Tag a new parent! This little witching hour "hack" can be so helpful when you've got a fussy little one on your hands! ⁣ ⁣ Have you experienced the "witching hour" with your newborn? This is when an otherwise content baby has a particularly fussy period in the evening. Calming methods that usually work during the day don’t seem to help during this time. Sometimes, this can be referred to as "colic."⁣ ⁣ I have a blog for you with 10 tips to help with these especially fussy times (link in bio and stories!)⁣ ⁣ Here are a few extra tips from the blog that:⁣ ✨𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿: A warm bath and the sound of running water can calm a fussy baby (and a stressed mama).⁣ ✨𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱: Some babies need more frequent feedings in the late evening. Know your baby and follow his/her lead.⁣ ✨𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: gentle swaying or rocking helps your little one feel relaxed. Try babywearing or using the swing!⁣ ✨𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲: a change of scenery is good for you both. Fresh air helps lift the mood.⁣ ✨𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Often, a fussy baby is a TIRED baby. Watching your baby's sleepy cues and learning about a baby's wake windows can be a game changer!⁣ ⁣ *️⃣If you have a baby 12 weeks or younger, the newborn class IS FOR YOU even if you have a colicky baby! So many parents say how it truly made a HUGE difference for their colicky baby. Some even thought it was colic and it turned out that their baby was overtired! I'll help you with all of this in the class! ⁣ ⁣ Have you tried this fussy baby hack? What else has helped you calm your little one? Has my newborn class helped you with your fussy little one?⁣ ⁣ ⭐Important: Your baby's crying is NOT a reflection of you!⭐⁣ Please work closely with your doctor if your baby is truly inconsolable. You aren't doing anything "wrong." ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #witchinghour #newborn #newparent #babysleep #colic #takingcarababies

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗶𝗽!⁣ ⁣ Prior to the bedtime routine, earlier in the day, give your little one intentional one-on-one time. Set your phone down, let go of household responsibilities and just BE with your child for a few mintutes. Let them lead the way!⁣ ⁣ We often do so much “FOR” and “TO” our children, that we forget to just be “WITH” them. ⁣ ⁣ Even just 10-15 minutes will go a long way at bedtime. When we fill their little cups up PRIOR to the bedtime routine, they are more likely to cooperate at bedtime. Plus, when we as parents know our little ones got the best part of us throughout the day, we allow ourselves to be consistent with our approach to sleep. There's no guilt involved!⁣ ⁣ Do you have a 10-15 minute "special time" with your toddler? Tell me about it comments! What are activities (outside of screen time) that your toddler loves? ⁣ ⁣ ⁣Need more help with toddler sleep? I have a class for parents of 2,3, and 4 year olds that will walk you step-by-step through a customizable, holistic plan! Bedtime battles, getting out of bed, coming to your room in the night, fighting nap time, and/or resisting quiet time... it can all be a thing of the past! This class is guaranteed to change your life with your toddler!⁣ ⁣ #toddlersleep #toddlers #toddlerlife #bedtime #bedtimeroutine #momlife #dadlife #takingcarababies #2yearsold #3yearsold #4yearsold #toddlersleeptraining

I know it can sometimes feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is SO far away when your baby isn't sleeping. But, sometimes all you need is a step-by-step plan backed by research and delivered from the heart of a mama. That's what you find in a Taking Cara Babies class. Yes, your baby WILL get there too AND... you get to find the best method and the best timeline for YOUR family.⁣ ⁣ And, as I always say: If what you're doing is working for you, there's no reason to change it! But, if you need help, I'm here! ⁣ ⁣ How old was your baby when he/she started sleeping through the night? What helped the most?⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #sleepingthroughthenight #babysleep #infantsleep #babysleepclass #napschedule #newmom #newdad #takingcarababies

“Sleepy cues” are the signs your little one uses to show you when he’s tired, when he needs a nap, or when he’s overtired.⁣ ⁣ ⭐𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.⭐⁣ ⁣ Wondering what to do if you never see these sleepy cues? Or if you're seeing them earlier than a full wake window? Or if baby has already hit the point of overtired? Comment 👉𝗖𝗨𝗘𝗦👈 below. I'll send you answers to all of these questions! ⁣ ⁣ Please know: Not all babies will demonstrate every sleepy cue noted in this graphic. Look for one or more. In fact, your baby may even show a different cue.⁣ ⁣ In my newborn class, I’ll teach you exactly what you need to do when you see these cues!⁣ ⁣ Tag a new or expecting parent. They will thank you later! ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #babysleep #infantsleep #sleepycues #newborn #newparents #takingcarababies

If you have tips and tricks for wrangling angry raccoons, please share! 🦝⁣ ⁣ And don't forget! The AAP recommends using sun protection rather than sunscreen for babies six months and under. Aim to find natural shade, or create your own with a beach umbrella, pop-up tent or stroller canopy when you can! See stories for some of my favorites.⁣ ⁣ What is your favorite sun protection gear for your little one? What are your favorite outdoor activities for little ones during the summer?⁣ ⁣ @mommycusses

A “wake window” is simply the amount of time your baby or toddler is awake before naps and bedtime.⁣ Knowing your little one’s typical “wake windows” allows us to have predictability in our day, but still follow our little one’s lead based on hunger cues, sleepy cues, and nap lengths.⁣ ⁣ ⭐ ⭐ The wake window begins when you take your baby or toddler out of the crib, and ends when you lay them back down in the crib. ⭐ ⭐ ⁣ ⁣ Eating and playing (and all the other things) happen in that “wake window” while baby is AWAKE! ⁣ ⁣ Need more? Comment 👉𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘👈 and I’ll send info to your DMs!⁣ ⁣ Has learning about wake windows helped you? What wake windows work best for your baby or toddler? How old are they?⁣

Or rings a doorbell right at nap time, or drops a cup on the floor right outside baby's room...⁣ ⁣ What's the one sound that ALWAYS wakes your little one, no matter what?⁣ ⁣ @snarkandlemons

Parents, this burst of energy at bedtime ISN’T a sign that your toddler’s body simply isn’t ready for sleep! Instead, it’s a sign that your little one’s body has released a surge of cortisol, a hormone that produces that feeling of a “second wind.” They ARE tired, but because their body wasn’t getting ready for bed (settling into a bedtime routine), it instead sent out some cortisol to keep itself going! ⁣THIS is why you’re seeing this energy burst happen right before bedtime!⁣ ⁣ So how do we prevent it? Aim for a 7-8pm bedtime (for most toddlers) with an age-appropriate bedtime routine to cue your toddler’s brain that sleep is coming. Need routine tips? Comment 👉𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗘👈 below and I’ll send you my blog “Toddler Bedtime Routine With Printable Chart” for bedtime specifics, complete with a free printable to help keep your toddler engaged and accountable in the routine! ⁣ ⁣ Have you experienced this surge in toddler energy before bedtime?! What did it look like for your little one?

What is one thing that you are absolutely rocking in motherhood today? Will you share a win?⁣ ⁣ On the flip side, what do you do on the days when motherhood is rocking you? Does anything help you? ⁣ ⁣ Let’s share some tools to help one another keep rockin’!⁣ ⁣ 📹: @thescanlanstory

If this was your night last night, comment 👉𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣👈 below and in your DMs, I'll send some reasons your little one may not be sleeping through the night, plus eight tips to HELP! ⁣ ⁣ If you were getting a full night's sleep, what COULD you do today?!⁣ ⁣ @lucyflow_official

And for those of you currently serving in our military: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are forever grateful for the sacrifices you make to protect this country and our families.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Are you honoring someone special on this day?

Here's the trick to getting your little one back on track AFTER you get home:⁣ ⁣ ⭐️Night one, you go right back to your consistent habits and behaviors. ⭐️⁣ ⁣ No matter what nights and naps looked like while traveling, NIGHT ONE is the time to go RIGHT BACK to your NORMAL approach! ⁣ ⁣ ❌Late bedtimes- no more!⁣ ❌Newly added night feedings-goodbye!⁣ ❌Up before dawn- nope! ⁣ ❌Only napping in the stroller- hello crib! ⁣ ⁣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆:⁣ ➕Wake your little one by 7-7:30am to start back on a normal routine.⁣ ➕Give ample time for active floor play (rolling, crawling, scooting, walking, etc).⁣ ➕Get outside if possible because daylight helps reset that internal clock and promotes good night sleep.⁣ ➕Be super consistent with naps and wake windows.⁣ ⁣ Truly, 1-3 consistent days and nights and your great little sleeper will re-emerge!⁣ ⁣ 🧳 I want vacation to be something you truly relish and enjoy! My hope is that no matter what happens on vacation, you never need to stress because you KNOW all it takes is 1-3 nights back home and that great sleeper is back. ⁣ ⁣ ⭐️ Now, if sleep is always tough and you haven’t found an approach that works, know that I have classes to help! Each class will meet your little one RIGHT where they are at developmentally, before AND after vacations!⁣ ⁣ Have you traveled with your baby or toddler? How was sleep after you got home? Any additional tips for getting sleep back on track?⁣