Are you an expecting or new parent on the hunt for a great baby monitor? READ THIS!

As someone who has been working with families for more than 20 years in a professional capacity, I am often approached by different companies and other specialists and professionals about products I recommend, or even simply to review child and/or sleep related products.   This morning I got an email from Kayla at reviews.com who […]

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Is Your Child Ready for School?

As September looms upon us (sorry to bring that up), it is time to begin thinking about getting children ready to go to, or go back to, school. For some that means they will be falling back into fairly regular routines, while for others it means an entirely new and exciting experience! The best thing […]

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Holiday Sleep Tips for Babies & Toddlers!

ng Your Child’s Healthy Sleep Habits Over the Holiday Season Keeping Your Children Rested and Joyous! By Regan L. Forsyth Every year, in January and February there seems to be an influx of parents trying not to pull their hair out because sleep routines and habits in their homes went out the window over the […]

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Fall Family Fun in Central Alberta

Whether you are looking for some Fall family fun, or just a pumpkin picking experience for the kids, there is plenty to keep everyone busy in September and October. Here are just a few ideas of places to visit and things to do in and around Red Deer this season, both inside and outdoors! Bowden […]

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Literacy Development in the Early Years: How Parents can Help at Home

Once children are off to preschool, or school, many parents tend to leave it to the teacher to work on pre-reading skills, and trust that their young child is learning what they need to in school.   The truth is, that learning is a triad of student, family, and school. All three must be invested […]

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Creating Healthy Sleep Habits with Twins and Multiples – Part Two

Part Two of a Two Part Series   Getting adequate sleep with a newborn in the house (and helping the baby sleep) is a challenge for any parent, but if you are the mother or father of more than one baby, this can be especially difficult to achieve. Additionally, I tip my hat to you! […]

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Sleep: Creating Healthy Sleep Habits with Twins and Multiples

Part One of a Two Part Series Getting adequate sleep with a newborn in the house (and helping the baby sleep) is a challenge for any parent, but if you are the mother or father of more than one baby, this can be especially difficult to achieve. Additionally, I tip my hat to you! I […]

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Going Back to Work After Baby: Choosing the Right Child Care Provider for Your Family

Whether it’s only been a few months, or it has been a couple of years, going back to work after being at home with your little one is never easy. This is a reality that almost all families deal with at some point, unless one of the parents is able to be the daytime caregiver […]

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March 13th – Time to Spring Forward!

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time ‘springs forward’ by one hour Sunday, March 13th. Like a good number of parents of young children (especially those with wee ones we’ve worked so hard to get into a routine and schedule), I would prefer to see annual time changes abolished, but since I can think […]

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Travel Tips for Babies and Toddlers

This is a very common time of year for people to take family holidays.   If you are planning a family trip or getaway with a baby or toddler, it really is important to consider how travel plans are going to affect your child’s sleep routine. This is even more important if you have recently […]

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Is Your Child Ready for a Cell Phone?

By Regan Forsyth of Eat Play Sleep Family Wellness   While mobile phones are a really convenient way to keep close touch with your pre-teens and teens, there is a lot more to be taken into consideration when deciding when is the right time to sign your son or daughter up. Cell phones are very […]

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SIDS & Safe Sleep Practices

After putting my youngest, still a baby, to bed last night, I read an article about a baby who died after going into heart failure. The baby (6 weeks old) was thought to have been sleeping in her parents’ bed and accidentally suffocated. Suffocation due to avoidable circumstances and factors, does not fall under the […]

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Recognizing Signs of Substance Use or Misuse in Teens: Teaching them the Truth

It’s a well-known fact that it’s important in drug and alcohol use prevention in children, to openly and honestly discuss it early on. It’s also important to discuss it frequently and keep connected to your child and teen and learn about their social lives when out of the house. Even when parents do their best […]

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Products We Love – Sleep Solutions

Being in this line of work for almost ten years, there are certain sleep related products that have proven to be very helpful to families, time and time again. Here are a few of our favourites!   1. The Halo Bassinest   http://www.halobassinest.com/ Brought to you by the makers of swaddles and sleep sacks for best […]

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The Mysterious Short Nap

The most common question that I am asked as an Infant Sleep Coach, is about sleeping through the night. The second most common question is why babies cannot nap longer than 30 or 40 minutes. Some parents spend what feels like an eternity to get their baby to sleep, only to have them wake 20 […]

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Daylight Savings Time – Tips to Spring Forward With Babies & Toddlers

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time ‘springs forward’ by one hour on Sunday, March 8th. Like a good number of parents of young children (especially those with wee ones we’ve worked so hard to get into a routine and schedule), I would prefer to see annual time changes abolished, but since I can […]

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Sleep Coach = Sleep Training? Not at all…

When you hear about a Sleep Coach or Consultant, does your mind automatically go to “sleep training”? It shouldn’t. Let’s change that. Sleep training with children, is definitely a large part of our profession, but it is only a component. In fact, I prefer to work with expectant parents and offer newborn support for “sleep […]

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Discipline and the Older Child

Every family has different fundamental beliefs, rules, routines, and ways of handling conflict, but here are a few time-tested and proven techniques that can work for everyone! Make a list of family rules. Your children can help too! Get their input on what they find is reasonable and important in your home, and even some […]

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Ending Mealtime Battles, Part Three: The Picky Eater

The Picky Eater. It happens to the best of us. The biggest mealtime power struggle, is often about what our children will or will not eat. This can be the toughest area to make changes to, because it can require a completely new mindset for some parents. A new perspective for everyone, in fact. There […]

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Ending Mealtime Battles with Children, for Good: Part Two

It can be difficult to consistently have your entire family sit down together to eat, but for some families, it’s even tougher to get the children to actually eat. If that’s your family, help is here!   I recently wrote about a few simple ways avoid warfare and food battles with your children, at the […]

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End Mealtime Battles with Children for Good: Part One of Three

It’s supper time, and it’s a drag. This is a reality that almost all families deal with at some point. Even the most varied and daring of eaters, can suddenly refuse everything. The opposite can happen too though, so here are some great tips with regard to getting everyone back on track, and enjoying meals […]

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Maintaining Healthy Sleep Habits Through the Holidays

Every year, in January and February there seems to be an influx of parents trying not to pull their hair out because sleep routines and habits in their homes went out the window over the holidays. Here are a few ways to prevent yours from being one of those families! Make sure going into the […]

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Maternity Sleep Help Coming Soon!

I am SO excited to be embarking on some professional development specifically about maternity sleep, and to soon be able to offer prenatal support for Mamas, in addition to educating families about infant/child sleep, and beyond. While it is becoming more common for families to ready themselves for “sleep shaping” with infants, by seeking the […]

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Tips for Time Change – Fall Back 2014

Yes, it’s THAT time of year again. Oh joy! For children who are quite structured with going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning, the time change can cause a ‘sleep debt’ for a little while which is why it is most noticeable in babies […]

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There IS such a thing as too happy in the crib!

Most parents are ecstatic to learn that their infant enjoys being in their crib. The sounds of cooing and playing at bedtime or when they wake, are a sign of good things! Well…believe it or not, this can also be a not-so-good thing, for a couple of reasons. (In addition to the dangers of positional […]

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Eat: The Only Sugar Cookie Recipe You’ll Ever Need

If you have kids, chances are good that you’ll need a fail-proof sugar cookie recipe for the gazillions of times you’ll be destroying your kitchen, letting little hands decorate them. These are the easiest and tastiest ever! 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 3 C AP flour (more for rolling) 1 & 1/4 C […]

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SLEEP: How Much is Just Right for My Child?

“How Much Sleep is Optimal?” For new (and repeat!) parents or clients, this is a very common question! There is no firm answer; the younger the child, the more likely the amount will vary a little. However, there are general guidelines that you can use to see if your little one falls near the mark […]

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A quick note about Swaddling