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sleeping toddler nap time

Setting A Great Nap Schedule For Your Child (From Infant To Toddler)

There are so many problems both medically and behaviorally that could be solved if we could just ask our babies a question and they could give us an honest and reasoned response. However, since they can’t (or won’t!) then we have to make do with our best and most educated guess, as their parents. While … Read more

woman changing child on changing table

Tips On How To Get Your Baby To Not Hate The Changing Table

The changing table. An invention that probably dates back to the very first human civilizations, and was most likely created about one day after the first parents threw their backs out from changing their baby on the ground. It really hasn’t changed much in all of these years. Sure, it looks a little different and … Read more

woman sleeping with melatonin in white text on foreground

The Truth About Melatonin And Babies

We have all heard the stereotypes and the jokes about babies not sleeping very well for their first few months and how that basically means that the parents don’t sleep for that time period as well. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why babies don’t sleep for long periods of time after they are … Read more

baby lying down with binkie

Infant Pacifier Usage, Philosophy, & Best Practices

The pacifier. No, we’re not talking about the critically panned 2005 Vin Diesel film, we’re talking about something much more controversial, divisive, and important: actual pacifiers for babies. They say that if you want to get into an argument with friends or family these days then all you have to do is bring up religion … Read more

baby sleeping in blue hat

How to Safely Use White Noise Machines For Baby

White noise isn’t just for grown ups with tinnitus! It’s actually a great tool to help you get your infant or young child to sleep faster and more soundly. White noise machines are available all over the web and even on our smartphones as apps or YouTube videos, but what white noise product is best … Read more

mom and baby sleeping

How long should my 9-10 month old be sleeping at night?

We all want our babies to sleep regularly and we’re grateful for every minute and hour that they do, but one question remains: how much sleep do they actually need? In today’s article, we’re going to look at the benchmarks and milestones for the duration of sleep that your child should be getting each day. … Read more

mom and baby outside blanket

Top Tips And Benefits For Spending Time Outside With Your Baby

As parents of newborn children, it’s so easy to get caught up in the rhythm of feeding, sleeping, and changing our baby (not to mention tummy time!) that we can easily forget that it’s also good to add some outdoor time to the schedule as well. Yes, it can seem like a lot to handle … Read more

toddler sleeping on mom

What Does Toddler Sleep Look Like?

We talk a lot in our blog about helping your infants and younger babies with their sleep and other challenges but we don’t spend a lot of time talking about how to help toddlers with their sleep. Well today, we’re going to do just that! We know that just because a baby grows up a … Read more

parents tired need sleep with baby

Sleep Deprivation Dangers & Risks For Parents With Newborns & Infants

What is something more valuable than gold yet can’t be held or locked in a vault? If you answered “sleep” then you are correct! Sleep is one of the things in our lives that is so crucial to our day to day function and overall success yet it can’t be bought, sold, or traded and … Read more

woman with baby spring cleaning

Spring Cleaning With A Newborn Or Infant/Toddler. What Can You Do To Help Promote Better Sleep?

Spring is here and it is the perfect time to start getting your house in order for the chaos that is Summer! As do so many things, spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning when you have a small child at home. What are some spring cleaning things that you should be doing differently … Read more

puppy and baby sitting

How To Foster A Good Relationship Between Your Baby And Your Dog

Bringing a baby home from the hospital is stressful enough on its own without having to worry about pets and how they will react. Most dogs are going to be fine with a new member of the household, but there are definitely times when they would not be so okay with it. Many injuries to … Read more

sleeping baby in blue

How To Create A Sleep & Nap Routine For Your Baby

People often associate the stresses of having a child with him or her not sleeping through the night and keeping tired and weary parents up along with them. Many will tell you that is definitely the case, however, most of the time that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Getting your baby to … Read more

baby with his doctor

What Is A Pediatric Chiropractor? What Benefits Can They Offer?

Most of us have heard about chiropractors and you may have even been to one recently, however, did you know that there are many chiropractors that specialize in pediatric patients? Pediatric chiropractor treatment is growing in popularity at an enormous rate these days, mostly due to the profession being more widely accepted in popular culture … Read more

crying baby in bed

Let’s Talk About Tongue And Lip Tie And How It Can Impact Sleep.

If your baby has a tongue tie or lip tie it can impact many areas of your baby’s daily routine. In today’s article, we’re going to explore what these areas typically are and how you can both recognize the signs of a potential lip or tongue tie and how you can get your child on … Read more

baby sleeping on back

New Year, New Sleep Routine. Three Things You Need To Get Started

A lot can change in the New Year. As the holiday season finally and mercifully comes to an end, our entire next year of new beginnings is starting. The new year can bring motivation, change, and exciting adventures! If you have a little baby during this transitional time, then you may want to consider changing … Read more

mom holding crying baby

Crying. A Quick Overview Of The Different Types Of Crying You May Experience With Your Child

Here at The Early Weeks, we are always talking to parents about their hopes and dreams and anxieties about their children. One topic that comes up fairly often is that of crying. Different questions and apprehensions always seem to surface like “how much crying is too much?”, “Is my baby sad when they cry?”, and … Read more

baby doing tummy time

Getting The Most Out Of Your Child’s Tummy Time

Tummy time is a great way to help your child develop strength and important motor skills early and quickly in life. They can have fun and enjoy spending time with you doing fun things or playing with silly toys. However, it’s not always easy as a parent to stay on top of tummy time or … Read more

baby and mother

All About Sleep Sacks. When And How To Use Them

Sleep sacks for babies! No, we’re not going camping, although that sounds really fun right now (can’t wait for summer to come back!), but we are talking about safe, easy, and excellent ways to help your newborn baby get to sleep using these wondrous sleeping contraptions. Sleep sacks and swaddles really are worth their weight … Read more

baby with reflux

Should Babies With Reflux Sleep On An Incline?

If you or someone you know has a baby who has reflux, then you know that the struggle is real. Having a newborn is already challenging enough without the added layer of stress and effort that reflux brings. Don’t worry. Even though it seems hopeless at times, you’re not alone! Many babies and parents have … Read more

Christmas holiday message christmas tree with decorations

Christmas Message Of Self Care And Confidence

The holidays. The phrase is so interesting because it is synonymous with both extreme joy and extreme stress. Getting together with family can be a wonderful occasion, especially when good food and beverages are involved, but it can also be stressful to organize everything in order to make it possible. This is of course on … Read more

Baby with santa hat sleeping

With Fall And Winter Weather, What Is The Best Temperature For Your Home/Room For Your Baby To Get Optimal Sleep?

Whether in the home or the office, the battle over the thermostat for the perfect ambient temperature rages on. Some people run cold and need it set high, while others run hot and need it to be down low to function. It’s hard enough to get a room full of adults to agree on an … Read more

baby sleeping on back

When Should You Allow Your Baby To Sleep On Their Back?

Today we wanted to talk about sleep positions for your baby and specifically about the benefits of sleeping your child on their back. So, when should you allow your baby to sleep on their backs at night and nap time? Well, the fast answer is: always and as often as possible. According to many studies, … Read more

baby newborn in crib

What Is Active Sleep In A Newborn? What To Watch For And What To Do.

We’ve all been there. It’s the dead of night and all is quiet, when all of a sudden you hear strange scraping, flopping, and cooing sounds coming from your baby’s sleeping area. You bolt up in bed! Either the baby is awake again or another racoon got in through the doggy door and is searching … Read more

baby sleeping in dark night

Top 3 Ways An In-Home Newborn Care Specialist Can Help Your Family

There are many ways in which an in-home newborn care specialist can help your family. As the parent of a newborn, there are so many things that need your urgent attention at just about every hour of the day. It’s difficult to get sleep and other pressures like work and finances can just pile on … Read more

baby sleeping holiday themed bed

How To Keep Your Child On A Good Sleeping Schedule During The Holidays

While it is still a little ways from the dreaded “Holiday Season” it can’t hurt to start mentally preparing now. While traveling with your infants and/or toddlers can be a daunting thought and undertaking, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. There are things that you can start preparing for now in the planning phase … Read more

alarm clock in pile of fall leaves

How Daylight Saving Time May Impact Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule And How You Can Adjust.

While it only happens twice a year, it seems like a jarring experience every time. I’m talking about daylight savings time and how you can help your baby or young child adjust to it without too much kicking and screaming. For most adults, the twice yearly change in time is nothing more than a minor … Read more

baby in mirror held by dad

How Do I Help My Baby Sleep If They Have Reflux?

Reflux is so difficult to deal with as a parent. You want to help them feel better, but it is so difficult to help them stop having reflux in the moment. You just have to be there for them and help get them cleaned up and ride it out with them. Luckily, there are some … Read more

baby in a swaddle

When Should A Baby Transition Out Of A Swaddle?

Swaddles. It’s a funny word, but boy do they work miracles! Swaddles can often be the deciding factor in whether or not your little one will get restful naps and night time sleep on a regular basis. We have seen with our very eyes on many occasions a swaddle take a crying frantic baby and … Read more

baby sleeping on blanket

How Long Should My Newborn’s Naps Be?

It’s almost too easy to get swept up in the chaos after your newborn first arrives. There are so many things going on and as if your life wasn’t busy enough already, you now have a tiny human that needs your constant attention and care pretty much hourly, with little to no break from the … Read more

baby sleeping with puppy

How Many Naps A Day Should My Infant/Newborn Be Getting In Their First Year?

Newborn babies will sleep when they need to and the same can be said for when they need to eat as well. It may seem stressful, but that is just the way it is. It is difficult if not impossible to try to schedule out a certain nap routine for a newborn. The best thing … Read more

mother and father over newborn baby

What Is Baby Sleep Regression And When Does It Start?

Sometimes, taking care of a newborn or infant can seem like you’re playing a high stakes game of Jenga. You can work so hard to build up your tower but in one instant, it can all come crashing down around you. That is exactly what experiencing sleep regression in a baby can feel like. Well, … Read more

night nanny with baby

What To Look For When Hiring An Overnight Newborn Care Nanny?

A night nurse, Newborn Care Specialist, or newborn night nanny is a professional who helps with the overnight care of a newborn baby(ies) within the family’s home, specifically during the first few crucial weeks and months of a baby’s life. This is a profession that requires many areas of expertise, including newborn care, sleep training, … Read more

baby on momma asleep

What To Do When Your Baby Is Having Trouble Sleeping

The first few days, weeks, and even months after your child is born can be chaotic and stressful to say the least. Sleep is so important to both parents and children at this stage, even the smallest amount of sleep deprivation can be tough for everyone in the house! Normal everyday tasks like cooking and … Read more

sleepy mom in bed

How Early Can Your Baby Sleep Through The Night?

Getting your infant to sleep through the night can depend on a lot of factors: your infant’s age and weight among others. Typically, the first three months or so of your newborn’s life will not include sleeping through the night on a consistent basis. This is because during the first few weeks of life, your … Read more

baby sleeping on bed

How to get your baby to sleep without being held?

It’s tough enough to get through the first few days and weeks with a newborn, but it can be especially tough if your newborn can only sleep or be restful when they are in your arms. Sleep is vitally important for both baby and parents during these crucial first few weeks and it’s important that … Read more

baby sleeping on a moon plush

Why Is My Baby Not Sleeping Deeply?

Being a parent of a newborn, the struggle is truly “real” when it comes to getting your little one to sleep. We struggle to get them down to sleep and we struggle to keep them asleep, especially in a deep sleep. When your baby isn’t sleeping deeply each day, that can have negative impacts on … Read more

baby on blanket with stuffed animals

How To Put Your Baby To Sleep Fast

As parents of newborns will know, getting a baby to fall asleep is typically not an issue. Most babies can definitely fall asleep on their own with little encouragement from mom and dad, however the real rub is getting them to fall asleep in any sort of predictable and quick fashion. That’s where we come … Read more

sleeping baby

How Can I Get My Newborn To Sleep Longer At Night? 5 Tips For New Parents

Winning the lottery. Eating a steak prepared by Gordon Ramsay himself. Getting more sleep when you have a newborn at home. Three things that would be wonderful to have happen to you but seem very unlikely. Or are they? No. Mr. Ramsay is very busy right now and we have no lottery strategies, but we … Read more

baby sleeping in crib night

How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Longer Stretches At Night?

It’s the dream of every new parent: sleeping more during the night. For some parents, sleeping through the night is nothing but a fond yet distant memory, but it doesn’t have to be that way! We are talking today about some general tips and ideas that you can start implementing today (or tonight!) in order … Read more

parents asleep on baby crib with baby

How To Make A Baby Sleep At Night Without Feeding

Helping your baby sleep at night without feeding is a tough prospect, but definitely not impossible. With a little patience and some tips from the pros, you will be doing so in no time. At best, babies are as unpredictable as they are adorable, so each baby may respond differently to different tactics. All things … Read more

mother with crying baby

How To Help Calm A Restless Baby To Sleep

Getting your baby to sleep can, in the moment, seem like an impossible task, but rest assured it is very possible! We all know what it’s like to have a tired, restless infant that  just doesn’t seem to want to sleep, even when you know they need to! Rest assured, we can help you get … Read more

safety recall document

How To Stay Informed On Recalled Items For Your Child

You will definitely see headlines on major news outlets when a children’s toy or food item has been recalled and is an immediate threat to public safety. Seeing this on the news is scary! However, there are plenty of other recalls that go under the radar, and the reality is that there are almost too … Read more

woman sitting in yoga position with toddler on lap

Tips to Transition Your Baby From 2 Naps to 1 Nap

AKA the 2:1 Nap Transition   Every child eventually needs to transition from a two nap schedule to a one nap schedule. As an adult, it is easy to be envious of a schedule that includes any naps, but transitioning from two to one can be helpful for your baby and will improve your overall … Read more

easter eggs in basket

Coloring Easter Eggs With Your Toddler

Coloring Easter Eggs is fun and easy and a great time for the whole family. If you have toddlers or young children under five then it can be a little more challenging, but we have put together some fun tips for you so you can have fun dyeing eggs together at any age! Coloring Eggs … Read more

Baby with Colic

How to Help Baby With Colic

Colic is one of those newborn baby topics that nearly every new parent on the planet has heard of. Either themselves or their friends or family members have experienced it with their babies. Your pediatrician may have told you “hang in there. Your baby will grow out of it in 3-4 months”. As a new … Read more

baby's hand painting on paper

Fun, Quick, Easy, And Low Cost Arts And Crafts For Young Children

Arts and crafts. They are so much more than a way to entertain and have fun with your little ones. They help your child develop critical thinking and creative expression skills at a much faster rate and can even help them academically and intellectually. There really is only one downside to doing arts and crafts … Read more

mother feeding baby

Lip Tie In Infants. What You Should Know

Lip ties. It is something that many parents may not be aware of when their baby is born, but in some cases it can have a significant impact on your child’s first years of life. In short, a lip tie is when the little piece of skin that helps to anchor the upper lip to … Read more

baby sleeping next to clock

Spring Forward And Your Child’s Sleep. What You Can Do To Help.

Spring Forward. If you’re a rabbit and you hear those words, then you are probably just going to think, “yeah, i do that all the time.” However, if you’re a person and you hear those words, you’ll probably think “oh no, not THAT again!” Unfortunately for just about everyone reading these words, we are negatively … Read more

Katie Bishop Pediatric Sleep Consultant

What Is A Postpartum Doula?

With pregnancy comes many challenges and with birth and caring for a newborn come many more. Some people opt to hire a birth doula to help guide them through the time just before and during childbirth. The doula will help you with many of the questions you may have before the birth and will be … Read more

Baby sleeping in crib

How Many Hours Per Day Should Your Child Sleep?

As adults, we need at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night in order to feel rested and be able to take on the day. But, what about children? Do infants and newborns need more or less sleep than toddlers and young children? The truth is that there is definitely a difference in … Read more

toddler sleep in bed

Co-Sleeping: Transitioning A Toddler To Their Own Bed

So you want your bed back? It’s perfectly normal. Your bed was once a place where you could get a full night’s rest without fear of being kicked in the face by a toddler or having your pillow and blanket stolen by the same. Co-sleeping is a joy, don’t get the wrong idea, but there … Read more

three babies with party hats on

New Year’s Sleep Resolution Guide For New Parents

Sleep. One of the most valuable resources the world over, yet so scarce for new parents and parents of young children. If there was only a magic button we could press that would make us feel rested! Until that day comes, we are on our own to get the rest we need as parents and … Read more

toddler decorating christmas tree

Christmas Tree Decorating, Toddler Edition

The holidays are such a fun time of year, especially if you have a toddler or two at home. In most homes, decorating the Christmas tree is a much looked forward to annual event and may involve multiple Christmas festivities including music, a big dinner, and lots of eggnog!   Although fun and family inclusive, … Read more

baby crying in mom's arms

Night Terrors Vs Nightmares In Your Young Child

As a parent, there is almost no faster way to feel instantly terrified and sad than when your child wakes up screaming in the middle of the night from a bad dream. For many children, they may just be experiencing a simple nightmare, but for others, it may be a true night terror and it … Read more

crying baby near toys

Is your Child Overtired? How to Know if Your Child is Overtired & Preventing Overtiredness in Your Child

This time of year it’s easy to miss a few hours of sleep here and there, especially when wrangling the holidays, the in-laws, and especially the little ones. When mom or dad miss a few good nights of sleep, we can be a little cranky or drowsy, but coffee can help with that, yet when … Read more

Mom holding baby while Doctor inspects ear

Why An Earache Can Derail Your Child’s Sleep

Ear infections are no fun for both parent and child. They are unfortunately rather common as nearly five out of every six children will have one before the age of three in the U.S. according to the NIH. An earache can have many causes, which include cold and flu viruses, and bacterial infections among others. … Read more

baby asleep in tub holiday decorations around

Tips For Surviving Thanksgiving With A Newborn

Even at the best of times, Thanksgiving is an overwhelming and stressful time. These days, it can be even more so, especially with a newborn infant in tow. Luckily, we have come up with a few time honored expert tips and strategies that you can use to help you and your partner navigate this holiday … Read more

Baby In Tummy Time Crawling

All About Tummy Time For You And Your Newborn

Tummy time is an important activity for you and your baby and can lead to many health benefits like developing early motor skills, muscle strength and endurance, and so much more. It is a great time to both bond with your little one and to help them experience something slightly different albeit challenging in their … Read more

household employee holding infant

The Benefits Of Hiring Household Employees

A household employee like a nanny, gardener, or newborn care specialist can make life so much easier in today’s busy world. They can make a huge impact on the quality of our lives and the lives of our children by allowing us to provide the close hands on care for them while being able to … Read more

Toddler and daylight savings

Daylight savings, “Falling Back” & Your Baby / Child

It’s that time of year where we start getting calls and emails from clients in a bit of a worry or slight panic. “How do we adjust for the time change?” “Is this going to be as awful as we think it will be?” “What is the best way for us to prepare Daylight Savings!?” … Read more

Two new parents with their baby

Co-Parenting: Why Both Parents Need to Participate

If you’re a new or expectant new parent, the topic of this post may seem a little baffling. You may be wondering, “why would both primary caregivers / parents not be caring for their newborn”? The reality is that the scenarios below happen fairly regularly.   Bringing Up Baby Surprisingly, it is relatively common for … Read more

Nanny with nanny baby

Building A Healthy Working Relationship with Your Nanny

Congratulations! You have recently selected your perfect nanny! For many families, this person will become an integral part of your support team. We know that the journey in finding your ideal match can be very challenging for some. Now that you have found your ideal nanny, we want to help you keep her/him for as … Read more

Baby Peeing Through Diaper

Baby Peeing Through Their Diaper Every Night?

So your little one is finally sleeping through the night (HOORAY!), but they are waking up in the early morning hours soaking wet, with a full diaper.  While this isn’t an emergent issue, it’s usually a bit annoying for many families because it creates more laundry (daily) and often causes babies, and their parents. to … Read more

newborn baby in crib

Cat Naps

  What exactly is a cat-nap? Cat naps are short naps, typically between 30-45 minutes.   Why does my baby catnap? There are several reasons:  First, When your baby is a newborn, their sleep is very immature. There is a natural tendency for them to only sleep for 1 sleep cycle (30-45 minutes), vs connecting … Read more

Newborn baby breastfeeding

How To Feed Your Newborn

TRUE or FALSE?? Babies less than 2 weeks old can get full feeds and go three hours between feeds. TRUE! Once mom’s milk has come in, usually by day 5 postpartum, a newborn can and absolutely should be able to transfer what they need to make a 2.5-3 hour time stretch. 2 hours is on … Read more

4-month old play date

Activities For A 4-Month Old Baby 

Recently, a client wanted to know some good activity options for her 4-month old. Her baby had recently transitioned to a different schedule, which allowed for a bigger chunk of awake time. With this new found time on their hands, mom needed some ideas to help change things up and keep her little one from … Read more

Top 3 Reasons to Resume Date Nights ASAP

Welcoming a baby into the world is one of the most life changing and altering events a couple will ever experience. Few others will come close. Many transitions take place and as parents and siblings navigate their new roles, a lot of trial and error, as well as give and take occurs. Today, I wanted … Read more

Swaddling In The Early Days & Weeks

A few days ago, I received a call from a new dad. It was late at night and he and his wife were struggling with their 5 day old baby. Neither of them were getting more than 20-30 minutes of sleep at a time and neither was their newborn baby. “We don’t know if he’s … Read more

When to Stop Swaddling Your Baby

When Should You Stop Swaddling Your Baby? If you are reading this, chances are you are a new parent and trying to understand what is the right age to stop swaddling your baby. I’m glad you are here, because there is a lot of information out there on Google Land, in parenting groups or safe … Read more

The Truth About Reflux

  Reflux in infancy is all too common these days. Roughly 50% of the babies we have the pleasure of working with, have some degree of reflux ranging from mild to severe.   What Causes Reflux? There are a number of reasons that contribute to a baby having reflux. Common triggers can be: Food sensitivities … Read more

Sleeping baby in carrier

Forcing Naps Or Assisting Baby To Sleep

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

New mother preparing for her hospital stay

New Parents Guide for Their Hospital Stay

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

Cute christmas baby boy

Happy Holidays!

    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

young baby with an ear infection

Earaches and Your Child’s Sleep

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

When is it safe to give my baby a bath?

Baby’s first bath

  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

christmas baby as gift with santa hat

Best Gifts for New Parents 

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

Grandparents with newborn

Top 4 Tips for New Grandparents

    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

Baby tongue tie

14 Signs Baby Has A Tongue Tie

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

Tired and frustrated dad baby won't sleep

3 Daytime Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

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

newborn baby preparing for sleep

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK!

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

two kittens in baby bassinet catnapping

Pets & Your Baby’s Sleep

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

newborn baby sleeping on back without swaddle

Is White Noise Safe?

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

Katie Bishop The Early Weeks Giveaway Alert

Sleep Coaching GIVEAWAY!

❗❗ 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

5 newborn babies sleeping in swaddle me swaddles

Top 3 Reasons to Swaddle Your Baby

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

newborn baby bell sleeping

Is Belly Sleeping Safe?

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

mom holding baby talking with sleep consultant

Do you need a Nanny, Night Nanny, Sleep Consultant or Newborn Care Specialist?

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

newborn baby rock n play

Rock N Play Recall

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

new parents holding newborn baby

Long Distance Postpartum Support

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

parents trying to sleep and awake baby

Sleep Deprivation

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

a well rested mom holding baby

Sleep Training – 5 month old

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

well rested happy baby holding feet

Should you put your infant in daycare?

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

twin babies sleeping

Enjoying the holidays with an infant – 6 tips

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

new parents holding naked newborn

Plea from your Newborn Care Specialist

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

text give thanks with hearts

Giving Thanks

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

mom bundled with baby in the snow playing

Winter outings with your newborn

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

cute baby after bath wrapped in blue towel

Making Bath Time More Enjoyable – 15 Tips

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

corkboard with text reading our daily routine

6 Reasons Routines For Babies Are Awesome

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

swaddled newborn baby wearing candy corn hat

How to enjoy baby’s first Halloween

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

white night light

Why nightlights are ruining your child’s sleep

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

pregnant mom with sticky notes on her belly

Preparing for baby

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