the chill mom hangout at 2am feedings

the chill mom hangout at 2am feedings ✺

sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

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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postpartum Rachael Shepard-Ohta postpartum Rachael Shepard-Ohta

it’s ok if you don’t love the newborn stage

I can very clearly remember my first week as a mom, about 6 years ago. I was struggling so much with breastfeeding my tongue-tied baby. It was excruciating. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus after a brutal unmedicated labor with 2.5 hours of pushing. I was tearful and exhausted, and felt like my entire life had just been blown up. While I was “happy” to have my baby, it wasn’t the profound bliss I’d been expecting.

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sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

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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sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

the 18 month sleep regression (or PROgression!) and what to do

It’s true that “sleep regressions” aren’t really a thing but that you may notice sleep backslide during big periods of development. And the 18 month mark definitely fits the bill! There may be some changes to sleep around this age and you may notice increased difficulty with getting your toddler down for naps or nights.

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sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

toddler taking forever to fall asleep at bedtime? here’s why it might take your child a long time to fall asleep and what you can do about it.

Bedtime can be a challenging time for both children and parents, especially when toddlers and young children have difficulty falling asleep. Many factors contribute to this common bedtime struggle, leaving parents wondering how to create a peaceful and restful sleep routine without resorting to sleep training methods. In this blog post, we will delve into why it might take a toddler or young child a long time to fall asleep at bedtime and explore various strategies parents can try to help their little ones settle into a peaceful slumber without sleep training.

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Rachael Shepard-Ohta Rachael Shepard-Ohta

is my toddler ready to stop napping?

Most children will hang onto their nap until between 2.5-4 years old, though for some who are lower sleep needs it might be even younger. High sleep needs nap lovers may continue napping well over 5 if given the chance!

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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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sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta sleep Rachael Shepard-Ohta

early morning wakings and how to help your baby sleep later in the morning

Early morning wakings are the biggest pain point of so many parents with young children. It can be so hard to be woken up at the crack of dawn every morning! But what actually counts as an early morning waking? Is there anything we can do about them? How to handle it “in the moment” when your baby or young child wakes up early? Read this blog post to find out everything you need to know about Early Morning Waking or “EMW.”

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parenting, reviews Rachael Shepard-Ohta parenting, reviews Rachael Shepard-Ohta

yoto vs. toniebox: which player is best for audio stories and music? An honest review

Are you wondering which audioplayer to purchase for your child but overwhelmed by the choices? We love our audioplayers not only as a screen-free option for entertainment but also as a super helpful bedtime and naptime tool. In our home we have both the Yoto and Toniebox players and love them both for different reasons. In this blog post, we'll compare three fantastic devices that bring the joy of audiobooks to children: the Yoto Player, Yoto Mini, and Tonie Box.

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Hannah Thomas Hannah Thomas

Mother’s Day - A Whole Year of Motherhood

It’s easy to get caught up in the Hallmark holiday marketing of Mother’s Day but this year what if we tried looking at it from a radically different perspective? Each Mother's Day represents another year as a mother, so what does that mean for you?

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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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