All it Takes is a Plan Lauren Engler

The four-month sleep regression can be really hard. Your baby might have been a great newborn sleeper and now all of a sudden, the four-month regression hits, and sleep is not happening.
Or maybe your baby was already struggling with sleep, and the four-month sleep regression made it that much worse, and you're exhausted.
The tough news is, the four-month sleep regression is pretty unavoidable. While some babies truly don't seem to be affected much, all babies' sleep goes through an actual, physical change around four months old!
The good news is, you can survive the four-month regression, and there are actual strategies you can implement before and during the regression to help it be more bearable!
So in this episode, we're covering:
What the four-month sleep regression is and why it happensSigns your baby is in the four-month regressionHow long the four-month sleep regression lastsStrategies to help your baby get through the four-month regression
And so much more!
Looking to establish a sleep foundation with your newborn, in hopes that some effects of the four-month sleep regression will be minimized? Check out Newborn Sleep from A to Z!
Or did the four-month regression really hit hard and you're just trying to figure out your options to get some semblance of sleep back? Check out Baby Sleep from A to Z!

In last week's episode, I interviewed my friend, Sterling, and we talked about why her one-year-old might still be waking in the night to nurse.
We also talked about what night-weaning methods she could use to finally get her baby to sleep through the night!
On this week's episode, Sterling is back and tells us about what night weaning method she and her husband decided to go with, and she also tells us how night weaning actually went!
If you're looking for this kind of one-on-one help with getting your baby or toddler to sleep through the night, check out how we can help!

A friend reached out to me several weeks ago saying that her almost one-year-old was still waking up at night to nurse and she was ready to night wean.
Weaning a baby from overnight feeds, however, is not just a one-step process, and I wanted to make sure I had all of the information I needed to give her the best advice possible.
I then asked her if she'd be willing to chat over Zoom so I could record our night-weaning conversation and share it on this podcast! So on this episode, you get to listen in and hear the routine suggestions I gave her as she's preparing to wean those night feeds, as well as the different method options she and her husband can choose from.

Bedtime battles are unfortunately common for so many families. Toddlers and young kids want to keep playing, or they want mom to sleep with them, or dad to hold their hand while they doze.
While the "answer" to sleep is not always easy, in this episode we're talking about one key piece to a calm and successful bedtime - ONE-ON-ONE TIME!
We will be talking about the "emotional piggy bank" analogy and how being mindful of our little one's "piggy banks" can help them sleep well!
Make sure you explore Helping Families Thrive and all of the resources they have to offer for parents.
And check out these resources we have to further support you:
Free printables- Bedtime Routine Chart and Boundary CardsAn online sleep class- Big Kid Sleep from A to ZPersonalized sleep plans for toddlers and young kids

We found out we were pregnant with baby number four this fall and were excited to tell our families over the holidays. However, just a few days before Christmas, we went in for an ultrasound and discovered that our baby had stopped growing at about 6.5 weeks. 
We were going to miscarry this tiny baby.
I quickly realized how little I knew about miscarriage, what my options were, and what it might actually look like, because people just don't really talk about miscarriage.
So in this episode, I'm opening up the conversation around miscarriage, because it's a lot more common than it is talked about. 
I dive into the details of our miscarriage, starting with the day we found out our baby was no longer growing, and I walk through both our physical and emotional experiences through it all. 
My goal here is to simply have the conversation that I wish I would have had years ago, in hopes that it would be helpful for you and those you know, as well. 

Blackout curtains are one of my biggest pet peeves as a sleep consultant because there are SO many products out there that say "99.9% blackout," but it's just not the case!
And having total darkness is going to help your little one get the best sleep possible.
In this episode, I'll be sharing:
Why we recommend a pitch-black sleeping environmentCommon questions about blacking out your little one's roomMy favorite blackout solutions
And so much more!
Here are my favorite blackout solutions:
Blackout EZ Covers (use the code "blackout10", with this link, for a discount!)SlumberPod (use the code "GRACES$20" for a discount!)Gro-Anywhere Blind
Here are some other blackout products that work well:
Foil and painter's tape!Redi ShadeBlackout Window FilmNicetown CurtainsUnder-door draft blocker
And if your little one is afraid of the dark, rather than just letting up on the blackout curtains, try a night light, like the Hatch Rest.
For regular sleep tips and tricks for your newborn, baby, toddler, or big kids, make sure you follow us on Instagram!