Navigating Bedwetting: A Guide to Nighttime Potty Training
Imagine this: you've just fallen into a deep sleep when your child appears at your bedside and wakes you up with the dreaded phrase “I had an accident!” You bid a good night’s sleep goodbye, and get up to clean up your child, change out the bedding, and start yet another load of laundry. The frustration and concern wash over you, and you wonder, "When will this end?" Bedwetting is a common challenge for many children from toddlerhood all the way up through the double digits. It's problematic for various reasons, from the inconvenience of midnight sheet changes to health and cleanliness [...]
Things That Go Bump In The Night: Bedtime Fears and Anxiety
In the season of all things spooky, the darkness of the night can often stir up fears and anxiety in both adults and children. It's important to acknowledge that fear and anxiety at bedtime are not uncommon. Studies have shown that almost 75% of children have nighttime fears and anxiety, and more than 40 million adults in the US suffer from anxiety disorders, which often affect sleep. In this post, we'll explore the distinction between specific bedtime fears and general anxiety, talk about how to identify triggers and discover practical strategies to combat bedtime fear and anxiety for both you and your [...]
Navigating Spooky Season: Dealing with Nightmares and Night Terrors
It's my favorite time of year again - spooky season! A time when we intentionally immerse ourselves in the eerie and the macabre, often without realizing the potential effects it can have on children and their sleep. While it's all in good fun, the line between spooky and scary can sometimes be blurred, leading to nightmares and night terrors in our little ones. But fear not, you can be prepared to handle these nighttime frights. In this post, we'll explore how to tell the difference between nightmares and night terrors, how to handle each of them when they occur, and strategies for [...]
Must-Read Sleep Books: A Guide to Better Sleep
Sleep is vital for our physical and mental health, but there is so much information out there sometimes it’s hard to know where to start and who to trust. Whether you're a parent dealing with your child's sleep issues or an adult struggling with insomnia, finding the right resources is essential in your sleep journey. In today’s post, we'll explore some must-read sleep books that offer insights and solutions for better sleep. From the science of sleep to bedtime strategies for children and relaxation techniques for adults, these books are some of my current favorites on sleep! "Why We Sleep" by [...]
The Bedtime Pass: A get out of jail free card to solve your bedtime woes
As a parent, you've likely experienced countless nights when bedtime feels more like a never-ending encore of curtain calls, peppered with endless requests and questions from your little ones. The struggle of getting your child to stay in bed and sleep through the night can be a nightmare. If you're nodding your head in agreement, you're not alone. Fortunately, there's a behavior analytic technique that we use in sleep treatment that could bring some peace and quiet back to your evenings – the Bedtime Pass. In this post, we'll explore how the Bedtime Pass works, what the research says about it, and [...]
Time-Based Visiting: A gentle approach to independent sleeping
A few posts ago we talked about sleep dependencies and how healthy sleep dependencies can make for a good night’s sleep, while unhealthy sleep dependencies can cause all sorts of problems. One of the most prevalent unhealthy sleep dependencies that I see with children is parent presence. Many children need a parent with them in order to fall asleep, and if the parent manages to sneak out once they fall asleep, they tend to wake back up later in the night and need their parent again. Teaching your child how to fall asleep independently is a tough job, but time-based visiting is [...]