the chill mom hangout at 2am feedings

the chill mom hangout at 2am feedings ✺

sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

Managing Fear and Anxiety at Bedtime

Between the ages of 2-3, many toddlers will experience a heightened level of fear and anxiety. They go through a big developmental leap in their imagination but their ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy doesn’t quite match up! Cue the sudden influx of questions about monsters…

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

what is Sleep Training and what are the alternatives?

Sleep training as a concept is rife within the parenting world. It’s divisive, controversial, hugely popular, and ingrained within Western society. This blog is a one-stop shop for the @heysleepbaby approach and view of the complex world of sleep training!

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Making Changes: How To End Sleep Associations

Most parents get to a point where their current method of supporting baby’s sleep stops working. Perhaps you want to switch things up in your bedtime routine, or you want to change what you use to help your baby to sleep. Whatever your reason for wanting to change up the sleep associations, these are my quick tips for making gentle changes without any need for sleep training.

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Making Changes to Baby’s Sleep Routine: Involving a Partner

‘How can I involve my partner in my baby or toddler’s sleep?’ Perhaps you want to more evenly share the load of navigating the world of baby or toddler sleep, or your baby is no longer falling asleep at the breast and you want your partner to be able to put them down for sleep, or you have a second child and you want to divide bedtimes.

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

Newborn Baby sleep – Here’s What You Need To Know

From the moment you announce you are pregnant people begin talking to you about baby sleep! As a society, we are fixated on the subject. Everyone has opinions, experiences, and advice, which feels completely overwhelming. We’ve all heard the warnings ‘Be prepared to never sleep again’ but is this really something to worry so much about?

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feeding, sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta feeding, sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

what is reverse cycling and how do i know if my baby is reverse cycling?

As a baby sleep consultant, I've worked with many new parents who have experienced a phenomenon known as "reverse cycling" babies. Reverse cycling in babies occurs when a breastfed infant begins to consume most of their 24-hour intake of milk during the night, rather than during the day. This can be a frustrating and exhausting experience for parents who are struggling to get their baby to sleep during the night. In this blog post, I will explain what reverse cycling is, why it happens, and how parents can cope with it.

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

when does a baby stop eating at night?

Many parents want to know if their baby is actually hungry at night, and if they should be getting fed overnight at a certain age. Many pediatricians and other healthcare professionals will tell parents that their baby shouldn't need nighttime feedings by certain arbitrary ages or weights. The truth is that feeding throughout the night IS normal, and depending on the mother/baby dyad, night feeds might last well into the first year and beyond.

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when do babies sleep through the night?

It’s probably the most-googled question for all new parents. When will my baby start to sleep through the night? We all want to know when we’ll get a solid night of sleep again, it’s only natural! If only the answer were that simple…

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

The 6 Month sleep regression

The 6 months sleep regression (or sleep PROgression as I prefer to call them!) might mean your little one’s sleep is backsliding. You may feel like you barely made it through the 4-month sleep regression and now this!? Lots of parents report a sleep “regression” around this age, with noticeable differences in how their baby is sleeping

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why is my 12-month old up like a newborn again?

Is your 1 year old baby sleeping worse than ever? Babies at 12 months old often go through a regression with sleep. Parents of 1-year olds report their babies waking up more frequently, wanting to nurse more, and fighting naps. You’re not alone.

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

Noisy Newborns

During the REM state, a baby may be moving simply due to the activity happening in their brain. All this movement can be noisy. Also, your baby may make sounds, from a gurgle to a whimper or even a cry.

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