The Sleep Sense Show

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Episode 115 - How to Raise a Boy May 10, 2019

Show notes

As the mother of two teenage boys, I have to admit that, on occasion, I find it hard to connect with them.

I find myself walking a fine line between wanting to show interest in their lives and respecting their privacy. Between showing them love and smothering them with it. Between letting them be themselves and raising them to be good men. Which is why I was so thrilled to speak with Dr. Michael Reichert this week, the author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. Dr. Reichert has some of the most perceptive and profound insights into parenting that I've ever heard, and I mean that sincerely. If you're raising a boy, or even have one in your life, I just can't recommend this episode highly enough.

Episode 114 - Not The Mama! Jan 11, 2019

Show notes

How many two-parent families out there can relate to this scenario?

Your little one, who both of you spend plenty of time with and love unconditionally, has grown to a point where they can communicate some basic preferences.

They like carrots, but not as much as they like applesauce.

They like the dog, but not as much as they like their stuffed giraffe.

And they like Dad, but not nearly as much as they like Mom.

And they're not afraid to show it, despite the fact that it absolutely breaks the less-favorite parent's heart.

Of course, we're grown-ups so we know that our babies love us, and it doesn't matter if they have a slight preference for one parent over the other, right?

Well, that may be what we tell ourselves, but of course it stings when your baby prefers someone over you.

In today's episode, I'll talk about why kids tend to show more affection to one parent, grandparent, or caregiver over another.

And although I may not be able to change your child's behavior, I do have some reassuring thoughts to help you remember that you, as the parent, as by the far the important person in your little one's eyes, even though they may not always show it.

Episode 113 - The Importance of Choices Jan 04, 2019

Show notes

I'm certainly not a "free-range" parent. I'm just too much of a worrier to let my kids run around unsupervised. But on the other hand, I do think that kids need some amount of authority over their own lives.

Providing your little ones with choices is beneficial on a couple of levels. It allows them to feel like they have some measure of control over things, and it provides some early lessons about the consequences of their decisions. Not to mention the peace and harmony it can help to maintain around the house!

Today, we'll talk a bit about how to provide your kids with choices, and the benefits that come along with providing them those options.

Episode 112 - How to Deal With Lying Dec 14, 2018

Show notes

Let's be honest here. (Ha!) Unless you're an exceptionally lucky parent, your child is going to tell the occasional fib.

As a parent, you'll have to decide how when and how to call them out on it, and what the consequences are when they tell a lie.

In today's episode, I've got a few tips for you to help decide on a strategy you can be comfortable with when you find your little one bending the truth, as well as a few insights as to why children tell lies in the first place.

Episode 111 - What's the Cure for Whining? Dec 07, 2018

Show notes

I recently asked my Facebook friends what parenting challenges they needed some help with, and when it came to the parents of toddlers, the overwhelming response was one you can probably identify with; Whining.

It's pretty much guaranteed that shortly after your little one learns to communicate, they'll discover whining as a tactic for getting what they want.

And it can be super annoying!

Parenting experts are quick to tell you that if you don't give in to the behavior, your little one will give it up, which is usually true. What they don't tell you as often is how to maintain your sanity when your little one is shrieking for a treat, or pitching a fit in the middle of the grocery store.

So today, I have a few tips to help you keep your cool and respond to your child's whining in a way that will end, or at least minimize the behavior, when your little one resorts to whimpering to get their way.

Episode 110 - How Lack of Sleep Affects Your Marriage Nov 30, 2018

Show notes

People tend to make light of the sleepless nights that new parents experience when they have a new baby. We all go through it, and so we tend to laugh it off once our little ones grow up and start sleeping through the night.

But sleep deprivation is no laughing matter, and it can have serious effects on your mental health and, subsequently, on your relationship.

In today's episode, I want to look at some of the actual physical changes that take place in your brain and body when you don't get enough sleep, and talk about how those changes can make you less likely to approach conflicts with your partner in an impartial, rational way, as well as what you can do, starting tonight, to address the issue.

Episode 109 - Six Reasons Your Kids Need Sleep Nov 16, 2018

Show notes

It's not like we don't know that our kids need a lot of sleep. Every parent in the world realizes that babies sleep a lot more than adults, but when's the last time you actually thought about why?

The obvious answer, "They get cranky if they don't sleep," is true of course, but there's a lot of fascinating science behind that fact, and sleep does so much more for our little ones than just regulating their mood.

So today, I'm going to look at the amazing operation going on inside your baby's body and mind while they snooze, and why it's so vital for helping them grow, keeping them healthy, and getting them off to a great start in life.

Episode 108 - How Much Awake Time Can Baby Handle Nov 09, 2018

Show notes

Most of the parents I've worked with over the years fall into a very common trap when it comes to their baby's sleep, and it's because it's such a reasonable belief.

"The more tired you are, the better you'll sleep."

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Like food or water, the more your body needs, the more it will accommodate.

The fact is, this notion isn't just inaccurate, it's actually just the opposite. Because of our bodies' natural response to overtiredness, it causes light, fragmented sleep in babies as well as adults.

So how do you avoid that pitfall? The most important thing to keep your eye on is how long your baby is awake between naps.

In today's episode, I've got some specific guidelines to keep your baby's "awake window" in the appropriate range for their age, as well as some tips to help you adjust the schedule if you find things aren't going as planned.

Episode 107 - How to Take a Nap as an Adult Nov 02, 2018

Show notes

Taking daytime naps is something we usually associate with babies and toddlers, and for good reason. Young kids need a lot of sleep and tend to get a big chunk of it during the day.

But as more people are realizing, daytime naps are rewarding for adults too. They can be a great tool to regulate your nighttime sleep and stay on top of your game throughout the day.

However, I've heard from a lot of people that they either can't get to sleep during the day, or that naps leave them feeling groggy when they wake up from them, and even that they interfere with their nighttime sleep.

I personally am a big believer in the rejuvenating effects of a quick daytime snooze, and I take a nap almost every day. In today's episode, I'll talk about why they're so beneficial, and share a few of my strategies for getting to sleep quickly and waking at the right time to ensure you get up refreshed and energized, and don't impede your ability to get back to sleep at bedtime.

Episode 106 - Surviving a Hotel Stay With Your Baby Oct 19, 2018

Show notes

I know a lot of parents who avoid this problem by simply not traveling, but that's not always an option, and it's certainly not a good solution for those of us who love to travel.

Staying in a hotel room with a young baby presents a whole pile of concerns for parents. Where should she sleep, how do we keep her on a schedule, and of course, what if she cries? After all, it's not just you that she's going to disturb if she spends an hour wailing in the middle of the night.

In today's episode, I have a few creative, slightly unorthodox solutions to help make sure that your hotel stay is as peaceful as possible, and that will keep you and your baby from falling back into any bad habits that may have derailed her sleep in the first place.

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