When Emily Schuman told me she found our feeding and sleep program tremendously helpful and instrumental in getting her baby to be a great sleeper I was humbled. It didn’t surprise me that the program worked for Emily because it has helped many women and their families, including my own. My sister and I have been following her blog since the beginning and we’ve watched as Emily continues to grow her business while appearing to have seamlessly transitioned into motherhood!

As a follower of cupcakesandcashmere.com, I had a bit of a vested interest in helping ensure Emily (and her family) received the necessary rest to ensure it was business as usual after her new baby arrived. Having read Emily’s posts since her daughter was born, it is apparent that although being a new mother is wonderful and also has its challenges, Emily hasn’t skipped a beat. We’re so pleased we were able to help support another new Mother!

Below are the answers to two common questions about the Calm Baby Sleep Routine. Like many other mothers we’ve worked with, Emily asked us a number of questions about the program. Read her testimonial to find out more about her experience using the program and how long her daughter slept as a newborn.

How old should my baby be when I start using the Calmmother feeding and sleep program?

We recommend reading the feeding and sleep program before your baby is born because life is so busy with a newborn. Find out more here.

The earlier you start the program after your baby is born the better, especially since it is so gentle (one of our goals is to avoid tears!). If you start immediately after birth your schedule will be the only one your baby will ever know and you should face fewer tears than if you start later. We believe it can cause unnecessary stress (as well as confusion) for parents and their baby if a newborn is allowed to feed on demand only to have this schedule change months later!

My baby was perfectly on schedule then we got off track! How can we get back on schedule again?

Many parents who have used the Calmmother feeding and sleep program have said they got off track at least once before transitioning back on to the schedule again. If you get off schedule, don’t get discouraged. Absent health concerns, there is no reason you won’t be able to get back on track as long as you don’t wait too long to try again!

There are a number of reasons why your baby could get off schedule including growth spurts, teething, health concerns and new habits. Examples of habits are skipping naps during the day or staying up too late (and becoming overtired), if they become accustomed to being held more or rocked to sleep when family or friends are visiting – keep in mind that these types of habits can develop fast, in as little as a day or two, and can be difficult to break especially if they become well-established. Parents should be comfortable with the habits they are creating in their home.

Our top tips for getting your baby back on track if they get off of the schedule are available here.