Dropping the Swaddle

Take a glimpse into Moms on Call’s “dropping the swaddle” section of our resources. Continue reading for a sneak peek into the tips and tricks to get you started!

When a baby is around 3 months of age, 12 lbs. and/or showing signs of rolling over, they are developmentally ready to find their own comfy spot. You know what that means! We are dropping the swaddle. And boy have we got great news for you. This means it is time for 10-12 hours of sleep… in a row! 

Not only will this support normal growth and development, but it will also support the body’s immune system, allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest, and is the cornerstone of healthy, happy, and dare we say, rested households.

As we give you a glimpse of what our books and online courses cover in the Sleep Section for babies 3-6 months of age, please keep in mind, this is a condensed version of what we provide in this chapter.

How do I know when my baby is ready?

  • Your baby is ready to drop the night swaddle around 12 weeks of age and/or 12 lbs
  • When your baby is consistently breaking out of the swaddle and/or rolling from back to tummy during playtime
  • Your baby is healthy and gaining weight
  • You are ready! When we begin this new transition, we take the lead, and your baby will follow 

What should my baby wear? 

We recommend footed pjs! Especially from 3-6 months of age, so that they have time to master the freedom to roll easily from back to tummy and tummy to back. This will also help limit the frustration when they hit that 4 month developmental breakthrough

What should I keep in mind?

  • Transitions typically take 3-5 nights of adjustments
    • We are working with the body’s natural rhythm and routine to establish healthy sleep habits for the entire family! 
  • Be consistent!
    • If you plan to do this, commit to doing it for 3-5 nights, and they may even catch on quicker
  • Speak the truth to your heart!
    • They are safe, they are loved, and they can learn to do this!
  • Our confidence is contagious
    • Babies need long stretches of sleep, just like us! Two or three nights of hard work and we can look forward to evening and night times into toddlerhood

Where do I start? 

  • Review the Moms on Call basic principles in our resources and remember the crib is free of loose objects, toys, blankets, or mobiles
  • We begin with a consistent daytime and bedtime routine in place
  • Daytime affects nighttime sleep, be sure to follow along with Moms on Call’s typical day routines

Tell me more! 

Moms on Call encourages and supports you through this big transition and helps make sure all the details are in place to ensure your success. Follow along in the Book and Online Courses with Jennifer and Laura for all the specifics as we take your through night by night. 

Collections Clouds

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Moms on Call Premier Consulting Network

Moms on Call Premier Consulting Network

With each and every Moms on Call Consulting experience, we have one goal in mind—to equip you with the confidence you need to become the best parent possible for your child. We are proud to partner with Certified Consultants who are uniquely trained to work with families utilizing the Moms on Call philosophy. All Consultants are nurses with pediatric experience who have used Moms on Call within their homes. Tell Me More! Our Premier Consulting Network now has easy online booking with immediate availability options. From full consults (in your home or virtually) to unlimited email packages or quick, 30-minute phone calls where you can get 2-3 specific questions answered or simply figure out if Moms on Call is for you; we have an option for every family. In-home Consultations (limited areas) are great for hands-on support.  The In-home Consult allows you and your consultant to work together through all the day-to-day realities with hands-on demonstrations, feeding support, and practice as you navigate the newborn through toddler years. During your appointment, you and your Consultant will discuss everything from everyday issues and questions, sleep and nap routines, typical daily schedules, comfortable feeding options, and healthy growth. In-home Consults are designed to support one baby (or twins). Includes 1 month of unlimited email support so your consultant can help guide your family and walk alongside you as you navigate your new normal. For a complete description of an In-home Consultation, including topics covered, visit here. Our Virtual Consultations include: Feeding support for all options, personalized routine support, and demonstrations Working with your Consultant to make a specific plan and routine for your family Support for upcoming transitions according to age, like sleeping through the night, unswaddling, developmental breakthroughs, daycare, and toddler issues by design With 1-1.5 hours of face-to-face meeting time (virtually) plus 1 month of unlimited email support, it’s the perfect option for getting the details and personalization you need! Virtual Consults are designed to support one baby (or twins). For a complete description of a Virtual Consultation and everything that’s included, visit here. With unlimited Email Support, you can pick whether you want to try it for 1 week, take it 1 month at a time, or know that you’ll have a trusted partner with ongoing support for 3 months. Whichever package you choose, you work one-on-one with the same Consultant so that they can get to know you and your family. No bots, algorithms, or outsourced support. Email Support is ideal for the following: Parents who have a list of specific questions based on specific needs. Families familiar with Moms on Call and have already read the books or taken online courses. Parents who desire a trusted voice to walk alongside you and navigate the day-to-day questions. Moms and dads who want to email on their schedule and timeframe. For a more detailed look at what to expect with Email Support, visit here. Your consultant will meet you right where you are! Wherever you are in your parenting journey, Moms on Call will meet you there. You and your Consultant will navigate all of your questions together with custom guidance for your family. (You will likely get answers to questions before you even knew you had them!) Our consultations are specific to the Moms on Call methodology, and all of our Consultants are nurses with pediatric experience and have used MOC in their own homes. What’s Included with Premier Consulting Services? You will have access to your own Consultant that knows you and your family Special discounts on MOC products* Regular, developmental information specific to your child’s age* Additionally, Moms on Call provides ongoing customer service support for customers who book appointments with Premier Certified Consultants.  *These benefits are included with In-home Consult, Virtual Consult, and 1 and 3 Month Email Support packages only. Ready to get started? Here’s what to do next. Search our list of qualified consultants by selecting the type of service you prefer and select a consultant who is ready and excited to work with your family! From in-home services to quick email options, we’ve got a wide range of services that match your needs, budget, and availability. Get peace of mind for your parenting with Moms on Call. Have more questions? Email [email protected] for additional information regarding consultation services or assistance choosing a consulting service that best suits your family!
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Moms on Call Schedule Flexibility with a Newborn

Moms on Call Schedule Flexibility with a Newborn

As a new mom of three, schedule flexibility is a necessity for our family. And that is one thing I have always loved about Moms on Call. (Long before I worked here!) The routines and schedules create freedom which affords us the flexibility needed to be on-the-go and say “yes” as much as possible. (Any fellow FOMO sufferers out there?!)  Now, this contradicts one of the big myths out there that we hear so often — that Moms on Call’s routines and schedules are “too strict”. In this post, I want to debunk this myth. I will explain how routines and schedules can actually create freedom and space (versus limiting them). And this provides the foundation for having flexibility. People, including babies, thrive on routine. Simply because routines and schedules create familiarity that helps us to feel in control and safe by knowing what’s going to happen and when. This structure and organization promotes health and wellness. Structure is not just for “A-type people” and should not be so constrictive that it creates stress. Routines and schedules should do the opposite and create freedom.  Freedom to run errands, have lunch with a friend, take a shower and have a date night!  We all know that babies need to eat and sleep A LOT. (Like every 3 hours!) And having these things happen at the same time every day makes life a whole lot easier (for us and the baby). That is one thing that my mother-in-law has always said she’s appreciated about watching our babies for us — she knows exactly what to expect!  Now, we do live in reality and in reality, things often don’t go as planned. We hit unexpected traffic, meetings run late and kids get sick. But having the foundational structure of a consistent routine provides the flexibility needed to accommodate these bumps in the road without missing a beat. So, once we have the MOC routines and schedules in place, how do we maximize flexibility? Here are some of the things that have been working for us as we juggle three kids. Make the schedule work for your family I have adjusted Moms on Call’s Typical Day Schedules to work for our family. My goals were to minimize overlapping activities and to have everyone in bed with enough time leftover for my husband and I to have some time to ourselves each night! To accomplish this, we shifted the 4-8 week schedule forward 1 hour. (Our first feed was between 5 and 6am and the bedtime feed was at 7:30pm). And we shifted the 8-16 week schedule back 30 minutes. (Our first feed was at 7:30am and the bedtime feed was at 7:30pm.) Pro tip: Use the Moms on Call Scheduler App to adjust your schedule forwards or backwards with one tap! Callie Dauler has also shared about how she adjusted her daughter, Ellie’s, schedule to accommodate her crazy work hours. She wakes up at 2am, gets home from work by 12pm and goes to bed by 7:15pm. To maximize her time with Ellie, she moved her bedtime up to 6:45pm. She worked backwards from there to adjust the schedule.  Need help customizing your schedule? This is one of the many ways a certified Moms on Call consultant can help! Think outside of the box to manage time conflicts I often find myself facing timing conflicts. For example, I need to be at daycare pickup for my toddler at 5pm, but need to feed the baby at 4:30pm. Impossible? Not so! These types of conflicts just require a little forward thinking and creativity. Using the example above, here are some options to accomplish the Olympic sport of back-to-back feeding and being somewhere on time. Get to daycare by 4:30pm, park and feed in the car. Feed early at home. Ask for help! I love this idea from a friend and fellow mom of 3. She recently started having a helper come for 2 hours each afternoon. The helper gives her newborn a bottle while she goes to get her older kids from school. This checks so many boxes. She gets out of the house (alone!), can run a few errands, gets to spend some time with her older kids and has an extra set of hands once they all get home to help get dinner ready. Also, if you know you’ll be at another location for naptime or bedtime, bring a pack n play (or other approved sleep surface) and travel sound machine with you! There are so many gadgets out there to support being on-the-go with a baby. Leaving to go anywhere can feel overwhelming at first, but like most things, the more you do it, the easier and smoother it gets! Check out my Amazon list for all of my favorite on-the-go items. Use the “C” times when the day doesn’t go as planned On the days when nothing goes as planned, utilize the 15 minute grace periods on either end of the feeding times and do your best to hit the “Crazy Day” times in the schedules.  I have been late for a scheduled feeding more times than I can count. And guess what? It’s okay! The beauty of a routine is that it’s all about creating consistency, not perfection.  One off feeding or an entire off day will happen and that is okay! Just pick up the next feeding (or day) at the normal time and you’ll be good to go! Don’t let short naps steal your joy For us Rule Followers, deviations from the schedule can be hard to accept. Like a nap that is “supposed” to be an hour and a half that is only 45 minutes.  But don’t be so tied to what the schedule says that it steals your joy! Especially when your baby’s behavior is perfectly normal for their age. Up until 5 months of age, it is normal for babies to nap for 30-45 minutes, fuss for 10-15 minutes and doze back off for 30 minutes or more. And some babies at this age still won’t doze back off, even after the 10-15 minutes of fussing. Unfortunately, we cannot “make” our baby sleep. We control what we can by providing the sleep environment and nap opportuity to give them the best chance at getting a good nap or two in each day. And the good news is, naps tend to get a lot better once they are unswaddled and rolling between 5-6 months of age. For more on short naps, check out this video, podcast episode and blog post. Our goal at Moms on Call is always to provide you with simple, straightforward, reality-based information that you can use to embrace and enjoy the chaos of these first four years as much as possible. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, follow us on social and sign up for our newsletter to get tips, tricks and answers to all of your parenting questions.
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