We live in a world where we try our best to control everything that goes on around us. Schedules, deadlines, and performance drive so much of our western society. Being very type A myself, I totally get the comfort in the predictability of a controlled environment. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But if there is anything that parenthood has taught […]
“You need to let your baby learn to self soothe.” “If your baby throws up, clean up the mess but don’t make eye contact.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“If you help your baby too much, she will never learn to be independent.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Cuddling your baby will create a crutch.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Now replace “your baby” with “your grandmother”, and we’ll see if the statements […]
It goes without saying that most parents understand the importance of spending time with their children. The challenge is that just “being around” isn’t quite enough. There is an important difference between being physically present and being emotionally present.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I think where most parents struggle in today’s world, when there is little, if any, village of […]
Do you wear a certain type of pyjamas for bed? Turn the lights off? Listen to a podcast? Get under your covers?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✨NEWSFLASH ✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀You have sleep associations!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀So why is it that sleep trainers tell parents day in and day out that sleep associations are a bad thing? A crutch? a “bad habit”?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Because adults can adequately provide […]
“𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ever heard this saying? It’s super popular among sleep trainers, who are constantly pushing the notion that all sleep troubles can be solved by getting your child to sleep more, because surely – they are overtired. And for many kids, this 𝘪𝘴 true. Some kids are definitely higher sleep needs children, not just […]
“Yes, children always seem to know how to drive their parents crazy. But the craziness is still ours. After all, if you didn’t already have a button there, your child wouldn’t be able to push it — and you would be able to set limits without losing your temper.” – Dr. Laura Markham. I love […]
Before I even ask parents to give me the run down on their kids’ sleep schedules, I ask a whole series of questions that allow me to identify whether or not a child is exhibiting red flags for some common underlying issues that impact sleep. One of the most common issues I see with my […]
“Give it time.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“She just needs to get used to it.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“It’s so hard, but it will get easier the longer you do it.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Give it at least two weeks or else you will confuse the baby.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝐂𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 ‘𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫’. If leaving your child to cry is going against every fibre of your instincts, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 […]
Let’s start by saying that having a baby who spits up, or even throws up from time to time, is not in and of itself a bad thing. Babies stomachs are more horizontal than adults, they have a more immature digestive system, and their esophagus is shorter than an adult’s, and from time to time, […]
Nurturing your baby does not create bad habits. Full Stop. Nurturing your baby, responding to their needs, and allowing them to rest in your care creates dependency. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Dependency teaches your child that they can rely on you; that it is safe to grow, to make mistakes, and to learn from those mistakes without any repercussions […]
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