What “Drowsy But Awake” Actually Means

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What “Drowsy But Awake” Actually Means

At some point after having a baby, usually when you’re already tired and Googling things you never thought you’d Google, you come across the phrase: “drowsy but awake.”

And you might think “Oh, let me try doing that to see if it helps my baby sleep better.”

And truthfully, it sounds like a simple, almost reassuring direction… like there’s this middle ground you’ll be able to find that will magically get your baby sleeping more soundly.

Then you try it…

Your baby is fed, warm, calm in your arms. Their eyes close, their body softens, and you think, okay, this must be it. You gently place them in the crib…

…and their eyes pop open like you just hit a reset button.

Now they’re wide awake. Or frustrated. Or both.

And you’re left standing there thinking, what am I missing?

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Can I Sleep Train If I’m Exclusively Breastfeeding?

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Can I Sleep Train If I’m Exclusively Breastfeeding?

Short answer: yes, you can.

Longer answer: yes, with the right expectations, timing, and a plan that protects your milk supply and your baby’s nutritional needs.

This is one of the most common questions I hear from breastfeeding moms. You’re tired. Your baby is waking often. You want more sleep, but you also want to protect your breastfeeding relationship. It can feel like you have to choose one or the other.

You don’t.

You can support your baby’s sleep and continue exclusively breastfeeding. It just requires a more knowledgeable coach and a more flexible and responsive approach.

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Why Consistency is Key When Sleep Training

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Why Consistency is Key When Sleep Training

If you’re thinking about sleep training, or you’ve already started the process, you’ve probably heard the word consistency over and over again. And it’s true: consistency is one of the biggest predictors of success when you’re helping your baby build healthy sleep habits.

But why does consistency matter so much? And what does it actually look like in a real home with real, tired parents?

As someone who supports families all across Metro Detroit with infant and toddler sleep, routines, and postpartum care, I see this pattern every day: children thrive when they know what to expect. And when YOU feel confident and supported, everything gets easier.

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Great Expectations: What every parent needs to know about baby sleep!

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Great Expectations: What every parent needs to know about baby sleep!

If there’s one thing every new parent quickly realizes, it’s this: baby sleep is a whole different world. You can read every book, follow every sleep account, and still find yourself wondering, “Why won’t my baby sleep like that baby on Instagram?” The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every baby and every family has their own rhythm, and it takes time (and sometimes a little guidance) to find it.

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When to Transition Your Baby Out of the Bassinet

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When to Transition Your Baby Out of the Bassinet

As your baby grows, their sleep needs and abilities change. One of the first major milestones in your baby’s sleep journey is when it’s time to transition them out of the bassinet and into a crib. While this is an exciting step, it can also be a tricky one. It’s essential to know when your baby is ready for this change and how to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are some key signs that it’s time to transition your baby out of the bassinet, along with expert tips to help guide you through this important step in your baby’s sleep journey.

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Why Sleep Training Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

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Why Sleep Training Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

When it comes to sleep training, one of the most common misconceptions is that there’s a universal approach that works for every baby. If that were true, we’d have one sleep book or one sleep plan and all kids would be amazing sleepers. But if you’ve searched “baby sleep books” on Amazon lately you’ll see that there are more than 20 different books on the first page of results alone.

The beautiful reality is that every child is unique, which means that their sleep needs, habits, and temperament vary. What works for one baby might not work for another, which is why it’s essential to find a sleep training solution that is personalized, flexible, and tailored to your specific situation.

For parents in Metro Detroit seeking to improve their baby’s sleep, a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t cut it. This is where our live-in sleep coaching comes in—a highly effective solution that offers personalized, hands-on support for families who need expert guidance and individualized care.

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Cracking the Code on Newborn Sleep: What You Need to Know

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Cracking the Code on Newborn Sleep: What You Need to Know

Newborn sleep can feel like a mystery for new parents. You know your baby needs it, but figuring out how to get them to sleep well? That’s a whole different ballgame. Most of the time, it comes down to a lack of information about what newborns actually need and not understanding the science behind it. Let’s break it down.

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Are sleep training and 'cry it out' the same thing?

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Are sleep training and 'cry it out' the same thing?

The world of baby sleep can be a maze of conflicting advice and approaches, leaving sleep deprived parents feeling overwhelmed and uncertain how to help their babies get the best sleep possible. Two terms that often arise in discussions about baby sleep are "sleep training" and "cry it out." But are they truly synonymous? Or are there nuances that differentiate the two?

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3 Tried-and-True Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep in Later

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3 Tried-and-True Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep in Later

My baby woke up at dawn three mornings in a row last week. Literally, at dawn. And as a sleep coach (and tired mama!), it had me questioning the what and why behind it. After reviewing her schedule for a few days I was able to pinpoint some things that were contributing to her early wakeups, made some tweaks and we’re thankfully back to her regular 7am wake time.

As parents, one of the ultimate goals for your child is to ensure a good night's rest—for both your kiddo and yourselves. Those early morning wake-up calls can do a number on you, your child, and your whole household. Since you’re also likely a tired mama or dad and are possibly longing for just a little more shut-eye in the mornings, I’m here to share three practical tips that worked for my baby and could help your baby sleep in later.

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5 sleep tips when traveling with your baby

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5 sleep tips when traveling with your baby

So, you're about to embark on a family trip with your tiny human in tow. Yep, traveling with your baby – it can be a little chaotic to say the least. But fear not! While it's true that your kiddo might throw some curveballs your way, there are ways to make the sleep situation a tad less chaotic and keep everyone sleeping peacefully even when out of town. Here are five real-life, no-nonsense tips to help you survive – and hopefully even enjoy – traveling with your baby:

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How a Live-In Sleep Coach Can Help Transform Your Baby's Sleep

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How a Live-In Sleep Coach Can Help Transform Your Baby's Sleep

Are you a parent in Southeast Michigan struggling to get a good night's sleep? You're not alone. Many parents face the challenge of getting their babies or toddlers to sleep through the night, leading to exhaustion, confusion, and frustration. However, there's a solution that could transform your family's sleep routine for the better: hiring a live-in sleep coach.

If you’ve been searching for a sleep consultant near you, stick around to learn more about the benefits of having in-person support.

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Overnight Postpartum Doulas & Newborn Care Specialists Wanted!

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Are you passionate about supporting families after birth? Do you possess the skills, compassion, and dedication needed to provide exceptional care to both newborns and their parents during the 4th trimester? If so, we invite you to become a part of Detroit Dreams Tonight, where we're seeking Overnight Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists to join our incredible team.

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Your baby doesn't "hate" sleep

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Your baby doesn't "hate" sleep

Be honest, are guilty of saying “my baby hates sleep”? As I sleep coach, I hear this WEEKLY!! I read regularly in Mom FB groups and get inquiries all the time with some form of this phrase. So many parents are convinced that their baby/toddler/child hates sleep or doesn’t NEED much sleep.

I hate to be the bearer of bad (or good?!) news, but children of all ages NEED sleep and WANT to sleep… often times they just don’t know HOW to sleep well on their own.

Helping an infant or toddler learn HOW to sleep is what we do and it looks differently for each child and family we work with. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways and in my experience there is no “one size fits all” solution, but I’m here to share some great tips with you to get you started.

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Navigating Sleep Regressions with Positivity and Practicality

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Navigating Sleep Regressions with Positivity and Practicality

If you’ve been a parent for any amount of time you’ve heard about the joys of sleep regressions. 4 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months… It’s fun, right?! But before you reach for that second cup of coffee, let's reframe the narrative. Sleep regressions, though challenging, are a sign of your little one's incredible developmental leaps. We’re here to share some positive and practical tips to navigating and surviving these sleep disturbances.

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3 Common Baby Sleep Myths

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3 Common Baby Sleep Myths

I don’t mess around when it comes to sleep and so when I hear these sleep myths being shared on Facebook Mom Groups or from well-meaning grandparents, I feel compelled to step in and set the record straight!

Sleeping too much during the day will negatively affect night sleep

No way, no how. NO. NO. NO. This myth is one that I hear SO frequently and it is the one that just makes me so upset.

Yes, newborns don’t have a developed circadian rhythm and can sleep more soundly during the day then at night. But once the circadian rhythm is established, consistent, well-timed naps will actually make night sleep better! If you’re keeping your baby up in the hopes that they’ll sleep better at night, all you’re doing is stressing your baby out and making them over tired, almost guaranteeing that they’ll sleep worse at night.

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Our 3 Favorite Bedtime Books

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Our 3 Favorite Bedtime Books

One of my biggest pieces of advice as a sleep coach is to establish a bedtime routine early in your child’s life (or even in utero!) and to stick with it throughout their childhood. Creating a bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple with a bath, maybe a little infant massage, and include 5-10 minutes of stories or sleepy songs depending on the age of your child. Picking 1-2 books for a bedtime routine with your infant is a good start.

Here are a few of our favorite bedtime stories that can enhance your family’s bedtime routine and help your little one drift off to a peaceful sleep.

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Preparing your baby to "fall back"

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Fall is in the air! The days are feeling shorter, the sun is setting sooner, and things are cozier all around! And with the changing seasons, comes another change... the time change! I find this is something we all dread – not only because it means Summer is officially over, but because “falling back” often affects our mood and our sleep. And if it affects us as adults, you can understand how and why it would affect babies too!

As a Pediatric Sleep Coach, I help my clients and their babies adjust to time changes, address sleep regressions, and tackle any other major sleep issues. I find the easiest way to do this is to create a plan that you can execute with confidence.

So rather than losing an hour of sleep, I'm here to share some pro-tips and make this dreaded time change a easier on all of you!

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How to survive sleep deprivation with a newborn

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The concept of exhaustion takes on a new meaning when you have a baby. New parents are often surprised at how tired they feel or comment that they were totally unprepared for how it would affect their mood and their overall lives. We’ve experienced first hand how difficult it can be to take care of yourself when your baby is waking to eat every 2-3 hours around the clock, but hopefully these tips will help you get some more shut yet until your baby’s development allows for longer stretches of sleep.

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Surviving Sleep Regressions

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Raise your hand if you’ve been up at 2am googling “4 month sleep regression” or “why did my baby all of a sudden become a bad sleeper?” or “how to survive a sleep regression”. Yep, we’ve been there and oh my gosh does it suck! While sleep regressions are temporary, knowing that doesn’t make them any easier to handle! That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide to survive sleep regressions.

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6 Signs You Need More Sleep

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6 Signs You Need More Sleep

Is your baby up all night? Or waking constantly? Is “napping” basically a cuddle session that ends the moment you put your baby down in the crib? Are you beginning to think that sleeping through the night is a myth? If so, you might be a sleep deprived parent!

Frankly, sleep deprivation sucks and it's something that we at Detroit Dreams Tonight are on a mission to end.

Here are six signs you need more sleep and should seriously consider hiring us!

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