Support and sleep struggles

Parenthood is a journey filled with countless precious moments. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges, particularly when it comes to sleep. In this blog post, I will provide resources to help you navigate the support you can receive from infant to toddlerhood.

The importance of sleep

Sleep plays a vital role in a babies overall development and well-being. It allows their bodies and brains to rest and recharge and contributes to growth, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. It's crucial to prioritise healthy sleep habits for your little one, as it can positively impact their mood, behaviour, and overall quality of life.

The first step is starting with their age

0 - 3 months

The first few weeks after your baby is born can be a whirlwind of emotions. As you navigate through the four-month trimester, you may also encounter the challenge of unpredictable sleep patterns in your newborn. For ages 0 - 3 months I have a sleep guide that focuses on establishing a solid foundation for independent sleep. This guide includes bedtime and nap routines, techniques to calm an unsettled baby, understanding sleep cues, daily schedules, checklists, valuable tips, facts, and much more. It serves as an excellent resource to proactively manage sleep-related issues and potentially avoid the four-month sleep regression. Even if you're currently pregnant, you can purchase this guide to prepare yourself and gain a better understanding of newborn sleep, ensuring you are well-prepared for your baby's arrival. Click here for 0 - 3 months.

4 - 24 months

Once your baby reaches the age of four-month, they will go through their first regression and their sleep cycles undergo significant changes, often resulting in sleep struggles. This is when you can do formal sleep training. Due to this, I can provide a variety of support options to help and support you.

Sleep Guide The 4 - 24 month sleep guide is the perfect tool to address any sleep difficulties your little one may encounter. This guide is specifically tailored to navigate the challenges that arise after four months to help overcome sleep issues during the infant and toddler stage. It includes daily schedules, checklists, bedtime and nap routines, how to wean night feeds, steps to transition out of the swaddle, when and how to drop naps, age-appropriate guides to follow and more. The guide presents three gentle sleep approaches that will help your baby establish healthy sleep habits, enabling them to link sleep cycles and fall asleep independently. The ultimate goal is to help your baby achieve their best sleep while always feeling reassured, loved, and never neglected. Additionally, there is an add-on specifically designed for parents of multiples, providing different strategies.

Sleep Plans Below is a comparison table of the two sleep plans offered by Babee Dreams, with one plan providing more support than the other:

Click here for 4 - 24 months.

➞ By purchasing both guides as a bundle (0 - 3 months and 4 - 24 months), you not only benefit from a discounted price but also have a comprehensive set of tools and knowledge to navigate your child's sleep journey from newborn to toddlerhood.

Phone Consults

Phone consults are to evaluate your little one's sleeping situation. Sometimes all we need is to tweak certain things and perhaps make some minor adjustments to change sleep for the better. You’ll receive a recap of the phone consult and a basic sleep plan for your records. The basic sleep plan is an extension of the recap.

Click here to book a consult.

Free Resources

Blog

On my blog page, you will discover a diverse range of topics that cater to parents who may be encountering challenges with their little one's sleep. The purpose of my blog posts is to offer guidance to those who may not feel ready to seek external assistance just yet.

Click here to browse my blog posts

Mini guide

I have created free sleep guides that could help steer you in the right direction.

Click here to download any free guide.

FAQ

"Does my baby need to cry it out?"

The "cry it out" method, also known as extinction, involves allowing a baby to cry for extended periods without offering comfort or intervention, most of the time it's for the entire duration your baby is expected to sleep. As a sleep consultant who does not promote the "cry it out" (CIO) method, I support an alternative approach which I think is the best way to remain in your comfort zone, never making your baby feel neglected. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep, this is why I offer a range of methods.

"Is sleep training a must for all babies?"

No, sleep training is not a must for all babies. Every baby is different, and their sleep needs and patterns can vary. While some babies naturally develop good sleep habits without any formal sleep training, others may benefit from gentle sleep guidance or intervention because they struggle with it a bit more.

"When can I start sleep training?"

You can start sleep training when your baby is around 4 months old and their sleep cycles have matured. Around this age, babies often begin to develop more predictable sleep patterns and have longer stretches of consolidated sleep. From 4 months onwards, babies typically experience a shift in their sleep cycles, transitioning from a 2-stage sleep cycle to more adult-like cycles.

"How long will it take?"

I typically recommend a window of 14 days for sleep training, but it's important to keep in mind that sleep training is a gradual process, and every baby will progress at their own pace. Some babies may show improvement within a day or two, while others may take longer, even exceeding the two-week timeframe. It's crucial to approach sleep training with patience, allowing your baby the time they need to adjust to new sleep routines and habits.

DO NOT attempt sleep training before 4 months, babies are not developmentally ready and after excessive crying, babies will fall asleep due to exhaustion!

Written by Alexandra Selekos I'm the founder of Babee Dreams, a certified sleep consultant and a mum of three. My approach is based on studies, training through The Sleep Consulting Academy, successful outcomes experienced by those who have used my methods and the instincts of a mother. My approach will help your baby achieve their best sleep, whilst always feeling reassured, loved and never neglected.