On the Blog
Baby Bach is Overrated
Rock-a-bye baby, On the treetop. When the wind blows, The cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, The cradle will fall, And down will come baby, Cradle and all. Why on earth are we singing this to young children? Still, there are worse lullabies in the world. Check...
The Recipe for a Perfect Mother’s Day
Ingredients: 1 tired mom 1 favorite meal 2 lbs of high praise 3-4 flowers of choice 1 cup of foot massage 1 bed with clean sheets Directions: Gently welcome the tired mom into her day with the flowers of choice. Mix in high praise, either verbally or in written form,...
Why do nap times become such a struggle for 4 to 6-month-old infants even though they sleep well at night.
Sleep…It's what dreams are made of for parents of newborns. So, when babies start sleeping through the night, parents often celebrate- with sleep. Then around 4-6 months of age, things start to change. Naps start becoming a struggle. Why is that? To answer this...
What sleep problems did you encounter with your toddler?
The days that fill the toddler years are full of excitement and wonder, but the nights can often be full of sleep problems and overtired (but awake) children. We reached out to parents to find out what types of sleep problems they encountered with their toddlers, and...
Circadian Rhythm and Babies: Why Won’t My Newborn Sleep??
Ah, the circadian rhythm. One of those things that gets brought up a lot but rarely explained. The circadian rhythm is an essential part of everybody’s ability to sleep well, regardless of age or gender - heck, regardless of species! The circadian rhythm is a standard...
Why Do Babies Sleep So Much?
It’s been a long day. You’re tired. You’re frazzled. It’s too late in the day to drink anything caffeinated, but you know that there are at least a few more hours before you can hit the hay. As you sit in the armchair holding your sleeping baby (and being secretly...
Because You’re Worth It, Too! Seven Self-Care Ideas for Parents
There comes a time in every parent’s life when someone will ask, “So! What do you like to do for fun?” If you’re like most new parents, your mind will probably draw a blank, and you’ll find yourself wondering, “What DO I do for fun?” Next thing you know, you find...
What should parents consider before hiring a baby sleep consultant?
Your baby will have many influences throughout his or her life: teachers, coaches, grandparents, friends. Inviting a new one to join their life in their infancy can be a big decision. There are many things to take into account before hiring a sleep consultant. We...
These Boots Aren’t Made for Sleepwalking: FAQs About Pediatric Sleepwalkers
It’s 10:00 pm, and you’re getting yourself ready for bed after a long day. You’ve locked the doors, closed the blinds, and set your alarm. Then suddenly, you hear movement. As you reach for the baseball bat next to your bed, your child stumbles into view with a vacant...
How to Spring Forward – Daylight Savings Time & Your New Sleep Schedule
Warm weather is on its way, which I'm always most excited about. So, how do you manage daylight savings in the spring while balancing ensuring that your child doesn't have total sleep derailment and can adhere to a new sleep schedule? First things first, take a deep...
Mission Possible: Sleep Training Multiples
Let’s be real: sleep training is challenging enough when there is only one kid, but when you double (or triple or quadruple!) the number of children participating, things can get real hairy, real quick. We aren’t going to sugar coat it – sleep training multiples,...
Is it better for your baby to sleep early or late?
Life with an infant is such a special time, but it can also be exhausting, especially if you and your baby aren’t getting the sleep you need. Knowing when to put your baby to sleep for the night is a key element in a good night’s sleep. We’ve asked a group of moms and...
Separation Anxiety Sleep Solutions
Even though your baby hasn’t experienced much yet, he feels anxiety just like you can. His anxiety doesn’t stem from health, taxes, and mortgage payments the way yours might; instead, it usually manifests in the form of separation anxiety. After all, parents are a...
How Do I Sleep Train When I Have Other Kids At Home?
Getting up multiple times during the night is arguably the worst part of having a new baby (and those who argue against that point – can you really trust them anyway?). Sleep deprivation causes a long list of problems for both stay-at-home and working parents, not the...
What physical developments can affect the quality of sleep of your baby?
New parents might be frustrated to realize that the sleep interruptions do not gradually end as their baby grows; external factors can cause regression in any baby’s sleep patterns. We reached out to some sleep and baby experts to find out what physical developments...
Can All Babies Learn to Self-Soothe? Yes, They Can!
Fact: There are few things better than holding a sleeping baby. There’s just something about that sweet smell, those flushed cheeks, and the warmth of a chubby, snuggly little peanut that just can’t be beaten. Whoever invents a candle that can capture the essence of...
How do you design a day with an 8 am wake-up and 8 pm bedtime schedule for a baby?
How do you design a day with an 8 am wake-up and 8 pm bedtime schedule? In my work as a sleep consultant, I am frequently building a schedule for families that align to a 7 pm bedtime with a waking between 6:00 am and 7:00 am in the morning. While that schedule suits...
Taking the Battle out of Baby’s Bedtime
Your friend is always talking about how her baby sleeps through the night. Does your friend have magical powers? And where is the fairy that can grant them to you? First of all, you’re not a failure if your baby won’t sleep through the night, and your friend does not...
How can parents overcome separation anxiety?
Whether you are heading to work or your child is heading to school, anytime parents and children are separated there is a potential for separation anxiety. Whether the anxiety comes from you or your children, the feelings are valid. Our readers had some advice for...
The Early Bird Gets the Worm- But the Second Mouse Gets the Cheese: Will an Early or Late Bedtime Make Nighttime a Breeze?
Getting your baby on the right sleep schedule can be daunting. We know that you might just be in survival-mode as you try to figure out how to get any amount of rest because your baby won’t sleep through the night. You might hear constant advice from your mom friends...
Transitioning to a Toddler Bed: Do’s and Don’ts
Here’s a little haiku to start things off right: The pitter-patter Of feet and hands exploring. Thump! Newfound freedom. Yep, we’re talking about those first couple of times crawling (or falling) out of the crib. Few things are more exciting (for toddlers) and...
What are the signs that allergies are affecting your child’s sleep?
Your child isn’t sleeping through the night, which means you aren’t either. What’s more, they’re cranky and irritable, and, well, that makes you cranky and irritable, too! Allergies are often at the root of poor sleep in kids, so how do you know if this is what’s...
5 Tips for Better Holiday Sleeping
The holidays are coming up, and with all of that snow, sugar, and suspense comes traveling and spending time with friends and family. As wonderful as these gatherings are, they sometimes cause unpleasant setbacks in the sleeping department. You probably want to avoid...
How to Adjust a Baby to Daylight Savings Fall Back
Beating the Clock with Daylight Savings this Fall to keep your newborn, infant, toddler, or school-age child sleeping well through the transition. Does a baby get impacted by Daylight Savings Time? Yes... and it's happening this year on November 7, 2021, and we are...
Positive Parenting – Perspectives from a Baby & Toddler Sleep Coach
Do you Sometimes Fall into the Toddler Tornado of Emotions?There has been a style of parenting that has become more and more popular (and even sometimes controversial) in the past five years. Though it’s been scientifically proven for decades, it seems to be getting...
Meet Tiffany Hilgenberg – Des Moines, IA Leading Pediatric Sleep Coach
Let’s Meet Tiffany Hilgenberg, Baby & Toddler Sleep Coach in Des Moines, Iowa Hello, my name is Tiffany Hilgenberg and I am a proud member of the Slumber Squad here at Tiny Transitions. I am located in Waukee, Iowa, which is an extremely fast-growing...
How to Get Your SO On Board the Sleep Training Train
Parenting is full of the best kinds of rewards: unprompted cuddles, I wuv you’s, chubby hands reaching around your neck for a hug, sticky kisses, and squeals of laughter, to name a few. There really is nothing like it. Sigh. That’s right. Breathe in that fresh baby...