http://babesinsleepland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/logo-new.jpg
Helping the overtired moms and children sleep like a baby!
Find Your Perfect Sleep Success Plan
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Angela
    • Philosophy and Values
  • Working Together
    • Approach
    • Sleep Success Plans
    • Group Seminars
    • Purchase Here
  • Media
  • Testimonials
  • Products
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Contact

December 11, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Child Sleep Cycles

 

 

dreamstime_xs_32656190

Thanksgiving has kicked off the holiday season and for many of you that means back-to-back company until the New Year. When the house is full of family and friends it can make it more difficult, not only to get your child down to sleep, but with increased noise in the house, it can cause them to wake frequently. A common misconception with many of the parents I have worked with, is that once their child enters into a deep sleep, they are less likely to be woken up from noise or disturbances. Since it is the season for visitors and noisy homes, I wanted to provide information about sleep cycles that will help clarify this common misunderstanding.

Similar to adults, the nature of your child’s sleep is different during each stage of their sleep cycle, and at some stages, your child may be more prone to wake up from such things as noise or light. Because a child’s sleep cycle is much shorter than an adult (a child under the age of one might have a sleep cycle of 45 minutes) they will transition from light and deep sleep frequently throughout the night.

The National Sleep Foundation provides the following description for the two alternating types of sleep:

  • Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) or “quiet” sleep. During the deep states of NREM sleep, blood supply to the muscles is increased, energy is restored, tissue growth and repair occur, and important hormones are released for growth and development.
  • Rapid Eye Movement(REM) or “active” sleep. During REM sleep, our brains are active and dreaming occurs. Our bodies become immobile, breathing and heart rates are irregular.

Below I have attached information from The Brain from Top to Bottom,  http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_11/i_11_p/i_11_p_cyc/i_11_p_cyc.html a McGill University hosted website designed for sharing scientific knowledge about the brain and human activity, that helps to break down the different stages of a regular sleep cycle. Sleep cycles for children are very similar to adults, however, cycles for children are much shorter (lasting about 30-50 minutes) and increase gradually with age.

Stage 1 Non-REM Sleep: Non-REM (NREM) sleep begins when you first lie down and close your eyes. After a few sudden, sharp muscle contractions in the legs, the muscles relax. Though your reactions to stimuli from the outside world diminish, Stage 1 is still the phase of sleep from which it is easiest to wake someone.

Stage 2 Non-REM Sleep: People in Stage 2 sleep are unlikely to react to light or a noise unless it is extremely bright or loud. However, it is still possible to awaken them. But because people go through Stage 2 sleep several times during the cycles in a night, this is the stage in which adults spend the greatest proportion of their sleep–nearly 50% of the total time that they sleep each night.

Stage 3 Non-REM Sleep: This stage marks the passage from moderately to truly deep sleep. During Stage 3, the muscles still have some tonus, and sleepers show very little response to external stimuli unless they are very strong or have a special personal meaning (for example, when someone calls your name, or when a baby cries within earshot of its mother.)

Stage 4 Non-REM Sleep: This stage is the deepest, the one in which we sleep the most soundly. The brain’s temperature is also at its lowest, and breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure are all reduced under the influence of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Stage 4 accounts for 15 to 20% of total sleep time in young adults. The muscles still have their tonus, and some movements of the arms, legs, and trunk are possible. This is the stage of sleep that accomplishes most of the body’s repair work and from which it is most difficult to wake someone up. This is also the stage of sleep in which children may have episodes of sleepwalking and night terrors.

REM Sleep: This is the dream stage. In REM sleep your brain recharges its batteries and records what it has learned during the day. During REM sleep, the brain’s oxygen consumption, which reflects its energy consumption, is very high–even higher than when someone is awake and thinking about a complex cognitive problem. During REM sleep, the body’s inner temperature is no longer well-regulated and tends to shift toward the temperature of its surroundings. Because babies spend tremendous amounts of time in REM sleep, care must be taken to keep the rooms where they sleep at a suitable temperature, so that they don’t suffer from excessive fluctuations in body temperature.

After REM sleep, you either wake up or begin another cycle. With the frequency of your child’s sleep cycle, it is best to try and keep the noise down throughout the night. Because this may be difficult when you have visitors during the holiday season, I suggest finding a room in your home to host your company that is not directly attached, or linked by a common vent to your child’s room. Also, be sure to have a white noise machine, such as a fan in your child’s room, and for extra noise reduction, one outside your child’s room. 

Above all stay safe and enjoy this special time of year with family and friends!

Happy Holidays!

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com.  Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland and follow her on Twitter

 

Filed Under: Baby Sleep, Child Sleep, Child Sleep Cycles

August 5, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

August is National Breastfeeding Month

 

 

happy mom breast feeding newborn baby

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child.

Not only does breastfeeding provide a unique bonding opportunity, a mother’s breastmilk offers antibodies that can help protect her baby from illness. According to womenshealth.gov, research suggests that breastfed babies have lower risks of such illnesses as asthma, childhood obesity, ear infections, eczema, diarrhea and vomiting, lower respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Type 2 diabetes.

Breastfeeding can also provide many health benefits for mothers. According to healthychildren.org, “mothers who breastfeed recover from childbirth more quickly and easily. The hormone oxytocin, released during breastfeeding acts to return the uterus to its regular size more quickly, and can reduce postpartum bleeding. Studies show that women who have breastfed experience reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. Some studies have found that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”

Feeding Your Infant

Newborns can eat up to twelve times in a 24 hour period.  It’s best at this young age to feed your baby on demand as their nervous system isn’t mature enough for a feeding schedule. Additionally, feeding on demand is a good way to help establish your milk supply.  You can often pick up your baby’s hunger cues before they start getting upset. Look for increased alertness and/ or rooting around for your breast.

Breastfeeding and Sleep Training

When it comes to sleep, breastfed babies can sleep as well and as long as bottle fed babies. However, breastfed babies are more likely to fall asleep while being fed. This is a wonderful feeling having your baby fall asleep as you nurse, but it can also create a strong nurse/sleep association. As your baby gets older, practice waking your baby after nursing and putting him down drowsy but awake, or have dad or a caregiver put him down. This will help your baby learn how to self-soothe. 

After the age of two months, babies eat more during the day and can sleep longer intervals at night. If your baby wakes within a couple of hours of eating, try singing, shushing, rocking, replacing a pacifier, rubbing or patting, before offering breast or bottle. It’s easy to always default to feeding, but it may not be necessary. Teaching your baby new skills is a wonderful goal to have. 

A baby’s sleep habits can change due to growth spurts and milestones. It’s very tempting in the night to begin feeding if they suddenly start waking. Try to resist doing this as it can become habit forming, and lead to even more night wakings. Instead, use the same soothing techniques suggested above, or offer a bottle of water if all else fails.  

If  your baby begins to drop a night feed, pump at the time your baby would normally wake and then gradually wean. If you stop abruptly this could affect your milk supply as well as cause discomfort. Likewise, nightly pumping may be necessary when your baby begins to give up night feedings.

Bonding With Dad
Within the first few weeks of life, try offering a bottle so your baby can get used to it. Have dad do the feed. This will allow you to get some extra rest, encourage bonding between dad and your baby, and introduce your baby to self-soothing skills. 

A mom’s ability to breastfeed is one of life’s amazing gifts. Breastfeeding not only provides your child with a healthy start to life, but the soothing routine helps to settle your little one into a good night’s rest. In addition, finding the right balance between feeding times and sleep schedules can help your little one build healthy sleep habits.

Once your baby approaches the age of four months, you can begin to put your baby on a sleep schedule. For some babies this is not an easy transition, and you may find you need help. As your Pediatric Sleep Specialist, I know your baby and family situation is absolutely unique. Understanding your baby’s sleep issues as well as your parenting philosophy and style, I will create a customized sleep plan to get your entire family sleeping again.  If you think you and your family could benefit from a Child Sleep Specialist be sure to review my sleep success plans or contact me for additional information.

Please let me know if you found this information helpful.

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com.  Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

 

 

Filed Under: Baby Sleep, Breast Feeding and Sleep Training, How to Teach Self Soothing Skills, Moms and Babies, National Breastfeeding Month, Sleep Tips for Newborn Babies

June 1, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Tips for Healthy Sleep During the Summer

 

Portrait of toddler child,  boy or gir, sleeping under a blanket in a bed.

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger and flowers are in bloom. The beautiful signs of summer time are upon us. Unfortunately while summer is a wonderful time of year, it can create issues for proper sleeping schedules. In addition, the weeks leading up to summer bring with them a high pollen count that can cause irritation for those who suffer from allergies.

Fortunately there are tips to help baby and parent ensure a good sleep during the warm summer months.

Temperature Control:
Do your best to keep the house cool during the night. An ideal temperature for sleeping is between 68 and 72 degrees. Try not to crank the AC too high to avoid creating an unnatural coolness. Many children enjoy the comfort of being able to sleep underneath a blanket, so the idea is to make the house cool enough to allow them to do so comfortably.

For those who do not have air conditioning, keep the blinds closed during the day to help keep the temperature of the room cool. Fans can be helpful to keep the air circulating. Face the fan away from the child’s face to avoid irritation.


Keep an Eye Out For Days With High Pollen Count:
Pollen travels more during warm, windy and dry weather. This can cause allergy symptoms to heighten. The irritating and sometimes painful symptoms of allergies, such as runny nose, itchy eyes and congestion, can make sleeping even more difficult during the spring and summer months. The Weather Network provides an allergy tracking tool on their website that can help parents keep an eye out for days with high pollen counts
http://www.weather.com/health/allergy .


Limit Sun Exposure Around Bedtime:
We love any opportunity to get the kids outdoors and being active. Without sounding too contradictory, try to limit the amount of sun exposure your little one gets around bedtime.

Light is an important external factor that can affect sleep, and during the summer it can cause issues in two ways. The longer days we experience in the summer can affect our internal clock and sunlight can prohibit the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

According to the National Sleep Foundation “exposure to light stimulates a nerve pathway from the retina in the eye to an area in the brain called the hypothalamus. There, a special center called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) initiates signals to other parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature and other functions that play a role in making us feel sleepy or wide awake. The SCN also delays the release of other hormones like melatonin, which is associated with sleep onset, until many hours later when darkness arrives.” http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep/page/0/1


Less is More:
As the temperature climbs be sure to remove any heavy winter bedding from your little ones crib or bed. Light weight cotton and other breathable fabrics are better options.

Children who still have difficulty wetting the bed may sleep with a waterproof barrier between their bottom sheet and mattress. Many of these barriers do not breathe and can cause your little one to get warm during the night. There are many breathable, hypoallergenic mattress protectors available on the market that can be a positive alternative.

Since we all love summer and love to be up longer and enjoy the long days, keep in mind that your child still needs to be on a good sleep schedule. The occasional later bedtime here or there because of traveling or family and friends visiting, is ok. But don’t make it a habit. Children can become overtired very quickly and this will lead to problems going to bed at night, waking in the night and waking too early in the morning. If your child still naps, these too can be affected. If you would like information on how much sleep your child should be getting a day, as well as some important sleep tips, please click on this link https://babesinsleepland.com/sleep-science-101-registration/, and then follow the prompts.

Please let me know if you found this information helpful!

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website they need and desire. : babesinsleepland.com.  Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Allergies in Children, Baby Sleep, certified child sleep consultant, Child Sleep, child sleep expert, Summer Sleep Tips

March 3, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Daylight Saving-Time to Spring Ahead

 After working with Angela our whole household is so much happier. Angela thank you for your support. Your business fills a gap for all those sleep-deprived families. I truly appreciate what you do and how you have made a difference in my family's life.

I’m just wondering if you were as surprised as I was when I discovered Daylight Saving Times (DST) takes place this Sunday, March 8th?  I have never known it to be so early, and I’m not really sure if I am ready to get up in the dark again, and to loose an hour.  But in any event, it is what it is, and the longer evenings are definitely a bonus!

So what should you do to prepare your children for the time change?  Starting tomorrow night begin putting them to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual. So if they always went to bed at 7, tomorrow it will be 6:45.  The following night make it another 15 minutes earlier and so on, until they are going to bed, one full hour earlier than when you started .

For adults and children it can take our bodies a few days to adjust to time changes, so it’s good to get an early start on Daylight Saving.  Initially your child may not feel sleepy or be able to settle and fall asleep as easily with this change, so make sure all the other household activities are changing as well.  For example, meals should be earlier, turning the lights down in the house, turning off electronics, starting the bedtime routine.  These are all the things that act as cues for your baby or child to know it’s getting close to bedtime.  By dimming rooms in the house, and turning off TV’s, computers, and other such type of devices, will allow your child’s body to begin the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. 

Our child’s internal sleep clock is set by light and dark, so not only do you want to make the house dark at night in preparation for sleep, you also want to expose your child to as much sunshine and daylight as possible.  This will reprogram your child’s clock and get her adjusted to this new time change. 

Let me know if you have other tips to help kids adjust to the time change.

 

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Adjusting a child's bedtime, Baby Sleep, certified child sleep consultant, Child Sleep, child sleep expert, How to adjust sleep schedules to time changes

February 25, 2015 by Angela Walsh Leave a Comment

Do you Have Sleep Questions You Would Love to Have Answered?

Adorable toddler girl taking a nap in a white bedIf you would like a sleep expert to answer your baby or child sleep questions, visit https://www.facebook.com/BabesInSleepland on Thursdays at 1pm EDT.

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.

 

Filed Under: Baby Sleep, baby sleep difficulties, certified child sleep consultant, Child Sleep, child sleep advice, child sleep expert, Sleep Advice

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 10
  • Next Page »

Featured On:

healthy-life-logowiox-logoitsyourhealthnetworkNEW LIVING LO-2pp-logo

Meet Angela

My name is Angela Walsh.  I am a Child Sleep Consultant Certified by the Family Sleep Institute, and the founder of Babes in Sleepland.  As the mother of four grown children (three boys and a girl), my mission is to help parents like you enjoy every … (READ MORE)

What Our Families Are Saying

Kate, NY, NY

"After putting Angela’s techniques to use, we had a baby who went from several night wakings to only one waking a night! Angela was a great help, and was sensitive to my beliefs as a...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:16:34+00:00
"After putting Angela’s techniques to use, we had a baby who went from several night wakings to only one waking a night! Angela was a great help, and was sensitive to my beliefs as a parent.  We are so lucky to have worked with her!"
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/1/

Deb, Comox British Columbia

"Angela helped my daughter make the transition to sleeping in her bassinet, and also helped to clarify the basics of baby sleep cycles. Her sleep habits have greatly improved and she is an alert and...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:16:59+00:00
"Angela helped my daughter make the transition to sleeping in her bassinet, and also helped to clarify the basics of baby sleep cycles. Her sleep habits have greatly improved and she is an alert and happy baby. I am so grateful for Angela’s help and would recommend her services to anyone who has questions or problems around their baby’s sleep."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/2/

Viney, Ny,Ny

"Angela was so helpful to me in my early attempts to sleep train my daughter; she was quick to respond, reassuring, empathetic and incredibly patient! Since I was dealing with my own sleep deprivation, I...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:17:52+00:00
"Angela was so helpful to me in my early attempts to sleep train my daughter; she was quick to respond, reassuring, empathetic and incredibly patient! Since I was dealing with my own sleep deprivation, I appreciated that she always sent me a recap of our conversations in an email after we spoke."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/3/

Brenda, Milwaukee, WI

"Working with Angela from Babes in Sleepland, our daughter Violet has gotten so much better in just a week’s time.  She’s been so full of smiles and I feel liberated.  Now we can fall head-over-heels...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:18:02+00:00
Testimonials
"Working with Angela from Babes in Sleepland, our daughter Violet has gotten so much better in just a week’s time.  She’s been so full of smiles and I feel liberated.  Now we can fall head-over-heels in love with her. When you are sleep-deprived, it’s hard to be truly happy to see your child in the morning when you have been hanging out with them all night!  Angela, thank you for your support during all these changes. Your business certainly fills a gap that sleep-deprived moms, dads, babies and families need.  With your training and expertise, you are able to take care of moms to get them and the whole family sleeping."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/4/

Brandi, Rye, NY

"I didn’t think anyone could help, but then I called Angela.  She was great!  After working with her, my son can now self-soothe, doesn’t eat at all throughout the night, and sleeps so much better!!...
Babes in Sleepland
2014-02-06T17:18:13+00:00
"I didn’t think anyone could help, but then I called Angela.  She was great!  After working with her, my son can now self-soothe, doesn’t eat at all throughout the night, and sleeps so much better!!  AMAZING!  Angela was so helpful and it was so great to be able to contact her with the smallest question or concern."
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/5/

Cynthia, Old Greenwich, CT

"What I also found so appealing about Angela, is that she respected me as a mother. Her guidance kept me empowered. And she has the sweetest most soothing voice!"
Babes in Sleepland
2017-05-03T13:51:05+00:00
"What I also found so appealing about Angela, is that she respected me as a mother. Her guidance kept me empowered. And she has the sweetest most soothing voice!"
https://babesinsleepland.com/testimonials/cynthia-old-greenwich-ct/
0
0
Babes in Sleepland

Featured On

healthy-life-logo
wiox-logo
itsyourhealthnetwork
NEW LIVING LO-2
pp-logo

DOWNLOAD A MEDIA KIT

fsi_logo-cert-latest
iacsc-member

© 2023 Babes in Sleepland • Disclaimer • Site Design Graphic Design By Emily