Little Z's Sleep Podcast

If your child is heading back to school, starting kindergarten, or maybe you're just getting back into the mode of preschool, this podcast episode is for you! You've likely been enjoying those amazing summer days and nights with later bedtimes and lazy mornings. But today, I'm helping you get back into the mindset of going back to school. And this is not just from me as a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, but also as a mom and a former elementary school teacher! It’s time for back to school - let’s get ready today.GET MY FREE BABY SLEEP COURSE!!

Imagine what it would be like to travel to Italy and enjoy Tuscany and Rome and all of the beautiful sights with your baby and your preschooler. How do you feel about that? How does the thought of an overnight flight and traveling across the ocean sound? If you are like, “Sign me up!”, then you’re going to love what we’re talking about today!But if you're also like, “Oh my gosh, that sounds like a total heck no for me! Not until my kids are older!” then stick around. Because if you have the inkling to travel, but you're thinking, “No, I need to wait till my kids are older,” I am such a proponent of NOT waiting and enjoying these times. Yes, there are situations and ages where it's a little bit easier than others, but I still think that making the memories and doing the darn thing is always worth it.This week on the podcast I invited Krista Jones, who is a friend, an incredibly talented website designer, and a mom to Bennett and Jack, as we talk through their travels to Italy. GET MY FREE BABY SLEEP COURS

Every once in a while people ask me, “How long do I need to keep up this 7:00pm bedtime?” And my answer is, “Well, quite a while! Kids need a lot of sleep!” BUT there does come a day where you can enjoy a later bedtime.This summer is that time for us and I am SO excited that we have crossed the bridge now to a later bedtime!! We actually have been able to stay up and go outside at 8:45 and catch fireflies and then come inside and quickly get ready for bed. It's just such a blissful time. I want to tell you this because most of y'all are listening with babies or toddlers or preschoolers and you're wondering, “When will I get to enjoy these summer evenings??” So I'm sharing with you what we do and how we transitioned from a 7pm bedtime to a 9pm bedtime over the years. GET MY FREE BABY SLEEP COURSE!!

If you are new to the baby world, you may be wondering why the heck babies need all this stuff for sleep!! Can’t they just lay on a mattress and go to sleep? (Yes and no!)Today we’re talking all about sleep sacks! Consider this your ultimate guide to understanding what sleep sacks are, how to pick the right one, and if your baby can sleep without one!Click here to check out my affiliate Amazon Shop and find all the brands I recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/littlezsleep

Today we’re talking all about how to transition your newborn or baby out of a swaddle! I’m sharing the ages that we’ll start to transition out of the swaddle, what to do if you have a baby who is still swaddled, and some encouragement from a Little Z’s team member who made this transition recently because I want you to hear from someone who just did this!!

If you have an upcoming trip that inevitably crosses over time zones, this is for you! I’m giving you a plan for how to travel across domestic time zone changes today.

One of the questions I get asked ALL the time as a pediatric sleep consultant is this: What do I do when my baby falls asleep in the car?Today I’ll walk through what exactly to do if that happens with 3 different solutions!!

We’ve all been there – you put your baby to sleep for their nap and you’re happy to finally have time to hash out some work or clean up the house or maybe just take a break for an hour and a half.But then… like clockwork, 29 minutes later or 30 minutes or even 32 minutes and 45 seconds later, they’re awake!Today I’m going to give you the 4 checks that we’re going to use to solve your baby’s short naps. Get ready to kiss those frustrating short naps goodbye and welcome longer naps!

If you have a toddler who is not napping – they’re rejecting their naps or they’re treating it like play time in their crib – I have 4 reasons that this might be happening and today I’m going to tell you all about it and give you the strategies on how to improve naps starting TODAY!

Somewhere around 3-5 months old you’re likely finding that your baby is no longer just stationary in their crib or bassinet! They’re trying to move this way or move that way and it is totally normal!!! But you are mildly freaking out because all the sudden you see on the monitor that they’ve rolled onto their belly in the crib and you’re like WHAT’S HAPPENING!?In this video, I’ll give you the steps and the peace of mind for what to do when your baby starts to roll around in the crib!

You just had an amazing vacation!!! Maybe you’re headed home and you’re like.. I need to get back to my sleep expectations! It’s time to get back to schedules and routines and real life.Today I’m giving you my 2 strategies on how to get back on track after you’re home from your vacation. You’ve had an amazing trip, but now it’s back to reality, back to sleep schedules, and back to keeping sleep a thing!

So you have an amazing vacation planned, or maybe you’re just stepping out of town for a few days… How do you handle the travel day with your baby?!In today’s video I’m giving you everything you need to know about when to leave, what your routines will be like, naps, and bedtime after that travel day! Plus you’ll hear whether I think traveling with babies is worth it… (Spoiler alert: it is!!!)

When you’re traveling with your baby, it can seem like you have to pack your entire house! And I get it! Gone are the days where you can just carelessly throw a few items in your bag and head out the door. Now you have a huge list of what to pack for your baby!Today I’m giving you my packing list for your baby as you head out of your home, no matter where you’re going (and don’t worry – it’s not the whole house!). And I’ll highlight the specific sleep things (and non-sleep things) that you definitely want to bring with you!

Is your child going through crazy separation anxiety?!There are actually 3 ages where we can pinpoint when separation anxiety will peak and, you know me! I’m not only going to talk about what those ages are and how they impact sleep, but I’m also going to flip the script on how you’re seeing sleep during these separation anxiety times. 

What does “drowsy but awake” even mean? Can you even be drowsy but awake? Why are these two concepts just not matching? Why can’t you get them to work when the rest of the baby world and sleep world and Instagram world insists it’s best?In my world, “drowsy but awake” is not real and today we’re going to talk ALL about it.

Did you know that by 13 months old there should be NO bottles in your baby’s life?! According to the AAP they need to be transitioned to an open or sippy cup by this age!So, in this video, I’m going to walk through the 2 ways to transition off the bottle and why this may be causing problems in your baby’s sleep.AAP Guidelines: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Discontinuing-the-Bottle.aspx

The #1 question we hear parents ask about is teething! But does teething really impact sleep? In this podcast episode I'm sharing my real and raw take on how teething does NOT affect your baby's sleep. I'll give you guidance on how to help your baby as they go through this season and of course help you KEEP sleep a thing!MENTIONS: How Much Crying To Expect In Sleep Training?Free Course: 4 Steps To Solve NightwakingsLittle Z's Complete Schedule Guide Shop all Sleep Training Programs FOLLOW BECCA: On the blogYouTube InstagramTikTok 

Trying to help your toddler fall asleep faster at bedtime? I have a feeling this describes most toddler and preschooler parents, so let's dive in! Inside this episode I'm sharing my go-to natural resources and solutions to help your child (who knows independent sleep skills!) to fall asleep quicker. MENTIONS: Free Toddler Bedtime Routine CardsUse code LITTLEZSLEEP to save $ when you shop ZenimalLittle Z's Complete Schedule Guide Shop all Sleep Training Programs FOLLOW BECCA: On the blogYouTube InstagramTikTok 

Have vaccines ever thrown off sleep for your baby? I know my 2 girls reacted very differently to shots, so this was something I always had to deal with! In this podcast I'm sharing how to help your baby deal with sleep after getting vaccines. MENTIONS: Free Course: 4 Steps To Solve NightwakingsLittle Z's Complete Schedule Guide Shop all Sleep Training Programs FOLLOW BECCA: On the blogYouTube InstagramTikTok 

It’s no secret that the Cry It Out (CIO) Method is an extremely polarizing topic.I have always been known for my straightforward, “no fluff” content and that is something I developed after being a third and a fifth grade teacher.As an elementary teacher, you have one very small opportunity to capture your students’ attention.If you don’t get to the point and capture your students’ attention, you’ve lost the pivotal teaching moment!The same is true in the sleep consulting world.That’s why at Little Z’s, we have made it our mission to tackle the heart of each sleep topic that we cover.We don’t beat around the bush.When it comes to the Cry It Out Method, the “OG,” “no fluff” Becca is back.In this video and blog, I tell you exactly why I don’t teach the Cry It Out Method in any of my Sleep Training Programs. MENTIONS: How Much Crying To Expect In Sleep Training?Free Course: 4 Steps To Solve NightwakingsLittle Z's Complete Schedule Guide Shop all Sleep Training Programs FOLLOW BECCA: