The Wholechild Company

Our 6-12 Month Sleep webinar is just around the corner! Class details: When + Where: February 16, 2020 10-11AM EST (Zoom link provided upon booking). Can’t attend the live? No problem. Register in advance and access the recording for 1 week!... Ideal for: Babies 6-12 months Topics covered include: what to expect and ways to optimize sleep at this age naps and nap transitions sleep progressions introducing solids and sleep overnight feedings - what to expect transitioning your baby to their own room cribs/floor beds emotion and the attachment relationship daycare/returning to work + more! Submit your questions before the webinar and I will do my best to get them all answered. Cost: $25 + HST Link in bio to sign up xo . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleeping #sleepclass #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #lactationconsultant #ibclc #burlingtonmoms #hamiltonmom #waterdownmoms #oakvillemoms

Breastfeeding your baby as they get older brings a whole new meaning to fast food! Overtime, a lot of babies get faster and more efficient at breastfeeding and families often reach out concerned about this change in feeding behaviour. These feeds may suddenly feel like a quick trip through the drive-thru, with some or all feeding times reducing significantly. This does not mean your baby is no longer getting what they need! In addition, around 3 months of age, you may notice ...your baby becomes easily distracted. Any noises, lights, partner walking in the room or your dog jumping up on the couch next to you results in your curious baby unlatching to have a look around! This is completely normal and it can result in your baby feeding quickly + a bit less during the day and doing their best, most efficient feeds overnight. You can try a darker room to feed during the day sometimes and offer frequent snacks at the breast if they seem too busy to do a full feeding. This phase often passes with time! If you have any concerns about your baby’s milk intake, always reach out to an IBCLC. Sometimes a bit of reassurance can be helpful as you navigate this new phase . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #fastbreastfeeds #ibclc #breastfeedingchanges #breastfeedingeducation #lactationconsultant #infantfeeding

Babies attach through their senses in the first year. If they are not able to feel you, smell you or see you near by, it can be quite alarming for them! Lots of families believe if their babies are struggling to sleep in a crib, or are waking immediately upon transfer into a crib, it’s the space itself they are resisting but it’s usually the separation! Tomorrow’s webinar is going to cover lots of strategies to help your little one begin to feel safe + secure in their own sle...ep space. Floor beds also covered, too. Join us to learn more! $25 CAD and the recording is available for one week for those who register if you cannot attend live. Link in bio . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleep #cribsleep #normalizeinfantsleep #normalizesupportingmothers #sleepwebinar #floorbeds #ibclc #lactationconsultant #sleepwithoutsleeptraining

Okay, so what you’re experiencing has been normalized. How challenging breastfeeding can be, especially in the beginning when you’re learning. How often your baby feeds. How often your baby wakes up. Your baby only wanting to sleep close to you. Wonderful. But it does not necessarily make any of it easy. Being told something is healthy and normal may help you breathe a sigh of relief, at the same time leaving you feeling a bit trapped and unsure of what to do next. ... Here are a few things to consider if this is where you are: What can you do for you while working your family through this season? What can you let go of right now that is not a priority so you can get a bit more rest (even if you aren’t sleeping)? Who can you lean on? What can you control in this moment? Is there anything you can do to try and optimize sleep during this time? (environment, lots of sleep associations, getting to know your baby’s natural wake windows, checking in with your IBCLC to ensure feeding is going well etc.) It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, even in the ‘normal’. Always reach out for support if you ever need it . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #wholefamily #normalizeinfantsleep #normalizesupportingmothers #ittakesavillage #babysleep #breastfeeding #infantfeeding #ibclc #lactationconsultant #sleepwithoutsleeptraining

Well this is exciting! I am so pleased to announce I have added more sleep coaching options to better serve this awesome global community (you). What’s new?... 30 or 60 minute sleep coaching calls If you have specific questions or concerns you would like answered and have a good understanding of our approach to sleep without sleep training, 30 or 60 minute calls are a great option. No discovery call required. Perfect for parents of all ages who just want to get down to business! What else? Package options now include: Newborn Sleep Coaching 0-6 months Mini Coaching Package (consult + email follow up care) Extended Coaching Package (consult + extended video or phone follow up care) All sleep coaching packages begin with a free discovery call (15 minutes) that allows us to learn about your family + sleep goals. You will also hear more about our approach, the different sleep packages available and decide what feels like the right fit for your family. Link in bio to learn more . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleep #babysleepsolutions #sleepcoaching #babyledsleep #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #Babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #ibclc #lactationconsultant

Oh the clock At times helpful but also a major source of stress for a lot of families. You will hear this a lot; tune into your own baby and watch them, not the clock, but why is this important? I’m going to address this from both a feeding and sleep perspective. Feeding: Babies feed on demand. This responsive feeding means there isn’t a ton of structure or a schedule and you’re following your baby’s lead on when and how much to feed. Some days, this may end up being every f...ew hours, and other days, your baby may signal they need to eat more. Remember that your breastmilk works on a supply + demand system and if we schedule or limit feeds, this can negatively impact milk supply. The beautiful thing about feeding on demand is that it also addresses those other needs, including comfort. As a general guideline, we want to see your baby having a minimum of about 8 feeds in 24 hours (more is also normal!). Sleep: There are a lot of structured sleep guidelines that exist that say your baby should be sleeping x number of hours during the day + night, at x time (without knowing anything about you or your baby!) and I see families spending hours of their days trying to get their babies down to sleep when they are told they should be sleeping. Wake windows (the time your baby wakes until they show tired signs again) is a small piece of the sleep puzzle but you do want to tune into your own baby to find their unique rhythm. Your baby may require a shorter window, or a larger window, as their sweet spot. The clock can be helpful to find your baby’s unique rhythm but ideally noting the time of day after you have observed them and their tired cues, not the other way around where you’re seeing a time on the clock and trying to get them down to sleep when they may or may not be ready. Eventually, your days may get a bit more predictable but babies will tell us what they need. All we need to do is tune in (it can take time to figure this all out so go easy on yourself) and trust the process Please note, there are circumstances that require more structured feedings or for baby’s to be woken up. Always consult your IBCLC or primary health care provider.

We know that what works for one family, doesn’t necessarily work for another and this is completely okay. Our approach to sleep always encourages you to keep the pieces of your routine you love, and make gentle changes to the things that no longer feel right. This Thursday, Sleep Associations + Shifting Patterns webinar will talk all about this! Perhaps you are a family who has been bouncing your little one on a ball to sleep for most of their life and they are starting to ge...t too heavy. Or your baby has been nursing to sleep and you’d like to begin building in more associations. Whatever it is, this webinar has you covered. The beautiful thing? It doesn’t have to be all or nothing and you can work to get to a place that feels just right for your family. Link in bio . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babyledsleep #gentleparentledchanges #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #sleepwebinar #postpartumeducation See more

There is no such thing as a bad sleep association and in fact, the more the merrier! However, lots of families reach a point where they begin to feel like it is time for a change. This webinar will teach you how to shift patterns around the ways your baby or toddler falls asleep. Ideal for: Any age + stage! Topics covered include:... Adding in more sleep associations My baby will only fall asleep one way, help! Changing sleep associations such as motion (rocking, bouncing etc) or nursing Routines vs schedules If you shift patterns, will longer stretches of sleep follow? Myth busting Other caregivers supporting your baby to sleep emotions + making changes + more! Length of webinar: 1 hour Cost: $25 + HST January 7, 2021 10am-11am EST Can’t attend the live? No trouble, recording available for 1 week. Link in bio. . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleep #babysleepsolutions #sleepassociations #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #makingchanges #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #ibclc #lactationconsultant #webinar

This notion of the good baby, meaning one that sleeps through the night, reflects about 100 years of misunderstanding regarding how our babies should and actually do sleep - Dr. James McKenna . . . #thewholechild #wholechild #normalizeinfantsleep #normalizesupportingmothers #babysleep #youredoinganamazingjob #jamesmckenna

This is one of my favourite webinars. Educating families on newborn sleep is SO important. When + Where: November 24, 2020 10-11am Live (Zoom link provided upon booking). Can’t attend the live? No problem! Recording available for 1 week. Ideal for: 0-6 months... Topics covered include: what is healthy + normal infant sleep what to expect healthy sleep foundations sleep environment ways to optimize sleep + more! Length of webinar: 1 hour Cost: $25 + HST per family. Submit your questions before and they will all get answered at the end! Link in bio to sign up. . . . #wholechildco #thewholechild #babysleep #newbornsleep #sleepwebinar #virtuallearning #postnataleducation #sleepclass #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #infantsleep #lactationconsultant #ibclc

When we start a new year, there’s typically lots of pressure to reinvent, redo or re-evaluate who we are, what we do and how we’re doing things. And in that pressure, we’re often left wondering if we’re the only ones that just aren’t feeling our best. I just wanted to say, for whatever you’re feeling or wherever you are right now, just know it’s okay to simply be . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #justbe #newyearsamewonderfulyou #postpartum #motherhoodpressures #happynewyear

Our next Introduction to Solids class is just a few days away! This monthly workshop is usually held in-person in Burlington + Toronto @augustkinn but for now, will continue to be virtual. Details: When + Where: This Friday Nov 20, 2020 11am-12pm ET (Zoom link provided upon booking)... Ideal for: Any age + stage! You can take this class at any time but you may find it helpful to take it after 3 or 4 months so this information is fresh in your mind when you begin. Older babies always welcome, too! Topics covered include: research from WHO including why 6 months is the worldwide recommended age to begin signs your baby may be ready to start consuming solids what solids to start with and why + how much/when to give them baby-led weaning + purees - what is the difference? what to expect in those first few feedings breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding + solids- how does this work? safety tips, allergies and more! A hand out will be given to each family to refer back to as needed. Cost: $25 + HST Link in bio to sign up! . . . #wholechildco #thewholechild #lactationconsultant #ibclc #infantfeeding #introtosolids #babyledweaning #babyledfeeding #babyfood #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #burlingtonmoms #hamiltonmoms #waterdownmoms #virtualclass

A simple concept was introduced years ago that became the solution for all overtired parents (or so we thought). Eat, some awake + play time, followed by sleep so that you can get things done around the house or rest yourself. Sounds perfect, right? I know I brought some humour into this because well, we all need that sometimes and don’t get me wrong, if this works for your family that is wonderful! However, in my experience, so many families attempt to follow this, also know...n as the EASY method, and it leads to a ton of worry and frustration when it does not work. Breastfed babies also feed on demand, and this will look different every day and trying to put your baby on a schedule such as eat, play + sleep often results in supply going down. In addition, breastfeeding is designed to help your baby fall asleep so we are really fighting mother nature when trying to change this! If you are spending hours trying to get your baby down to sleep when the books or fixed sleep plans (always a red flag if there is a one-size-fits-all approach to anything in life) say they should be sleeping, I would encourage you to take a deep breath, let go of the shoulds and follow your heart. If it’s this challenging, it probably isn’t right for your family. Feel free to comment below with any experiences you’ve had that you would like to share . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleepmyths #babysleep #babyledsleep #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #ibclc #lactationconsultant #breastfeeding #infantfeeding #hamiltonmoms #oakvillemoms #burlingtonmoms #waterdownmoms But what a lot of families have discovered is the eat, play + sleep method, also known as the easy method, is not so easy. In the feeding + sleep world, there are lots of myths that require some serious busting.

Does your little one wake immediately upon transfer into the bassinet or crib at the moment? Babies attach through their senses in the first year of life. If they cannot hear you, smell you or touch you, it can be quite alarming! We will talk lots about this as well as contact napping, short naps, nap refusals + more in the upcoming All About Naps webinar this Tuesday at 10am ET.... Time doesn’t work for you? No problem! Access the recording for 1 week. Link in bio. . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #naps #napwebinar #babysleepwebinar #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepsolutions #sleepwithoutsleeptraining

All About NAPS webinar is just around the corner! Submit your questions before and they will all get answered at the end. Lots of good ones being asked already! When + Where: November 17, 2020 10-11am Live (Zoom link provided upon booking). Can’t attend the live? No trouble! Recording available for 1 week. Ideal for: Any age + stage! ... Topics covered include: what to expect (0-2 yrs) short naps sleep environment nap transitions nap refusals/other challenges making gentle changes to the things that are no longer working for your family + more! Length of webinar: 1 hour Cost: $25 + HST per family. Link in bio to sign up! . . . #thewholechild #wholechildco #babysleeping #sleepclass #babyledsleepandwellbeingspecialist #sleepwithoutsleeptraining #naps #lactationconsultant #ibclc #burlingtonmoms #hamiltonmom #waterdownmoms #oakvillemoms