troublemaker When my oldest was 6 months, we felt an extraordinary amount of pressure to sleep train. Not knowing any better, we hired a sleep consultant who promised us a 'gentle' approach that felt wrong to us from the get-go. I still kick myself for not trusting our intuition earlier in the process and for blindly trusting the professional instead ourselves. Shortly after that awful experience, we found the Baby Led Approach, which felt so much more appropriate for who we were as parents. Six years later as a certified coach, I know that each child's sleep needs are as unique as their personalities . There is no 'formula' or 'technique' that will work for every baby. Even in my own home, I had had to dig deep to come up with different plans for each of my children, despite the fact that my husband and I parent them all in the exact same way. When I work with families, I spend a great deal of time getting to know each person intimately. My goal is to help you get more sleep, build connected relationships with your children, and most importantly, empower you to trust your parental instincts. If you are struggling with challenges related to sleep, separation anxiety or tantrums, you don't have to feel stuck choosing to cry it out or wait it out. There is another option that lies right in the middle. And I am here to help See more

Just like using the bathroom, sleep is a biological function that cannot be forced. Though you can do many things to provide your child with an environment conducive to sleep, ' . So if you feel like you've done everything within your power, but your child still won't sleep, please do not feel like you've done something wrong. As parents, we do everything we can to help our children. But sometimes, thi...ngs are still outside of our control. So if you needed to hear this reminder today, cut yourself some slack, put your baby in the stroller, carrier or wagon and get outside for some fresh air. It will not only help reduce your stress, but it might also help your child sleep better tonight! See more

I want to start by saying that no matter what gender your child identifies with, every single child, and every parent-child relationship is special and unique. Today is a day to appreciate the special bond between daughters and parents. I think that, as a society, we expect more from our little girls, in the same way that we expect more from women. Daughters tend to be the caregivers to their siblings, the ones... doing tasks for the parents, and the ones expected to 'behave' a certain way. So today, give your daughter some extra attention, an extra hug or kiss, and tell her how much you love and appreciate her as a daughter and a friend. See more

SLEEP TIP We hear so much about 'negative' sleep associations, but did you know that, the more sleep associations your child has, the easier it will be to remove the ones you no longer wish to keep? That's right - sleep is like an onion. The more layers you have, the less challenging it will be to remove one piece, because the rest of the layers are still intact.

Parenting is a juggling act!

LAST CHANCE We’re teaming up with some amazing mamas for an incredible mom and baby giftaway! This prize pack valued at $550 is filled with goodies both mom and baby will love. To enter:... 1 Like & Save this Post 2 Head to @momandbaby_giveaway for all the instructions! __ Prizes include: $50 gift card Starbucks $25 to Beautycounter $30 shop credit to Alderwood Apparel $25 shop credit to White Fox Collective $25 shop credit to Savi J Boutique $25 shop credit to Life in Colour Silicone Bib and Pacifier + Clip from Beba Canada Mommy & Me matching bracelets from Petite Momo 1 Strong Nation workout tank and 3 one-on-one 45-min virtual fitness classes from Alina Barre Fit A 45 minute sleep consultation or $105 to a package from Sleeping Beauties 2 Tickets to 2 events by The Parenting Series Contest closes TONIGHT at 10:00 PM EST and winner will be contacted via DM. This promotion is open to Canadian Residents only and is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. #canadiangiftaway #giftaway #momandbaby #treatsformom #selfcare #supportlocal #supportsmallbusinesses #babyclothes #localshopping #shoplocal #giftcards See more

G I F T A W A Y I'm teaming up with some amazing mamas for an incredible mom and baby g i f t a w a y! This prize pack valued at $550 is filled with goodies both mom and baby will love. To enter:... 1 Like & Save this Post 2 Head to @momandbaby_giveaway for all the instructions! __ Prizes include: $50 gift card Starbucks $25 to Beautycounter $30 shop credit to Alderwood Apparel $25 shop credit to White Fox Collective $25 shop credit to Savi J Boutique $25 shop credit to Life in Colour Silicone Bib and Pacifier + Clip from Beba Canada Mommy & Me matching bracelets from Petite Momo 1 Strong Nation workout tank and 3 one-on-one 45-min virtual fitness classes from Alina Barre Fit A 45 minute sleep consultation or $105 to a package from Sleeping Beauties 2 Tickets to 2 events by The Parenting Series Contest closes September 25th at 10:00 PM EST and winner will be contacted via DM. This promotion is open to Canadian Residents only and is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. See more