Birth Baby Sleep Blog

Avoiding Holiday burnout

11/29/2023

The holiday season is so special - especially when little ones are involved. It can be a truly magical time. But who’s creating that magic? If you’re reading this, that means it’s probably you.
There’s so much pressure around the holidays to make each day/moment special. It can be exhausting to try to “keep up.” Extravagant gifting, detailed Elf-On-The-Shelf plans, 12 days of Christmas cookies. It can feel like it's never ending!

We understand wanting to make the holiday season special for your family, but it shouldn’t ALL be up to you. And it certainly shouldn’t be at the cost of your physical and mental health.

Here are some easy ways go avoid holiday burnout:

Share the load - default parents (and in a lot of scenarios, moms) often feel like they’re doing all of the planning, shopping, etc alone. Which just isn’t fair. If you have a support system, delegate tasks so that everyone is pitching in. One spouse can shop while the other wraps, for example.
Stick to your routine…or don’t - we know, this one sounds confusing. But it’s really just a way of saying, “do what works for you.” If sticking to your kids’ bedtime/sleep routines during the holidays helps keep you sane - do it. If letting things slip a little and not stressing about a schedule helps you relax - do it. Whatever makes your life a little easier is best.
Start early - Prepping what you can ahead of the holiday rush will alleviate a little bit of stress when the big days roll around.
Don’t compare - just like with baby milestones, it can be tough not to compare yourself, your family or your festivities to others’. But each family is so unique and you never know what’s happening behind closed doors. Don’t. Compare. Yourself. Just because you forgot to move the elf once or didn’t get your hands on the popular overpriced toy, doesn’t mean you’re any less of a parent. You’re a rock star.
Be in the moment - it can be easy to get lost in your thoughts and in the planning process of the holidays. But just like the newborn phase, it doesn’t last. You only have so many holidays with your little ones. Enjoy them. Don’t spend them stressed, anxious, busy, etc.

The holidays will be magical whether your home looks like something from a Pinterest board or not, so we hope you find these tips helpful and you enjoy your holidays with your family.

*We know many of these tips are easier said than done. If you find the holidays especially triggering, reach out to a loved one or healthcare provider.

Preparing for daycare

8/31/2023

Beginning daycare is a HUGE milestone for children and their parents. It can be incredibly stressful but also rewarding.

We want to acknowledge that here in our home of Nova Scotia, child care availability is a huge issue. We feel for those dealing with child care issues at the moment and want you to know that whatever you choose to do is best for your family.

Here are a few tips to hopefully make the transition just a tiny bit easier for you and your little one.

First, make a list of questions to ask the daycare provider. The answers to these will depend on the type of facility (daycare vs day home, etc.) but it’s good to have this info regardless.

Top 4 questions:

What does the daily routine look like and is there flexibility? This will give you a good idea of how your child’s day will look, if they are willing to accommodate different nap schedules, what food is/isn’t provided, etc
What safety and communication tactics do you have in place? Ease your mind by knowing ahead of time what is in place to keep your child safe and how you’ll be communicated with regularly.
What degrees/certifications does your provider and their staff have?
What kind of policies do you have for drop off/pick up, sick kids and sick time, etc. Be as prepared as possible by asking about all your provider's policies so you’re not surprised by anything.

Now, here are three tips to help your little get used to the idea of starting daycare. Keep in mind that the age they’re starting will determine how effective these tips are. But the majority of kids in NS start between 12 and 18 months old.

Do a couple of half days/introductions: start slow and drop in for a couple of hours with you little so they can begin getting used to the idea of daycare
Include a familiar item in their daycare bag: if they have a blanket, stuffy or special item that they are attached to, allowing them to bring it to daycare can help them feel comfortable in a new setting
Talk about daycare positively: this new chapter is a little scary for mom and baby, but try to ensure all daycare talk is positive. You being excited will help them be excited!

We can’t forget the parents! Here are a couple of tips to help parents cope with this huge change:

Go easy on yourself. If you need to cry after drop off - cry. If you’re relieved to have time away from the baby, that’s ok too. There are a lot of emotions during this stage. Feel them all!
Stay busy. If you’re going back to work, you’ll likely be distracted as you ease back into your work. If you’re not, try to stay busy doing things for you during the first few days of daycare.

Trusting someone else with your child is hard. The only thing that makes it easier is time. Starting daycare has many benefits for you and your child, but we know it’s a very difficult transition - especially these days. We hope the above tips provide just a tiny bit of relief! Good luck!

Five Tips for a Low Stress Family Vacation

5/7/2023

Summer vacations with little ones can sometimes feel more like work than a true vacation. The planning, packing, stressing about sleep and everything in between can make something that’s meant to be fun…anything but that.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few things families can do to remove some of the stress from a family vacay.

Here are some of our favourite tips!

Stick to the 80/20 rule: this means that while you’re away, 80% of the time you’re sticking to your regular routine as closely as possible. This leaves 20% of the time to go a little rogue and just let life happen. Perfection isn’t possible and striving for it will surely suck some of the joy out of your vacation.
Don’t over schedule: it can be tempting to try to pack as much into your vacation as possible. But that often leads to let downs and meltdowns. Instead, choose a couple activities that work with your budget (in terms of time and money!) and focus on enjoying those to the fullest. This is a great way to ensure your vacation feels like a vacation!
Opt for conveniences: listen, everything is expensive right now so choose your conveniences wisely. That being said, there may be certain items that make life A LOT easier while you’re travelling. This might mean choosing a direct flight vs. one with connections, staying at an Air BnB vs a hotel, etc. If it’s going to make life easier - go for it!
Start small: if this is your first time travelling with your baby or toddler, ease yourself into it. Consider a short road trip rather than a flight across the country. This will help you learn what works (and what doesn’t) for you and your baby while away from home.
Take advantage of nap schedules: tourist destinations are often pretty packed during peak seasons. That’s why, whenever possible, we like to take advantage of baby’s schedule by planning outings in the mornings and early evenings. This often means early dinners when the restaurant is a little less busy. Trips to parks and zoos in the morning before it gets too hot. You can really make your baby’s schedule work in your favour!

Bonus tip: discuss expectations!
Chat with any adults or older kids that are joining you on vacation about what your expectations are for the trip. Talk about desired behaviour, obstacles you may encounter, and how to ensure the experience is memorable for everyone.

Travelling with young kids and babies is always going to be a bit of a shot in the dark - some days will be magic, while others might be more of a disaster. You just have to roll with it!

We hope these tips help you feel more confident and less stressed as you plan your summer vacation(s). And remember, you’ll cherish these family vacation memories for the rest of your life. And that’s what it’s all about, right?

your baby's having a baby

3/30/2023

Becoming a parent changes a person in a monumental way. Your priorities change and your focus becomes loving, supporting and protecting that tiny person you just brought into the world.

As time goes on, you learn what works for you and your family. You develop a kind of parenting philosophy that comes with a toolkit. In that toolkit are tools you use to keep your baby happy and healthy.

Returning to work

2/28/2023

Rolling, sitting unassisted, starting solids…there’s tons of information and discussion surrounding all of your baby’s milestones. But what about the milestones of Mom’s?

There are plenty of milestones reached in the first year or two (and beyond) of parenthood. One of the biggest, perhaps, is returning to work after parental leave. This blog will give you some tips for preparing to return to work, and how employers can help moms feel supported.

What You Need To Know About Tongue Ties

2/22/2023

Tongue ties are a common condition that approximately 4-11% of babies are born with. Most of the time it is detected because of problems with breastfeeding, but for some it goes undetected. If you’re worried your baby has a tongue tie, there are treatment options!

The information in this post came from the conversation I had with Dr. Madison Baile, DC on my podcast Bringing Up Baby. Madison is a chiropractor who has a special interest in pregnant, postpartum and pediatric populations.

The Toilet Training Guide

2/2/2023

So you're ready to ditch the diapers, but is your child ready? Or are you worried that they are missing this important milestone? There are many things to consider when it comes to potty training. Read on for tips and information about toilet training.

The information in this post came from the conversation I had with Victoria Cernjak on my podcast Bringing Up Baby. Victoria is a toilet training coach and occupational therapist. She helps parents and children navigate all things toilet training as The Toilet Training Coach.

Seeking Perinatal Mental Health Help

1/25/2023

When it comes to parenting, there can still be a lot of stigma, especially around mental health. We find ourselves telling our friends and family that “life is good”, and we feel that we shouldn’t complain, but here’s the thing, you can totally complain.

Parenting is hard, let’s talk about it. Seeking mental health help, no matter where you are in your parenting journey; trying to conceive, pregnant or postpartum, is nothing to be ashamed of.

Let’s break the stigma, and talk about mental health care and resources.

The information in this post came from the conversation I had with Madeleine Stobbe on my podcast Bringing Up Baby. Madeleine is a Registered Psychologist and she specializes in treatment for perinatal mental health issues including depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, issues related to infertility, perinatal grief and loss, and reproductive trauma.

Postpartum Hormone Changes - Timeline & What To Expect

1/5/2023

Anyone who has given birth has experienced the postpartum hormone changes. Shifts in your mood and menstrual cycle can be expected after having a baby, but when might you be experiencing a hormonal imbalance?

In this post we focus on the timeline of normal hormonal changes and when you might want to seek out help from a care provider.

The information in this post came from the conversation I had with Dr. Ashley Margeson, ND on my podcast Bringing Up Baby. Dr. Ashley is a naturopathic doctor at Cornerstone Naturopathic in Tantallon as well as Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She specializes in burnout and hormone health. She also hosts The Superwoman Code Podcast.

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