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Sleep Tips


Taking the Pacifier Away: Side Effects and What to Expect
You've decided it's time. The pacifier that once saved your sanity at 2 a.m. now feels like a sleep crutch you're ready to remove. But as you stand in your child's room, pacifier in hand, a wave of questions hits: What do I do if they protest this? Will sleep fall apart completely? What if you're making a mistake? The side effects of taking the pacifier away are real — but they're also widely misunderstood. Most parents aren't worried about a medical emergency; they're worrie

Chrissy Lawler
6 days ago8 min read


Should I Wake My Newborn to Feed? Guidelines for New Parents
You've just brought your baby home, and every instinct tells you not to disturb a sleeping infant. Yet somewhere in the back of your mind, a worry gnaws: should I wake my newborn to feed, or just let them sleep? This question hits differently at 3 a.m. when you're watching the clock and second-guessing every choice. And you're not alone — so many new parents struggle not just with the decision itself, but with the emotional weight it carries. The fear of doing harm either wa

Chrissy Lawler
Jun 108 min read


How to Wake Up a Newborn Safely (Without Disrupting Sleep)
You've probably spent the last hour trying to rouse your sleeping newborn for a feeding, only to watch those tiny eyes flutter open for three seconds before closing again. The pediatrician said to wake the baby every three hours, but no one explained how to actually make that happen — or why your baby seems to latch on while still basically asleep. If you're wondering whether you're doing something wrong, you're asking exactly the right questions. Here's the thing: learning h

Chrissy Lawler
Jun 58 min read


Newborn Sleeping on Side: Is It Safe or a Cause for Concern?
You placed your baby down on her back — you're certain of it. But when you tiptoe over to the bassinet twenty minutes later, she's tilted onto her side, curled like a tiny comma. Your heart skips. Did she roll? Is this dangerous? Should you wake her to reposition? If you've asked yourself any version of these questions in the middle of the night, you are absolutely not alone. Thousands of exhausted parents search "newborn sleeping on side" every month — not because they're i

Chrissy Lawler
Jun 18 min read


What Is a Dream Feed? A Complete Guide for Better Baby Sleep
You've just laid your baby down after a perfect bedtime routine. Two hours later, you're finally ready for bed yourself, but you know that as soon as you fall asleep, your baby will wake up hungry. If only there were a way to sneak in one more feeding before that inevitable wake-up call. Enter the dream feed: a strategy that sounds almost too good to be true. Feed your sleeping baby before you go to bed, and maybe, just maybe, everyone sleeps a little longer. But what exactly

Chrissy Lawler
May 269 min read


Newborn Rolling to Side: Is It Safe and What Should You Do?
You place your brand-new baby flat on their back in the bassinet, tiptoe toward the door, and before you've taken three steps they’re already curled onto their side like a tiny little shrimp. Your heart races. Is this normal? Is it dangerous? Should you flip them back over every time, or is this one of those things the hospital nurse said was fine but the safe-sleep handout says isn't? If you've been awake at 2 a.m. Googling "newborn rolling to side," you are absolutely not

Chrissy Lawler
May 238 min read


Newborn Will Only Sleep When Held: Why It Happens and What to Do
Your baby finally drifts off in your arms, breathing soft and steady, body warm against your chest — and then the moment you lower them into the bassinet, their eyes fly open. If this scene plays out three, five, or ten times a night in your home, you are not alone, you are not doing anything wrong, and your baby is almost certainly fine. "Newborn will only sleep when held" is one of the most universal early-parenting struggles, yet it rarely signals a problem that needs fixi

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 308 min read


Tips for Flying with Kids: What Actually Makes It Easier
You've read the blog posts. You've bookmarked the packing lists. You've mentally prepared yourself for the flight—and then your toddler melts down in baggage claim, not on the plane. Or your baby finally falls asleep in the stroller, only to wake up screaming when the gate agent takes it at the jet bridge. Or you land exhausted and victorious, only to realize the rental car line is 45 minutes long and you have no snacks left. Here's what most tips for flying with kids get wro

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 278 min read


Why Is My Newborn So Squirmy in Their Sleep? (It's Called Active Sleep)
You tiptoe over to the bassinet at 4 a.m., convinced your baby is about to wake up. The grunting has started again — those little squeaks and leg kicks that sound like your newborn is wrestling an invisible opponent. You stand there, hand hovering, wondering if you should pick them up or let them be. Here's what most new parents don't realize: your baby is probably still asleep. What you're witnessing is active sleep, and it's one of the most misunderstood parts of early pare

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 188 min read


What Is Sleep Pressure and Why It's the Secret to Better Baby Sleep
You've followed the wake-window chart to the minute. You've dimmed the lights, played white noise, and watched for every yawn. Yet your baby still fights sleep like it's a personal mission — or crashes hard, only to wake 30 minutes later, wide-eyed and furious. Here's what almost no one tells you: the problem might not be your routine, your baby's temperament, or even your timing. The missing piece is sleep pressure; the biological drive that determines whether your baby is t

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 48 min read


Swaddling to Sleep: Does It Work and Is It Safe?
You wrap your newborn snugly in a blanket, place them gently in the bassinet, and watch as their tiny body finally relaxes; three hours of solid sleep follow, maybe even four. Then, seemingly overnight around week ten or twelve, those same arms break free, your baby startles awake every twenty minutes, and you're left wondering whether the swaddle that saved you is now the very thing standing between your family and rest. If you've felt relief and then panic in equal measure

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 18 min read


Why Sleep Isn’t Linear—And How to Handle Setbacks
Wouldn’t it be nice if once your baby started sleeping well, it stayed that way forever? But as most parents quickly learn, sleep isn’t linear—even the best sleepers can suddenly throw you a curveball. Just when you feel like you’ve found your rhythm, something changes—again. A nap refusal here, a night waking there, suddenly you’re wondering what went wrong. The good news? You didn’t mess anything up. Sleep setbacks are a normal part of development, and they don’t mean all y

Chrissy Lawler
Jun 27, 20253 min read


My Baby Only Naps for 30 Minutes—Help!
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as spending precious time getting your baby down for a nap, only to have them pop awake after just 30 minutes—if you’re baby regularly naps for 30 minutes, you’re not alone. And you’re definitely not doing anything wrong. Let’s dive into the most common causes of short naps (aka the infamous " 45-minute nap intruder ") and what you can do to encourage longer, more restorative rest. What Counts as a Short Nap (and Why It Happens) A short na

Chrissy Lawler
Jun 23, 20254 min read


How to End the “One More Thing” Toddler Bedtime Battle
Ah…the infamous toddler bedtime battle. You know the drill. You finish the bedtime routine—bath, jammies, books, songs, lights out....

Chrissy Lawler
May 27, 20254 min read


Bedtime Routines That Set You Up for Success—Without Taking an Hour
Does bedtime feel like a never-ending saga in your house? The endless water requests, pajama protests, and negotiations over how many...

Chrissy Lawler
Apr 26, 20254 min read


Tips for Soothing a Fussy Baby: The 5 S's + a Bonus Idea
The newborn stage is no joke, and soothing a fussy baby can feel like cracking an impossible code. If you’ve ever found yourself...

Chrissy Lawler
Feb 25, 20254 min read


Natural Light and Baby Sleep: Why Getting Outside Makes a Huge Difference
Did you know that natural light and baby sleep go hand-in-hand? Let’s talk about it!Spring is (slowly) creeping in, and in places like...

Chrissy Lawler
Feb 18, 20254 min read


Poop Intruder Ruining Naptime? Here’s How to Fix It!
Oh, the poop intruder! It’s the evil twin of the nap intruder. (In case you are unfamiliar, a poop intruder is when a poop causes your...

Chrissy Lawler
Jan 30, 20254 min read


How to Orient Day and Night for Your Newborn
Bringing home a newborn and navigating their sleep is an exciting and overwhelming experience, especially when it comes to helping them...

Chrissy Lawler
Jan 28, 20254 min read


3 Baby Sleep Resolutions to Start 2025 Off Right
As the new year approaches, it’s time to pop the bubbly (or sparkling cider), make your baby sleep resolutions! Whether 2024 has been a...

Chrissy Lawler
Dec 31, 20243 min read
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