
Welcome to Baby Sleep Blueprint. Watch this video to get to know your instructors, Emma and Raina.
Disclaimer: We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are simply moms who have done a TON of research and met with sleep specialists to develop this course, which is full of incredibly helpful information.
You will see pop-ups throughout the videos that indicate where we collected our information. If you're interested in a full list of these sources, you can download them using the resources tab on this lesson.
There are a lot of myths surrounding baby sleep. Here we break some of those down in greater detail, telling you what is fact and what is just pure fiction.
When you’re expecting, friends and family love to shower you with gifts—diapers, adorable onesies, and advice. While some advice is helpful—like sleeping when the baby sleeps—the majority falls into the “don’t do this” category and only adds stress instead of support.
Where’s dinner and where’s my bed? Within minutes of meeting your tiny bundle of joy, you’ll likely have to answer one or both of these questions as you ponder how such a powerful cry could come from something so small. Bottle versus breast, crib versus co-bed, and cry versus cradle are just some of the hot button topics that you’ll hear widely varying opinions about on your parenting journey.
In the early days, it truly feels like survival of the fittest—and in some ways, it is. But surprisingly, surviving the newborn chaos is a lot easier if you can master the important skills of self-care, and knowing when to call in back-up. Okay, there’s a bit more to it than that, but as every good flight attendant says, put on your own oxygen mask first!
Even though it remains rare, SIDS prevention is important to parents, and they should be aware of the best practices. Here, we share some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, plus one extra tip that, while still not fully researched, is a hopeful bonus for parents wanting to give it a try. Disclaimer: We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Despite how zombie-like new parents look, babies actually do sleep a lot—just not all at once. As you learn more about why babies sleep (or don’t sleep) the way they do, you’ll begin to develop a greater understanding of what steps to take and help everyone in your household get the rest they need.
Getting your baby used to your household’s natural rhythm and flow will help them adjust to life outside the womb a lot quicker. We’ll also dive deeper into how to help your baby reset his days/nights, the 5 S’s of survival for the newborn days, a science-based look at breast versus bottle, and how to navigate your back-to-work plan.
Nope, we aren’t asking you to channel some paleolithic skill that’s still kicking around in your DNA. Tracking your baby is more about learning to recognize patterns in your newborn’s day when it comes to things like eating, sleeping, pooping, and playing. This can help to reassure you that your baby is healthy and provide some clues to help you plan your day.
Everyone needs support at night! Here's our view on the subject, presented by my husband, Mark -- Emma
Just like adults thrive on routine, babies do too, they just don’t know it—yet! You’ll learn how to know which bedtime habits are healthy, and which could create dependencies down the road.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Wouldn’t it be great if babies came with little alarm clocks that signaled when they’re hungry or tired? If only. Unfortunately, they don’t, and it’s up to parents to pay attention to those cues. Rubbing eyes, pulling ears, and spacing out are just some of the early signs that it’s time to send your little bundle off to dreamland. Spoiler alert: sleeping less during the day means sleeping even less at night. Argh!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Constipation, bloating, or gas can keep your baby up late into the night. Use these useful techniques that should help your baby settle if they're having tummy trouble.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
What's it take, kiddo? Cash? Jewelry?
Mostly it's just consistency. A bedtime routine can signal to your baby that sleepy time is near. Bedtime can also be a great way to spend some time one-on-one time connecting with your new babe. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like, and you can start teaching these things right away!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
All right. It's time to come clean. Desperate parents will sometimes do anything to get their baby to sleep, no matter how counterproductive it may be in the long run. We're all guilty.
The good news is that doing these things occasionally won’t ruin independent sleep forever, but it’s important to be aware of habits that could create dependencies down the road. We’ll go over some of the biggest offenders and give some steps on how to avoid them.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Dear valued member,
You've made it nearly way through the course! Congrats!
Not only does Baby Sleep Blueprint meet the quality of other top baby sleep training courses, we think it goes beyond what they have to offer. We provide it to parents like you for no cost, and in order for families after you to get the same deal, we need your help paying it forward.
This program took us over a year to build +100's of thousands of dollars, working full-time to get it ready. Right now we're a small centralized team of 3 people working to keep Baby Sleep Blueprint up-to-date.
If you're watching our content, please do us a huge favor and subscribe, so we can keep this course free for parents everywhere.
Emma Mattei
Owner of Baby Sleep Blueprint
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Maybe you've got friends who say their newborn was sleeping through the night from day one. Unfortunately, that's just not likely for most folks and may even be a wee bit unsafe. And what does “sleeping through the night” mean anyway? Unfortunately, it’s probably not the 8-10 hours you were hoping for.
The good news is that halfway through your baby’s first year, something magical happens—babies become biologically capable of sleeping longer stretches. We’ll cover what that means and what to realistically expect.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
he best time to start sleep training is when you’re baby is ready. Moreover, it's when you and your partner are ready as well. How do you recognize the signs? Emma will tell you.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Ready for the menu? We'll give a brief summary of what you have to choose from here. Our menu of options includes a spectrum of methods from “cry it out” to “co-sleeping.”
So how do you know which one to choose? It all comes down to your baby’s personality and parenting style. Start with your favorite, but also pick a backup plan if that choice doesn't work out.
When you're ready to choose, scroll to the "Individual Walk-Thru" section. Confused? Come talk it out with the Facebook Group.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Word to the wise—sleep training is hard, and you’re going to want to give up. Remember to call in the cavalry of support to get you through, so don't be shy about asking friends and family.
Your success depends on whether you chose the right method for your baby’s temperament and your parenting style and how consistent you are with your plan. (No worries, we'll help there.) You got this!
Share your setbacks and success stories with the Facebook Group Page.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
All's going good and then *wham,* your tiny tot suddenly starts waking every hour like a newborn. What gives?! Does she have amnesia? Is it April fools? A full moon?
Sadly, temporary setbacks are a normal part of growth and development. When (not if) they happen, just stick to your routine and know that better sleep is on the horizon.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Fading is a popular sleep training method and is popularly known as the chair method. Watch as Raina teaches you this helpful technique to get your little one to sleep.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Heard about co-sleeping? Want to try it? Feeling discouraged by the information all around you? Raina is here to help!
In this video, we'll explain the pro's and con's of co-sleeping and the suggested "do's and don't's" to better fit your, and your baby's, sleeping needs.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Heard about the infamous "Cry-It-Out" method? Unsure if it's for you and your baby? Emma is here to tell you all about it. By the end of this video, you'll know so much more about the cry-it-out method and may even feel as though it's right for you and your baby!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Something about the "Cry-It-Out" method sounds a little too extreme for your baby but somewhat on the right track to what you feel your baby needs for a much better, well-rested, independent sleep?
Look no further, let's talk about the Ferber Method. A slight deviation from the original "Cry-It-Out" method, you may find that this adaptation will work better for your baby and your peace of mind.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Here is yet another sleep method to assist in your baby's restful and independent sleep. One can never be too prepared or informed on the different styles to care for their baby.
Learn about the Stay in the Room method with Emma to see if this sounds like the right fit for your baby's sleep.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Finally, the last method on the list of the 6 Sleep Training Methods. We hope by now that there may be a couple of options to choose from for your baby's sleep.
After this video, you may select this method as your ideal routine. Don't fret- we suggest you keep another method as a backup!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or, certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Naps are the most vital thing to baby sleep. That sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? Studies show that the more quality naps your baby takes, the better they sleep at night! Emma and Raina are here to discuss different ways to help your baby nap.
Babies’ brains are like sponges, constantly soaking in new info as they go about their day. Sleep is when that sponge gets wrung out; when memories get processed and sorted so they can keep on taking more knowledge in. To put it mildly, without naps, your baby wouldn’t learn or grow.
Another benefit of naps is that they improve nighttime sleep. Studies show that babies who skip naps have more trouble sleeping at night. And if that’s not reason enough, naps give weary parents a chance to shower, eat a meal without having to reheat it 20 times, or partake in the benefits of napping themselves.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
There’s a lot of confusion about naps. How many naps? How long they should be? And when is my baby ready to transition from her current nap schedule to a new one? In the age of Google, it’s no wonder that many parents are left with more questions than answers.
In this section, we’ll go over some golden naptime nuggets so you don’t have to go mining for information elsewhere. If you’re ready to be a naptime boss, we’ll give you the tools to get you on your way.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
What on earth is a wake window and why would we be recommending one if the goal is to get your baby to sleep, not be awake? Wake windows are the recommended amount of time your little one should be awake before needing sleep again. The younger the baby, the shorter the window.
Once you figure out your baby’s wake window (don’t worry, we’ll show you how), you’ll be able to better plan your day. Some experts recommend a schedule of eat, play, sleep, but we’ll give you some sample schedules so you can figure out what works best for you.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
For some babies, naps are for suckers. What gives?
Cat napping, naps in motion, and babies who refuse to nap. There’s no shortage of naptime woes that require a little troubleshooting (and a lot of patience). But with a little help, you can become a naptime ninja and kick those worries to the curb.
Remember that sleep begets sleep. Some babies start sleeping better at night but take a little longer when it comes to naps. Others conquer naps first but wake up at night. The good news is that once you get one down, the other will come.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Oh no, your baby has regressed into old sleeping or feeding habits. You thought we'd fixed all that??
Don't worry, regressions are normal and there's some reasonable explanations behind why your baby has regressed. It's not permanent so hang in there! Emma and Raina will explain what regressions you should prepare for, why they may happen, and how to handle them when they come.
You may not worry much about what you wear to bed (if anything at all), but proper bedclothes can be a major component of child sleep. From swaddles to sleep sacks and eventually blankets sporting the latest craze in cartoon character. Je suis Batman, maman.
The right attire can reduce hazards, maintain temperature control, and maybe even prevent your clever little escape artist from climbing out of their crib at night. Not to mention, if your child loves their PJs they might actually start looking forward to bedtime. We’ll guide you through these transitions with comfort and safety in mind.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If you followed the American Academy of Pediatrics advice to share a bedroom for the first 6 months to a year, it may be time for a change. While you may be ready for your little one to flee the nest, she may have a differing opinion on the matter.
Thankfully, you already have the sleep training knowledge and tools to help your chickadee spread his wings and fly. And just in case you need a little nudge of your own, we’ll go over some tips and tricks to help get you on your way.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Once your little one is on the move, it’s a whole new world—for her—and for you! Mobility comes with a whole new set of challenges like how to childproof every square inch of your home and how to get your little explorer to stop moving long enough for a nap.
Sleep regressions are common during times of major development, and being on the move is an exciting one. Your babe has just mastered the art of movement, so it’s no wonder that he’d rather slide than sleep. He’ll go back to his normal routine eventually. For now, just be patient and start plugging those electric holes.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This is one of the questions we get asked most. So many parents don't know when, or even how to night wean their baby. Here we teach moms and dads one technique for weaning their bottle-fed baby.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This is one of the questions we get asked most. So many parents don't know when, or even how to night wean their baby. Here we teach moms and dads one technique for weaning their bottle-fed baby.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
You didn’t think you’d get off the hook, did you? Kids are always watching, and they’ll mimic what you do more than what you tell them to do. Routines aren’t just for babies—adults need them too!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Many new parents have this false belief that their own health no longer matters. They slave away day and night, giving up proper rest, nutrition, and self-care. But nobody ever said that parenting meant being a martyr! In fact, the opposite is true!
Yes, parenting does involve sacrifices when it comes to time, finances, and a social life, but that doesn’t mean it includes your health. If you make your own health and well-being a priority, chances are your little one will learn to do so too.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Being a human refrigerator can be a big responsibility, especially if your tiny tot refuses to take a bottle (oh, we feel your pain). As your little one’s sole source of nourishment, it may mean missing out on sleep more than her bottle-fed counterparts. If that’s you, it will be extra important to prioritize rest.
When nobody but Mama will do, it can be stressful and exhausting. We’ll cover some nighttime feeding tips and tricks that we hope will help to maintain rest—and sanity!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If your idea of bedtime is passing out after a Netflix marathon with a bag of nachos in hand, we’ve got some work to do. Routines are just as important for you as they are for your baby. And you’ll be surprised that a lot of the same information you just learned for your tiny tot applies to you too—except without the diapers and with a lot fewer tears (we hope).
We’ll cover how to craft a bedtime routine that makes sense for you and how to stick to your schedule, even on weekends!
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If your bedroom feels more like a circus than a sanctuary, it’s time to clear out the tots and toys and reclaim your space. Once your little one is sleeping independently, it’s a good idea to make your room a kid-free zone for a while so you can relax—alone.
Of course, once your little one is mobile, you might start getting some unexpected visits when things go bump in the night. We’ll give you some hacks on helping your tiny tot learn to stay in her room and some ideas on how to make yours more relaxing.
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, counselors, scientists, or certified sleep professionals. Nothing on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The Baby Sleep Blueprint is dedicated to facilitating improved sleep for babies and families, fostering healthier and happier lives. With a track record of assisting thousands of parents in achieving better sleep for both themselves and their infants, our approach rejects the notion of a singular solution applicable to all. Recognizing the uniqueness of each individual, we reject a one-size-fits-all methodology. Unlike conventional sleep training programs, our emphasis lies not in advocating for a single technique but rather in comprehensive instruction encompassing all available methods.
Our hosts, Raina and Emma, are not only experienced parents but also seasoned professionals who have done in-depth research and put in the hours, practicing the best baby sleep practices to get the best results.
By acknowledging the diversity among babies and parents, we tailor our guidance to suit each family's specific needs and preferences. Our commitment extends beyond promoting a particular approach; instead, we aim to empower moms and dads with a versatile toolkit to navigate the intricacies of infant sleep. Whether through gentle methods or more structured routines, we aspire to facilitate a restful environment conducive to the well-being of both parent and child. Join us on this journey towards a more rejuvenating and fulfilling sleep experience – we're eager to support you every step of the way.