April 2, 2017

I’m not much of a product pusher. There are an overwhelming number of gadgets out there for every aspect of parenting. But one product I do see as a must-have is a sleep sack (or wearable blanket or child sleeping bag). Whatever you want to call it, these things are genius.

I like sleep sacks because:

1) Small children can become entangled or have their head covered with loose blankets.  The CPS and AAP mentions concerns about loose blankets and endorse wearable blankets in their safe sleep literature (US and Canada).

2) Most children easily transition to a sleep sack from a swaddle. The sleep sack keeps the child enclosed, without being restrictive.

3) As your older baby or younger child starts moving around and kicking off their covers, it can be concerning that they are keeping themselves warm at night. Sleep sacks keep them covered and cozy.

4) It’s much more challenging for a wily toddler to escape their crib while wearing a sleep sack. A sleep sack can help prevent crib escapees.

Kyte BABY is the manufacturer of an innovative and beautifully designed sleep sack. You can tell that Ying Liu, Designer, Doctor, Busy Mother of 5 (FIVE!) and Founder of Kyte BABY, is just like you. She’s a loving parent, concerned about SIDS, mindful of the comfort and warmth of her child and she’s changed diapers at 3AM. She took all of these ideas and morphed them into a beautiful, functional and durable product.

The bamboo is incredibly soft, with lots of stretch and seems to wash up beautifully.  I like that it’s more breathable than cotton, meaning your baby is less likely to get too warm (overheating is a risk factor for SIDS). Lots of variety with adorable prints, various tog warmth ratings and sizes means KyBaby has got you covered.

I’ve partnered with Kyte BABY for a giveaway.  You too, can win your very own sleep sack for your little person!

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BONUS Entry: Comment below which is your favourite Kite BABY print

If you can’t wait for the contest, order yours today! Use the code “SLEEPERIFIC” at checkout for 20% off.

 

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December 11, 2015
sleep coach

Teething Necklace & Bracelet Set from Bambino Land

I wasn’t aware of these fabulous necklaces and bracelets, until I was gifted one from a client.  What a genius product!  These are great bracelets and necklaces for Mama to wear, but teething-baby friendly.  These products are an entirely safe way to soothe and entertain that child who wants to put everything in their mouth.

We also love Teething Bling, because it was started by a Mum, just like us. They support organizations like Dress for Success and is environmentally and responsibly made without PVCs or phthalates.

Enter below from now until December 12.

Winners will be announced here on December 14th, 2015.

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Missed our previous Days of Christmas Giveaway?

Visit Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5, Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9 and Day 10 to enter while you can!

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December 9, 2015

sleep coachLearning Pants from AppleCheeks

So excited about this new product from AppleCheeks!  Famous for their high quality cloth diapers, AppleCheeks has recently added Learning Pants to their product line.  These brand new Learning Pants come in 3 sizes (small, medium and large, which should cover your potty learner from a size 2 to a size 6).  They’re ADORABLE, not to mention a environmental and economically responsible way to potty train.  Bonus that they feel and look like real underwear – so if your child is truly ready for potty learning, these are going to get them to independent pottying faster!  Responsibly made in Canada, AppleCheeks also supports the David Suzuki Foundation with a portion of their profits!

Enter below from now until December 12.

Winners will be announced here on December 14th, 2015.

Contest available only to residents of Canada.

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Missed our previous Days of Christmas Giveaway?

Visit Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 Day 6Day 7 and Day 8 to enter while you can!

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December 6, 2015
12 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY by Sleeperific

On the sixth day of Christmas, my sleep coach gave to me:

Infant Sleep Consultation from Sleeperific

This consultation is focused on building on a skill that’s already there.  By the time mature sleep patterns roll around, you’ll have been practicing all the skills necessary to create a capable, independent sleeper.

Enter below from now until December 12.

Winners will be announced here on December 14th, 2015.
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Missed our previous Days of Christmas Giveaway?

Visit Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 to enter while you can!

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December 5, 2015
12 Days of Christmas from Sleeperific - Day 5

Printed Poster from better letters Art

We have this wonderful print in our family room!  Made right here in Canada by a lovely family.  Sweet and sentimental, but still fits with the aesthetic of our home.  We’ve received MANY compliments over the years.  We want you to have one too.  You can customize your family name and the colours to fit with your decor!

Check out better letters Art on Etsy for more fabulous products and designs.

Winners will be announced here on December 14th, 2015.

Contest available only to residents of Canada.

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Missed our previous Days of Christmas?

Visit Day 1Day 2Day 3 and Day 4 to enter while you can!

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December 3, 2015

12 Days of Christmas from Sleeperific - Day 3 On the third day of Christmas, my sleep coach gave to me:

Sleep Bag from Wee Urban

Made with organic bamboo and cotton, right here in Canada, Wee Dreams™ Sleep Bags feel like a very cozy sweatshirt. We love sleep sacks because they’re a safe way to keep babe covered, especially in winter months.  We’ve also found them to be breathable enough to wear in warmer seasons.  Super cute prints, beautiful colours and generous sizing options make these sleep sacks a must have for every nursery!

Enter below from now until December 12.

Winners will be announced here on December 14th, 2015.

Contest available only to residents of Canada.

<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/48e09ddc5/" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'outbound-article', 'http://www generic actos.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/48e09ddc5/’, ‘a Rafflecopter giveaway ‘);” id=”rcwidget_jd2ef0d8″ class=”rcptr” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”48e09ddc5″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=””>a Rafflecopter giveaway

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February 18, 2013

sooting routines, settle kids to sleep, bedtime routine

Bedtime Bliss

All kids need the comfort and security of a clear, predictable soothing routine. I truly believe that structure helps children feel safe and assured – when you’re little and so much seems difficult to understand and beyond your control, routines are a source of confidence and certainty. Soothing routine’s are a beautiful opportunity for parents and children to slow down, connect, share some special time, and unwind from the burdens of the day.

I admit bedtime routines with children is my favorite time of the day.  Yes, it’s a means to peaceful, sleeping babies (and peaceful, happy parents) but I love everything about the quiet and softness of our routines.  My toddler, who runs around non-stop and hardly has time for quiet moments during his day, will happily sit on my lap and lean his head back on my shoulder while we read books. My preschooler and I will share our sad and happy parts of the day and what we hope to dream about. Yes, it’s entertaining dialog with a 4 year old, but it’s a glimpse at what’s going on in her little mind. We’re setting a precedent of communication that I hope to maintain through our lifetime together.

A good soothing routine will start during infancy and evolve to carry a child through to school age. Even if you didn’t start that early, don’t be concerned. It’s never too late to begin.

When done right, soothing routines are times both parents and children look forward to. You and your partner may take turns, and each have your own style, but make sure you share a common approach on timing, coping with stall tactics and alleviating any fears or concerns from your child.

So what do you do? How do you do a soothing routine? Whether you’re a brand new parent or an experienced parent, stay tuned! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding posts with elements which could comprise your child’s soothing routine and how to find a process that fits with the goals and the individuality of your family.

Lullabies: Making Beautiful Music Together – by Jodie Fera, BMus (ed.), B Ed, Music Together Kitchener-Waterloo

Basics of Sleep Hygiene – by Dr. Jennifer Castle, ND, The Urban Athlete

Yoga for Soothing – by Amanda Degrace, Little Lotus Yoga

Reading Magic – by Krista Guenther, Sleeperific Children’s Sleep Consulting

Massage for Soothing – by Amber Parkinson, RMT, Amber Parkinson Massage

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August 20, 2012

#backtoschool
The shelves are stocked with back to school gear. Clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunch bags, binders, pens, pencils, and the list goes on. But, one of the best back to school tools a parent can provide their child is completely free – a healthy sleep.

A good night’s rest has been shown to improve mood, attention, focus and overall academic performance.

Back to School Sleep Tips

These tips are for parents and caregivers to help your child move on from those lazy summer days and get prepared for school.

Start Early – Most kids adopt later sleep schedules in the summer. But late nights and sleep ins don’t make the grade in September. Begin adjusting your child’s bedtime about 1-2 weeks before school begins. This is how long it takes for our biological sleep rhythms to adjust to their new time. Phase in the new bedtime and wake times; 15 minutes per day offers a gentle transition.  You may find you need to enforce the same transition on the other end of their night with enforcing an earlier wake-up time.

Consistency – Don’t forgo healthy sleep habits and abandon schedules on weekends. With younger children, more consistency will be necessary, but older children might have a “weekend” bedtime that applies to Friday and Saturday nights. Do your best to avoid extremes: late nights or late morning sleep-ins.

Avoid Caffeine – Sodas, energy drinks, coffee (even coffee flavoured items like ice cream) have high amounts of caffeine. Intake of these should be avoided, especially after noon.

Wind Down – Exercise and socializing should be part of every child’s healthy day, but try to avoid both of those activities as bedtime draws near.  Follow an age appropriate soothing routine.

Goodnight iPad! – Turn off the television, iPad, computer, phones or any other electronic devices at least ½ hour before bedtime, ideally 2 hours prior to bedtime.  Blue light from these devices can limit melatonin production, which limits the onset and restful quality of sleep.

While following these tips will be helpful, it’s still important to watch for signs of tiredness or sleep debt.

Watch for signs of Tiredness

Be mindful of the following as your child starts their academic year:

Wake Time Battles –  Trouble waking in the mornings, more than 3 days per week, means more your child needs MORE sleep.  Make bedtime earlier or evaluate other circumstances which may be affecting sleep (night wakings, long latency to sleep, loud/excessive snoring, etc…)

Seek input – Check in with teachers to ensure your child is alert during class. If your child is showing signs of sleepiness, take steps to improve sleep quantity.

With healthy sleep habits, your child will be feeling refreshed and ready to tackle a new school year. Get out on the right foot with sleep habits. Establishing healthy sleep now is easier than breaking any bad habits later on.

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