Smart Night Sleep

11/05/2025

2-Year Sleep Regression

🧠 Toddlers at 2 years are learning, imagining, and testing limits — and bedtime can get tricky! Nap refusal or stalling? Normal.

Tip: Maintain naps, offer simple choices for independence, and keep consistent bedtime boundaries. Consider instituting a visual bedtime chart or flashcards and other todddler sleep tools, like a toddler clock. Your 2-year-old can sleep well! 🌙

10/29/2025

18-Month Sleep Regression

🧒 Separation anxiety, teething, learning cause & effect, and independence can shake up sleep at 18 months. Nap strikes or bedtime stalling? It’s normal!

Tip: Consider instituting a quiet time in the morning to help your child reach their mid-day nap more easily. Keep routines predictable, respond consistently to night wakings, and maintain age-appropriate sleep expectations. 💛 Spend some time filling your child's attention bucket during the day.

10/27/2025

Have a listen to this client’s story.

Thank you for your trust. ❤️💤

10/27/2025

🍂 What should parents do about bedtime and the Fall time change?

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, when the clocks “fall back” one hour. This shift can throw off little ones’ routines, but with a plan in place, you can make the transition much smoother.

Here are two effective strategies to help your family adjust:

⏰ Option 1: Adjust Cold Turkey
Simply change the clocks on November 2 and switch to the new bedtime right away. It might take a few days for everyone to adapt, but many children settle into the new rhythm within a week or two.

⏰ Option 2: Gradual Shift
Start a few days before the time change and move your child’s bedtime and wake time 15 minutes later each day.

For example, if bedtime is usually 7:00 PM, make it 7:15 PM, then 7:30 PM, and so on. By the time the clocks change, their “new” 7:00 PM bedtime will align more closely with their internal clock.

You can also make small adjustments to naps and mealtimes to support the shift.

✨ Pro tip: Expect a short transition period. Kids may be a little cranky while their bodies adjust, but with persistence and consistency, they’ll settle into the new schedule.

You’ve got this, parents—this is just a short phase, and smoother evenings are ahead! 🌙
Read more at the link in bio.

10/23/2025

🌙 Don’t assume nap time is over just because your baby wakes early
…and other simple ways to help extend those naps ⬇️

(📌 Save this post for later or share it with another parent who might need these tips!)

4 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer During Naps:

1️⃣ Pause before rushing in.
If your baby wakes after 30–40 minutes, don’t assume the nap is done. Stop, wait, and listen. Give your little one a chance to settle and practice self-soothing. If you go in right away, you’re actually guaranteeing they won’t fall back asleep—and they’ll miss that important restorative sleep they need during the day.

2️⃣ Make the room really dark.
Blackout shades are your best friend. A dark environment supports the release of melatonin, helping your baby relax and drift into deeper sleep.

3️⃣ Use white noise wisely.
A continuous, steady sound can help lull your baby into restorative sleep and keep outside noises from interrupting. Keep the machine at a safe volume and place it across the room, away from the crib, and close to the door.

4️⃣ Create a mini nap routine.
Just like bedtime, a predictable wind-down helps your baby understand what’s coming. Take about 10 minutes: bring baby to the nursery, dim the lights, change their diaper, and read a short story. Simple cues like this go a long way.

✨ For more nap and bedtime tips, check out the free sleep resources on our website — link in bio.

10/22/2025

12-Month Sleep Regression

👶 12 months + sleep struggles = not uncommon! Independence surges, naps may get tricky, and bedtime battles can appear.

Tip: Maintain consistent schedules, establish clear bedtime boundaries, and resist dropping the morning nap too soon. This is not the time to move to one nap. They still need a morning nap until 15-18 months. Your baby’s sleep will stabilize! 🌙

10/17/2025

How much sleep does your school-age child really need? 💤

These is the most common questionsI get from parents of older kids. 📚✨

📌 Save or share this post as a quick reference to make sure your child is getting the amount of sleep they need to thrive at school and at home.

Did the recommended hours surprise you? Will you be making any bedtime tweaks? Let me know in the comments ⬇️

10/16/2025

✋ Raise your hand if you have (or will soon have) a newborn!
Newborn sleep can be a wild ride, but understanding what to expect during the first 4 months can make it feel a little less overwhelming. Let’s break it down:

🍼 Newborn – 8 Weeks

This stage is all about bonding and recovery—for both of you. Your baby won’t have a set sleep pattern yet and may mix up days and nights (totally normal!). Right now, your focus should be on keeping your little one well-rested and ensuring they’re sleeping in a safe sleep space.

🌙 6–8 Weeks to 12 Weeks

This is when you may see your baby hit their first sleep milestone. Some babies begin sleeping 4–6 hour stretches at night—hallelujah! 🙌
It’s a great time to:

Establish a soothing bedtime routine

Create a sleep-conducive nursery

Start introducing the crib as their primary sleep space

🌞 12–16 Weeks

Keep up the good work! Nighttime stretches usually lengthen, bedtime shifts earlier, and wake windows gradually increase. You’ll start noticing more predictable patterns with naps and nighttime sleep—your baby will soon be ready for a more structured schedule.

✨ Newborn sleep isn’t always picture-perfect, but laying the foundation early can set your baby up for healthy sleep habits. Always follow safe sleep practices, and soak in those sleepy snuggles. 💛

10/16/2025

✋ Raise your hand if you have (or will soon have) a newborn!

Newborn sleep can be a wild ride, but understanding what to expect during the first 4 months can make it feel a little less overwhelming. Let’s break it down:

🍼 Newborn – 8 Weeks
This stage is all about bonding and recovery—for both of you. Your baby won’t have a set sleep pattern yet and may mix up days and nights (totally normal!). Right now, your focus should be on keeping your little one well-rested and ensuring they’re sleeping in a safe sleep space.

🌙 6–8 Weeks to 12 Weeks
This is when you may see your baby hit their first sleep milestone. Some babies begin sleeping 4–6 hour stretches at night—hallelujah! 🙌
It’s a great time to:
Establish a soothing bedtime routine
Create a sleep-conducive nursery
Start introducing the crib as their primary sleep space

🌞 12–16 Weeks
Keep up the good work! Nighttime stretches usually lengthen, bedtime shifts earlier, and wake windows gradually increase. You’ll start noticing more predictable patterns with naps and nighttime sleep—your baby will soon be ready for a more structured schedule.

🌛16-18 Weeks
You can now formally work on sleep. If you are struggling with your baby's sleep, this is a great time to reach out to a sleep consultant who can help you reach your sleep goals.

✨ Newborn sleep isn’t always picture-perfect, but laying the foundation early can set your baby up for healthy sleep habits. Always follow safe sleep practices, and soak in those sleepy snuggles. 💛

10/15/2025

8–10 Month Sleep Regression

👶 Crawling, pulling up, babbling… and more night waking? Around 8–10 months, babies hit a big developmental leap — and sleep often takes a hit.

Tip: Stick to your routines, give extra daytime connection, and practice new skills during the day, not at 2 a.m. 💛 Make up for any lost sleep with an early bedtime.

10/14/2025

🌙 Early Bedtimes Matter—More Than You Think! 🌙

Did you know that getting your child to bed just 30 minutes earlier can be a game-changer? It’s all about quality sleep, not just quantity. In our latest blog post, we dive into why early bedtimes are so powerful—and how to make them doable even in busy households.

✨ Why it helps

The early hours of the night are the most restorative, thanks to your child’s natural circadian rhythm.

Later bedtimes can backfire: overtired kids often get a “second wind” (hello cortisol spike!), which makes them harder to settle.

Shifting bedtime earlier can reduce night wakings, shorten early mornings, and help lengthen naps.

🔧 Tips to make it work (even for busy parents):

Prep meals and bedtime items ahead of time to avoid evening chaos.

Keep a consistent bedtime routine—even a 20–30 min version helps kids wind down.

Use weekends (when possible) to “catch up” if early bedtime isn’t always possible during the week.

Want to dig deeper? Read the full post here → https://www.smartnightsleep.com/post/early-bedtimes-why-they-re-so-important-for-kids

Let me know: What’s your child’s current bedtime? Could it use a shift?

Early bedtimes aren’t just about avoiding cranky mornings—they’re the key to better mood, behavior, learning, and overall health. Learn why those first hours of nighttime sleep are the most restorative, how shifting bedtime earlier can solve common sleep struggles, and get simple, realistic ti...