Katie Bishop, CANCS, CISC, PPD 
Today, I wanted to post briefly about the importance of daytime sleep and why it’s helpful to help facilitate, by “forcing a nap” when needed. Daytime sleep for babies (and toddlers) is incredibly important. Without proper sleep many things happen: Short naps of 30-45 minutes Lack of REM sleep Baby doesn’t feed well because they … Read more
We are so happy to have this guest post today from Josh Moore with Diaper Dads. Josh created Diaper dads because parenting is a learning experience and it helps to have some backup when you aren’t sure what you’re doing. Josh wanted to give all the dads out there the credit they deserve and some … Read more
2020 has been a year for the books! It will be forever remembered as a year of struggle, loss, chaos and uncertainty. Relentless is a great word for you, 2020! However, it’s also been a great year! In the midst of the pandemic, it seems most of us have embraced all the changes … Read more
Recently a few sleep consulting client’s have experienced earaches and the resulting sleep disturbances with their little one’s. Being that 5 out of 6 children will have an earache before their third birthday and it’s currently peak cold and flu season, it seemed appropriate to do a post about this very topic. The peak window … Read more
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a new or expectant new parent and have questions about giving your baby their first bath. You may wonder: When is it safe to give my baby a bath? How old should my baby be for their first bath? Can I bathe with my newborn? Can I … Read more
The holidays are upon us and most would agree; this year has been quite the rollercoaster ride! We thought we would help take some of the stress and pressure off of your shoulders and put together this gift guide for all of those new parents on your shopping list. After all, gift giving should be … Read more
If You’re reading this, you’re likely an Expecting New Grandparent and congratulations are in order! Congratulations on your new little grandbaby! The beauty of being a grandparent is that you can be as involved as much or as little as you want in your grand child’s life. If your relationship is solid with … Read more
I am so happy to have the opportunity to do this guest post from Melanie Henstrom IBCLC, BS. I have known Melanie for several years now and have learned a tremendous amount from her about tongue and lip ties. I see tongue and lip ties in a VERY HIGH percentage of my sleep and consulting … Read more
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a new parent and learning really fast how challenging it can be to get your little one to sleep. The good news is that while there is a lot that goes into how well your baby sleeps and for how long, there is a lot YOU can do to … Read more
In honor of world breastfeeding week I wanted to do a quick post for all you mamas out there currently expecting or already breastfeeding your tiny humans. The journey for every diad or triad (#twins) to breastfeed is different. Some struggle tremendously and others take to it right away. Wherever you’re at, here are a few … Read more
Last week I was doing an in-home meeting with my clients expecting their first baby mid-August. As we walked into the parents bedroom, mom was showing me the Nuna bassinet for the baby. While approaching the bassinet, I saw their sweet fur child (kitty), snuggled up in a ball, soaking up the sun, cozy as … Read more
The topic of whether or not white noise is safe has come up regularly. Most often it is new parents inquiring, as they have read, or heard from a friend or family member that it’s important to use for babies. In today’s post, I will answer the question of whether or not it is safe … Read more
❗❗ GIVEAWAY ❗❗ 1-Hour Free Phone Consultation the_early_weeks ???? Are you a new parent? ???? Are you sleep deprived? ❓Do you have questions? ????????Are you currently expecting? ???? does your baby have colic or reflux? It’s your lucky day! I am giving away a 1-Hour free phone ☎️ consultation!! Now is your opportunity to have … Read more
Swaddling is like a universal truth here in the United States. If you’re a new or expectant parent, chances are you have read or been told by a trusted friend or family member that you need to swaddle your new bundle of joy. If you’ve attended a new parent or birth education class, it’s surely … Read more
My most recent sleep training client was at the perfect age for a lot of things. At 5 months old and over the course of two weeks, we worked through a lot! Teething, the introduction of solids, a mysterious cheek rash, consolidated and longer naps, sleeping through the night, a leap, and you guessed it, … Read more
For any new or expectant parent, determining what provider may be the most helpful for your particular situation may seem challenging. This is primarily because you are likely sleep deprived and operating at less than optimal capacity and because the use of some professionals isn’t common knowledge in all areas of the country. This causes … Read more
Rock N Play Recall It’s a hot and debated topic right now. As of Tuesday April 9th, 2019, The American Academy of Pediatrics has formally stated that they are pushing for the recall of Fisher Price Rock N Plays. The push for recall comes over several years of so called infant deaths caused by the … Read more
For local friends and family, supporting new parents after the birth of a baby is a little easier. You may offer to drop off dinner, take an older sibling out for a play date or pick up a few items at the grocery store. But friends and family out of state don’t have this luxury. … Read more
Client Testimonial “I just can’t believe what a difference this had made! Doctors should really refer mom’s who are struggling to you! The impact that her sleeping has had on my mental health is so amazing”. -Kjirsten, Eagle, ID 5 month old sleeping 12 hours per night beginning night 4. Sound Familiar? You are … Read more
The following is an e-mail I received at 2 am a few weeks ago: “In need of Sleep” “We have a beautiful, baby girl that just turned 5 months old. She is not sleeping much at all, whether it be at night or during the day. We have kept her schedule pretty consistent and it … Read more
Is Infant Daycare a Good Option? As a Newborn Care Specialist, Infant Sleep Consultant and Postpartum Doula, I am asked often what my thoughts are on infants attending daycare. When their time with me is through, new parents would like to know, given the option, what do I think? Should their infant go to daycare … Read more
It’s hard to believe Christmas is already here and 2018 is coming to an end. It’s been a great year and we are excited for what 2019 will bring! As everyone is getting ready to celebrate with their loved ones, we thought it may be helpful to put together a few tips … Read more
Recently, I had the privilege of working with a struggling new mom. Immediately upon my arrival, I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and that of her accompanying 3.5 month old. She had reached out to me about 8 weeks prior at the recommendation of a mutual friend. We chatted then, but she held … Read more
Looking back over the past year, a feeling of deep gratitude feels my heart. I am continually humbled by all the new parents that trust me to be by their side and help guide them during such an intimate time. I truly believe that all things happen for a reason and I am incredibly blessed … Read more
October in Boise is one of my favorite times of the year. Beautiful sunny days, crisp fall air, pumpkins, corn mazes, leaves turning and pumpkin flavored everything! In many areas of the United States, October is also when the temperatures start to drop. If you have and infant or are expecting a newborn this winter, … Read more
Making Bath Time More Enjoyable Bath time can be daunting for new parents, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. With these tips and a little planning, bath time with you newborn will be much more enjoyable and less stressful! 1) Sponge bathe baby until their umbilical cord stump has fallen … Read more
6 Reasons Routines for Babies are Awesome There are so many different programs and philosophies for infants, it can be hard for new parents to know which approach is best for their family. On one end of the spectrum you have options like the Ferber method where a super strict schedule is encouraged. On the … Read more
Babies are pretty cute and adorable just as they are, but dressing your baby up as pretty much anything will make them basically down right irresistible. Halloween is no doubt a fun time for littles and their parents. Below are a few things to keep in mind to help you enjoy baby’s first Halloween. Keep … Read more
Light Matters Newborn, toddler or adult, exposure to light before we go to sleep matters. It can affect the way that we fall asleep as well as the quality and duration. Below is a nice summary of why light affects our sleep as well as the worst types. Many parents around the world are making … Read more
There is so much fun and excitement surrounding the news of expectant new parents. But along with tiny shoes, cute little clothes and picking out the baby’s name, come a lot of other things to consider. Below are 5 areas to research and plan for before your baby arrives. Understand your health insurance … Read more
Babies are born earth side with little concept of night and day and often have little remorse for new sleep deprived parents. The following are three important factors to help new parents understand their infant’s sleep. Circadian rhythms are not developed in infants at birth Newborn sleep is not governed by strong circadian rhythms. … Read more
There are so many products on the market for babies today, it can be really overwhelming for new parents to know which ones they really need. Today, I’m going to share with you my 5 must have items that will make your journey into parenthood easier. I will note that these items are in addition … Read more
When you have a newborn, it can become very easy to forget to eat, or grab whatever is the most convenient at the time, even if it’s not the healthiest option. Before your baby is born, try to stock up on not only freezer meals you can pull out at any time, but easy one … Read more
Yesterday, I received an e-mail from a current client letting me know that their baby would be making his big debut soon! The dads are excited beyond belief! In preparing to help this same-sex couple, I wanted to shed some light on the word family, and different ways that families are created. What does family … Read more
We all love our four-legged fur babies. For many of us, they are our first children, entering our lives soon after becoming a couple or getting married. But then we have our human babies and along with preparing for their birth, great consideration needs to be given on how to introduce our fur babies to … Read more
Oftentimes, the role of the Postpartum Doula is not well understood. Friends, family members and expecting parents frequently ask, “so, what does a Postpartum Doula do?” The role of the Postpartum Doula is one of the most sacred relationships a new family will have with a provider, during one of the most intimate times in … Read more
Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys and gifts. A new life has been created, a family expanded and the next generation is being formed. As amazing as it is to bring a new life into this world, a lot happens in the weeks and months before a baby is born and having … Read more
Congratulations! You’re in the final stretch. Your baby(ies) will be here soon! Now is the time to make sure you have your bags packed for the hospital and any final last minute to-dos taken care of. Most hospitals will have a 24-hour observation period for a healthy singleton and a 48-hour observation period for healthy … Read more
Pacifiers – 5 rules Pacifiers are one of the most universally purchased gifts for a new family expecting a baby. It’s not uncommon for the parents to be to receive upward of a dozen! There are all different sizes, shapes and colors. Some even have those cute little animals attached to them. New parents … Read more
Q & A with the Boise Baby Nurse #1 *Disclamer* Baby nurse is a term commonly used for someone that cares for infants. I am not a licensed registered nurse in Idaho (RN) and am not claiming to be one. When you work exclusively with newborns, as I do, there are a lot of scenarios … Read more
In my role as a Newborn Care Specialist and Postpartum Doula, the topic of lactation comes up quite a bit. While there are a number of factors that influence the mother’s milk production (another blog for that), I wanted to share with you my all time favorite lactation cookie recipe. A past client received these … Read more
The holidays are upon us and it’s one of the busiest times of year. Often it means traveling to visit loved ones many hundreds or thousands of miles away so that the whole family can be together and oogle over your sweet new baby. As a Newborn Care Special and Baby Nurse, I do travel … Read more
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and times of year. It is a time to cozy up to a nice warm fire, sip hot chocolate or warm apple cider, spend time with family and friends, cook and eat a lot of yummy food and reflect on all we truly have to be grateful for. … Read more
This is a topic I discuss with all of my new clients before baby arrives. Many new parents don’t know what to expect the first several weeks after the birth of their baby and make commitments to have in-laws or family members travel and live with them. The thought is that the guests will be … Read more
This last week I was reminded that while all babies are miracles, sometimes we have extra special miracles that come much earlier than expected. My client who was carrying twins was scheduled to be induced at the end of December, at 38 weeks. I received an email from her on November 7th, titled “Early Surprise”. … Read more
While in Washington DC earlier this year my clients came across this article in Parents magazine. I thought it was worth sharing because it think it’s important for new parents to keep a light heart and remember that their baby may not always know what they need. Even as a Newborn Care Specialist (the professional), … Read more
As a Baby Nurse, Infant Sleep Consultant, Newborn Care Specialist and Postpartum Doula the topic of infant sleep comes up a lot. I am called in to not help only reverse sleep issues, but to establish healthy sleep habits from birth. So, what are the most important things you can do to create a healthy … Read more
I was recently called to help a third time mom who really wanted some help sorting through a few things. Her little one was about 3 weeks when she contacted me. He was eating nearly every hour and she was spending another roughly 6+ hours per day trying to get her baby to sleep for … Read more
Congratulations! You are currently expecting or have recently just had your little one. Getting to this point may have been easy or unexpected. Or, it may have been a huge struggle filled with fertility and IVF treatments, surrogacy and challenges that possibly took years to achieve. Regardless of your journey to this point, you are … Read more
Today’s post is about an issue many new parents face, but were not prepared or expecting to have to deal with. Getting their new bundle of joy to take a bottle! Sounds simple right? Not so much. Why? Well, we will get to that in a minute. As a Newborn Care Specialist (also known as … Read more