We live in a sleep training culture.

Its effects on parenting around sleep are powerful, and parents feel that pressure. When you dig into the research on sleep training, however, you find that it isn’t as soundly supported as many parents and professionals believe. In this post, I’m highlighting 10 facts about sleep training research that everyone should know to make informed decisions about how you support sleep for your children.

Posts tagged Breastfeeding

How to night wean: tools for making the transition

Deciding to night wean is a big step. If you didn’t see my blog post earlier in the month on the decision to night wean, check it out here. Once you’ve decided this transition is right for you, or even just to reduce nighttime nursing, how do you start to night wean?

There are many ways to support your little one through the night weaning process. Their personality, readiness, language skills, and preferences will all guide you in coming up with a plan. There are simple, low-pressure ways to cut back on nursing and more intentional strategies to eliminate feeds.

Toddler SleepKimberly HawleyOctober 29, 2021night weaning, Breastfeeding, toddler transitions, weaning helpComment

Ready For Night Weaning?

You are tired. Your little one feeds a lot over night. You aren’t sure if nighttime nursing is a help or making sleep worse. You think you might be ready for night weaning, but you’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do.

Infant Sleep, Toddler SleepKimberly HawleyOctober 13, 2021night weaning, toddler sleep, nursing, BreastfeedingComment

Why Feeding to Sleep Is a Healthy Sleep Habit

Feeding to sleep is a healthy sleep habit. The belief that it is not came from opinion not science. Feeding to sleep is normal, common, and healthy. If you want to feed to sleep do so with confidence. If you think it’s time to change things, that’s ok too.

Bedtime, Infant SleepKimberly HawleyAugust 17, 2021night time parenting, night waking, feeding to sleep, Breastfeeding, nursing to sleep, sleep habits, good sleep habits, healthy sleep habits Comment

Five reasons you should take a breastfeeding class while pregnant

Breastfeeding is natural. You are busy. There are so many things to do to prepare for birth and the arrival of your baby. Adding one more thing to your crazy schedule seems laughable. What is there to learn anyway?

So why should you make time for a prenatal breastfeeding class? Here are 5 reasons.

Kimberly HawleyJanuary 18, 2017Nusing, BreastfeedingComment

My Partner and I Don’t Agree About Sleep

In an ideal world, parents talk through major parenting decisions and values ahead of baby’s arrival. However, we don’t live in an ideal world. It’s hard to know all the things you should discuss, and even when you do, it’s hard to know how you’ll feel once baby is here. The reality of your emotions and experiences can be hard to predict.

Sleep training research: unpacking sleep training culture

How Much Should My Baby or Toddler Sleep? Developmentally Appropriate Expectations, Birth To Age 5

This article features an outline of realistic expectations for your child’s sleep in the first 5 years, updated for 2022. It can be hard to know what healthy sleep patterns even are at each age. This article will cover healthy and developmentally appropriate sleep expectations for infants and toddlers by age. Download this as a PDF for an easy reference.

Bedsharing Guide: Benefits, Safety, and FAQs

Bedsharing is a wonderful, biologically normal way to care for your baby at night. It’s also a big controversy in safe sleep. Since many pediatricians only focus on a “just don’t” attitude towards bedsharing, parents are stuck trying to navigate safe sleep messages and the reality of nighttime parenting. In this guide, I’ll answer some of the many questions I hear from parents about sleeping with their baby, cosleeping safety, bedsharing, and many questions that I also asked as a new parent.

Helpful Resources

We live in a sleep training culture.