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Sleep consulting, support, coaching and education to give yourself the gift of sleep and be confident in parenting.
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Bopping Your Way Through the First 12 Weeks
I have a TON of newborn clients right now and the Boppy keeps coming up, so I thought I would write about it this week as something different. This brand might as well be called…The answer to your pregnancy, newborn and infant prayers. I don’t know about...
Episode 6- Daycare and Caregivers
In this episode, I discuss how caregivers and daycare can affect sleeping practices. I give ways to maximize your child’s day and the importance of awake windows. Finally, I talk all about balance and adjustments for daycare and being left with a caregiver. What To...
Does Your Medical Insurance or FSA Cover the Cost of a Sleep Consultant?
So, you just had a baby. The hospital makes sure they are strapped into the car seat properly and then off you go, launching into parenthood. Reality hits. 2:00 am, 3:12 am, 4:16 am.... why do you sleep all day and not sleep at night? I thought after a few weeks...
Episode 7 – Spring Daylight Savings
In this episode, I discuss anxiety at bedtime. I talk about daytime schedules and how they lead to a good night routine. I offer tools & solutions to getting your little one down without upset or tears. Finally, I finish with creating a sleep sanctuary for your...
Episode 5 – Anxiety at Bed Time
In this episode, I discuss anxiety at bedtime. I talk about daytime schedules and how they lead to a good night routine. I offer tools & solutions to getting your little one down without upset or tears. Finally, I finish with creating a sleep sanctuary for your...
Episode 4 – Newborn Sleep Needs
In this episode, I talk about what sleep training looks like and why we need to remove that phrase from our vocabulary! I talk about the differences between a want and a need at bedtime. Finally, I talk about tears and fits at bedtime and why they aren’t always a bad...
Episode 3 – Straight Talk About Sleep Training
In this episode, I talk about what sleep training looks like and why we need to remove that phrase from our vocabulary! I talk about the differences between a want and a need at bedtime. Finally, I talk about tears and fits at bedtime and why they aren’t always a bad...
Episode 2 – How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?
In this episode, I talk about how much sleep kids need based on age. I give symptoms of when a child is overtired and how chronic sleep deprivation can have lasting impacts on our youth. Finally, I give sample sleep schedules and discuss why it’s important to create a...
Episode 0 – Introduction to The Kids Sleep Show
In this episode, Courtney Zentz, founder of Tiny Transitions will introduce you to her new podcast, The Kids Sleep Show. She will discuss what you should expect with this podcast and how she ended up here. What to expect: This show is not just about sleep for little...
Episode 1 – What is a Sleep Consultant?
In this episode, I review what a sleep consultant does when working with families like yours. I discuss different approaches to sleep consulting and how my approach to sleep is different, gentle and effective. Finally, I will dive into other options to help your...
Is this Another Sleep Regression?
As a sleep consultant, there is a popular question if you get a lot when a baby won’t sleep through the night and if they do sleep a little, they seem wide awake at 3 am. Is it a developmental milestone? A regression? Are they getting too much sleep during the day, or...
Episode 0 – Introduction to The Kids Sleep Show
In this episode, Courtney Zentz, founder of Tiny Transitions will introduce you to her new podcast, The Kids Sleep Show. She will discuss what you should expect with this podcast and how sleep changes can transform your life. What to expect: This show is not just...
Episode 8: Nap Hacks
Overview: In this episode, I discuss all things naps! I talk about when to drop the nap, fussing over naptime, how you can make naptime fun and much more! Look out for the five-minute nap, changing the sleep space and enticing your child to take a nap. What To...
Episode 13: Backtalk at Bedtime
Overview: In this episode, Courtney talks about backtalk at bedtime. She talks about the science behind behavioral problems at bedtime and dives into disruptions during the bedtime routine. She goes into creating boundaries and consequences and giving your child...
Episode 18: Mindset and Self Care For Mom
In this episode, Courtney covers an important topic parents often forget: mindset and self-care. She dives into the importance of mindset and self-care, especially during this time. She discusses the benefits of self-care and how it can help you parent.
Episode 14: Early Morning Wakings
Overview: In this episode, Courtney talks about the twelve reasons behind early morning wakings. She discusses the external factors like lighting and noise. She dives into the internal factors for your little ones waking like motivation and overtiredness. Finally, she...
Creating the Perfect Nursery
When you first got pregnant, how long did it take before the “nesting” phase started? For me, it seemed like it was immediate. Forget the last month of pregnancy nesting that everyone talks about, as soon as I found out I was pregnant I started decluttering the...
Transitioning from 2 – 1 Nap
Ready to move to 1 nap? The transition from 2 naps a day to 1 nap a day usually occurs sometime between 12 and 18 months for most babies. It can sometimes be difficult to tell when your baby is ready to make the switch from 2 naps a day to 1. There are a few signs...
The Number One Bedtime Mistake
This week I wanted to talk a bit about the bedtime routine, and the number one mistake parents make when they are creating a bedtime routine. Now, if you go to any baby site on the Web, search my baby won't sleep, or whatever youíre looking for in regards to sleep,...
The Cure for Colic
Is there a Cure for Colic? OK, so I recognize that is a bold title, especially if you are reading this and sitting with a baby who you suspect may in-fact have colic. So let’s start with some background - newborn cry, that’s how they speak to us in this large new...
My Baby Is Sick And Won’t Sleep
Today I want to give you some tips for handling sickness so that you don't derail all your progress. There are a few things that you do need to keep in mind. The first is your baby is going to wake in the night. Anyone who is ill does not sleep as well as they...
Why are Toddlers like Fruit Stripe Gum?
What exactly do sleep and Fruit Stripe gum ???? have in common? When you are talking about toddler behavior, a lot actually. Toddlers are creatures of habit and are also testing boundaries in this big new world. So what does that have to do with Fruit Stripe Gum?...
How to Keep Your Baby Awake During the Bedtime Routine
Today, I have a question from Nadia. She writes, "I've been working on the Sleep Sense Program for about a week now, but I'm having a really hard time keeping my baby awake through her bottle at the bedtime routine. What can I do?" Well, that's a great question....
Why are babies naps short?
The Curse of the Short Nap In conversation with tired parents as they are looking to work with a sleep consultant, the usual issue is the child struggling to go down at bedtime or multiple night-wakings that keep everyone in a constant state of “double pumpkin-spice...
Is My Baby Sleeping Too Much?
Is there ever a time when your baby is sleeping too much? I know that might sound crazy especially if you've had months or even years of broken sleep and half an hour naps might seem like a fantasy. The baby might actually sleep too much. The truth of the matter is...
No Toys in the Crib
If you're like most parents, you probably can't take more than a couple of steps in your house without tripping over a doll, a stuffed animal or a Tonka truck. You are most likely more than familiar with the sensation of getting those hard, tiny Lego pieces embedded...
When Can I Night Wean?
When Can I Night Wean? I get asked this question a lot, and I have two answers for you about night weaning. My first answer is going to be a clinical one. If your child’s six months or older, gaining weight as expected, and your doctor says you’re okay to end...
Should You Use Melatonin with Kids to Help them Sleep Better?
7 Tips to Try to Improve Your Child’s Sleep
During my 10 years as a sleep professional, I've gotten used to people asking me what the secret is to getting a baby to sleep through the night. Of course, there is no ONE secret. Teaching a child healthy sleep habits is a combination of lots of different things. But...
How To Know When Your Child is Tired
It's not always obvious when a child is getting tired... Here's how to recognize "sleep signs" so you can get your child to bed BEFORE they become overtired! The following question is from Trish, who wrote: "Help! Why can't I recognize my three-month old's sleep...
Surviving Sleep Regressions
It’s here, the dreaded sleep regression - and things were going so well. You finally got baby on a loose ‘schedule,’ they were going down well for naps, sleeping through the night and then BOOM, sleep sucks again. This is commonly when I hear from many new parents, as...
How to Tell When Baby is Ready to Move to One Nap
Today our question comes from Susan and she's wondering, "How do I tell if my baby is ready to move to one nap a day?" First of all, I'll tell you around the age when this tends to occur. I find that a good average age for this is somewhere around the 13th month. Now,...
Toddler Anxiety & Bedtime Stalling
Toddlers are fascinating little humans, aren’t they? Watching them develop into thinking, creative little people is such a fascinating time, and one that parents often wish would last a little longer. The innocence and genuine curiosity I love. The toddler bedtime can...
How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Later
Today, our question comes from Marnie, and she writes, "My one-year-old is waking up at 4:00 AM, and wonít go back to sleep even after I nurse him. He then struggles to make it to his first nap of the day. He goes to bed at 7:30 and has two solid naps during the day....
A Guide on Making a Nap Transition
Nap Transitions - Is now the right time? As a parent, this is one of the 345 questions that run through your head on any given day about parenting. When is it time for a nap transition? Are they sleeping enough? Why are they not sleeping through the night? Are naps...
Traveling with Baby – 5 Tips on How to Maintain Healthy Sleep Habits
When you're planning a family holiday with a baby, an important thing to consider is how your travel plans are going to affect your child's sleep routine. You'll have a much more enjoyable vacation if you organize your trip in a way that allows for as little...
Attachment Parenting & Sleep Training
Boy, that’s A LOT to cover in a title. In my experience, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, room sharing often go nicely together, sleep training is generally the phrase that can ruffle feathers. I want to explain a bit more about parenting philosophies and how they...
My Baby is Playing in the Crib At Nightime – What Should I Do?
Today I want to talk a little bit about playing in the crib. If you are a veteran of the Sleep Sense program, this might sound like something you've experienced. If you're not, this might sound like the craziest thing ever. If youíve got a child who's not sleeping...
Are Early Morning Wakings Derailing Your Sleep?
How to Keep Your Kids in Their Own Room & Out of Your Bed during those Early Morning Waking's Here it is, 4:30 am and the pitter-patter of little feet come shuffling across your bedroom floor and over to your side of the bed, “Mom, I am awake” is quietly whispered...
Does White Noise Help Baby Sleep?
Hands up if this sounds familiar Your fussy baby finally falls asleep for her afternoon nap and you sit down for a much needed moment to yourself only to hear a car with a broken muffler roaring down the street. Just like that, Sleeping Beauty is wide awake and mad...
The Secret to Longer Naps for Your Baby
Naps are an interesting beast. Most families I work with as a sleep consultant involve challenges with your baby sleeping through the night. As a result of poor overnight sleep, many families often then struggle with naps, nap timing and how to make them last longer...
Three Myths About Sleep Training
Do you want to know something that really gets me fired up? It's when Moms (either online or in real life) are talking sleep, and I hear comments like this: You should just enjoy getting up to nurse all night ñ someday heíll be all grown up and you'll miss it. Or You...
Breaking the Nightly Bottle Habit
This week's question comes from Teresa. My 11-month-old goes to bed with a bottle and wakes for a bottle in the night. How do I break her of this habit? Good question, Teresa! When you put your baby in bed at night, it's fine to include the bottle in her routine. You...
Why Won’t My Baby Sleep?
This is a question I often asked my first son when he was an infant. I asked it in a sweet voice, I asked it in a pleading voice, I asked it in an angry voice, but no matter how many times I asked, he never gave me the answer. I can remember the night and some of you...
Is Co-Sleeping Dangerous For Your Baby?
There is no way to sugar coat it: SIDS is truly is a parent's worst nightmare. I remember worrying to the point where I got up several times a night to check on my first son while he was sleeping. I was exhausting myself, and finally, I had to sit down and come to...
Crib to Bed Transition
Moving to a big boy or big girl bed is a very exciting time for a child. It is a huge milestone in your child’s life and should be celebrated! Parents have varying reasons to make the move and for some parents, the concept of the move can be quite...
Does Teething Affect my Baby’s Sleep?
Have you ever heard the story of Catherine O'Leary's Cow? Back in 1871, the Chicago Tribune reported that the cause of the Great Chicago Fire was a cow, Catherine O’Leary’s cow to be precise, kicking over a lantern in the barn while it was being milked. Unfortunately,...
Dropping A Soother
Before my last bundle of joy arrived, I spoke with my husband about soothers and whether or not we should use one at all this time. As a Certified Lactation Counselor, I know that introducing a soother reduces statistically the longevity of successful nursing, which I...
Getting Sleep Ready for Your New Baby
During the last few months of pregnancy, many women experience nesting big time! Getting the baby’s nursery ready for is usually the first item on mom’s to-do list as they approach the birth of a new baby. As I near the birth of my second child, I think back on all of...
How To Drop One Nap
One of the nicest transitions I experienced with my firstborn was when we decided to consolidate his two short daytime naps into one big one, right in the middle of the day. I can’t deny it, I loved the time off in the middle of the day. He went from sleeping an hour...