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healthy sleep habits

You Cannot Force a Baby to Sleep — But Here’s What You Can Do

May 14, 2026May 14, 2026 by valplowman
Kaitlyn asleep on a bed with pink blanketes around her

You can set the stage for sleep. You can do everything right. And sometimes your baby still won’t sleep. Here’s how to think about that — and what to actually …

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Categories Sleep Tags healthy sleep habits 16 Comments

How to Fix Your Child’s Sleep Deficit

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 by valplowman
Toddler sleeping in bed

Your baby’s sleep is getting worse, not better. Short naps, early wakings, constant crankiness—and you can’t figure out why. The culprit might be sleep deficit: accumulated sleep debt that compounds …

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Categories Sleep Problems Tags healthy sleep habits, sleep deficit 17 Comments

Adjusting the Schedule to Fix a Sleep Deficit

May 20, 2024April 15, 2024 by valplowman
Child sleeping in bed. Close up of the child's face.

A sleep deficit is when your child has not been getting enough sleep for an extended period of time. When this happens, you will need to adjust the schedule so …

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Categories Sleep Problems Tags healthy sleep habits, sleep deficit Leave a comment

Preschoolers and Naps: Dropping the Last Nap Info

March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 by valplowman
Preschooler lying down and covering her eyes with her forearm. Her arm has closed eyes drawn on it.

Do preschoolers need a daily nap? Find out what age the nap should be dropped, signs your child is ready to drop it, and how to tell if your child …

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Categories Naps, Preschooler Tags dropping naps, healthy sleep habits, rest time 4 Comments

Timing Baby’s First Nap So it Isn’t Short

December 19, 2024November 30, 2022 by valplowman
Baby sleeping in gray pajamas

The first nap of the day is the most important nap for a baby. Learn how to time the first nap so it isn’t too short and baby can take …

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Categories Naps Tags healthy sleep habits, morning nap 23 Comments

How to Use the Extinction Method for Sleep Training

February 28, 2024November 16, 2022 by valplowman
Baby sleeping in crib

Tips for using the extinction sleep training method to get baby to sleep well. Get great naps and great night sleep for baby. Learn about extinction sleep training vs Ferber …

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Categories Sleep Training Tags CIO, healthy sleep habits 7 Comments

How Do Toddlers Act When Tired

August 14, 2024March 30, 2022 by valplowman
child jumping on bed

Toddlers often get very hyper and active when they are tired. Parents assume the child is not tired, when they are actually overly tired. In many ways, babies and children …

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Categories Preschooler, Sleep, Toddler Tags healthy sleep habits 16 Comments
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Valerie Plowman

Valerie Plowman, known as "the Babywise Mom", is the happy mother of four children. She has been helping parents with their parenting concerns since 2007 and loves helping others absolutely love being a parent.

Babywise Mom Nap Guide

Schedules and Sleep

  • You Cannot Force a Baby to Sleep — But Here’s What You Can Do

    You Cannot Force a Baby to Sleep — But Here’s What You Can Do

  • Dreamfeed Frequently Asked Questions

    Dreamfeed Frequently Asked Questions

  • Everything You Need to Know About Dropping the Swaddle

    Everything You Need to Know About Dropping the Swaddle

  • My Sleep Hierarchy For Newborns

    My Sleep Hierarchy For Newborns

  • The Complete Guide to Finding Your Child’s Ideal Bedtime (By Age)

    The Complete Guide to Finding Your Child’s Ideal Bedtime (By Age)

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