Maggie Moore is the Founder and Head Sleeper at Moore Sleep. She is a certified pediatric sleep consultant through the Family Sleep Institute, which means her sole focus and objective is getting your baby on a healthy sleep schedule so the whole family can get the sleep they need.

Like many parents, Maggie and her husband struggled with getting their son on a healthy sleep schedule and he was unable to fall asleep independently. As a result, her family was losing precious sleep every night.

Maggie became a firm believer when, shortly after hiring a certified pediatric sleep consultant, her son began sleeping independently at bed and nap times. It was a turning point that resulted in not only restful nights, but waking up fully rested with the energy to face the day. Maggie knew right away she wanted to become a certified consultant herself so she could help other families struggling to get the sleep they need.

Maggie and her family reside in Southern Indiana (near Louisville, KY). Follow Maggie on Facebook and Instagram.

The keys to having successful sleep

A healthy, age-appropriate schedule and independent sleep go hand in hand when it comes to having a successful sleeper! After 16-weeks adjusted age, making sure your little one is not relying on sleep crutches such as being fed, walked, or rocked to sleep is one of the KEY factors in getting your babe sleeping.

While any child can learn to go to sleep independently, your family’s sleep challenges will not be solved if your little one is not on a schedule that is best for them. Once you have independent sleep and an appropriate schedule in place, consistency is of the upmost importance! Being consistent not only helps all components of sleep come together, but it also helps them stay together. It is possible to start seeing positive results as early as six to eight weeks of age by implementing a consistent bedtime routine and sleep location for your little one.

Remember, all children under the age of 12-months should be placed alone, on their back, in their crib for sleep, following the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for safe sleep.

Might suit parents who: 

Are ready to make positive changes and can remain consistent.

Might not suit parents who: 

Are not ready to be consistent with making positive changes in the challenging areas of their little one’s sleep.

Best age to try it at: 

Any age.

Mom’s say:

“Our 9.5-month-old had been co-sleeping and nursing all night long. I bought the sleep training guide and then scheduled a consult with Maggie, and it was the best decision I made!

I would recommend this service to everyone and anyone. It only took a couple of nights to get our baby sleeping through the night. Maggie has awesome information and explained things step-by-step very well!” — Anna, mom of 9.5-month-old

Want Moore information? www.getmooresleep.com

“All I want for Christmas… is a good night’s sleep!” said almost every parent under the sun. Unfortunately, babies live by their own schedule and not ours!

That’s why it’s a great idea to make sure that your baby sleep schedule is adjusted a little over the holiday season – to save your sanity if nothing else! Here are some tips and tricks to perfecting your baby’s sleep routine over Christmas.

Stick to Your Usual Routine

Most babies respond real well to a good sleep routine for both daytime naps and night time sleep and they soon learn to start to prepare for sleep as soon as they recognise their sleep cues – bath time, their milk, a story and a change into pajamas or a baby sleeping sack. For this reason, it’s important to try and stick to your usual baby sleep routine as much as you can.

If you’re going to be away at Christmas, try to take your baby’s familiar items (comforters, toys, sleep aids etc) with you so that you can follow your usual bedtime routine as closely as possible. It might be tempting to pack light because you’re on vacation but remember that your baby doesn’t know that, and is likely to become grumpy and tired very quickly if they don’t have a measure of familiarity around them.

To keep their sleep environment as ‘normal’ as possible, pack your SnoozeShade for Pack n Plays to create a calm, quiet and dark environment in which they can sleep.

But Be Flexible If You Can

As much as we believe you need to stick to your usual baby sleep routine over the holiday period, we also think that you should be able to have a little flexibility in it all too. Be prepared for a few slight changes that can’t be avoided (especially if you are going away on vacation and there is a few hours’ time difference). It can be truly lovely to experience your first Christmas vacation with your baby. 

Don’t stress if your routine becomes a little mixed up for a day or two. So long as you can rescue it quickly once you are back home, you and your baby will be fine.

Prepare for Late Nights

Preparation is key when it comes to tackling most things! Late nights are inevitable in some situations, especially if you’re busy visiting friends and family this holiday season. If you know you’re going to be out late, try taking pajamas or your baby’s sleep sack with you. If you’re visiting friends for example, check ahead that you can bathe your baby before you leave. Most people will be delighted and offer to help join in! If you’re facing a long journey, it’s likely that your baby will sleep in the car. If this is the case, try to plan the travelling part of your trip at your baby’s usual nap or sleep times and pop them into bed as soon as you get home. If your baby wakes when you get in, go into your usual sleep routine.

If your baby does get to bed a little later than usual, be mindful of this the next day. Keep stimulation and activities to a minimum if you can, to avoid her becoming overtired too quickly. You’ll probably welcome a quieter day too!

Watch For Sleep Cues During Busy Days

Christmas can mean a lot of visitors coming and going and new faces wanting to help make your baby’s Christmas special. This is lovely but can also mean that your baby gets tired a lot more quickly than usual. Add to this the bustle of excitement, lights and music and you might find baby seems more unsettled than usual. Check for sleep cues (rubbing eyes, yawning, crying etc) and bring nap or sleep times forward if you need to.

Watch Your Own Routine

This one is for the adults. As we have already mentioned, babies have no idea that it’s Christmas and even less of an idea that you might like a glass of sherry on Christmas Eve! While we hate to be a party pooper, if you know your baby is going to be up early on Christmas morning, it might be a good idea to stick to your own bedtime routine this year too. If you do stay up late, or have a later night here or there over the holiday season, perhaps now is the time to arrange sitters for the morning – perhaps some willing grandparents who might get up early and leave you to have a lie-in? Call it a unique Christmas gift opportunity! Otherwise, get to bed at a reasonable hour and you’ll be much better equipped to deal with your baby and all the festivities.

Disruptions Are Temporary

If your baby’s sleep routine does get disrupted, don’t panic. Any disruptions are usually short-lived and are easily solved. Make sure you decide when Christmas is officially ‘over’ and set that date as the time to get back on track with your usual nap and bedtimes. You may find that your baby responds well to being back on track too.

Don’t Let Routine Rule You

With all the best intentions in the world, it makes sense to strive for a sense of balance. Don’t let your baby’s routine rule you so that you turn down all the party invitations of the season; pick the ones that you feel are most important, or that will be the least disruptive. If you need a break from routine, then so be it.

What are your top tips for surviving Christmas with a baby?

Further Reading:

Four Easy Christmas Eve Baby Bedtime Tips
Three Tips for Dealing with an Overtired Baby at Christmas
Going Away for Christmas Vacation with Baby and Toddlers

• The average newborn will wake around every two to three hours for a feed
• Newborn babies don’t know the difference between night and day
• A baby’s sleep cycle is a lot shorter than an adult’s

It’s common knowledge that with a newborn comes lack of sleep. It’s drilled into you throughout your pregnancy and with well meaning comments such as “Oh, you won’t be able to lie in when baby gets here!” or less well meaning comments such as “I hope you’re ready to say goodbye to a full night’s sleep for the next 18 years…”

However you might think that you’re  ‘prepared’ for the inevitable lack of sleep that is on the way, the fact still remains: when the whirlwind that is a newborn baby finally hits, the effects can be overwhelming. Sometimes, no amount of preparation can really be enough. But there are ways you can cope.

Here are five tips to help you understand newborn sleep habits..

Know what a typical newborn sleeping pattern looks like

If you’re thinking that because newborn babies sleep for around 17 hours per day then you’re set to get a lot of sleep yourself, think again. Yes, newborn babies sleep a lot, but that sleep tends to be in small increments. So it’s very unlikely that you’ll get more than two/ three/ four hours in a row at first. But this is normal! It will certainly help you to cope a little better if you know something about newborn sleeping patterns:

1️⃣ Newborn babies are not typically designed to sleep for long periods of time. The average newborn will wake around every two to three hours for a feed, whether they are breastfed or bottle fed. This is because the stomach is so tiny, and able to take only small amounts of milk at each feed. And because they take small amounts, this is passed through the system quickly and before you know it, it’s time to feed again.

2️⃣ Many newborn babies don’t know the difference between night and day. This is only to be expected, having come with no prior knowledge of when you generally like to turn in for the day. Babies need to learn that we sleep longer at night and play more during the day, and recognition of this only comes with maturity.

3️⃣ As baby gets older and her digestive system matures, her stomach inevitably grows. This means that she can take more milk with each feed, and the theory is that she will then sleep for a little longer between those feeds. However, this doesn’t always happen. As with adults, some babies have a faster metabolism which means they burn energy more quickly than others, and require re-fuelling more often

4️⃣ A baby’s sleep cycle is a lot shorter than an adult’s. This means that they spend longer periods in REM states of sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) which is easier to be woken from.

5️⃣ From around the age of 8 weeks, your baby will start to sleep for longer periods of time, and will start to have shorter periods of REM sleep too. This often means that they will find it easier to sleep more at night than during the day, but a good sleep routine may still be a while off yet.

➡️ Now you know these 5 key things, click here to read 4 tips on making your life with your newborn easier.

 

 

 

Natalie Willes is a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant with over eight years of experience helping families around the globe get their children to sleep. Natalie offers one-on-one virtual consultations, and robust, affordable online courses for newborns up to 3.5 year olds. She also published a book detailing her sleep training method, Getting Your Baby to Sleep the Baby Sleep Trainer Way. 

 

 

The single, best piece of advice she would give you if you are just starting out on your baby sleep journey, is to follow the “Eat-Wake-Sleep” cycle. 

 

This means upon baby’s waking, you offer a feeding whilst keeping them completely awake for the entirety of their feeding. This can be hard with newborns, but gets easier and easier with each passing week. Feeding time is followed by “play” or “wake” time. This length of time will vary depending on the age of your kiddo. It can be as short as 30 minutes (including the feeding!) for a newborn, and up to a few hours for a baby older than 6 months. After wake time comes sleep! And the cycle repeats until bedtime. 

When working with Natalie, whether one-on-one or through her online programs, she helps you identify an age-appropriate schedule for your individual child, and walks you through each step of the simple process in making sleep happen regularly and healthfully for them. This means thorough instructions on how to set up the perfect sleep environment, bedtime and naptime routines, and exactly how to handle anything that may come up during the night, or during any developmental leaps.  

Might suit parents who: Are ready to get their family sleeping again! From newborn (0-16 weeks) through 3.5 years old Natalie has tailored solutions to restore peaceful sleep in your home again.

Might not suit parents who: Wish to bed-share, or who will not allow their child any protest crying whilst learning the skill of unassisted sleep (after 16 weeks old). 

Best age to try it at: Anytime! Baby Sleep Trainer offers an online Newborn Sleep Program for 0-16 weeks old, and The Baby Sleep Trainer Programs for 16 weeks-36 months old. She also offers one-on-one virtual consultations covering 16 weeks-3.5 years old. 

Mums say: “Natalie is magic. Plain and simple. We had been having so much trouble with our daughter, Marty sleeping. I read basically the entire internet trying to figure out how to get her to sleep. She was 7 months at the time and was still eating 2 to 3 times at night. We were also bouncing her on a yoga ball and holding her for all her naps. It was unsustainable. So I finally broke down and contacted Natalie…For those of you struggling with your baby’s sleep, don’t hesitate! I feel like there might be an issue of pride stopping parents from contacting a sleep consultant, but at the end of the day more sleep is good for baby AND you.” – Angela D., California

 

Visit www.babysleeptraner.com

Helping your baby stick to their sleep routine by being better informed about baby sleep

Some babies love their naps, while others really struggle to go down when there are exciting things happening around them. Whether your little one sleeps well or is a reluctant napper, we have three ways to help your keep your baby’s daytime sleep schedule on track. After all, this helps your baby get a good night’s sleep.

1 Know how much sleep your baby needs

The amount of sleep your baby needs during the day will change a lot in their first year. From birth until about four months, your baby will need four or five naps during the day. By the age of four months, it will be closer to four naps a day.

From five to eight months, your baby will nap about three times per day. From nine to 15 months, your little one will only need two naps (although she may transition to one nap a little earlier). From 18 months up to three or four years old, she will need one nap in the daytime.

Remember that these are guidelines, and your baby may need more or less sleep than the average child.

As autumn descends upon us and the nights start to draw in, the team here at Snooze HQ are looking forward to cosy evenings and lots of snuggles… but let’s be realistic. Life isn’t always Instagram perfect! On the 26th of this month the clocks go back in the UK and for some families this can result in one or two disrupted night’s sleep. With this in mind, we turned to Lucy Shrimpton, The Sleep Nanny, for help. Throughout her career, Lucy has helped hundreds of tired parents and children around the world to win bedtime battles and finally gain the gift of a good night’s sleep. 

 

Combining insights from psychology, sleep, parenting and wellness, Lucy is able to help mothers all over the world to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. Read on to hear her valuable advice on how to help your child adjust to the clock change.

 

With the UK clocks changing back an hour, I wanted to offer some tips on how you can help your little ones to adjust.

It is easy to get into a muddle when the clocks change, even though it is just one hour, but I wanted to try to make this really simple for you.

My recommendation is to immediately switch to the new time rather than try adjusting the schedule gradually. However I will outline a few options for you now.

If your child’s bedtime is normally 7pm, on Saturday night try to keep your child up for an extra hour and make 8pm bedtime for that one night only. When the clocks change in the night, you gain an hour, so ideally your child will wake at their usual time (i.e 7am) by the new clock time, and still have had his usual amount of sleep. Then, on Sunday night just continue with your 7pm bedtime by the new clock time.

Sounds simple enough right? The difficulty might come if your child struggles to make it through to 8pm on the Saturday night without becoming too over-tired and grumpy and then that could lead to night wakings or an unusually early start! So if this might happen for your child, you can:

• Add in a short nap in the afternoon, if he no longer naps.
• Add in an extra catnap in the afternoon for a child who is napping anyway.

OR

• You can try the Split the Difference approach:

If you split the difference, you put your child to bed at 7.30pm rather than stretching out to 8pm. He may wake a little early by the new clock time but will get back into rhythm very quickly as you will return to a 7pm bedtime on Sunday night by the new clock time.

The other option you may have heard about is the gradual approach where you move the child’s bedtime in 15 minute increments over the four days preceding the clock change. This works well for some people but I think it can become quite confusing and not necessarily be of much benefit to the child.

The gradual approach works like this:

• Wednesday night bedtime is 7.15pm
• Thursday night bedtime is 7.30pm
• Friday night bedtime is 7.45pm
• Saturday night bedtime is 8pm. (Then the clocks go back in the middle of the night)
• Sunday night bedtime is the new 7pm

Many children are not affected by a small difference in time so it is simpler and perhaps easier to make a quick adjustment by doing the immediate shift. 

You know your child best and you will know what will work for you but to avoid a horribly early wake up call on Sunday morning, I do suggest you have a plan in place.

You can find Lucy at thesleepnanny.co.uk

Why is your child waking up at night and having disturbed sleep? We take a look at some of the reasons behind it and how you might help your child get better sleep.

Toddlers are all different; sometimes we just can’t figure them out and so it’s impossible to list all the reasons why your toddler might be waking up at night. Let’s face it, we all wake up during the night and the only difference between kids and adults is that we can get back to sleep by ourselves.

It’s a good idea to look at some of the reasons why your toddler might be waking up and learn about the things you can solve quickly in the hope of a better night’s sleep for all the family. 

Here are just three of the reasons why your toddler wakes up at night – and what you can do about it.

Your toddler is hungry

Toddlers can be fussy eaters most days. If their toast is not perfectly spread with all crusts removed, it just won’t be considered. A toddler’s favourites can change daily and it’s hard to keep up. As a result, toddlers can refuse to eat, leading to a hungry tummy when it’s bedtime. 

Experts agree that allowing your toddler to try new foods is the best way to get them to eat a varied diet but we all know that it’s not as easy as it sounds. If your toddler refuses to eat anything but breakfast cereal for all meals, it might be best to go with the flow for now. A good rule to remember is that something in the tummy is better than nothing. There are some foods you should avoid before bed; steer clear of sugar, processed and greasy foods that could give your toddler a tummy ache. Make sure you offer lots of small meals and snacks though the day and don’t worry if your toddler won’t sit down and eat with the family at dinner time. If you offer enough food in alternative ways, you should be able to keep hunger at bay. Make sure they have their regular milk, especially under one year and plenty of water too.

If you’re concerned that your child is waking up at night due to hunger, we don’t recommend getting them up for a full meal; but a quick cup of milk or a breastfeed might just help them get back to sleep. If all else fails, a quick snack might be needed, then put them straight back to bed.

Your toddler is not tired enough

Toddlers let us know when they no longer need an afternoon nap. Some will refuse to entertain the thought of a nap, others will start to nap for shorter and shorter periods of time and others will take longer to fall asleep at night. Then there are those who wake at 3am, raring to go because they simply are’t tired!

The best course of action is to monitor naps closely and take a good look at your whole daytime routine. Make the tweaks that you need and hopefully the night time sleep will catch up. Learn what sleep and naps your child needs here [LINK]

Nightmares

The older children get, the more aware they are of everything around them, including concepts such as danger, monsters or separation. Some toddlers will wake up at night due to nightmares and this can be really hard to deal with as a parent.

If you think that your toddler is waking due to nightmares, there are a few ways that you can help:

• Remember that your toddler’s fear is real and should be respected. Reassure your child and be there to provide comfort when it’s needed.
• Don’t overreact or become upset, no matter how distressing it may be to see your toddler hysterical. This only adds to their fear and won’t help in getting everyone back to sleep again. If you remain calm and positive, your toddler will pick up on this and they are much more likely to calm down too.
• Resist the temptation to bring your toddler into bed with you. I know you want to cuddle them and keep them safe; and, of course, get back to sleep. However, this might start a new sleep issue that you need to deal with!

what is the top reason your toddler wakes at night?

 

We are very proud of the rigorous testing that all SnoozeShade products are subjected to. It means that each and every SnoozeShade conforms to the strictest of regulations and that you can rest assured you are using a product that is safe, useful and reliable too.

Since conception, the SnoozeShade range has been repeatedly voted as the UK’s best pram sun shade, and parents have told us time and again how it has helped their little ones to sleep while they are out and about. This is exactly why it was invented!

So if you are about to invest in a sunshade for your baby, here are some top user tips on getting the most from it. This is our guide on how to use your SnoozeShade!

The different types of SnoozeShade

Your first task is to choose the product that is right for your baby’s age. SnoozeShade is available as:

Baby car seat sun shades – For use from birth, this shade fits over your baby’s car seat and can be used on group 0/ 0+ car seats. This shade comes as the

• Classic Our Car Seat Canopy protects your baby from up to 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays and fits most popular car seat models with a rigid carry handle.
• Deluxe The Car Seat Canopy Deluxe protects baby from up to 97.5% of UV rays (UPF 40+) and also fits all popular car seat models with a rigid carry handle.
• To see how to fit the SnoozeShade for infant car seats, click here.

The difference between the Classic and the Deluxe lies in the ways that each model can be used. The Deluxe can be used in three ways: lookout mode has a mesh viewing window that blocks out 80% of UV rays; sleep mode blocks out 97% of UV rays; open mode allows baby and parent to see each other, whilst still providing side protection.

The classic also has three modes: sleep mode with the shade over the top; sleep mode with the handle exposed for carrying; half shade position to protect face and eyes.

 

Pram sunshade for babies aged 0 to 6 months 

For use from birth, on prams, pushchairs and buggies. There are two models to choose from:

• SnoozeShade Original protects baby from 99% of UV rays (UPF50+) and is approved by the Melanoma International Foundation. 

We have a number of short videos showing the different ways you can use SnoozeShade with different styles of prams and buggies.  To see how to use the Original:

• in parent facing mode click here.
• with a slightly larger pram/ stroller in parent facing mode (a Bugaboo Cameleon is used in the video) click here.
• with an infant car seat in travel system mode click here.
• with a carrycot or bassinet click here.
• with a three wheeler stroller click here.
• on an umbrella stroller (a Maclaren in this video) click here

The Original has an elasticated top so that it can fit to the hood of almost any pram or stroller. It is quick to fit, easy to store and machine washable at 30 degrees. It is also available in two limited edition trim colours – steel grey or hot pink. 

• SnoozeShade Original Deluxe can be also be used in 4 ways and protects your baby from 97.5% of UV rays. The difference between the Original Deluxe and the Original is the alternative colour choice of silver fabric with a black trim. It also has poppers rather than velcro to attach the straps.

 

Buggy sun shades for babies aged 6 months +

SnoozeShade Plus is suitable from birth to approximately 4 years old (or until your little one is out of the stroller) and features a unique two layer protection system which offers protection up to 99% of UV rays (UPF50+). There are large mesh windows on this product which allows baby to see out, and this mode filters 80% of UV rays. In blackout mode the Plus blurs light and visual distractions to help baby sleep even when there are distractions around.

We have short demo videos showing how to use the Plus

• with a larger stroller (a Bugaboo Cameleon)  click here
• with an umbrella stroller, click here.
• with a carrycot or bassinet click here.

• SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe protects baby from 97.5 % UV rays and also has a mesh window that shades 80% of UV rays, whilst allowing baby to have a nose at the outside world. This product has the same two layer system as the Plus, but there are a few differences between the two. The Deluxe has:
• silver outer fabric with black trim
• a larger front panel which fully opens to allow easy access to baby
• a front pocket to store shade and snooze panels
• safety certified poppers instead of velcro
• a sleeping baby emblem to discourage others from disturbing baby

Many customers ask what the difference is between the Plus and Plus Deluxe so we have created this simple chart to help you choose the product that suits you best.

 

SnoozeShade Twin

Released this year, we now also offer the SnoozeShade Twin, for use on a double-width hooded buggy.

 

All SnoozeShade products are machine washable at 30 degrees and buggy and car versions come with a free bag for easy and convenient storage.

 

Tips for using your SnoozeShade

Once you have decided which SnoozeShade is best for you, please do take a look at the instructions and the videos to help you fit the product properly and get the most out of it each time you use it. It’s worth noting that:

• If your baby is already six months+ (or very nosy) we recommend the Plus or Deluxe Plus, as the two layer mesh system will allow for natural curiosity at that age!
• All SnoozeShade products (for car seat and pram/ pushchair) feature a unique ‘Sneak a Peek’ zip which allows you to check on baby whenever you need to, without removing the shade completely. This helps to prevent precious sleep being disturbed!
• All SnoozeShade products are made from a special air-permeable mesh – that means air (hot or cold) moves easily through it.  You can literally put this over your face and breathe through it. We recommend dressing your baby in light clothes in hot weather to further aid baby staying as cool as possible.
• Air circulates freely through the SnoozeShade, which means that the environment in the pram is well ventilated – but on very hot, sunny days do try to find as shady a spot as you can – if it’s hot outside it will be hot everywhere.
• Always turn your pram away from direct sunlight if no shade can be found, and use your sneak-a-peek zip regularly to check that baby is comfortable.
• Keep baby well hydrated on hot days.
• Use your SnoozeShade alongside sun protection cream (when age appropriate).
• Remove hats at sleep time.
• To check baby’s temperature, feel the back of the neck and baby’s tummy – if they are cool and moist baby is too hot.
• SnoozeShade cannot make the outer environment cooler, but it does provide valuable shade and protection from UV rays which contribute towards heat stroke more than the ambient temperature.
• NEVER leave baby unattended in a car, especially in hot weather.

Launched in 2014, we also have the SnoozeShade for Cots. This is a universal (fits all European cots) breathable, portable blackout shade with panels that allow parents to adjust light levels and for easy access to baby. This product will not fit standard cot beds.

Used correctly, your SnoozeShade will allow your little one to sleep well (by blocking out light and visual distractions) and provide essential shade from the sun too. We are fiercely proud of all products and more than happy to answer any queries you may have.

 

 

Team SnoozeShade are huge advocates of sleep on the go, and as we descend into autumn we feel its more important than ever to spread the word to new parents across the land.  The SnoozeShade was invented so that mums and dads could take charge, stay social, and keep naps on track too. Here’s a quick guide to napping on the go, and why you need to make it part of your life today.

Naps are so important 

Babies and young children need more sleep than the rest of us, and much of this sleep is achieved during the daytime. From around the age of six months (or sooner for some babies) a routine is established whereby you kind of know more or less when your baby is going to need a sleep. At this point you can plan your days accordingly. It’s also at this point that babies become more aware of their surroundings and of stimulation in the room where they’re sleeping, so many babies take their daytime naps in a crib in the nursery to avoid being woken.

Naps are important because that’s when the young brain is developing and little bodies are rejuvenating.  Ask any parent who’s child has missed a nap and they will tell you that the daytime sleep is essential for so much more too. Naps give babies and children a chance to recharge ready for more adventures, and studies have also found that sleep helps to improve memory, gross motor skills and concentration levels too.

And let’s not forget that, naps are a chance for parents to relax and unwind too- so keeping them on track is essential! No matter how much you love being with your baby, every parent needs a break now and then- even if it’s just thirty minutes, or the chance to nip to the loo without someone crying… we all need naps in one way or another! Think of them a little like time out- a brief breather before the next round of parental duties begins.

When naps interfere with life, and vice versa

As already mentioned, by around the age of six months your baby will be more aware of things going on around him, and this can disturb sleep. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to put baby to sleep in 

his own room, away from distractions and safe from things that could wake him. And then you are stuck. No more mid afternoon coffee and cake meet ups with friends. Having to wake baby to go out on the school run. Cancelling plans to go out, or have friends round. You life revolves around nap time, and how much you can do either side of your baby’s sleep.

Sound familiar?

Napping on the go

Napping on the go, simply put, is all about helping baby to achieve daytime sleep without
cancelling life. It doesn’t mean your baby misses out on daytime sleep, and it doesn’t mean that baby never needs to sleep at home during the day either. Like anything, a balance is good and if you know your baby sleeps better in a bed then obviously you’ll want to make sure you’re at home for most of the naps. But there will always be times where you want or need to be out and about at nap time, so napping on the go means that you don’t need to make a choice between whether baby sleeps or you get your errands done.

Napping on the go means allowing baby to sleep while you’re out- in the car, pram, stroller or otherwise.

Tips for napping on the go

If you’re wondering how baby will ever be able to sleep out of the house and away from the nice peaceful nursery then perhaps these tips will help:

• At home, don’t go to great lengths to keep daytime noise to a minimum. Babies are able to sleep through a fair amount of noise, but if you regularly tiptoe around at nap time they will come to expect silence for all of their daytime sleep. This makes napping on the go difficult.
• Give your baby lots of opportunities to sleep in the pram or stroller away from the house so that the idea of sleeping while you do what you need to do is not met with protests.
• Use a SnoozeShade to create a darkened, cosy nook for sleeps. This is why we invented it after all! The SnoozeShade is made from breathable fabrics that eliminate sunlight (and protect from wind and cold weather in winter too) so that you can create an ideal sleeping environment away from the home.
• If baby is able to sleep quite well in the daylight but is easily distracted, again- use  a SnoozeShade! The warm coccon of the shade blocks out visual stimulus, allowing baby to switch off completely and enjoy sleep of a good quality.
• Try to aim for at least some of your naps to be out of the house each week, so that when it comes to needing to be out of the house, it isn’t likely to be an issue.

Napping on the go can be a saviour for some parents. Sometimes being tied to the house can make for a pretty isolating experience, and yet if baby doesn’t sleep well during the day then there’s a chance night time sleep won’t be much good either. Some parents lead active outdoor lives that they want to share with baby. Some parents may suffer from low moods or depression that can be treated effectively by being out of the house, meeting people and exercising in the fresh air. Whatever the reason, being out of the house is sometimes necessary, and if baby can come along and sleep while you do it then why not?

What are your top tips for napping on the go?

 

SnoozeShade is not just for the brighter, sunny months. Here’s how to get great baby sleep all year round.

When the sun starts to get weaker each day, we have to admit that summer is probably on its way out. But that doesn’t mean you need to relegate your SnoozeShade to the bag filled with sun hats and sandals. In fact, quite the opposite! Yes, the leaves are changing colour and starting to fall, but SnoozeShade is not just for sunny days.

Here are three reasons why you should continue using SnoozeShade after summer is over.

Your Baby Still Needs Sun Protection in Winter.

Did you know that skin care experts agree that your baby still needs sun protection even when it’s not the height of summer? UV rays are still able to harm your baby’s skin even in the colder, darker months. SnoozeShade provides essential protection against these harmful UV rays, even when you are using it in lookout mode. This is especially crucial for very young babies who cannot yet wear sunscreen (under six months). Do yourself a favour and keep SnoozeShade to hand, as even darker days can have sunny spells.

Your Baby Still Needs to Sleep!

Just because sunny days are behind us for now, don’t feel you no longer need SnoozeShade – you do. Your baby still needs to keep to their sleep routine during the fall and winter and though you may be out and about less often, naps are still essential and they help you get out of the house too. Who doesn’t want to drink hot coffee in peace while their baby sleeps?

The other advantage of SnoozeShade is that your baby will now associate it with sleep time, so using it as a sleep cue can be a very powerful parenting tool indeed. Lots of parents tell us that as soon as their baby spots SnoozeShade, they start to yawn and by the time it’s zipped up, they’re asleep!

Don’t forget that SnoozeShade also eliminates distractions and creates a darkened environment ideally matched for sleep, so it’s a win-win.

SnoozeShade Protects Against the Elements

While SnoozeShade helps to protect your baby against up to 99% of the sun’s harmful rays, it will also protect against other weather conditions, too. It will keep your little one warm and snug on windy days and in light rain and though it’s not a rain cover, if you’ve left home without yours, SnoozeShade can cope. Let’s face it, if your baby is asleep and you’re caught in a downpour, you’re probably on your way home at a rapid rate anyway!

Ultimately, we recommend that you keep SnoozeShade under your pushchair all year round – for sun protection, to use as a buffer against wind and light rain and for the ease of maintaining baby sleep on the go. SnoozeShade is not just for summer – and might just save your sanity!

Do get on touch if you have any questions at all!

Further Reading:

How to Use SnoozeShade Baby Sunshades
How to Use SnoozeShade to Improve Your Baby’s Sleep
Ten great gifts for a new baby boy