Father's Day! Dad's need Good Sleep too!

Father's day is Sunday, June 20th.  It's time to celebrate all the wonderful Fathers, Grandfathers, and Father-figures we have in our lives!

Dad’s need good sleep too! You have got to watch this video!

https://youtu.be/iv5VsYHVAWA

Good sleep should be a priority for Dad too! This means 7-9 hours a night for a healthy adult. 

Sleep Tips for Dad

• Get 7-9 hours a night of sleep

• Stick to a sleep schedule every night (even weekends).

• Choose a supportive mattress and quality pillow.

• Turn off electronic devises at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

• Limit caffeine intake

• Exercise regularly

Give Dad the Gift of Sleep this Father's Day. Gift Certificates are available. 

Listen to a few of our incredible fathers talk about how getting beautiful blissful sleep changed their life!

https://youtu.be/iv5VsYHVAWA

Beyond the benefits for the child, Gentle Sleep Coaching has provided Father's with:

• Increased bonding and more meaningful interactions between child and father

• Relaxed evenings

• Time for themselves and their partner

• Restored marriages

• Ability to schedule date night and vacation trips

• Energy to exercise

• A predictable schedule

• A focused mind for work productivity

• More love and patience so they can enjoy all the moments that matter!

You are one click away from giving the Father in your life one of the most life changing gifts they can receive.

At Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching, we provide parents with guilt-free, gentle sleep coaching to help reduce their overwhelm and get them back to life.  If you are wanting your child to learn healthy sleep habits please Contact us today to learn more.

Sleep is Bliss, Let's get you more!

Joanna

Back to School, Back to Sleep...Sleep & Learning Advice for Pre-schoolers and Elementary Students.

Sleep & Learning: Preschoolers and Elementary Age Children. Photo by Johny Goerend on Unsplash

Sleep & Learning: Preschoolers and Elementary Age Children. Photo by Johny Goerend on Unsplash

I was pleased to be invited by Dr. Alana Kennedy-Nasser of Pure Pediatrics (the premier concierge pediatric practice in Houston, TX) to speak to her patients about the importance of sleep and learning during the preschool and elementary years (ages 2-10 yrs).

We discussed the new studies that are examining the links between sleep and optimal learning with special emphasis on reviewing the best ways to ensure beautiful, blissful sleep while your child is tackling this new on-line learning environment.

Dr. Alana's mission is to change the way children receive medical care through personalized medicine, integrative wellness and a healthy dose of prevention.

To emphasize her passion for prevention, Dr. Alana enjoys interviewing other experts that serve the pediatric population to keep all parents well-informed.

I am honored to be collaborating with Dr. Alana on her mission! Please watch this informative interview.

Stay Tuned for another Interview I will be doing in later September with Dr. Alana on Newborn Sleep.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention, please be on the lookout for an email this week about a Labor Day Sale of my Prepping for Sleep Coaching Success Self-Paced Program (normally $200, now $75)

This self-study program is the perfect solution for sleep-deprived and overwhelmed parents that want to improve the chaotic sleep situation in their household. There is no doubt that proper preparation and planning is a prerequisite for easier and successful sleep coaching. This program is bursting with amazing suggestions and resources that will offer clarity and confidence to prepare for and begin your journey toward blissful, beautiful sleep for everyone in your family!

Sleep is Bliss. For You, For Your Child, and Your Family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utAVioGw-lM?rel=0&w=560&h=315

"I want my dread and anxiety over bed-time and night-time to be over!"

I want my dread and anxiety over bed-time and night-time to be over!" Photo by niklas_hamann on Unsplash

I want my dread and anxiety over bed-time and night-time to be over!"

Photo by niklas_hamann on Unsplash

Can you relate to this.....

"I want to stop questioning myself and stop feeling like I am messing up all the time with my baby's sleep"

"I want my dread and anxiety over bed-time and night-time to be over!"

"I am feeling frustrated, exhausted and completely overwhelmed all the time because nothing I have done to help my baby sleep has worked"

Trust me, I understand. In my Facebook LIVE, I addressed these concerns so that you can stop feeling the crushing mommy-guilt and feel like there is hope and help to solve your child's sleep struggles.

Get some clarity to these difficult situations by listening to this video below.

<<< Click the image or here to watch the 6/4/20 Facebook Live recording

So....if you are feeling this way, than I can offer some relief from the relentless questioning and hoping. I want to support you in finding the right path and right answers for your family and parenting values.

 GET YOUR LIFE BACK...IT STARTS WITH SLEEP

Join me for an informative Facebook LIVE this Thursday June 18 at 2pm PST on my Facebook Page

Please submit questions no later than 10am on Thursday 6/18 so I can be very specific with my sleep solutions for you.

https://bit.ly/3dMGL7v

Don't worry, I do NOT advocate “Cry-it-Out”. I provide Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching Solutions to minimize tears so you can enjoy easy bedtimes, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting.

I have helped over 1000 families solve their child’s sleep struggles and finally sleep through the night. That’s more that 3000 family members now sleeping blissfully. Let me help your family sleep better too!

Sleep is bliss, let's get you more,

Joanna Clark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGzhODnOFkQ&w=550&h=315

Empathy & Co-Regulation: The Key to Less Tears When Sleep Coaching

Did you know that empathy and the concept of “co-regulation” is critically important to understand during your sleep coaching process?

In fact, one of the best ways to minimize crying during the sleep coaching process is to fully understand the how to effectively drop into empathy and co-regulate with your child.

Also, it is imperative that the parent understands their own stress responses so the parent can stay properly “regulated” during the time they are offering emotional and physical support during the sleep coaching learning process. If you have not done so, you might also want to watch the interview on all the tips and tricks to manage your own stress responses. Mystery Solved: Understanding Your Stress Responses. After all, we all want to be less reactive, less shut-down and enhance our meaningful connection to others.

Below is the engaging interview where we dive deep into these important topics with Chantal Donnelly of Body Insight. Chantal has a unique combination of expertise. She is a stress management and nervous system expert, as well as a physical therapist and a certified Resilience Toolkit Facilitator. In other words, Chantal deeply understands the science behind the mind-body connection. Watch our interview below to learn more!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlE39BZpNg?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

In this interview, Chantal also mentions Brene Brown’s work on Empathy and I wanted you to also have this video to reference. This will not only be helpful in your parenting journey, but it most certainly will enhance your marriage!!

Brene Brown Empathy video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

If you loved what Chantal had to say, please know that Chantal is hosting a
COMPLIMENTARY NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET WORKSHOP.

Saturday May 30th at 11 am (PST) / 2PM EST.  

Here is what you can expect to learn on the May 30th Workshop.

1.   Chantal will discuss why some people are noticing that the stress of the pandemic is flaring up some old, familiar physical pain in their bodies.  Hint: Stress and pain are intimately interrelated. 

2.   Chantal will talk about the myth of “self-care” and how to know if your self-care is helping you or harming you.  

3.   Chantal will review the 6 cranial nerves that activate your calming nervous system. We are going to learn some new tools that directly target those nerves. 

If you would like to attend, please email Chantal and I will send you the Zoom link!

Chantal@bodyinsight.com

Chantal Donnelly, MPT, Certified Resilience Toolkit Facilitator
Body Insight Inc.
chantal@bodyinsight.com
https://www.bodyinsight.com

213.215.6778 

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Instagram

May you stay healthy in body, mind and spirit!

Baby Sleep Tips For The Spring Time Change 2019

Spring Forward on 3/10/19

Spring Forward on 3/10/19

It’s Daylight Savings time again: It is time to “Spring Forward”! In the US, we will turn our clocks ahead one hour this weekend at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10th, 2019 and in Europe, it is Sunday March 31.

I am looking forward to the extra daylight and a dose of Vitamin D from the sunshine.  As with all time changes, the family should be prepared and expect some sleep disruptions. Below are some baby sleep tips and strategies on how to tackle it all.

Be patient as it does take the body 7-9 days for the natural circadian rhythm to get back on track.

If you employ these tips, it will be easier for you to support yourself and your little ones through this time-change transition.

This time change can often be very difficult for children. After all, imagine being used to a 7pm bedtime and now it’s been moved to what your body feels is 6pm!

To make the transition easier, I have outlined some baby sleep tips to help your baby or toddler make a gentle change. Don’t worry. There are a couple of ways to tackle this transition and you can choose the one that suits your style and your child’s needs the best.

• Before the time change…be diligent that your child is getting adequate naps so that they aren’t overtired.

• Be prepared for your baby’s bedtime to feel earlier, since it actually is earlier. Remember, we’re jumping ahead a full hour, so what used to be 6:00 p.m. is now 7:00 p.m. (but it will still feel like 6:00 p.m. to your baby).

• Exposure to morning light can help the body “reset” the circadian rhythm. If it’s too cold, open the windows and let in some natural light. 

• Try to get at least thirty minutes of sunlight first thing in the morning for that initial week to help your body tune into the time change.

I recommend that you choose between two transition methods for Daylight Savings Time.

Transition Method 1: Pretend that Nothing Has Changed on March 10.

• Best method for families with children with “early rising” tendencies (up before 6am)

• Best method for busy parents who already feel “rushed” at bedtime.

If you have a child that actually wakes up before 6am, than this may be the right method for you.  This method is probably the easiest for most families, as you will follow your daily routine according to the clock, but everything will be pushed ahead one hour.

If you choose this method do the following:

• Move your clock ahead an hour on Saturday night 3/9/19, and proceed with your normal day Sunday.

• Note: be aware that following this “do nothing approach” means your child will lose an hour, which has the potential to create a struggle at bedtime, because bedtime will be a full hour earlier than it was last night.

• Because your baby or toddler is not aware that the time has changed, they will wake up at their normal time (hopefully), but instead of 6:00 a.m., it will be 7:00 a.m. (see what I mean about solving that pesky early rising issue?).

  • However, don't let your child sleep past 7:30 or 8am or else bedtime will be harder.

  • Proceed with your normal day, and be sure that your meals and naps, and bedtime are at the appropriate time (you may have to watch the clock).

Remember that your baby will be going to bed at their “regular time”. For example, if your baby is used to a 7:00 p.m. bedtime, put them to bed at the NEW 7:00 p.m. (which was previously 6:00 p.m.). It is very possible that meals and naps will fall into place naturally with this method, but be prepared that your child may not actually be tired at bedtime yet. Remember, they don’t understand why they’ve lost an hour, and it’s suddenly still light out at bedtime, so you may have to be a bit flexible or now might be the time to install those room darkening shades.

Transition Method 2: Make DAILY adjustments

• Best for families that know the time change will be hard on their kiddo

• Best for families who feel more secure when they “plan in advance”

• About 5-7 days before the time change, begin putting your child to bed 10-20 minutes earlier, moving the time back every day or few days until you reach a full hour. So, if your child has a 7:00 p.m. bedtime, you want to begin with bedtime at 6:40 p.m. then 6:20 p.m., then 6:00 p.m.

• Be consistent as possible with your baby’s food and sleep schedule. This means that you need to shift all meals, snacks, and naps earlier as well.

• Watch the clock to stay on the new schedule of 30 minutes earlier.

• Don’t forget to wake your child a bit earlier to help with this transition schedule.

• After about a week, your child should be back at their 7:00 p.m. bedtime.

• Adjust all meals, snacks, and naps to fit the “new” schedule on the same day that you shift to your child’s new, fully-adjusted bedtime.

Here is an example: If your baby or toddler’s bedtime is 7 pm, it will look like this:

• Tuesday 3/5/19 : 6:50 pm bedtime

• Wednesday 3/6/19 : 6:40 pm bedtime

• Thursday 3/7/19: 6:30 pm bedtime

• Friday: 3/8/19 6:20 pm bedtime

• Saturday 3/9/1: 6:10 pm bedtime

• Sunday 3/10/19: 7 pm bedtime (new time—old time will be 6 pm)

Keep in mind that the goal is to be back to your baby’s normal bedtime (and routine) in just a few days (some children may take a bit longer, so don’t fret if your child takes a week or so).

Tips for Parents:

• Eliminate all caffeine after 1:30 p.m. this week in order to make it easier to go to bed earlier.

• If possible, also avoid alcohol this weekend, which negatively affects sleep.

• Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual on the Thursday 3/7/19

• On Friday 3/7/19 go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual.

• On Saturday try to go to bed 45 minutes earlier than your usual bedtime (notice a pattern?).

Whichever method you choose, it’s important to remember that your baby’s internal clock is used to Standard Time. You may need to revert to some sleep training methods for a few days to help ease the time change. “Springing forward” also means that nights are shorter, which may be an issue for some children who are used to dark winter nights.  Remember, every child is different, and your little one will adjust, but don’t fret if it’s not overnight (some toddlers can take a few weeks to adjust!). Prepare for the transition to take a few days, and watch for those sleep cues that will tell you when your child is tired and ready to sleep!

Overview On How To Handle Daylight Saving Time:

• Decide which Daylight Savings sleep transition method you want to use to help your child adjust.

• Take your baby’s internal clock into account and watch for sleepy cues.

• Check to see if light is an issue, and consider purchasing room-darkening shades for bedtime, but also expose them to morning light in that first week to “reset” their internal clock.

• Most importantly, be flexible and patient. A time change is often hard on kids and adults alike. Readjustment can take about 5-9 days.  Just be mindful of the clock and your schedule.

• Keep evening plans calm and watch for sleepy cues. Dim the lights in house and avoid screen-time that can be too stimulating.

• If needed, use your preferred sleep training method to help encourage sleep and help your baby get the rest he/she needs.

If after the time change you are still having challenging sleep struggles, than don't hesitate to schedule a Time-Change Tune-Up.

THERE IS NO NEED TO LIVE LIFE IN A SLEEP-DEPRIVED HAZE!

SCHEDULE YOUR SLEEP TUNE-UP SESSION HERE

I look forward to helping you restore easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and harmonious, confident parenting!

P.S. As  pediatric sleep expert and a trained and certified Gentle Sleep Coach. I offer an alternative to the “cry it out” methodology. I am on a mission to help parents tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to their children through a guilt-free, gentle approach and a full-service, proven system to promote a gentle, reassuring, gradual change that results in drama-free bedtimes, peaceful nights, reliable naps, and marital harmony. Want to find out more? Click to know about my methodology . Click to find out how I can help you and your family members achieve Blissful Sleep.

Do you want to stay up-to-date on all the incredible information and interviews I have to share?

If so, please join my Facebook and Instagram tribes.

Solve your child’s sleep struggles once and for all — so everyone finally sleeps again.

I help sleep-deprived families get where they need to be: well-rested.

There Is No Need To "Cry-It-Out"

I Offer Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching

Easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting are yours.

With proven, evidence-based methods, an expert, signature process, and full-service support,

I help you tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to your child.

I’ve Helped Over 800 Families Sleep Through The Night.

That’s More Than 2,400 Family Members Now Sleeping Better.

Let Me Help Your Whole Family Sleep Better, Too.

Click the button below to schedule a live 45 minute Sleep Strategy Session where you can gain expert insights into how to tackle the sleep struggles once and for all! (small fee applies)

I Want Sleep Now!

The Difference Between Sleep Training and Sleep Coaching

Please know there is a BIG difference between SLEEP TRAINING and SLEEP COACHING!

The entire process of Gentle Sleep Coaching is about an evidence based, proven system to promote a gentle, reassuring, gradual change that results in healthy sleep habits.

Going to sleep independently and peacefully—and staying asleep—is a learned skill. As parents, we sometimes assume that sleeping is a developmental milestone that comes naturally, yet healthy sleep habits are a learned skill.  Like any skill, its mastery requires coaching, practice and time. We parents are coaches in countless ways every day, so it is perfectly appropriate to gently and safely coach your child on this skill, too. In teaching it, you give a lifelong gift to your child.

Sleep Coaching is NOT “this terrible awful thing.”

In fact, it is one of the most important and supportive actions you can provide to your child.

Below are some important reflections and revelations from a mother that successfully sleep coached her 18 month old daughter. She shares about overcoming the “sleep coaching bias” and judgments in “the mommy world”

“I was one of the moms that would never let my baby cry. If she hated being held by someone (and in my case, it was anyone besides me), I would take her back right away. I quit my job to be with her, I would do anything for her. I read all the books, and I mean all of them. I was active in a huge moms group and frequented parenting websites. 

I started to notice that there were different camps when it came to sleep. It felt very binary- either you let your child cry to sleep and ignored them all night no matter what happened, or you tended to every peep your child made and woke up 3 times a night til they went to kindergarten. I think this is a shame, and Joanna was a nice middle ground in a confusing sleep training world. 

I started to learn and understand that change is inevitable, uncomfortable, and good. And children are constantly changing.  My daughter might not like riding in a car seat, going to the doctor, learning to sleep, going to school, or being cared for by anyone except mommy, and she may cry because of these transitions. There is no way to avoid some discomfort, and sometimes short term discomfort is okay. Short term stress actually helps brain development. There is a big difference between a child being mad (“I don’t want to put myself to sleep! I want to breastfeed to sleep!”) and traumatized. I had to become comfortable with the fact that my child may be mad sometimes at necessary change, and that may lead to some crying. It was so obvious from the first day that my extremely sensitive daughter was not being traumatized by being taught to sleep, and I frankly resent that there was a huge group of people that pushed that message.

Not to say it wasn’t extremely hard. I had to leave the house. Even Joanna’s gentle methods were hard for me to handle, I had never done something my daughter didn’t like. I was so worried. But with a few weeks my daughter who used to wake up 5 times a night started sleeping 11 hours a night, and has never had issues since. She is growing better, she was in the 5th percentile for height and is now in the 75th. Her attitude is 100% better. My attitude is 100% better. And I came to realize my anxiety about her discomfort had been in the way of my daughter being as healthy and happy as she could be”

-Kate C. Austin, TX. Child was 18 months at time of guilt-free, gentle sleep coaching

Solve your child’s sleep struggles once and for all — so everyone finally sleeps again.

I help sleep-deprived families get where they need to be: well-rested.

There Is No Need To "Cry-It-Out"

I Offer Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching

Easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting are yours.

With proven, evidence-based methods, an expert, signature process, and full-service support,

I help you tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to your child.

I’ve Helped Over 800 Families Sleep Through The Night.

That’s More Than 2,400 Family Members Now Sleeping Better.

Let Me Help Your Whole Family Sleep Better, Too.

Click the button below to schedule a live 45 minute Sleep Strategy Session where you can gain expert insights into how to tackle the sleep struggles once and for all! (small fee applies)

I Want Sleep Now!

Good News!! The Evidence Is Confirmed: Sleep Coaching Is Safe and Restores Harmony to the Household

Got Kids? Need Sleep?: Evidence Proves Sleep Coaching Is Safe.....Its Time To Make Sleep A Priority for All Family Members.

All evidence is now confirming that all sleep coaching methods and interventions work to improve sleep. The studies have validated that there are no concerning levels of stress and cortisol. The studies have also confirmed that there are no negative long-term outcomes. This is great news because it now gives parents freedom to choose the RIGHT METHODOLOGY FOR THEIR PARENTING STYLE AND VALUES.  I personally prefer Gentle Sleep Coaching, which is also known as the Sleep Lady Shuffle or also known as Fading. Gentle Sleep Coaching is a proven methodology that offers parents the opportunity to be in the room with their child while offering verbal and physical assurances. Gentle Sleep Coaching has been proven to minimize tears and frustration. Gentle Sleep Coaching provides substantial Parent Education and insight into the temperament of their child and how that relates to sleep.  Peaceful Nights are Possible with the expertise of Joanna Clark of Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching, a trained and certified Gentle Sleep Coach. Below is an article form Aaron Carrroll,  Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine that further explains the different sleep training methodologies and options.

Putting Your Baby to Sleep: Some Advice and Good News

Aaron E. Carroll is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine who blogs on health research.

For many new parents, a baby who sleeps peacefully through the night is more aspiration than reality.

I remember thinking, after my pregnant wife’s water broke minutes after I went to bed, anguishing really, over one thought as we drove to the hospital: “I’m never going to be well rested again.”

If there’s one thing all new parents wish for, it’s a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, infants sometimes make that impossible. They wake up repeatedly, needing to be fed, changed and comforted. Eventually, they reach an age when they should sleep through the night. Some don’t, though. What to do with them continues to be a topic of a heated debate in parenting circles.

One camp believes that babies should be left to cry it out. These people place babies in their cribs at a certain time, after a certain routine, and don’t interfere until the next morning. No matter how much the babies scream or cry, parents ignore them. After all, if babies learn that tantrums lead to the appearance of a loved one, they will continue that behavior in the future. The official name for this approach is “Extinction.”

The downside, of course, is that it’s unbelievably stressful for parents. Many can’t do it. And not holding fast to the plan can make everything worse. Responding to an infant’s crying after an extended period of time makes the behavior harder to extinguish. To a baby, it’s like a slot machine that hits just as you’re ready to walk away; it makes you want to play more.

A modification of this strategy is known as “Graduated Extinction.” Parents allow their infant to cry it out for a longer period each night, until infants eventually put themselves to sleep. On the first night, for instance, parents might commit to not entering the baby’s room for five minutes. The next night, 10 minutes. Then 15, and so on. Or, they could increase the increments on progressive checks each night. When they do go in the room, it’s only to check and make sure the baby is O.K. — no picking up or comforting. This isn’t meant to be a reward for crying, but to allow parents to be assured that nothing is wrong

Babies cry for a reason. They come from warm, enclosed, snug wombs where they feel their mothers' constant protection. They exit the womb...

It appears this study had no control group. Was there a "no intervention" group, where families just kept doing what they'd been doing --...

There are pros and cons to the "family bed" solution, but I can tell you one thing from experience. Everyone sleeps. The baby doesn't have...

Another choice is “Bedtime Fading.” The point of this plan is to teach your children how to fall asleep on their own at bedtime, in the hope that if they develop this skill, when they wake up in the middle of the night they’ll choose to employ it rather than call for you. With fading, you temporarily set bedtime later than usual and preface it with a good bedtime routine. Your babies learn that bedtime is fun, and have little trouble falling asleep because they’re more tired than usual. Then you move their bedtime earlier and earlier, so that infants learn how to put themselves to sleep when they are less and less tired.

A fourth method is “Scheduled Awakenings.” In this method, a parent tries to disrupt spontaneous awakening by getting up in the middle of the night to wake children 15 to 30 minutes before they usually wake up on their own. They then help the baby fall back asleep. The scheduled awakenings are later phased out.

Of course, even with fading and scheduled awakenings, it’s possible that your baby will wake up in the middle of the night, screaming. Then you face a choice: Go to them or wait it out?

Some people always choose to comfort the child. They think that making a baby cry it out is inhumane and could even lead to psychological problems. Others feel that giving in to babies prevents them from learning needed skills and leads to later problems.

A final thing doctors can do is “Parental Education,” which is closer to prevention. It involves talking to parents about many of these options, especially training infants to fall asleep on their own, before problems develop.

As a pediatrician, the first thing I do with parents who are experiencing problems is calm them down. Sometimes it feels as if it will never go away, but I try to remind them that few teenagers have this issue. They go to bed fine, and if they wake up in the middle of the night, they go back to sleep without anyone’s help. This almost always, eventually, gets better.

On the other hand, I don’t want to minimize the short-term problems for parents. Nor do I want to do nothing. Sleep deprivation leads to significant and serious consequences in adults. A 2008 study published in Pediatrics found that mothers of infants with sleep problems, in which no intervention was tried, were more likely to report symptoms of clinical depression when their child was 2 years old. Sleep problems also lead to significant parental stress, and, potentially, physicalpunishment.

The good news is that almost all interventions work. In 2006, a systematic review was published in the journal Sleep that examined all the relevant research on the efficacy of these interventions. Ninety-four percent of the 52 reviewed studies found that the interventions led to improved sleep, and more than 80 percent of children who were treated improved significantly.

The strongest evidence supported the extinction method and parent education (i.e., prevention). Still, there was evidence that also supported the graduated extinction, fading and scheduled awakenings methods.

People become surprisingly heated about which method to use. This isn’t just because they think one works better than the other, but also because they think some are harmful. They worry about the long-term effects of some methods. Those concerns may be overblown, though. A small study published recently followed children who were randomly sorted to use graduated extinction, fading or parent education. Besides looking at the effectiveness of the intervention on sleep, researchers measured the cortisol hormone in infants’ saliva (as a measure of stress) as well as mothers’ moods and stress.

Again, all of the interventions worked to improve sleep. More important, none caused any concerning levels of stress. This confirmed the findings of two previous studies that found that infant sleep problems, and the interventions used to remedy them, do not predict long-term outcomes, even at 6 years of age.

Parents become stressed about infants who don’t sleep well. That’s understandable. What they don’t need to stress about is that fixing it will cause more harm or have long-term negative consequences. A good night’s sleep makes almost everything better.

Aaron E. Carroll is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine who blogs on health research and policy at The Incidental Economist and makes videos at Healthcare Triage. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronecarroll.

Solve your child’s sleep struggles once and for all — so everyone finally sleeps again.

I help sleep-deprived families get where they need to be: well-rested.

There Is No Need To "Cry-It-Out"

I Offer Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching

Easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting are yours.

With proven, evidence-based methods, an expert, signature process, and full-service support,

I help you tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to your child.

I’ve Helped Over 800 Families Sleep Through The Night.

That’s More Than 2,400 Family Members Now Sleeping Better.

Let Me Help Your Whole Family Sleep Better, Too.

Click the button below to schedule a live 45 minute Sleep Strategy Session where you can gain expert insights into how to tackle the sleep struggles once and for all! (small fee applies)

I Want Sleep Now!

Great Success Stories: Tales from Grateful Clients!

Sleep Baby=Happy Baby=Happy Mommy!

SLEEP IS BLISS....LET'S GET YOU SOME MORE!

It is so wonderful to hear parents tell their "before and after" sleep stories. Here are two inspiring stories that prove peaceful nights are possible!!! I have helped over 500 clients...I can help you too. Don't hesitate to reach out to talk live and find out how Gentle Sleep Coaching can work for your family. http://www.blissfulbabysleepcoaching.com/do-i-need-a-sleep-coach/

TODDLER SLEEP

Kathleen P.  from GA: Child was 2 years old at time of sleep coaching

"When our daughter was 18 months old, she took an hour on average to fall asleep for naps and bedtime, and then woke every 2-4 hours.  She was sleeping on our guest mattress on the floor because she couldn’t fall asleep without me (her mother) right beside her, and often wouldn’t sleep unless I stayed the rest of the night.  She was completely dependent upon me to sleep, so much so that she’d scream until I arrived if my husband tried to help alone.  I was beyond exhausted and really had no idea what to do.  I was afraid of sleep training, fearing it would ruin her trust and secure attachment with me.  Friends and family had told me “She’ll eventually sleep through the night on her own”, so I kept waiting. 

I finally called Joanna out of desperation after a particularly horrible night of no sleep.  It had to change or I felt like moving out!  I immediately felt comfortable with Joanna, as she reassured me she could help and that she understood where we were coming from.  She thoroughly explained her approach and the sleep science behind why it works.  As a team of 3, she helped us create a sleep plan that was exactly what my daughter needed.  Because of my daughter’s age and numerous sleep crutches, we all thought it would take many weeks to train her.  We were thrilled when she was sleep trained after only 11 days, and was nap trained after 12.  She now sleeps a full 12 hours at night in her crib, and requires no participation from us to fall asleep.  It is the true definition of bliss.

I want to shout it from the rooftops that sleep training is beneficial and necessary!  I wish I had known that falling asleep on your own is a learned skill, not one you just wait for your child to figure out.  I strongly urge any parent struggling with exhaustion to please call Joanna and trust her.  Her approach is truly gentle, and has saved our sanity and happiness as parents.  We could not have done this without her, and are so happy with what we’ve achieved with her guidance."

OLDER BABY SLEEP

M. Miller, Michigan:  Child was 7 month old at time of sleep coaching

"We called Joanna for our second child. Our first kid is a great sleeper, we never expected to have such a hard time with our second. We were exhausted confused and we did not know what to try next!!! A friend of mine told me about Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching and I immediately called. Joanna was great and I could tell from our initial conversation that she will be able to help us. We followed Joanna’s Plan and after 3 days our 7 months old baby was sleeping trough the night and napping.  Joanna and her method was a god send, she help us every step of the way, week days and weekends you name it, she was there.

Thank you Joanna for giving our son the gift of sleep. Merci Merci!!!!!"

Solve your child’s sleep struggles once and for all — so everyone finally sleeps again.

I help sleep-deprived families get where they need to be: well-rested.

There Is No Need To "Cry-It-Out"

I Offer Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching

Easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting are yours.

With proven, evidence-based methods, an expert, signature process, and full-service support,

I help you tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to your child.

I’ve Helped Over 800 Families Sleep Through The Night.

That’s More Than 2,400 Family Members Now Sleeping Better.

Let Me Help Your Whole Family Sleep Better, Too.

Click the button below to schedule a live 45 minute Sleep Strategy Session where you can gain expert insights into how to tackle the sleep struggles once and for all! (small fee applies)

I Want Sleep Now!

Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching was picked as winner of Red Tricycle’s 2016 Totally Awesome Awards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2016, San Francisco CA. Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching has won the honor of Most Awesome Parenting Program in Red Tricycle’s Annual Totally Awesome Awards. To celebrate this award, read below for special offers and a giveaway for a FREE 30-minute Sleep Consultation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2016, San Francisco CA. Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching has won the honor of Most Awesome Parenting Program in Red Tricycle’s Annual Totally Awesome Awards.

Red Tricycle’s Totally Awesome Awards is the largest awards program in the greater parenting community. The Totally Awesome Awards recognize the best family-friendly products, parenting tips, and resources for babies and tots across the nation and allows parents to elect their favorites from a curated list of best-of-the-best.

The 4th Annual Totally Awesome Awards Driven had a huge audience of active and engaged parents.  This year’s Totally Awesome Awards amassed more than 350,000 participants and 70,000 online votes across 88 categories.

Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching not only won this award in 2016, but also in 2012 and 2013. “Winning a Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Award is an incredible recognition of the hard work I do to offer individualized Pediatric Sleep Coaching services using a proven approach of gentle sleep coaching to reclaim peaceful nights for tired parents”  says Joanna Clark, Founder of Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching. “Red Tricycle is a pillar in the parenting community, and having been awarded Best Parenting Program 3 different times is verification of the growing recognition of my passion and practice of helping tired families establish healthy sleep habits, thus, restoring peaceful nights and resulting in a well-rested family.  

Jacqui Boland, CEO and Founder of Red Tricycle, congratulated all the winners saying: “The reason that you have achieved this success is because your community reached out and took the time to vote for you. It may sound simple, asking people to click a few boxes, but we know that even that is no easy feat. Everyone is so busy that even an extra five minutes is difficult to squeeze in. But your customers took the time to do this because what you do is important to them. And it’s important to us. Nothing gives us more pleasure than helping a business that supports families not only succeed, but thrive.”

To see the winners for each category, please visit redtri.com/2016-totally-awesome-award

Gentle Sleep Coaching is emerging as a “Best Practice” in Pediatric Sleep Science and my goal is for Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching to be known as a trusted resource and leader in this field.

In honor of my Red Tricycle AWARD & my ongoing quest to educate families about the benefits of Gentle Sleep Coaching,

 I am offering two unique opportunities until 10/31.

1. I am offering $50 off all Gentle Sleep Coaching packages booked before 10/31. Clients must begin the first night of Sleep Coaching no later than 12/1/2016.

2.  I am offering a daily opportunity to WIN a FREE 30 minute baby sleep consultation with me.

To Enter Giveaway: please complete the following 2 tasks:

1. Please go to my website to download “Was Your Child Awake Last Night?” 

Website: http://www.blissfulbabysleepcoaching.com/

 2.  Please “Like” my Facebook business page: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blissfulbabysleep/

Winner: Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching

2016 Totally Awesome Award Winner of

Best Parenting Program in San Diego

@RedTri's #TotallyAwesomeAwards2016 for Best Parenting Program!

Solve your child’s sleep struggles once and for all — so everyone finally sleeps again.

I help sleep-deprived families get where they need to be: well-rested.

There Is No Need To "Cry-It-Out"

I Offer Guilt-Free, Gentle Sleep Coaching

Easy and calm bedtimes, quiet, peaceful nights, reliable naps and confident parenting are yours.

With proven, evidence-based methods, an expert, signature process, and full-service support,

I help you tenderly teach the “skills of sleep” to your child.

I’ve Helped Over 800 Families Sleep Through The Night.

That’s More Than 2,400 Family Members Now Sleeping Better.

Let Me Help Your Whole Family Sleep Better, Too.

Click the button below to schedule a live 45 minute Sleep Strategy Session where you can gain expert insights into how to tackle the sleep struggles once and for all! (small fee applies)

I Want Sleep Now!