There are countless books and websites dedicated to helping your baby get a better night’s sleep. To parents, that often means a longer night’s sleep! While nighttime feeding remains an important part of your baby’s nutritional input, there are steps you can take to set your baby up for good sleep habits; ones that will transition him from frequent feedings to longer stretches of sleep to sleeping through the night. There are basic sleep elements that nearly all sleep experts agree are integral to a good night’s sleep. Creating a positive sleep association doesn’t just apply to babies, but can benefit your whole family. Create a sleep friendly environment  The environment won’t be the same for every baby. Your baby’s preferences and temperament will influence the tools that will work for him: White noise, calming music, or quiet For some babies, white noise can help replicate the sounds heard in utero. It may need to be at a fairly loud volume to take effect....

Naps Does your 11-week-old fall asleep for naps like a dream, only to wake up after 45 minutes?  This is completely normal for a baby this age.  Nap lengths can vary greatly in these early months. Yes, it would be great if your baby had 1.5 to 2 hour naps, however this is not always possible. A baby’s sleep cycle is somewhere between 45 and 60 minutes long. If your baby sleeps for 45 minutes or more, he will likely be able to stay awake for his whole wakeful window.  (See the sidebar for more information about your baby’s Wakeful Window.)   When your baby wakes up after a complete sleep cycle it may be hard for him to fall back to sleep right away because he may be well rested. Most babies under 6 months will be able to stay awake for 1-2 hours at a time. It is important that babies are not awake for too long so they don’t get overtired, which can make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep for the next time.   If your baby sleeps less than 45...

We do not recommend sleep coaching if: Your baby is under 18 weeks of age Has not entered the 4 month developmental stage Is experiencing challenges (not gaining weight, medical issues such as reflux, feeding difficulties, etc.) Babies’ sleep habits are very unpredictable at this point, and are too young to form any sleep habit yet. Instead, during the first few months, focus on making your baby feel safe and secure as she adjusts to this new, big world outside of mommy's tummy. In these first 18 weeks, try these gentle sleep strategies: Note: Make sure to address with your doctor or lactation consultant any feeding issues or concerns you have before focusing on sleep. Continue doing whatever works to help your baby sleep.  You will not create any bad habits this early in your baby's life. Use these Helpful Coping Strategies as you get your baby's sleep figured out. Try these Gentle Sleep Strategies that can help to improve the quality of your baby's...

The Importance of Routines Routines are an important part of your baby’s life. When your baby was first born he came into a world that is new and unfamiliar. In utero, everything was fairly simple and consistent. Your baby was in a warm environment, fed constantly and comforted by the soothing sound of mom’s heartbeat. After birth, his new big world is filled with sights, sounds and smells that he has never experienced. It’s a lot for him to take in, and can be very overwhelming to his very fragile nervous systems. Building familiar and consistent routines around his days and nights will help him transition easier and fall into more predictable patterns. We all have routines to our days. We usually eat at the same times, go to work at certain hours and fall asleep and wake up at predictable times. Routines bring structure to our lives and structure and predictability help us feel secure in life. Putting routines in place for your baby will do the same and bring about...

Parent’s Checklist for REFLUX in Infants 0-12 months old Download Printable Checklist for REFLUX Lifestyle and Eating Habits It is normal for an infant to spit up multiple times a day. The spitting up in and of itself is not a problem. Listed below are lifestyle and eating habits that can help reduce the frequency or amount that your infant spits up. Place a check mark next to the suggestions you have already tried so that you will be able to discuss other alternatives or options with your pediatrician: Decrease the size of each feeding, but make up for it by feeding more often. Burp more often throughout the feeding. Put your baby in a car seat only when driving in the car. Don’t immediately feed again if the baby spits up. Wait until the next scheduled feeding time. Avoid tight diapers and waistbands. Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke. If your baby is bottle-fed, add up to one tablespoon of rice cereal for every ounce of infant formula or breast...

Where to Find Help When we feel desperate and anxious, it’s tempting to start surfing the Net, hoping for reassurance and reliable information and resources. Don’t do it. It will most likely lead to more anxiety (at best), and harmful information at worst. There are self-proclaimed experts in any field, and postpartum depression is no different. Unless you are being sent to a site from a trusted healthcare professional, don’t go looking. Here are a few resources for those suffering from PPD that you can count on: Postpartum Support International (PSI) http://www.postpartum.net This site focuses on postpartum mental health and social support. http://www.mededppd.org This site provides professional education as well as information for women with postpartum depression. PPDGone! A free app that provides short articles, videos, and links to get professional support. Http://www.PPDTreatment.com PPDTreatment is the only site where the therapists listed must have special training...

Is My Therapist Right for Me? If you’re already working with a therapist or need to find one, here are a few key characteristics to look for before you begin (or continue) your relationship with a therapist to help you through this particular time. In addition to being properly  licensed, you want to work with someone who is openminded, willing to learn, and compassionate. Trust your intuition about the “feel” of a potential therapist and how well she listens and understands what you’re experiencing. Here are a few important questions you’ll want answered before making your decision: What specific training and experience have you received in working with women with postpartum depression? Post Partum Depression (PPD) is a specialized field. She either needs to have excellent training and experience (ideally) or at least know that she doesn’t know about it and be open to learning. What books and Web sites can you recommend for me? She should be able to name several...

Question: I’m a new dad with a beautiful, two-month-old baby girl. My wife and I are going through a rough patch right now. I think she is suffering from depression. She says she feels inadequate caring for our baby. What can I do to help?   Answer: You’d be amazed at how many new dads either don’t notice or don’t worry about their wife’s changing moods. Your having recognized the problem is the first step toward helping her get better. As many as 85% of brand new moms get what’s commonly referred to as the “baby blues,” which could manifest as moodiness, tearfulness, and irritability. (This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, when you think about the sleepless nights, lack of physical intimacy, and feelings of isolation that many new moms feel). The good news is that in most cases the baby blues go away all by themselves after a few weeks or so. Some new mothers, around 10%, develop postpartum depression (PPD), which is more serious and usually requires...

Dads Get the Baby Blues Too Question: I have a 2-week old baby boy, and I’m crazy about him. But I’ve suddenly started feeling really anxious, stressed, irritable, and sometimes even angry. Could I be suffering from male postpartum depression? I’ve never heard of guys getting postpartum depression, is it possible? If so, what can I do about it? Answer: Most of us have heard of new moms experiencing the “baby blues,” or actual postpartum depression, but few acknowledge that paternal postpartum depression is just as real. In fact, quite a few people ridicule the idea. It’s wonderful that you are not one of them.   According to Will Courtenay, a psychotherapist specializing in male postpartum depression, as many as 1 in 4 new dads experience the kinds of symptoms you mentioned, in the days, weeks, and even months after the birth of a child. Unfortunately, men rarely discuss their feelings or ask for help, especially during a time when they’re supposed to “be...

Dad’s Corner: Dads Get the Baby Blues Too Question: I have a 2-week old baby boy, and I’m crazy about him. But I’ve suddenly started feeling really anxious, stressed, irritable, and sometimes even angry. Could I be suffering from male postpartum depression? I’ve never heard of guys getting postpartum depression, is it possible? If so, what can I do about it? Answer: Most of us have heard of new moms experiencing the “baby blues,” or actual postpartum depression, but few acknowledge that paternal postpartum depression is just as real. In fact, quite a few people ridicule the idea. It’s wonderful that you are not one of them. According to Will Courtenay, a psychotherapist specializing in male postpartum depression, as many as 1 in 4 new dads experience the kinds of symptoms you mentioned, in the days, weeks, and even months after the birth of a child. Unfortunately, men rarely discuss their feelings or ask for help, especially during a time when they’re supposed to...