baby sleep consultant

Early childhood is a time of immense physical and emotional growth for your child. They go from being immobile to walking, talking and potty training in the span of just a few years! Here's what you can expect as your baby evolves into an active toddler:

Newborn to 4 months 

Your baby's first month is typically spent getting to know their surroundings and developing a sense of trust with their parents. You can help them learn by holding them for most of the day, responding to them immediately when they cry or make noise and keeping your voice at a soothing level as often as possible.

4 months to 2 years 

This is a time of immense physical development for your baby. They'll be spending more and more time on their hands and knees, crawling all over the place while making random vowel sounds at their toys. 

Babies this age love repetition, so if you read them a book or sing them a song every day, they'll grow familiar with it's contents and be excited to see you walking up the stairs with that stuffed giraffe. Don't be surprised if your baby starts acting out what they've seen on TV or in real life, though.

2 years to 4 years 

During this period of cognitive development , your toddler is beginning to form stronger memories of people, places and objects. They'll require constant attention during this time because they're curious about their surroundings. This means watching their favorite movie for the 50th time is likely to be met with enthusiasm. 

As your child begins to understand language more, they'll be able to express their emotions through words or by pointing at what makes them feel a certain way.

4 years to 6 years 

Your little one's imagination will really start developing in these years as they grow in verbal and social skills. They'll be able to use more complex sentences and participate in simple conversations. They may also start using prepositions, playing with words and have a greater capacity for describing their feelings.

As your baby/child continues to grow and develop, it is important to make sure that you have the proper tools and supplies to keep them healthy and happy. Some of these supplies include car seats, cribs, high chairs and strollers. One great thing to keep on hand as your baby grows is the Baby Merlin sleep system, including the SleepSuit and DreamSack. Our Magic Sleep System helps your little one get the rest they need during these most important early years

To every parent, there comes that moment in time when you just can't get your baby to sleep. Babies getting poor sleep is one of the most common sources of stress for new parents. It's important to remember that everyone copes with these challenges differently and if you are feeling stressed about it, talk to someone.

Friends, family members, and doctors are all good places to start if you feel as though the lack of sleep is affecting your personal well-being. Everyone has a different opinion on how to get babies to sleep, but the one thing that remains consistent with every method is that there is no right or wrong way, just what works for you and your baby.

The information below is a collection of tips from parents with advice on how to keep your baby sleeping through the night.

Keep a sleep log

Make sure that you are writing down when your baby wakes up and for how long in order to have a better idea of what might be going on. Some babies will wake up every hour, but the total amount of hours they sleep is still 10, while others will only wake up twice in one night but the total amount of hours is less than what you would like. You can also check for patterns by seeing when your baby sleeps best

Give yourself a break

If your baby is constantly waking up and it has been going on for months, take a break. This means that you should stop doing any activities at home that require your attention for a little while and get out of the house or simply lay down and relax until they fall asleep. There is no reason to feel bad about taking time away from the baby if it's going to make you feel better in the long run.

Put them down awake, but drowsy

If your baby is in the habit of falling asleep while feeding, try changing it up by putting them in their crib when they are still awake. This will help you to avoid the situation where your baby gets used to falling asleep with a bottle in their mouth and can make for some frustration when you try to take it away. Be prepared for some crying during the process, but do not give in and simply hold them instead of laying them down. If nothing else, this will teach your baby how to self-soothe.

Don't wake a sleeping baby

It may be tempting to go in and check on your sleeping child after they have been quiet for a while, but never do this. If you enter the room and they open their eyes or make any noise whatsoever, it will only let them know that if they make enough of a fuss, you will eventually come. This will make them cry even harder when they finally do get your attention.

Ensure you are properly dressing your baby for bed

You should always ensure you are properly dressing your baby for bed. The AAP recommends that babies should ideally sleep at cooler room temperatures, but should still be dressed warmly. The Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit and Magic DreamSack are great products to consider when dressing your baby for bed at different stages of their growing up. If you have any questions about the Baby Merlin sleep system, check out their FAQs or contact Baby Merlin today!

We interviewed the mother of a 3-year-old and 15-month-old to ask about some of her best tips for new moms. She said, “I'm always wary of dishing out advice. But there are still plenty of things I wish someone had told me when my bundle of joy first arrived! Of course, we all parent in our own way, and every child is different. “

Parenting a newborn baby can be difficult as-is, but when you add in newborn sleep issues, lack of sleep can become problematic for both parents and the baby. Read below for some tips for helping your baby sleep better.

1. Check with the Doctor

Before anything else, you should rule out a medical cause for your baby’s sleeping problems. Are they in pain? Uncomfortable? Seeing a doctor will put your mind at ease and let you focus on looking after your little one. There’s the added advantage of getting advice from your baby’s doctor.

2. Get Outside

It’s important to get your baby up and moving, so they are sleepy when bedtime rolls around. Try taking a walk or just going outside and spending time sitting on the porch. 

The change of scenery may do your little one some good. Outdoors, your baby can look at the wind moving leaves, people and cars going by, and animals running around. This excitement will wear out your baby so he or she will be more tired when it’s time for bed.

3. Try a Baby Sleep Suit

Some babies need a little extra something to help them feel secure and content at bedtime. That’s where a baby dream sack comes in.

A baby sleep suit or sleep sack is designed to help your little one feel snuggly and protected, so they’ll feel nice and swaddled, even in the crib. A sleep suit is for younger babies, and provides a tighter swaddle, while a baby sleep sack is a good transition from the sleep suit for babies when they are around 6 months old. This is an excellent method of getting your child to sleep longer.

4. Use a Baby Carrier

Babywearing is often the best way to keep your baby happy throughout the day, and some babies even nap better in a baby carrier! You may need to test out a few different carriers (try borrowing some to test before buying) to find the one that works best for you and your infant.

If your little one just wants to be on you at all times or needs to be moving constantly, this can be a way to compromise for both of you. Your baby gets to enjoy being on your body, and you can still have hands free to do what you need to do. Babywearing may be the trick to getting your baby to nap.

5. Take Advantage of Friends and Family

There’s nothing wrong with asking other people to help out. If you have close friends or family, ask for some help tending the baby while you take a nap. A little rest on your end is helpful for both you and your baby.

Are you struggling with getting your baby to sleep? A baby sleep suit could help you both get some rest. Contact us today to learn more.