{"id":4893,"date":"2016-02-12T15:46:33","date_gmt":"2016-02-12T23:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/?p=4893"},"modified":"2016-02-12T15:46:33","modified_gmt":"2016-02-12T23:46:33","slug":"sleep-specialist-natalie-willes-vday2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/sleep-specialist-natalie-willes-vday2016\/","title":{"rendered":"3 reasons why a consistent nap and bedtime sleep schedule for your baby can change your life – Guest Post by Sleep Specialist Natalie Willes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cupidbaby\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Valentine\u2019s Day, Date Night, Romance and a Baby?<\/h2>\n

\u201cBe Mine. Kiss Me. Hugs. I\u2019m Yours. Love.\u201d Sweetheart candies pack so much Valentine\u2019s Day romance into such short, yet powerful expressions. However, if this Valentine\u2019s Day it feels more like your sweetheart candies should say something like, \u201cMommy\u2019s Mine. Feed Me. Diapers. Laundry. I\u2019m Sleepy. Repeat,\u201d then you are definitely not alone.<\/p>\n

Below you\u2019ll find ways working with a sleep consultant<\/a><\/strong> can help you and your beloved partner get out for more frequent dates nights, have sex more often, and generally help you have more energy to devote to one of your most important relationships – your significant other.<\/p>\n

Here are 3 reasons why a consistent nap and bedtime sleep schedule for your baby can change your life – and love life, just in time for Valentine\u2019s Day:<\/p>\n

1) Sex!!!<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve all been here before – baby is down for a nap, so you grab your partner for a quick rendezvous, only to have the short-lived moment of passion interrupted by a crying baby who woke too soon. You try to help baby settle back down, but he’s not having it and wants nothing more than mommy\u2019s attention and comfort. The good news is that one of the most liberating parts about having a nap and bedtime sleep schedule for your baby is the flexibility it provides to allow the opportunity to check off your \u201cto-do list\u201d while little one slumbers. Or, in this case, the chance \u201cto-do\u201d your special someone! Whether the free time available during baby\u2019s scheduled naps offer the chance to focus on your business, do housework, take a nap, or have some alone time with your love, it’s great to know that baby\u2019s consistent nap times are your very own free times! The same applies for night sleep. With baby sleeping in his crib, mom and dad have the bed to themselves to either, a) sleep b) have sex, or, c) all of the above! So if this Valentine\u2019s Day you are hoping to set aside some time for romantic lovin,\u2019 a sleep schedule offers just that. The predictably of a nap and bedtime routine is priceless when it comes to having quality alone time for mommy and daddy, especially on the most romantic day of the year.<\/p>\n

2) Date Night<\/h3>\n

When a baby knows how to fall asleep on her own, and fall back asleep on her own without mom\u2019s help, parents have the freedom to put baby down for an early bedtime in her crib just in time for mommy and daddy to leave for a candlelight dinner after securing a trustworthy babysitter to hang out at home while baby sleeps. Easy babysitting job for the sitter, baby is sleeping happily at home, and mom and dad get to enjoy a hot date to relax and eat dinner with one another. As much as we love going to dinner with our little ones, it’s always nice to spend a calm night out with the person we fell in love with before baby came along, in order to keep that relationship spark around.<\/p>\n

3) Mommy and Daddy are Happier<\/h3>\n

HALT! Does this acronym ring a bell? This handy tool serves as a reminder to everyone that it’s never a good idea to argue or discuss conflict when hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). What would otherwise be a mundane discussion between mom and dad, can quickly evolve into a heated argument when both parents are extremely exhausted from having a baby who wakes several times throughout the night. Being chronically sleep deprived usually results in higher frustration and irritation amongst both parents and children. Further, anger and resentment can easily be directed towards daddy during the vulnerable times associated with having a baby or toddler who doesn’t sleep. However, there is hope! The more sleep that baby gets, the more sleep mom and dad get! The more sleep that mom and dad get, the better mood they\u2019re in, which as a result, makes everyone happier! It’s the best sleep equation. Spending Valentine\u2019s Day, or any other day for that matter, exhausted and at the end of your ropes does not lead to feeling great about yourself, or anyone else for that matter, especially your partner. A sleeping baby with a nap and nighttime schedule allows parents to get the sleep they need at consistent times each day to have more energy during the day, and function at their very best. So when becoming frustrated with each other after a night of little sleep, remember to HALT and do not hesitate to ask for help and support from someone who can offer professional baby sleep advice. Sleep can work wonders for your relationship!<\/p>\n

\u201cNap. Sleep. Date night. Romance. Love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Happy Valentine\u2019s Day!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"SleepExpert02\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Bio<\/b><\/h4>\n

Natalie Willes<\/strong>, Infant and Toddler Sleep Expert, has been working with families all over the world as an infant and toddler sleep consultant since 2008. Natalie has worked with over 700 families to help their babies sleep through the night and nap consistently. By offering custom tailored approaches to each family and child, Natalie draws from her extensive experience to make sure each family feels confident in their sleep-training journey. Natalie works with infants starting as early as 14-weeks-old through toddlers 3 years of age. She is based on the west coast and enjoys the outdoors with her two children Olive and Milo, and her husband Michael. If you have any baby sleep questions for Natalie, she can be contacted through her websitewww.babysleeptrainer.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or at\u00a0310-279-9299<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Valentine\u2019s Day, Date Night, Romance and a Baby? \u201cBe Mine. Kiss Me. Hugs. I\u2019m Yours. Love.\u201d Sweetheart candies pack so much Valentine\u2019s Day romance into such short, yet powerful expressions. However, if this Valentine\u2019s Day it feels more like your sweetheart candies should say something like, \u201cMommy\u2019s Mine. Feed Me. Diapers. Laundry. I\u2019m Sleepy. Repeat,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[906],"tags":[1032,1033],"class_list":["post-4893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-announcements","tag-natalie-willes","tag-sleep-expert","eq-blocks"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p46LgQ-1gV","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4590,"url":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/5-holiday-travel-baby-sleep-challenges-and-lifesaver-solutions-from-infant-and-toddler-sleep-expert-natalie-willes\/","url_meta":{"origin":4893,"position":0},"title":"5 Holiday Travel Baby Sleep Challenges and Lifesaver Solutions from Infant and Toddler Sleep Expert Natalie Willes","author":"westsidemommy","date":"December 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Traveling during the holidays can be strenuous enough without a baby - add a little one to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster! Trying to get from one family get-together to the next can wreak havoc on your baby\u2019s sleep schedule, leading to less sleep for everyone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/category\/news-announcements\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/feat-sleepexpert.jpg?fit=800%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/feat-sleepexpert.jpg?fit=800%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/feat-sleepexpert.jpg?fit=800%2C420&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/feat-sleepexpert.jpg?fit=800%2C420&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2579,"url":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/thrifty-but-thoughtful-valentines-day-gifts\/","url_meta":{"origin":4893,"position":1},"title":"Thrifty but Thoughtful Valentine’s Day Gifts","author":"westsidemommy","date":"February 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"There's nothing wrong with being thrifty, especially and when it's this late in the game. However, when you pair thrifty with thoughtful, your Valentine's Day gift is sure to be a winner. As a stay-at-home mom and wife, something BETTER at a BARGAIN is music to my ears. Thankfully, there's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/category\/news-announcements\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/vday.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/vday.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/vday.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/vday.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/vday.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11994,"url":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/new-baby-nice-to-haves\/","url_meta":{"origin":4893,"position":2},"title":"New Baby Nice-to-Haves","author":"westsidemommy","date":"August 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Several weeks ago, I posted New Baby Necessities, about basic items for caring for a new baby. Since then, I've used some items I found super-helpful, most of them received as gifts or gifted hand-me-downs (which I prefer). I'm sure this list will grow, but here's what I've loved so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Posts"","block_context":{"text":"All Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/category\/all-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/nicetohave.jpg?fit=759%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/nicetohave.jpg?fit=759%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/nicetohave.jpg?fit=759%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/nicetohave.jpg?fit=759%2C360&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11141,"url":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/cirque-du-soleil-valentines-deal\/","url_meta":{"origin":4893,"position":3},"title":"Special Valentine’s Deal for TWO Cirque du Soleli Shows coming to L.A.","author":"westsidemommy","date":"February 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Beginning in March,\u00a0Cirque du Soleil\u00a0will bringing not one, but TWO incredible shows to LA \u2013\u00a0Corteo\u00a0at The Forum from March 27th\u00a0\u2013 31st\u00a0and\u00a0Amaluna\u00a0at the LA Waterfront from April 25th\u00a0\u2013 May 26th. For a limited time, Cirque du Soleil is offering special Valentine\u2019s Day prices! About Cortero https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ajB8hcmjvFk Corteo\u00a0is a joyous procession imagined\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Posts"","block_context":{"text":"All Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/category\/all-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Cirque.jpg?fit=416%2C218&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11082,"url":"https:\/\/www.westsidemommy.com\/site\/milk-and-eggs-valentines\/","url_meta":{"origin":4893,"position":4},"title":"Food makes the best Valentine’s Day gift","author":"westsidemommy","date":"January 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This post is sponsored by Milk & Eggs. I am part of the Milk & Eggs ambassador program. This post contains affiliate links. 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We enjoyed tea and all the delightful treats that go along with it. We also learned about two cool new baby products, Snuza Hero and Sleep Belt. 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