First things first – when should you move your toddler into a big bed? Ideally, we want our toddlers to be staying in their cot until they are around 2.5 – 3 years old! Yep, 3! Why? Moving a baby into a big bed too early can be the cause of major sleep disruptions. A […]
Author Archives: ErikaL
The end of Daylight Savings (In Australia)
The end of Daylight Savings is almost upon us. On Sunday the 5th of April at 3am (AEST), the clocks will move back which means the days will be a little colder and will start a little darker. The reality is that the start and the end of Daylight Savings brings with it some sleep […]
The Early Riser
We recently did a poll on Instagram after noticing that SO many of the babies we personally know and have previously worked with were suddenly waking up for no apparent reason – including my own, who had become a fan of waking between 450am-530am. That’s still the middle of the night in my book! In […]
GUEST POST from Sarah at Routachment | The importance of self-care for new mums
As a postpartum doula and educator, I witness so many first time mums struggle with the juggle that is Motherhood. In an attempt to be everything to everyone, and romanticising preconceived ideas, they can lose themselves and often go into burn out and survival mode for a time. So much energy is invested into […]
The Dream Feed
WHAT IS A DREAMFEED? The dreamfeed is the last feed of your baby’s day. It happens approximately 2-3 hours after your baby has had their bedtime feed. This usually occurs between 10pm-11pm. As an example; your baby’s last feed is at 7pm and your baby is asleep by 730pm. The aim is that before you […]
How did the airnest mattress come to be?
Natalie Norman, founder of Growbright, shares why she is so passionate about the airnest mattress When I had my son Liam 4 years ago, I was really concerned about what was in the imported cot mattresses. I didn’t know where the foam had come from, what glues had been used, or what kind of off-gassing […]
Everything you ever needed to know about Safe Sleep Practices + (un)Safe Sleep Products
Here at The Sleep Dept, we get asked regularly about specific sleep products and why they may be a risk factor when it comes to reducing the risk of SIDS. When you’re exposed to babies and sleep on a daily basis (mum life + work life), there is a level of responsibility that comes with […]
The Catnapping Newborn
If there was ever going to be something that shows us just how different our babies are, it has to be how varied naps can be – especially during those first few months! There is a lot of pressure to have our babies on a schedule from day one. The key word we want to […]
Travelling with a Baby
Travelling with kids can often feel like the only thing that has changed is the location! Kids still need to be fed, bathed and well rested which can make it feel like your holiday isn’t really, well, a holiday. On more than one occasion I have had families I’ve worked with ask if they should […]
Choking vs Gagging
Who here is terrified of their child choking? *raises hand* – Yep, me too. In a recent Instagram poll, over 700 people said they wanted to know the difference between choking and gagging, so we consulted our friends at Tiny Hearts Education who are experts in baby and child first aid to help explain the […]
Not all stroller covers are created equal…
You may have been reading a lot in the media lately about the dangers of covering your strollers and prams. Can the baby breathe? Is there enough air flow? Is it getting too hot? Every year, the media digs out an article written by Swedish Paediatrician Svante Norgren, warning parents not to cover their prams […]
What’s the single most important item you can have for your baby is?
Before baby Jay arrived, I was obsessed with finding the right mattress for his cot. The safest mattress for my son was the absolute most important thing I wanted in his nursery. Like any first time mum to be, I decided to head to the big baby stores to see what was on offer… well, […]