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25.01.2022 T W O // different babies. Two different mums. Two different families. One baby born csection, the other naturally.... One baby takes a bottle, the other breastfed. One baby is put in the cot awake, the other is nursed to sleep. One wears disposable nappies, the other considering MCNs. One is often in a baby carrier, the other in a pram. One is bathed each night, the other a couple of times a week. One has belly issues, the other not so much. One regularly cosleeps, the other never. One loves the dummy, the other considering dropping it. One is the first in the family, the other is the last. Both babies healthy. Both babies loved. Both mums killing it. And can you believe, that while theyre both different in many ways, the mums actually adore eachother, never judge eachother and support eachothers decisions wholly and with genuine love. Shock. Horror. #mumssupportingmums And I bet you cant even tell from looking at these gorgeous faces which babe does what?! Because, my friends.. IT DOESNT F*CKING MATTER! Loved babes and happy mums are the only things that matter. Shared from Little Jemmings

25.01.2022 Babies grow in a warm, dark, noisy environment - the womb. They come earth side and we flip their comfy place on them. We sleep them in bright, quiet places, we often mistakenly make them cold and yet we cant understand why they dont sleep. Lets get back to basics. ... DARK ROOM - like pitch black - essential. We dont want things stimulating then when the rouse from sleep cycles, or even when they are trying by settle. WHITE NOISE - low rumbling, rhythmical, never ending and loud! Think water rushing over your head in the shower loud. WARMTH - I remember when my babies were born they were dressed then swaddled and then had those beautiful pink yellow and blue check blankets over them. When I bought him home I just used a single swaddle ... poor babe was cold. So warmth.. room temp between 19 and 22 degrees, relevant TOG rated sleeping bags or swaddles, blankets are ok if the bed is made up as per SIDS guidelines. And everything on the bed made of natural fibres. Just implementing these three things as a starting point can see improvements in baby and even toddler sleep! #cherishyoursleep #sleeptips #babies #toddlers #sleepdeprivation #sleepconsultantmelbourne #mumssupportingmums #freesleeptips #sleepenvironment

25.01.2022 Well?? What should your baby wear for sleep? I am actually going to refrain from answering with a precise answer because all babies are different and respond differently. But I will say this. ... Around 80% of the clients I work with, their babes are cold. What you need to know is that babies cannot regulate their body temperature until they are well into toddlerhood, so we need to help them. We are wanting to dress them for the coldest time of the morning, which is around 4-6am and the most common cause of early rising, is coldness. Also to note, if you swipe right on my photos, you will see the ratings of adult sizes doonas - AND WE CAN REGULATE OUR BODY TEMPERATURE, by pulling the doona up, snuggling in under the covers, moving closer to our partners for their body heat. And yet here baby is, in a cot, on their own unable to regulate their body temp. It is commonly said that baby should be wearing one layer more than what you are wearing yourself. So armed with that information, plus a general note on the tog ratings on adult doonas, you can see or perhaps understand why at this time of the year, I am seeing lots of cold babies. Making sure everything on their bed is natural fibres, synthetic material doesnt breath and can make your baby sweat, causing confusion - a hot baby will sweat on their core body (chest/back). A cold baby will/may early rise, catnap, move around in their cot a lot, get into the corners of the cot, back up against the side of the cot, and a lot will flip to their tummy, with their bums up in the air and their arms tucked under them, like a cute little froggy. I hope this has been somewhat helpful. Let me know!

24.01.2022 The best guide to when your baby is ready to sleep is understanding their wake duo window - how long they can be awake for before needing to nap or go down for the night! Generally speaking for most babies the wake window at the start of the day is usually the shortest, the longest wake window at the end of the day (unless the last nap is a catnap and then you may need to decrease their awake time)... This is just a guide, an average, it isnt a bible or the Holy Grail. I do recommend watching for tired signs, watching the clock and knowing their wakeful window. Do you know your babys wakeful window? Has this been helpful for you? Tag a mum who would appreciate this knowledge. Lisa #cherishyoursleep #sleepconsultantmelbourne #sleeptips #wakewindows #babies #babysleep #sleephelp #routine #mumlife #toddlers

24.01.2022 There is nothing more satisfying that knowing a family is exactly where they want to be with sleep! Everyone has different expectations and goals on where they want to be. This little guy was feeding to sleep for all sleeps and cosleeping through the night, which had been working for everyone, until it didnt.... Mum wanted time have time with her husband of an evening, mum wanted to be able to have Dad put this little guy down too so that she could put her daughter to bed sometimes. Mum wasnt after the elusive sleeping through the night... she was after balance and was super happy to keep a feed or two in overnight - she loves those middle of the night snuggles. I have only good news to report: - Baby in own room since 28/6 - No problems transitioning him. Slept perfectly the first night. - Most nights just wakes for two feeds. Some nights he is needing an early resettle but its quick. There are certainly things we could tweak but we are really happy. We are consistently getting our evenings. Lisa, Ive started watching the 7pm news again! I havent done that in ages Mind you, its bloody depressing at the moment. I feel like we have the skills now, thanks to you, to take it to the next level when we need to. Right now, Im exactly where I wanted to be- the perfect balance between lovely breastfeeds and independent, consistent sleep in his own room! And my evenings back! And he is so much happier for not being overtired all the time. Look at that happy, darling face #cherishyoursleep #melbournesleepconsultant #babysleep #happybaby #breastfeeding #sleep #mumlife

23.01.2022 To you lovely sleepy friends... Ive just started a thread on my Instagram feed where you can ask me questions and over the next day or so I will be answering them individually! So jump on over and give me a follow... and comment if you have a question. Lisa... www.instagram.com/cherishyoursleep

22.01.2022 For anyone that has worked with me, or been to one of my workshops (its been a while), they would know I talk about this guy a lot... not because we had difficulties with his sleep, but because of his temperament and what that means for his sleep. This guy, love him, is spirited, determined, persistent, highly active. He is either asleep ... or awake. There isnt really an in between. When he wakes in the morning he is 10/10 in energy straight away! Bounces down to our bedr...oom Like an everyready energy bunny!!! Why am I sharing this? BECAUSE ... these spirited little humans rarely wind down. Sooo, we dont do a wind down before bed, rarely have. We play! We rough and tumble, we laugh, we screech... we get those last bursts of energy out before he settles to sleep. We realized early on that this worked better for him than stories and quiet time - hes never quiet so battling to make him something he just isnt, was pointless. So we made bedtime fun, exciting, less stressful and it worked. We play hide and seek, we play spotlight, horsey rides, wrestlmania, dance parties! It eased the stress of bedtime for everyone and in turn led to a smoother evening routine. Not for everyone I know.. but it works for us. Hands up if youve got a spirited little human living in your house! #cherishyoursleep #babysleep #sleepconsultant #bedtimebattlesbegone #roughhousing #mumlife

22.01.2022 Hey guys! Just sharing with you all that I am doing a live online workshop this Friday in collaboration with Corefit Yoga. Get in touch if you want to book a spot... ... Lisa

20.01.2022 This is amazing! And true!! And its giving me alllllll the feels right now!!!

20.01.2022 To the knowledgeable Lisa, Why didnt I call you sooner...after 6 months of mucking around with day naps, bedtimes and night feeds you helped us clock up more hours of sleep from night 1. Your experience and ability to see things objectively shone through and has helped our whole family function again. Legend! My husband says youre a wizard. Keep doing what you do because sleep = wellness. Our family is so grateful! But most importantly, Jack is a happy chap with full nights sleep and energy to burn!

19.01.2022 This week marked 6 years of operating Cherish Your Sleep! Time has flown.. I remember hours spent studying what I now know and love to do, I remember working with families for free because I was too nervous to charge them, I remember my very first in house consultation! ALL LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY. My little business was just that - I remember saying to Scott that I would be happy working with one family a week - that would cover our groceries.... 6 years later, I work with 4/5 clients a week, often with a waiting list. Im grateful to be able to manage my workload so I can still be a full time mum to my three beautiful babies. I wont lie, there have been really tough times too, I openly admit that I havent been able to help everyone to the extent that my perfectionist personality would like, I have questioned myself multiple times, but its all about learning and growing. Ive continued to study, enrolling in courses that compliment my work and my own philosophies as a parent. I really appreciate this community - the social media world is still a major unknown to me but it allows me to grow my business, share my knowledge and reach the wider community of families. Thank you.. thank you for helping me help you!! And yay to 6 years!! Its been a blast!! #cherishyoursleep #babysleepconsultant #melbourne #sleeptips #mumlife #smallbusiness #sleep #babies #toddlers #sleepadvice

18.01.2022 Whats the difference? Do you need to have baby on a schedule?... I always suggest to parents putting into place with their babies, a routine. Routines bring about predictability in your day in that they help baby understand what is coming up next. It could be as simple as the same song or story before bed every night. It could be the series of events you put into place leading into dinner. Its not timing based. Its events based and repeating these events is what helps your baby into a routine. We all need routine. Adults have routines too - for example... every morning my routine is getting up, toilet, opening all the curtains in the house before I stand in the kitchen making lunches whilst the kids eat breakfast. I do the same thing every day but its not always at the same time each day. Schedules are about timing. Needing to be at the school by 9 because the kids school schedule starts at that time. With babies this would mean napping at exactly the same time each day, eating at the same time each day, everything by a timed process. NOW... yes I do see some babies really thrive on schedules as do their parents. But babies dont know about schedules. They cant tell the time. Its great to have a guide as to what time they may need to have a nap but they would be based on wake windows for instance. Feeding your baby the same time each day is something that works for some babies but some days they are hungrier than others so need more etc. Its great to have routines and a guide to what your day might look like but schedules arent going to be the same every day because babies change and grow and their needs are ever changing. What works for you? Do you have a routine in place? #cherishyoursleep #sleeptips #routine #schedules #sleepconsultantmelbourne #babies #toddlers #mumlife #sociallyemcourse

18.01.2022 Good Morning .. If you are on Instagram, I have just popped up a post, where you can pop a question down in the comments and I will be answering as many as I can over the day! Id love it if you would follow along... www.instagram.com/cherishyoursleep

18.01.2022 Toddler Sleep Parents often think once their babies become toddlers, that sleep issues can’t be resolved! I beg to differ... and this mum will too! Her little guy was escaping from his sleeping bag, climbing out of the cot and refusing naps!... Now... he is an absolute sleep star.. AND STILL IN HIS COT!! Read on... I came across Lisa at Cherish Your Sleep, when my son Wyatt was a newborn. Over the last 2.5 years I’ve followed her instagram, taking tips and tricks throughout my journey of motherhood. Truthfully there has always been some adjustment that could have been done with Wyatts sleep, but like a lot of parents I battled on. Looking back now I wish I’d made contact with Lisa sooner! At 2 years of age, when Wyatt still wasn’t sleeping through, he hit an extremely challenging stage, where somehow in the fog of sleep deprivation (and the exhaustion of a new pregnancy) I slipped into a routine of bed sharing or sitting by his cot at night until he went to sleep. Neither of which I wanted to be doing with a new baby coming. I reached out to Lisa, who I exchanged multiple emails with in the lead up to our phone consult. Lisa didn’t make me feel ashamed or guilty for how I had been managing, in fact when I spoke to her I felt like I’d known her for years! She gave me some great tips to get started on while she prepared and sent through Wyatts tailored sleep plan. And OH MY GOSH, you better believe that just implementing the tips she gave me on the first night, was like a god send! I was prepared for a rather challenging experience, but Lisa had covered every scenario. And for the first time in months, I had a peaceful night sleep! The best part though? I had a toddler that was the happiest I had seen him in months! Less tantrums, and everyone was well rested and happy! We saw astonishing results immediately, and everything was running as a well oiled machine after only 3 days! Lisa was amazing, and checked in with me every morning to see how our night had been, and even when we hadn’t had any hiccups and it was quite clear Lisa had provided us with the exact tools we needed, she would still touch base to make sure that everything was still going well and I didn’t need anything. I always knew she was available for advice and to guide me if I was unsure, and she was so encouraging! Another amazing element to this journey, was that Lisa and I live around 2 hours away from each other, and were in lockdown at the time, so, I say to anyone who thinks that they can’t seek Lisa’s help, because you aren’t close by, you can and Lisa will give you all the tools to succeed! I would recommend Lisa at Cherish Your Sleep over and over, and plan on having her help when our newest addition arrives

18.01.2022 An early bedtime more often than not counteracts overtiredness. Overtiredness in most, causes frequent night wakings. Keeping your baby up later, past their natural wake window is not conducive to a good nights sleep. Early bedtime often means more sleep overnight and less chance of early rising. Most children wake with the birds, its natural, its our circadian rhythm. More often than not, implementing an early bedtime will see... your little one sleep to, or past their normal wake up in the morning and decreases the chance of early rising. More sleep overnight means well rested, happier kiddies overall. Sleep that happens in the first part of the night is usually the more restorative sleep we get compared to that of the morning, so putting them down earlier, you are going to capture that amazing period of time where restorative sleep is at its prime. Later bedtimes often see more resistance from our small people - because they are already overtired and have hit their second wind making it near impossible to get them to bed. An early bedtime sees less resistance, which means less stress for everyone and really being about a beautiful calm and peaceful bedtime, where connection is strong, emotional wellness is thriving for both child and parents and bedtimes become fun again. As selfish as this sounds, an early bedtime means that parents get their nights back. The relationship between parents needs time as well and having the kids in bed early means couples get this down time, to relax, to connect and to flourish. And hello, side note - the best tv viewing is always after 7.30!! I know an early bedtime isnt workable for a lot of families, I get it. It has to work for your situation but I do think this topic is definitely worth mentioning! What time is bedtime in your house? #cherishyoursleep #earlybedtime #sleeptips #sleepconsultantmelbourne #babysleep #sleephelp #bedtime #babies #toddlers #sociallyemcourse

17.01.2022 Hey lovely people. A Super quick PSA... the link between my website and my email is somewhat not working, therefore if you have sent an inquiry I may not have received it. You may want to email me directly [email protected]

17.01.2022 This is happening people! Online workshop for the win!! If you want to secure yourself a spot, you will need to send me an email as there will be limited spots.... This workshop will cover everything I cover in my private consultations and I will give you the knowledge and confidence to make any changes you need to make. Tag anyone who you think would love to come to this workshop! Lisa [email protected]

16.01.2022 8month sleep regression. Lets call it - this regression can happen as early as 7 months old and as late as 10 months. Some people may say their baby never actually recovered from the 4 months regression. So whats happening here.... So many new developmental skills are happening - sitting up, crawling, pulling up, some even standing up. They are also cognitively understanding more, beginning to put sounds together, they have developed object permanence and this can cause separation anxiety. At this age, it is also super common that babies move from a three nap schedule to a two nap, and can see their wake windows increase. Lets also not forget - TEETHING! Soooo their little brains are going 100 miles a minute and of course this will impact on their sleep. When they sleep, their little brains gather all new information and start compartmentalising and consolidating it, so can you see why their sleep is disrupted? So what should we do? Nothing? Put up with it? For sure you can do that - after all regressions are temporary? And time and patience is your friend. But lets suppose you want to help/need help. Here are some tips: If you had a baby that was sleeping reasonably well, it may be about finding the middle ground. For example, if they were able to settle themselves to sleep, but all of a sudden are crying when you leave the room, then quite possibly just sitting in their room may be the reassurance they need. Similarly if they are waking 4 times for feeds, where they were once waking only twice, resettle the two extra wakings rather than automatically feeding them. Allow them the time to practise new found skills during the day, so that they are tired enough to nap and arent going into bed ready to play and practise in there. Make sure if they have transitioned to less naps, that you compensate by using an earlier bedtime for a period of time until they adjust to longer wake windows. Because their little brains are stimulated so much, make sure you have a great wind down and routine in place for bedtime. Also ensure their sleep environment is on point - white noise and a dark room especially for naps can be particularly helpful. I think with this regression, thinking about the help you need to offer during this period and also having in your mind how you can decrease your help. For example - rocking can move to holding no movement. Patting and shushing can move to just a heavy hand on their back. Taper it back slowly but surely. Hope this is helpful - tag any mum you know needs to read this! Lisa

16.01.2022 Are you wanting to know more about moving your toddler to a Big Bed... Jump over to my Instagram - I’ve just done an IGTV ALL ABOUT IT.

16.01.2022 This is me!! Lisa! Mum of three, experienced certified baby and child sleep consultant, qualified early childhood educator and save the best until last - mum of three amazing small humans. Id love to know more about those that follow along and share in this community. The more I know about you, Id like to think, the more I can ensure Im here sharing things of interest.... So let me get the ball started and share five fun (?) facts about me. 1. Im a homebody - but an extrovert - not sure they go hand in hand but it works for me! 2.I love food, will eat almost everything, theres not many things I dont like - but dessert is my favourite. 3.Queensland is my go to holiday destination - it home, its family and I am a summer lover, so the sun and surf are my happy place. 4.I absolutely love helping families . Im passionate about what I do, seeing happy, sleeping mums and bubs gives me all the feels. 5.I love trashy reality tv - Big Brother, love island, the bachelor.. gah you name it, I love it! (My husband on the other hands hates it) So over to you... how did you come across my page, how long have you followed along? Id love to know. Lisa

15.01.2022 Sleep Awareness Week - 3 - 9th August 2020 PASSION. A powerful feeling. Babies, toddler and all things children have been my passion ever since I can remember. ... Sleep has been my passion now for over 6 years. I have worked with countless families and helped them on the path to improved sleep. To me, sleep for the whole family, is as important as food, water, shelter. Healthy sleep habits positively impact on growth and development for everyone and it is an integral part of our daily routine. There is no one single thing that can be the difference in helping our little ones sleep - it is like a puzzle - we need to put all the missing pieces together to form the whole picture. These are what I call my sleep foundations and they form the basis to my consultations. They are so important - they are holistic, they can be such small things that can make such a huge difference. And getting the right amount of sleep as a parent, can change our whole parenting journey. We are all built to sleep - yes some find it harder than others and may need assistance - I guess its no different to someone being naturally good at swimming, and others needing lessons. Time, practice and patience are definitely key to any positive change. I want to bring awareness to the importance of sleep, particularly during this time of uncertainty. With mental health issues rising, sleep is even more important for us all. Babies, children, teens, adults. We need to prioritise sleep for our overall health and wellbeing. I have so many free tips on both my instagram page and Facebook page - go through and take a look if you need to. There may be just ONE thing there that can make a difference for just one family. Youve got this. Lisa #cherishyoursleep #sleeptips #sleepconsultant #babies #sleepawarenessweek2020 #newborns #toddlers #sleephelp

14.01.2022 FACT!! Spread the Word!!! #mumlife #cherishyoursleep #stopcomparing #babies #sleep #parenting

14.01.2022 This beautiful babe was waking overnight multiple times, even moreso after midnight and it was literally impacting on all aspects of this familys life. Receiving emails like this, are beyond amazing, and absolutely make me so incredibly proud of the job that I do. ... Hi Lisa, It's so hard to believe that only a month ago we were on the phone to you talking about our cuckoo clock that chimed on the hour, every hour after midnight. When I emailed you I was at my absolute wits end - overtired, cranky and not really coping. Today I feel like a different person after a blissful week of uninterrupted sleep. Thank you so much for all of your help, you honestly have given us our sanity back. The only thing I would change in hindsight was waiting so long to contact you... Thank you again - have included a couple of pictures of our stubborn little redhead post nap. She's happy, we're ecstatic!! #sleepsuccess #cherishyoursleep #babysleep #sleepconsultantmelbourne #mumlife #happyfamilies #lovemyjob

13.01.2022 Would you like to win either of these beautiful baby packages?? Jump over to my Instagram NOW... this giveaway has just gone live and its so easy to win!!!

12.01.2022 Amazing how things change quickly in Isolation!!!!

12.01.2022 Ok!!! So more and more, I have clients, and have questions coming through about babies who once slept until 7ish, are starting to wake earlier and earlier! Whats with that, am I right? Well, its daylight savings - the change is imminent and in just a few weeks we will be changing the clocks, and its like our little ones are starting to prepare for that (because 5.30am will become 6.30am when we change over).... But seriously its a drainer getting up at that time - so what should you do? With the mornings getting lighter and lighter, I want you to assess what their bedroom looks like at 5.30am. Is there light coming in? Can they see whats going on around them at that time of the day? If so, block out the light! Im about to start putting up my block out material for my kids because I still like to put them down at a reasonable time during daylight savings and I know that if they know its light outside, I have no chance. You also need to treat that early rising like you would if it were midnight!! If you go in at 5.30am and just surrender to the early rise and get them up, they will continue to wake at that time because it will become habit to get up and start the day! Rule out all the usual suspects too - being awake for too long before bedtime the previous night, make sure they arent cold, make sure they arent hungry so if they are on solids bump up the carbs and protein, make sure they are getting loads of natural light in the late afternoon - that natural light helps with the production of melatonin which is our sleep hormone, make sure the first nap of the day isnt TOOO early.. or too long for that matter and that will also see the early rising continue. But also know that in a few weeks the clocks will change and the 5.30s will become 6.30s. I will be doing a post on the transition to daylight savings so make sure you turn your notifications on.. so you dont miss it! Is your little one starting to wake earlier and earlier? #cherishyoursleep #earlyrising #daylightsavings #sleepconsultantmelbourne #babysleepadvice #babysleep #sleeptips #melbournemums #perthmumsansbubs #mumlife #babies

12.01.2022 {Toilet training} So many questions about this... so here are my tips Your babe/toddler ideally has to be ready. What does that look like?... * showing an awareness that they have wet/soiled their nappy. So telling you that they’ve gone, or taking off their nappy when they’ve gone, because it feels yuk. * Staying dry for longer periods of time. * Hiding when doing a wee or poo in their nappy * Waking from naps with a dry nappy * Showing an interest in the toilet or when others go to the toilet. So what to do: * Prepare - get some reading picture books about using the potty. Make sure you are loaded up with heaps of spare undies and clothes. Have a stool so they can climb onto the toilet so they can be independent. * You can practice wearing undies over a nappy for a bit so they get used to putting undies on and off, so they are used to them when you start the process. * You can have them sit on the potty in the bathroom whilst you run the bath, or practice sitting on the toilet if they don’t want to use the potty. They don’t have to do anything - it’s practice. * Use simple, clear language. Call anatomy by its real name and it’s wees and poos! * Pick a time period where you know you have a good few days of no plans and can stay home for most of the day so they aren’t going in and out of nappies if you need to go out. * Expect accidents - be calm about this. This is a learning experience. So don’t make too much of a fuss other than to say oh dear, wees go on the toilet, we’ll try again next time * I suggest not asking them if they need to go to the toilet but rather giving them a prewarning that you are going to take them, and then take them. Regular and short visits to the toilet across the day. Don’t make them sit for long periods of time otherwise they likely won’t want to do it. * Praise praise praise. For every step of the way. Praise for just sitting on the toilet, praise for telling you they need to go. * Make sure when they are on the toilet, they have your full focus if you are in there with them. * Keep them in undies so that if they wet, they feel the discomfort of wet undies - and if they do wet in their undies, say that to them so they start to associate the feeling of weeing and can start to recognise it before it happens. * You can try a rewards chart but for some children it just doesn’t work as they may be too young to understand what it means. * Know that poos often take longer than wees. Keep persisting. If it’s too much with number twos, it’s ok to relax on that front. With our youngest he toilet trained at 3... but number 2’s took another 6 months but he would tell us he needed to go and ask for a nappy. We were ok with that. * Once you start... keep going. Don’t go back and forth on nappies and undies... but again they have to be ready for the process - it’s physical cognitive development working hand in hand. * Wine!!! Lots of wine!!!

11.01.2022 4 month Sleep Regression... What really happens with a regression? Your babies are going through a massive learning curve, they are developing new skills which makes their little minds tick over, specifically with the 4month sleep regression there is a lot going on. ...Continue reading

10.01.2022 I often get negative comments when I post tables like this but Its always so hard to know how much sleep your little one needs and this may give you a GUIDE! The realistic situation is that every child has a different sleep need. Some babies can do with a smaller amount of sleep than others, whilst some babies NEED more sleep than what you might think.... For example, my daughter, now 9.5 years old, has a very high sleep need for her age and still often clocks up 12 hours overnight.Shes always needed more than what might be considered average and if she gets less than average, I love her but shes not worth interacting with on those days. MOODY! Im not sharing this table to make make you feel bad if your baby isnt sleeping as outlined, but its there to give you a bit of a guide to what you might be aiming for or expect as you nurture your newborn into a toddler. If your child is happy, thriving on the sleep they are currently getting and you are happy, then thats all that matters. I have put in some information there about nap length/transition to less naps too, again just a guide. It is a great resource and I know when I had my babies, knowing how many naps at what age and what I could expect as they got older, gave me some piece of mind. So tag a mum you know might benefit from seeing this. Has this been helpful for you? #cherishyoursleep #sleeptips #sleepconsultantmelbourne #sleepneeds #babies #toddlers #sleephelp #naps

09.01.2022 Hey guys, I am in the process of organising an online workshop and I am after your feed back so I would appreciate if you could perhaps answer some questions for me. 1. If I were to do an online workshop, would you be interested in attending... A) yes B) no. 2. What platform would you consider to be easiest for you A) Zoom B) Webex C) feel free to suggest another option 3. What time of the day would work best for you? A) morning B) evening (after kids have gone to bed) 4. Would you prefer a weekday or weekend? Thanks so much - I really appreciate it Lisa

08.01.2022 CRYING Did you know it is really normal for your newborn baby to cry for around 2 hours a day. Not in one big hit of course but across the day, they may cry for that long. Did you know that from 6 weeks through to about 3 months, they may actually cry for up to three hours across the day.... That's a lot of crying right? Did you know that if your baby cries for three hours at a time for what you may determine to be unexplained crying (usually in the latter part of the day), around three times a week - they MAY have colic. Did you know that babies that have had a traumatic birth MAY actually cry more in their first three months of life due to their birthing experience. Did you know that babies who suffer from reflux will cry/scream after, during feeds. He might scream/cry suddenly when asleep. All this crying right? Babies cry when you make change, babies cry when they are hungry, overstimulated, when they have a wet/soiled nappy, when they are in a strange/different environment and are unsure. Babies cry when they are tired, when they want to be asleep but cant get themselves there, because they want to be cuddled and close to mum/dad, babies will cry because they want to - because its normal, healthy, healing, because it is the way in which they communicate. Sometimes no matter what you do they will still cry - it isnt always your job to fix the crying (as long as all physiological reasons have been ruled out) - it is your job to reassure your little one that you are there, that they are safe. There is a vast difference between popping your baby to bed and then having a grizzle/whinge before falling asleep.... as compared to having a baby cry, unattended until they fall asleep - CIO, which I dont advocate. We want to let them know that they are safe, they are ok - even through change. What that looks like for each family is different. I often have parents tell me that their baby cries more the more they attend to them to help them settle off to sleep, and they feel guilty that at times they have walked away, even though their baby settles. Gah, sometimes its damned if you do, damned if you dont right? Did your bubba cry a lot? #cherishyoursleep

08.01.2022 Sleep or lack there of... such a topic of interest for all parents. "Should my baby be sleeping through? What does normal sleep look like? My child sneaks into my bed every night. Just co-sleep!... So much of what we read/see is conflicting & the mind boggles. What I find frustrating is hearing/reading people say that ongoing sleep deprivation is normal when you become a parent. To a certain extent, for sure this is true. But ongoing sleep deprivation doesnt have to be normal. Now I may have been blessed with naturally good sleepers, thats not boasting, maybe I just got lucky. Whilst we have had nights where we have been up with the kids, for the most part, they sleep & sleep well. From an early age, the first two slept through the night, the third, well he was my third so I probably just did whatever, whenever because he was my baby & all the feels set in & I wanted to continue feeding etc overnight .. blah blah blah.. until I didnt. Did I sleep train? No, but I did change how I responded to him when he did wake & that led to him sleeping through. Its ok to want to get sleep, for you to want your baby to get more sleep. I was reading a post today where it said its normal for babies/children to wake overnight, for babies/children to cosleep etc. that parenting is a 24 hour job & that means we dont stop responding overnight. Thats all true / it is a 24 hour job, but its also ok to want to have your baby sleep better overnight too. I actually read the post and got slightly offended... (it didnt last long) because my children dont wake in the night for the most part. They dont want to sleep in our bed. The times we have tried, they lay awake, I lie awake. My kids love their own bed, they sleep best in their own bed, on their own. Do they come in and snuggle with us in the morning - ABSOLUTELY - its my favourite part of the day, I live for those cuddles. But I also know they wake up well rested & happy after a great night of uninterrupted sleep in their own bed. They need it! We need it! I am all about doing what works for you, most of you know that, but whilst some people normalise ongoing night wakings, Im normalising sleeping well too.

06.01.2022 {Iron Deficiency} To preface this post - I am not a doctor and always recommend if you are concerned, seek medical advice. This post comes after a consultation with a toddler mum today. I felt it was a super important topic because IRON DEFICIENCY can impact on sleep!... And well, this page is about sleep! Iron deficiency (anemia) in young children is common - more common than what you think. Let’s delve further... Full term babies are born with enough iron stores in their body to support their bodies until they are around 6 months of age. Breastmilk doesn’t contain huge amounts of iron but what it does contain is readily and easily absorbed by baby, with the help of vitamin C and lactose levels in the breastmilk. If during pregnancy you were low in iron/had Anaemia, this can also impact on babies iron stores. Baby formulas are usually iron fortified and most babies drink adequate amounts of formula. Around 6 months of age, it is recommended that baby’s diet is supplemented with iron, to ensure their little bodies have adequate iron stores to facilitate healthy growth and development. Iron deficiency can become more prevalent in older babies/toddlers due to the introduction of milk into their diet and often having too much milk, with milk having little to no iron goodness. They can also become fussy eaters during this time, which leads to limited eating of iron rich foods. So what does iron deficiency look like in young children. What are some signs: * Fatigue/lethargy in children * Restlessness when asleep (can be linked to restless leg syndrome) * Pale skin * Decreased appetite * PICA - the urge to eat inedible substances - dirt/paper/even ice. * Poor sleep/interrupted sleep * Behavioural issues. What foods can assist in building iron stores for our bubs and young children. * Meat * Fish * Poultry * Nuts * Lentils, beans, legumes * Spinach/leafy greens * Egg yolk Tip: Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron, so serving iron rich foods with foods contain Vitamin C is . Foods that contain vitamin C are: * kiwi fruit * Oranges * Tomatoes * Capsicum * Broccoli If concerned, the best/first point of contact would be your GP.

06.01.2022 Guys, I have a little giveaway happening over on Instagram .. super easy, super awesome. Come over to the wild side and enter! www.instagram.com/cherishyoursleep

06.01.2022 NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY!!! Or should you?? A lot of people would say NO. I say there are always circumstances where you may NEED to wake your baby.... Newborns - If you find they have their days & nights around the wrong way, then you would want to start waking them more during the day (and get them into natural light) so they feed more frequently & have more awake time during the day rather than at night. I always suggest waking babies at the same time or thereabouts in the morning. Starting the day at the same time each day helps regulate their circadian rhythm - wake/sleep cycles across the day. (I think 7am is a reasonable start to the day personally)which will mean their first nap also starts to fall into place. If you are working on sleep, I sometimes suggest when baby is on 2/3 sleeps you would wake them at the 2 hour mark for a nap. It helps ensure the remainder of naps fit into their day & also means that if they have had a dodgy night, a really long nap isn't reinforcing those night wakings. You may need to wake your baby from the last nap of the day, depending on what time you are anticipating bedtime being. Ideally also because that last nap really should be a catnap so there is still enough sleep pressure heading into bedtime. You wouldn't really want a baby on 3 naps sleeping any later than about 4.30/5ish if you are aiming for a bedtime of somewhere around 7/7.30ish.(depending on their wake window). You may need to wake your baby if they are sleeping too much in the day overall. Taking into account what their overall daily sleep requirement is, if they are sleeping an extraordinarily large amount during the day, then chances are they aren't going to need as much overnight. If baby is transitioning to less naps, but just can't quite make it yet, you may find that by waking them form one of the naps, the remainder of the naps hang a round a little longer which is a good thing most of the time. For example, if baby is on two naps but fighting the second nap of the day, I might suggest waking them from their first nap earlier so that the second nap comes back into the routine. Helpful!!? Let me know

04.01.2022 Give me all the newborn feels!! But gosh those first 3 months can be tough. The fourth trimester, its more commonly known as, is a time of uncertainty, learning about your baby, bonding, attachment, leaky boobs, tears, joy, new experiences, love, sleepless nights, cuddles, questions, frequent feeds... and then some!... Honour the fourth trimester. Listen to your baby, listen to your natural mumma instinct, no rods will be built with too many cuddles! Let others nurture you, care for you whilst you care for your baby. Wear your baby - they love hearing your heart beat - its such a familiar sound. Swaddle your baby - they are used to being all squished up and snuggled tightly in small spaces, and the swaddle gives them this security. Talk to them, coo with them, they love the sound of your voice. They love sound in general. White noise can be your friend. Rocking them is soothing Feeding them frequently is normal and needed. Sucking is incredibly calming. Replicate your womb as much as you can - these first three months are an extension of their time in the womb, as they adjust to being earthside and you adjust to their presence as well. Caring for a newborn is incredibly tiring, particularly if you experienced sleeplessness when pregnant (), Take your time, say no to things that arent a priority, its ok to say no to visitors if its becoming too much. You will be recovering yourself so take it one day at a time. This fourth trimester is as much about you, as it is your baby. Its ok not to bounce back, its ok to be emotional, its ok to have days laying on the couch, milk dripping from your breasts, unshowered but blissfully unaware as you get to know and fall in love with your precious new baby. Its called the baby bubble for a reason. Youve got this.

04.01.2022 ISO Day 1/take 2 done! I was so damn grateful that the sun was shining today, it almost made isolation seem ok! The kids spent the morning in their pyjamas (as did I)and after lunch, I didnt see them for the rest of the day, except when I was required to be their snack bitch! ... They set up a tent and played in there together, they were on the trampoline, I was so grateful for the set of wake rallies they got a couple of years ago because they spent the good part of an hour on those playing hide and seek. They climbed trees, made mud pies, played memory tag and kicked the footy! AND NOT A SINGLE FIGHT! What sort of miracle is this? (Im fairly certain no fighting will be a one hit wonder) For those back in Isolation or still isolating... I feel you!! What was the highlight of your day today? #cherishyoursleep #isolation #covid19 #outsideplay #parenting

02.01.2022 Hey In case you dont follow me on Instagram... firstly... YOU SHOULD BE!! secondly Im doing a bit of a Q and A in my stories over there so come on over to the dark side! PLEASE!... www.instagram.com/cherishyoursleep

02.01.2022 Dear Mama, I dont remember if our house was big or small or if we rented or owned. I dont remember if you had a fancy car, or if we had to take the bus.... I dont remember if the house was clean and tidy or if it was covered in washing piles and scattered toys. I dont remember if my pram was new or second hand or if I had the latest new toy or designer clothes. I dont remember if you were dressed up or if your face was bare, it always looked perfect to me. I dont remember if you had a lot of money or whether you lived pay check to pay check. I dont remember if we went out every day or went on expensive holidays. I dont remember how sometimes you got angry or cried or had to walk out of the room to take a breath. I dont remember a schedule, a checklist or any expectations other than just you. What I do remember is feeling safe. I remember your comfort and how you kept me warm. I remember your face above me when I cried for you. I remember you would feed me when I was hungry, or tired or in pain. I remember your smell and how it would send me off to sleep, sometimes at 2:00am, then again at 4:00am. I remember your smile, it was the first reason I smiled. I remember how you played with me and got down on the ground with me, before I could get up. I remember you taught me about love before anything else and how it was my constant. I remember knowing it was the only thing I ever really needed and you gave that to me, I never had to work for it, I relaxed in it. Thank you for teaching me that love has no limits, that its unconditional and honest. This is what I will remember Mama. Thank you for giving me the best memories of all. #Repost @jessurlichs_writer

02.01.2022 Mum. Thanks for keeping me safe inside for as long as you did. I was warm, cosy, comfortable and you gave me nourishment, love and life. These first few days/weeks/months earth side have been a real change for both of us.... Youve had to learn how to nurture me, feed me, bathe me and understand my cues. Im sure Ive confused you many times. Youve cried, second guessed yourself, spent a lot of time on google trying to understand me. Youve lost sleep, even when Im sleeping I know youve been awake. Your body has changed, it feels and looks different. There have been some tough times establishing a good feeding relationship - youve questioned whether you have you given me enough, how does one even know much is enough? BUT MUM, Im new here too, Im trying to come to grips with the changes that entering the world have meant to me. Everything is so different. Where did your heart beat go? I cant hear it all the time. Also, its so bright here... I really liked the dark. When I was in your tummy, it was like you were constantly cuddling me but now I am getting used to spending some time on my own. Its so confusing sometimes. Im also trying to get used to drinking milk, it sometimes makes my tummy feel weird and makes me cry until I burp, but burping can be hard sometimes too. I try to tell you whats wrong but I dont yet have the words, so I cry. I know my crying stresses you out, I can see you looking frazzled and it seems to upset me even more. Mum, I trust you. I love how you respond to me. The way you look at me. The way you hold me and talk to me. Your voice brings me comfort. I love being snuggled into your chest, my body up against yours, cocooned. Mum, we will be fine, we are doing so well. I know things will get easier as we get to know each other better and find our groove. We have a bond like no other! Thanks for giving me life and love. from Your Baby

02.01.2022 12 month sleep regression! Yay - you made it through the first year unscathed. () Baby perhaps has started getting into a reasonably solid routine, may or may not be sleeping through the night and then BOOM... #getreadyforaregression... Baby starts fighting naps, starts eating like a machine, cries at bedtime and starts having long overnight wakings. They are also on the cusp of walking, their vocab explodes and separation anxiety is hideous - cant even go to the toilet by yourself anymore!! Ok this is NOT the time to move to one nap! This is not the time to move them to a bed (yup I see this a lot) This is probably not the time to wean them from their milk feeds. So what can we do! If they are crying at bedtime, (insert separation anxiety) maybe just sitting in a chair in their room will ease their tears. Naps - If they are fighting their naps, taking a great morning nap but fighting the second, then cap their first nap so it is shorter, and so you are building up optimal sleep pressure before taking a second longer nap. Wake windows can be somewhere between 3 and 4 hours, shorter at the start of the day, longer in the afternoon/evening. Fill them up - this is a growth spurt, so aim for three main meals, two snacks and milk if they are still having it. Protein and carbs are good for lunch and dinner. Fill that little love tank - cuddles, kisses and some rough housing during the day and after dinner so you are building on your amazing connection before they head into a long stint of sleep without you. Long wakings overnight - go back to basics. Think back to how you got them settling successfully and try and meet them halfway, because you know they can do it, the skill is there, just need to remember that. Keep them busy - have them practise their new found gross motor skills, in their awake time. Again, its temporary, so time and patience will be your friend. Who has an almost one year old? Tag your mothers group friends people... forewarned is forarmed. #cherishyoursleep #sleep #babysleepconsultant #babysleep #12monthsleepregression #growthspurt #mumlife

01.01.2022 Exciting Announcement It is really exciting to be letting you all know that we, Lisa from Cherish Your Sleep and Elaine Harvey from Lullababy SOS have been appointment Co-regional Directors - Australia/Pacific for the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants. The Association is one that provides education, support, a community, continuing development and international standards to the industry of Professional Sleep Consultants. With growing numbers in this industry, Aust...ralia Pacific is one of the largest regions so we felt that as a team we would do a better job than as one. We also felt that one of our biggest goals was to create a better stronger community within the Australia Pacific community of Professional sleep consultants and what better way to do this than work together to achieve this goal than to have a shared role. Both Elaine and I come from a background in Early Childhood Education and with a combined experience of over 40 years, there isnt much we havent experience in Early Childhood Development. Having both moved into the field of Child Sleep and running our own businesses for a number of years. Lisa 6 years and Elaine 13 years this appointment is an acknowledgment of our experience, professionalism and commitment to helping families. We often see people in the same field as competition. Ideally, Elaine and I are looking to strengthen the relationship amongst peers and provide a place of ongoing support. We are genuinely excited to be part of this Leadership team and look forward to having a positive impact on the industry the consultants and you, our families and the community. Again, I do fall back to my online community, and thank you for supporting me, sharing in my successes and following along on the journey that I started 6 years ago. Lisa You can find out more about Elaine here ... https://m.facebook.com/Lullababysos.com.au/ #cherishyoursleep #sleepconsultantmelbourne #babysleep #sleeptips #regionaldirector #helpingfamilies