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Golden Dreams Sleep Consulting, Golden, BC (2026)

03/06/2024

It’s coming again… the day that most parents dread.

The good news is, this time change is much less daunting because your baby will wake up an hour LATER, not earlier!

My favourite method is a sort of hybrid between do nothing and adjust before. I have a toddler who usually does pretty well with change, so I make some minor adjustments before Sunday, but I mostly let her adjust on her own!

Which method will you be using?

Comment “time change” and I’ll send you a link to download my free “Spring Forward” guide!

02/23/2024

Not all crying is due to distress!

Crying is a baby’s only form of communication until they learn how to express themselves in other ways.

This is such an important conversation that I have with each and every one of the families I work with. First of all, I want to make sure they understand that there WILL be crying during our time working together. Second, I want to make sure they are comfortable knowing that although their baby will be crying, they will be there to support their little one through their big feelings until they can begin connecting with their own self soothing strategies.

And no, sleep training does not mean cry it out. Almost all of the parents I work with opt to be fully present with their little ones as they learn new sleep skills. But even with this hands on, gentler approach…THERE WILL STILL BE CRYING!

Sleep training means changing up a baby’s whole routine of how they fall asleep. And babies generally protest change. This means crying. What this does NOT mean is that the baby is in distress, feeling abandoned, or that there is now damage to the parent-child-attachment.

I understand how triggering crying can be. Believe me. Just keep reminding yourself WHY your baby is crying.

They’re frustrated. They’re exhausted. They’re expecting you to help them to sleep just like you used to.

This is why consistency is so important! We want our babies to understand that the new sleep expectations are safe. If we keep swooping in to rescue them every time they cry, this teaches them the exact opposite… that the new changes are not safe, and we can’t handle their crying. These equals more crying in the end!

So if you’re nervous about the crying. I get it. I’ve been there. So have all the families I’ve worked with. Let’s talk through it together! Sleep training isn’t for everyone, but sometimes a better understanding of the process can make all the difference.

02/08/2024

‼️Don’t waste your money on these!

The first 3 products I mention are safe, but I personally see them as a huge waste of money. Maybe not a mobile if you’re using it for entertainment during awake time, but if the purpose is for sleep, don’t bother.

If you’ve already bought these, that’s fine! They will still work exactly as intended; I’m just here to point out that there are much more cost-effective products out there.

The last 4 items, however, should never be used. Loungers are fine for supervised awake time, but they are not at all safe for sleep.

I have a list of baby products I DO recommend on my website (everything from sleep sacks to blackout blinds). Link in bio!

For all you soon-to-be first time parents out there, hopefully this helped you plan your shopping list (and saved you a ton of money!)

02/01/2024

Transitioning to a toddler bed can be a cause for anxiety!

What if it doesn’t go well?

My kid is FINALLY sleeping well - what if this ruins all the progress we’ve made??

Or maybe you have a child who’s never slept well and you’re hoping the switch to a toddler bed will solve the issue.

Hint: if your child is already struggling with sleep, I strongly encourage you to teach independent sleep skills BEFORE moving to a toddler bed. This will make the whole process so much easier!

In today’s blog, we talk about when to make the transition and how to do it safely and successfully!

➡️ Link in bio, or comment “BLOG” and I’ll send it to you!

01/25/2024

If your baby was previously sleeping well (or even well-ISH), and suddenly they’re awake multiple times a night or fighting sleep, it is likely due to developmental milestones.

It could also just be a simple schedule tweak that’s needed, but pay attention to your baby to see if they’ve learned any new skills recently.

Although sleep will likely be impacted, this is an exciting time for your baby! Here are the most common milestones that can cause a temporary hiccup in sleep:

⭐️ Rolling
⭐️ Sitting
⭐️ Crawling
⭐️ Standing
⭐️ Walking
⭐️ Babbling
⭐️ Separation anxiety
⭐️ Fear
⭐️ Language bursts

Babies tend to be slightly obsessive about learning these things until they master them. So they’ll practice…and practice. Sometimes at bedtime or in the middle of the night. They may get stuck, leading for them to cry out for help.

So use the day to practice!!! Lots and lots of practice for those physical milestones. As for the cognitive, if you hear your baby babbling up a storm in their crib, leave them to it. If they’re just happily practicing their new words, there’s no need to interrupt them. Don’t worry, this will pass.

If they’re getting upset (likely due to growing imaginations and separation anxiety) support and validate feelings! Special one on one time during the day can really help too. No siblings, no screens, just you and your little one alone for some bonding time.

Be as consistent as possible during the night. Offer more comfort as needed, but try not to introduce a habit that you don’t want to continue for the long term. As long as you’re consistent with your response, your little one will figure things out much faster!

Many parents introduce habits to get through a regression that they can no longer continue. If you are in this boat, comment “help” and we can work together to find a solution so the whole family can sleep well again!

01/18/2024

“I don’t want to go to bed!”

How tempting is it to yell back “well TOO BAD! IT’S BEDTIME!!”

If you have a toddler, you’ve been there. Every single parent has gone through this with toddlers. You are not alone.

How do we get past the stalling, whining, and refusals?

We calmly and consistently hold strong to our boundaries.

As simple as it sounds, I know it’s not always that easy. This takes time. And a ton of patience. You can’t go from letting your toddler run the bedtime routine one night, to expecting them to fall perfectly in line because you took charge the next night.

It will take time for your toddler to understand that when you say something, you mean it. This will likely result in lots of tears and meltdowns, and that’s okay. We can help our toddlers through their big feelings by staying close and calm and validating their feelings.

If you have a toddler who refuses to fall asleep without you in the room, or constantly gets out of bed after you leave, this is also SO COMMON. Don’t feel bad. Your toddler has simply learned that they can bend your will if they are persistent enough.

Calmly and consistently walk them back to bed, tell them it’s bedtime and leave again.

Tried it, still not working? That’s okay too. I’m here to help. DM or comment “SLEEP” and I’ll gladly talk it over with you and explain how I can help.

Toddlers are tricky, and sometimes it just takes a clear plan with a predictable schedule to reach your goals ❤️

01/10/2024

Some client love!

I’m always so happy when I see families thriving after months of feeling exhausted and burnt out. I know that feeling of sleep deprivation all too well, so it’s my mission to get as many families sleeping well as possible.

Send me a DM or book a free sleep evaluation through the link in my bio if you want to get better sleep!

01/02/2024

Follow .dreams.sleep for baby sleep tips and info so everyone can sleep soundly again 💤

Happy new year everyone! Let’s get the new year rolling by talking about how unnecessary night feeds can cause more wakeups than before.

So here’s the gist: after 6 months of age, most babies will be able to sleep the whole night through without a feed. Before stopping night feeds entirely, always talk to your pediatrician!

If a baby doesn’t actually require a night feed anymore for caloric need, but they are still happily taking one (or multiple) it is most likely one of these reasons:

A) habit
B) comfort
C) using it as a strategy to get back to sleep

All of these things (especially option C) could be contributing to extra night wakings that weren’t happening before. Your baby may be struggling to connect sleep cycles because they’ve learned to rely on a feed to get to sleep.

Is there anything WRONG with feeding your baby at night when they don’t actually need it? Of course not. It won’t hurt them, and if you enjoy it and it works for you, go for it!

But if it’s becoming a problem and you’re exhausted with the extra night wakings, it might be time to talk to your doctor about dropping all night feeds.

Some babies will drop night feeds all their own when they’re ready (especially sleep trained babies). But others will fall into the habit/comfort/sleep association trap and struggle to get out of it.

If your baby is ready to drop night feeds but you’re unsure how to do it, send me a DM or comment SLEEP and I would be happy to chat with you about your situation.

12/22/2023

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you NEED to do a bath in the bedtime routine for your child to sleep well.

Not true!

There are many different reasons why someone may not want to do a bath in the routine.

Maybe their child has eczema.

Maybe their baby hates tubby time.

Maybe it takes too long.

Maybe it always ends in a meltdown.

Or maybe the parent just doesn’t want to do it every night.

Whatever the reason, if you don’t want to include a bath in your little one’s bedtime routine, then don’t! Do it at another time in the day instead, or do it every other night. Both options will work just fine!

A good bedtime routine is 20-30 minutes long with predictable steps so it’s comforting and calming to your baby. If you’re considering sleep training, I recommend keeping it 100% consistent for at least two weeks to help your baby adjust to new sleep expectations. After that, you still want to keep it predictable, but it’s okay to alternate bath nights (for example).

Do you do a bath every night for your little one? I personally do, but I’ve worked with many families who’ve opted not to and it’s worked out just fine for them.

12/14/2023

Been there…? 😮‍💨

Follow .dreams.sleep for baby/toddler sleep tips and check out the link in my bio for lots of free resources!

12/05/2023

Attention is exactly what your child is seeking when they’re yelling for water for the 1,639th time after going to bed.

This is SO frustrating. I completely understand. But when you start to lose your patience after they’ve climbed out of bed for the hundredth time, you’re actually giving them exactly what they want - your attention. Even if you’re staying positive and giving them the water - they’re still getting that attention.

In their little brain, they’re thinking, “it’s working!”

Children CRAVE our attention, so even if you’re getting frustrated (“go back to your room right now! This is ridiculous, it’s BEDTIME!”), you’re actually pretty much guaranteeing this behaviour will continue.

So what can you do instead? Be clear and confident with your boundaries!

Boundaries are so important with toddlers/older children, and it’s important that they see you as their calm, confident leader.

When they get out of bed, calmly and quietly walk them back to their room (without giving them all that attention they’re seeking). Don’t negotiate, and don’t plead. Leave the room, and repeat.

It sounds simple right? But you’ve probably already tried this. Or maybe your problem is that your toddler won’t let you leave the room until they’re asleep, so you’re unwillingly bedsharing.

The key is consistency! Toddlers are extremely long willed, and it takes more than one night of trying to see results.

But sometimes just walking your child to bed and leaving the room isn’t enough. And that’s where I come in.

I write custom sleep plans for exhausted, frustrated families so you have a step-by-step plan to follow, and you never have to wonder what to do next. I give you all the tools to deal with bedtime battles, tears, and night wakings.

If this sounds appealing, send me a DM or comment HELP to chat more about the struggles you’re experiencing and how I can help!

Golden Dreams Sleep Consulting

03/06/2024

02/23/2024

02/08/2024

02/01/2024

01/25/2024

01/18/2024

01/10/2024

01/02/2024

12/22/2023

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12/05/2023

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