Today, I received a call from a good friend of mine. She was with her cousin who had a little girl (4 1/2 months old) who doesn’t like to sleep. She was calling me to get my thoughts on how to help her become a better sleeper.

I asked her a few questions about “what” she was doing with her daughter at bed time — to get a better understanding of what was going on.

After a listening to her answers, I was able to see what she might be able to make a few simple changes to help her daughter become a much better sleeper at night.

Here are just a few of the suggestion I made to her:

1.  Set up a bed time routine – by setting up a night time routine, her daughter will come to

2.  Get her a sleep sack – since her daughter fights being swaddled and is nearing the add where you should start to wean your baby out of being swaddled,I suggested she purchase a sleep sack for her. This will provide her with the same comfort a swaddle would but will allow her arms to be out.

3. Get a sound machine – babies spend 9 months listen to a sound similar to white noise.  Offering them that same comforting sounds can also help them to relax. Adding a sound machine to her sleep training arsenal would help her greatly.

4. Be consistent and patient – this is the one thing I think is the hardest to do for parents. We all (even me sometimes) want things to change overnight and it just doesn’t work that way. Being consistent with your sleep time routine is essential to your baby creating healthy sleep habits. They didn’t learn bad sleeping habits in one day, so it may take them a few days or weeks to adjust to the new routine.  That’s where the patiences comes it .

If you need help getting your newborn or infant to sleep through the night, give us a shot.

I think I have talked to just about all of my friends who nanny today about what they have gotten or will be getting for their charges for Christmas or Hanukkah this year.

A few of us have waited until the very last possible second to buy something for them — yes, I fall into the last minute category!!

I honestly was not sure what to get the girls for Christmas. They have everything their little heart could possibly desire, so its extremely difficult to shop for them. And it doesn’t help that their list of tiny demands were covered my their parents and grandparents. I mean, they could have saved me one little gift of the girls list to help me out…lol!

But that didn’t happen. I was forced to really have to think about what the girls might like — which has not been easy I might add.

As I sat here tonight talking to my best friend, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what in the world I could possibly get them. I didn’t want to do anymore dolls because have PLENTY of those. Then I thought I would get them both some more art supplies but again they have enough to last them a life time. I also thought about getting them both an educational toys but those are the toys that are least played with in the house.

But then it hit me….I knew exactly what to get them for Christmas. I decided to buy them a set of walkie talkies and here is why.

A few weeks back, they had a play date with a few of their friends. I can’t remember exactly what they were playing but what I do remember was the girls looking for a set of lego walkie talkies. They ended up having to pretend they had walkie talkies that day which was fine with them.

So, this Christmas I will make their little walkie talkie dreams come true.

What are you getting your charge(s) for the holidays this year? Do you think they will enjoy it? 

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Cuddlebuggs — happy birthday to you!!

We’re 4 years old now — can you  believe it?

Can you believe I also let 2 weeks go by without celebrating our birthday.

It seems like only yesterday when I started Cuddlebuggs. It was a rain fall day, and I was sitting at the table of my employers home waiting for my charge to wake up from her afternoon nap.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into — all I knew was that I wanted to help families find nannies and newborn care specialist that they could truly trust. With that knowledge, I set of to conquer the world; well not really but Atlanta,GA- yes! lol!

And over these last 4 years, that is EXACTLY what I have done. And that is due to all the wonderful families that have allowed me to help their family in some way. I appreciate you all for giving me that amazing opportunity.

I’ve been trying to figure out way to celebrate all the great years Cuddlebuggs has had — and give something back to each one of you at the same time. I have a few ideas but would love to hear what you all would like to do — or see happen in celebration of Cuddlebuggs’ 4th birthday.

You can always email me directly via my contact page, or leave your suggestions in the comment section below.