Blissful Babies: March 2010

WELCOME

Blissful Babies is an Infant/Child Sleep Consulting and Parent Coaching company.

Using the 3 Day Sleep Solution, by Davis Ehrler, I help babies and children ages 6 months - 8 years old get the healthy sleep they need. The 3 Day Sleep Solution will teach you how to establish routines that will break old bad habits and immediately start new healthy sleeping habits that will stay with your child for life.

As a parent coach, I offer parents support in regard to parenting their children and raising a family. I can help with discipline issues, picky eaters, tantrums, toddler transitions - such as getting toddlers into "big kid" beds or new siblings, and a general lack of routine and consistency within a household. In short, I help to guide parents to a place where they enjoy parenting and provide them with the skills and foundation needed to raise happy and confident children.

This blog will feature tips and information on healthy sleep and parenting.
Become a follower and check in regularly!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

SAN DIEGO SLEEP WORKSHOP

Hi everyone! I'm holding an Infant Sleep Workshop Sunday, April 11th at the So Childish Boutique. Please pass this info along to anyone you know who may be having sleep issues with their baby (4 months - 1 year old).

The 3 Day Sleep Solution by Davis Ehrler Infant Sleep Workshop April 11th 11-1pm at the So Childish Boutique in San Diego, CA. At 4 months old and beyond your baby can - and should - be sleeping independently 11-12 hours a night and napping over an hour twice a day. If you are having sleep issues with your baby 4 months-1 year old, this workshop is for you! Given by Infant/Child Sleep Consultant Andrea Shillito of Blissful Babies. $40 per person/$65 per couple. RSVP to adshillito@yahoo.com by April 1st.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

5 Baby Sleep Myths

Myth #1 Some babies are just poor sleepers: If your baby is a "poor sleeper" it is because you have made them that way. Sorry! Harsh - but true! Parents - with good, yet misinformed, intentions - keep their babies from learning to sleep independently. An important skill. They promote unhealthy sleep crutches and then continue to reinforce those habits, never giving their child the opportunity to form healthy sleep habits.
Myth #2 Early bedtime means early to rise and Late bedtime means late to rise: Sleep begets sleep. If you put your baby to bed too late, they will actually end up waking earlier and not getting the deep REM sleep their little bodies and brains need for healthy development. Early bedtimes are best for your little ones!

Myth #3 Formula helps babies sleep better: Most women's breastmilk is the same consistency of formula. Therefore, the formula does not fill up the baby through the night any more than breastmilk.

Myth #4 Babies can't sleep through the night until 6 months or older: Your 4 month old baby can and should be sleeping 11-12 hours through the night and taking 2 naps of over an hour and a third catnap throughout the day. 14-16 hours of total sleep in a 24 hour period.

Myth #5 Big babies sleep better: Wrong. Babies who have been given the opportunity to learn how to sleep unassisted, sleep well. Big or small.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

2 Ways to Become a Happier Parent

I found this article on Yahoo today. It once again talks about the importance of routines in a family to facilitate a peaceful, secure, and happy household. Children need and thrive on routines, and it makes the job of the parents a much easier one as well. I teach my clients that their "Daily Routine" is the foundation of their home. It is the first thing I help a family implement, and with that one step we often solve the majority of issues that the parents are facing.

Read on and become a "Happier Parent":

http://health.yahoo.com/featured/84/two-simple-ways-to-be-a-happier-parent/

Contact me for a consultation if you need help implementing successful routines into your family's life!

adshillito@yahoo.com

Sleep Packages

FALL PACKAGE SPECIAL!!
Take advantage of a sleep/coaching package available at an incredible discount now through December 2010!!

Combine a sleep and parent coaching package for these amazing prices!

Fall Package A (for San Diego residents):

Sleep Package A (see below - home consultation)
AND
Parent Package A (see below for description)

$850 for both!!

2 hour sleep home consult + follow up
Approx. 3 months of Parent Coaching (10-12 phone calls)
***Add an at home observation for only $200

FALL PACKAGE B:

Sleep Package B (see below - phone consultation)
AND
Parent Package A (see below for description)

$700 for both

2 hour sleep phone consult + follow up
Approx. 3 months of Parent Coaching (10-12 phone calls)

Please email me with any questions or to schedule a consultation!

Sleep Package A:
2 Hour In Home Consultation
3 Follow-Up calls from me
2 Weeks of unlimited questions via phone or email
Personalized Schedule for your baby included
$550

Sleep Package B:
2 Hour Phone Consultation
3 Follow-Up calls from me
2 Weeks of unlimited questions via phone or email
Personalized Schedule for your baby included
$400

Sleep Clinic or "Slumber Party"

Get 5 or more friends with babies between the ages of 4 months - 2 years old to come to your house or workspace for a 2 hour workshop on the 3 day Sleep Solution Program. The first hour will be spent explaining the program and the steps you need to take. The second hour is spent answering any and all questions you and your guests may have about the program and/or their baby.
Hostess is free
Guests pay $40 each or $65 per couple

please email me to set up a consultation

adshillito@yahoo.com

Parent Packages

Parent Package A
"The Transformational Coaching Package"
This package is for the parent or parents who want a transformational change in themselves and their families. If you are not enjoying your role as a parent, are dealing with a variety of issues that are keeping you from experiencing peace and harmony within your home, and you need a change that comes from within to effect those around you and your general environment - then this is the package for you!

8- 10 Phone Sessions (approx 1 hour each)

3-4 months of coaching
$700

12-14 Phone Sessions (approx 1 hour each)

5-6 months of coaching

$1000

For local clients in the San Diego, CA area:
- 2 hour initial home meeting
- 2 hour home follow-up meeting
- 8-10 phone sessions (approx 1 hour long)
$900
- 12-14 phone sessions (approx 1 hour long)

$1200

Parent Package B
"The Parent Consultation"
For parents who have a specific issue and need specific strategies and information.
Some issues can include:
- Toddler Transitions (new sibling, preschool, "big kid" bed, sick or hospitalized parent, etc.)
-Discipline Strategies
-Nutrition and Picky Eating
-Choosing a Preschool or preparing your child kindergarten

(for more than one issue please choose Package A)

1-2 hour phone call with written follow-up

3 follow up calls from me
2 weeks of unlimited questions via email
$300

For local clients in the San Diego, CA area:
- Initial home observation (usually 4-6 hours)
- 2 hour Follow-Up meeting with written follow up
-2 weeks of unlimited questions via email
$750 (this package can be customized to fit your specific issue and need)

The Parent Party!
Choose from a variety of topics to be discussed at a workshop given at your house. Must have at least 6 people attending (including the hostess).

Possible topics might include:

Here Comes Toddler Trouble: Get a head start on your Toddler Troubles BEFORE they begin! Learn discipline strategies, how best to deal with tantrums and power struggles, how to avoid “Picky Eating”, how best to deal with transitions (big kid bed, new sibling, preschool etc.)

Daycare/Preschool Help: Get advice on how to find the best daycare and/or preschool for your child. Location specific to discuss qualities and reviews of local establishments. Also included, how to prepare your child for success in kindergarten!

Extreme Self-Care for Moms: Learn how to take care of yourself and find balance in your life so you can be the best mom you can be!

Mommy Talk: A workshop dedicated to a facilitated conversation about the different challenges and stresses the everyday American mother deals with on a daily basis. An open conversation support group for moms that need to be heard and to know they are not alone. A time to share ideas, get advice, and vent! Workshops will be child age specific.

Toddler Nutrition: Become educated on the nutritional needs of your toddler and come away with a meal plan and lots of great, healthy recipes your child will love!

$45 per person or $70 per couple
Hostess is Free!

TESTIMONIALS

"I’M SO GLAD I FOUND ANDREA AND THE 3 DAY SLEEP SOLUTION! AFTER MONTHS OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, MASTERING THIS PROGRAM WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ANDREA WAS THE BEST THING I EVER COULD HAVE DONE FOR MY FAMILY. SHE SHOWED ME A WHOLE NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS THAT WAS CLEAR AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT. THE FIRST NIGHT WAS A BIG IMPROVEMENT, AND BY THE SECOND NIGHT MY SON ETHAN WAS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT….12 HOURS STRAIGHT! EVERY NIGHT SINCE, HAS BEEN 13 HOURS! DAYTIME NAPS WERE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING AND I WORKED WITH ANDREA ON IMPLEMENTING SMALL CHANGES TO GET THE RIGHT COMBINATION FOR MY SON TO SLEEP BETTER THROUGHOUT THE DAY. MY LIFE IS SO MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE NOW AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ETHAN IS GETTING MUCH NEEDED, GOOD SLEEP! EVERYONE IS HAPPIER IN OUR HOUSE. THANK YOU ANDREA!"

KRISTIN

SAN MARCOS, CA

"My daughter was 4 months old when we were having trouble with her sleeping schedule. Andrea gave me great detailed instructions that were easy to apply and that same night my daughter slept 14 hours straight. Her help and advice has truly made me more confident as a parent!"

Alli
Dayton, OH

"For the first 4 months I had relied on several crutches to get my daughter to sleep. She was swaddled tightly, nursed, placed in a swing for an hour then, when she was sleeping soundly, transferred to her co-sleeper. She then slept about 8-9 hours. At about 13 weeks, she began growing out of this routine; she awoke several times a night and broke out of the swaddle. I knew it was time to transfer her to her crib, and establish a new bedtime routine. Andrea and the 3-day Sleep Solution were instrumental in assisting me during this process. The program teaches you to eliminate crutches (such as swings and swaddles) and establish a nap and bedtime schedule that makes sense. Andrea's advice was crucial. My baby is particularly sensitive - Andrea was available day and night to help me troubleshoot many of the issues we were encountering. After 3 days my daughter was sleeping through the night, and after a week she was genuinely comfortable and happy sleeping in her crib for naps and bedtime."

Cassidy
San Francisco, CA

"Thank you so much to Blissful Babies and The 3 Day Sleep Solution for helping us with baby Isla. She went from using a swaddler, pacifier, and being nursed to sleep with several wake-ups a night to putting herself to sleep and learning to self-soothe in just a few days. Our house is running much smoother, and I actually feel like I have some free time now (which is crazy with a three-month old and three-year old!). Plus, Isla is much happier and her schedule is very predictable, which makes for a very happy mommy :) Thank you Andrea!"

Amber & Wes
San Diego, Ca

"After 8 months of my 3 year old sleeping with my husband and me, and 3 months of my 21 month old waking in the middle of the night, I turned to Andrea for her expertise. This was the best decision we could have made! Both kids now sleep through the night for 12 hours straight, and go to their own bed/crib with minimal fuss! They are eating better, the temper tantrums and whining have almost disappeared, and my husband and I have our evenings and our bed to ourselves! Many, many thanks, Andrea!!"

Lynn
Atlanta, GA

"I contacted Andrea when my son 2 1/2 year old son, had gotten into the habit of needing me to lie down with him to go to sleep. I had tried on numerous occasions to break the habit by myself and was unsuccessful. Having Andrea over at our home for the preparation and for the night I was to put him down on his own, was essential. He cried for only a few minutes and then went to sleep on his own! He has been sleeping soundly ever since and I feel like I have my evenings back to myself. He is also waking up less at night, but when he does he is able to put himself back to sleep. Thank you so much for your help and follow-up support!"

Jennifer
San Diego, CA

Blissful Babies