We here at Juno spend a lot of time thinking about sleep: how to create a healthy sleep environment, how to help your newborn establish a routine, and how as parents, to get as much shut-eye as we can! We know our bassinet is just one part of the equation and that many additional factors impact sleep for young families. We’re always interested in new innovations made to help parents, and the Smart Sleep Coach App is our favorite baby sleep coach app, thanks to the easy sleep tracking and the additional support and expert guidance it provides. We sat down with Chief Sleep Consultant Mandy Treeby at Pampers to pick her brain for more tips and advice.
Q: What led you to a career in infant sleep?
A: I experienced terrible sleep deprivation with my first child. It was so tough. As a working mom, there were days I went to work and honestly didn’t feel like I could focus – I was just so tired. I read every book, took all the blog advice, tried all the methods. Eventually, through sheer determination, trial and error I managed to sleep train my daughter and subsequently my son – but it wasn’t easy.
Working on the Pampers brand, I’d spend thousands of hours in product research, talking to new parents and almost every single time they’d share that their biggest challenge was sleep. I started to question – why are so many parents struggling with their baby’s sleep? Why has no one found a solution to this problem? I was on a mission to solve sleep!
I became a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, working to conquer sleep challenges for hundreds of families – seriously there is nothing more rewarding than helping a family get sleep on track. But as a consultant I could only really help a handful of families – I wanted to help thousands of families. So I teamed up with a few other parents on the Pampers brand – our goal was to make quality sleep consulting accessible to all. Together, we created the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers: a personalized sleep coaching program, in an easy to use app.
Q: What is the most common misconception about infant sleep that you hear from new parents?
A: That sleep training = Cry it out (CIO). So many parents reject sleep training because of this misconception. It’s true that the act of falling asleep is a learned skill, babies need space and time to practice and that will inevitably result in some protesting – but just like there are many ways to learn to ride a bike, there are also many ways to sleep train. Some methods are more hands off and some are more hands on – all will result in your baby sleeping better, one approach may just take longer than another. The great news is that the Smart Sleep Coach covers the full range of methods – so you’ll always find one that fits with your baby and parenting approach.
Q: What sleep scenarios is the Sleep Coach app best suited to help with?
A: Whether you’re bringing a newborn home from the hospital and are simply looking to instill healthy sleep habits from day one, and start to establish routines or you have a baby 4-24 months old who is waking a lot at night or fighting bedtime or perhaps will only fall asleep if nursing or being rocked – the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers can help you.
Q: What are the most important ingredients to create a healthy sleep environment for babies?
Q: Parents need help with sleep, too! How can new parents make sure that they are getting the rest they need?
A: Our deepest and most restorative sleep happens before midnight. In fact it is the only NREM (deep sleep) we get all night. So when you’re feeling sleep-deprived, treat yourself to an early night. You’ll catch up on some much needed Zzz’s and your body will thank you too. Even if your baby is waking a lot in the middle of the night, you will have had some of the best sleep your body can get in that run up to midnight.
Q: Where can we learn more?
A: Check out our Smart Sleep Coach app and continue to read more about "The most common fears of new and expectant parents" by Mandy.
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Destini Ann’s page is part parent therapy, part parenting by example. She shares insights on the psychology of why we react to our children the way that we do, alongside illustrations of how she has deployed gentle parenting techniques with her own beautiful children. It’s a parenting style that may seem aspirational at first, but with Destini’s help, becomes totally doable.
Deena and Kristin have solid, sound, actionable guidance for just about every phase from ages 1-6, including an incredible teaching module addressing all things sleep. Not only that, they deliver their expertise with humanity, humor, and a hefty dash of #realtalk, which is exactly our style.
We love Busy Toddler’s tagline: “making it to naps, one activity at a time.” Trust us: you don’t want to wait until you need them to have activities at the ready for your little ones. (A lesson we learned the hard way during our years of lockdown.) Busy Toddler makes engaging your kiddos easy, with items you probably have on hand at home. A win-win!
]]>For new parents, the first nights at home with a newborn can feel scary and overwhelming – not to mention the physical impacts of childbirth that mom is still experiencing. We turned to Dr. Allison Feldt, author and pregnancy/postpartum specialist, to get her expert advice on how to best prepare for childbirth and life with a newborn.
Q: How was your experience with the Juno Bassinet?
For my third baby, who was born in July 2021, I used the Juno Bassinet and have been over the moon with this piece of baby equipment. It's so easy to move and slide around my room. I can easily pick it up and bring it on an overnight. The mattress is comfy for my baby and it's pretty cute too. I love that it's completely recyclable when we are ready to be done with it.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
Knowing that the support I give women and birthing people will help them be present in their lives, by eliminating pain and allowing them to be confident, active, and strong.
Q: What is your ultimate tip for expecting mothers?
Advocate for yourself every step of the way. Find a provider that respects you, advocate for the birth and postpartum care you want and need, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. And ultimately, give yourself the gift of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy during pregnancy. It will absolutely change your life and improve your delivery.
Q: What are the main concerns parents have when bringing a baby home on the first night?
Many people are in pain, completely exhausted, and nervous to keep their baby alive. It's hard to navigate newborn life when you don’t feel in control of yourself. I recommend communicating with your partner or support system and letting them know your fears and allowing them to help. You don’t have to do it all alone and it’s often best to get that support in the early days.
Q: What are the characteristics of a safe sleeping environment?
I recommend a space free of clutter. So no stuffed animals or extra blankets in the crib or bassinet and somewhere close to where you will be resting so you have quick access to the baby. All my babies have benefited from being tightly swaddled for nighttime sleep.
Q: What do you look for in a quality baby product, specifically for infants?
Natural fabrics, that are easy to clean and well made, and safe. (Learn more about Juno's materials)
Q: What is your ultimate tip for helping baby to sleep?
Follow what fits your family best. If you need to be baby wearing or bedtime is later or maybe there are more or less naps happening than your friend's babies just know that every baby is different and every family is different and what matters is that your baby is healthy so if sleep is a concern be sure to reach out to your pediatrician and a pediatric sleep coach.
Q: Where can parents reach and learn more about you?
You find more information about our services at www.bodymotionpt.com and on our IG @bodymotionpt or purchase my book “Restore Your Body After Kids The Secret To Avoid Peeing Your Pants And Achy Joints As You Age".
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Amity Kramer is a childbirth expert and Doula trainer in Seattle at Thresholds who has helped thousands of parents prepare for parenthood. We are honored that she provided her expertise and guidance during the development of the Juno Bassinet to ensure that we were creating a healthy, safe, and simple solution for newborn sleep. We sat down and asked Amity for advice on becoming a new parent.
Q: What tip do you have for an expecting parent?
A: Have a more expansive timeline of the postpartum period. This can reduce the destructive feelings of self-doubt and shame that come about with unrealistic expectations. My ultimate tip for expecting parents is to take it slow and allow time to tune into your body and the wise intuition that is inside. It can take many months, or even years to gain an understanding and comfort in the new identities that come with parenting. Each step of parenting is a new layer of unknown and relearning.
Q: What are the main concerns parents have when bringing a baby home on the first night?
A: “Is my baby getting enough to eat?” That is the most common question. It would be nice if babies came with a gauge that allowed parents to know exactly how much milk a baby drank. Without a gauge parents have to depend on information in the form of dirty diapers, watching the baby's behavior, and following their own intuition at a time when they are exhausted! We live in an age of instant information. It is a big shift for parents to wait and watch while not knowing. Learning about what to expect from your newborn before they arrive can help reduce stress in the early days of parenting.
Q: What are the characteristics of a safe sleeping environment?
A: Safe sleep environment involves a lot of common sense. Within the first minute a baby is born they have to start doing a number of bodily functions all on their own! Breathing oxygen is one of those functions that grown-ups can easily take for granted, but for babies, it’s a brand new skill. When I think about a safe sleep environment I often connect it to thinking logically about what could be done to make it harder for a baby to breathe (don’t do those things!) and what can be done to make it easier for a baby to breathe (do these things).
If you think about ease of breathing vs. difficulty breathing it’s pretty simple. Also, remember that: babies have huge heads and can’t do things like control their bodies, roll over from side to side or push a pillow away.
The basics are:
Q: What do you look for in a quality baby product, specifically for infants?
A: The first thing I look for is a fake promise. Any promise about some sort of baby magic is probably going to work for some babies and not others. I see families spend so much money trying to chase having everything perfect and a baby that never cries, never has gas, and always sleeps when parents want them to. Well, there is not any baby product that can do all of that. All babies are perfect and good and most will have gas, cry, and have some sleepless nights.
Q: What tip do you have for new parents in helping a baby go to sleep?
A: This is a funny question because I have raised three children and only one was a dream sleeper. I did the same approach with all of them and got VERY different results. Babies need a lot of loving care and attention during the day AND at night. For the first few weeks, the best thing to do is follow the baby's lead on the eat, sleep, wake cycles and just do what you can to keep yourself fed, and rested, to facilitate bonding with the baby. When you gain confidence in the basics, one thing parents can do is establish a pattern when getting a baby down to sleep. There is no right way to do this. A simple bedtime routine could include: dimming the lights, counting their adorable toes, getting them in a swaddle or sleep sack, saying “sleep well, I love you”, then singing one round of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Putting a child to bed is not a chore. It can be a time of creativity and connection that is enjoyable for everyone involved.
Q: Where can parents reach you?
A: People can reach me by visiting my website www.thresholds.info, on Instagram @family_thresholds, or send me an email at amity@thresholds.info.
- Amity Kramer
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The Juno Bassinet is the world's first pop-up bassinet. Natural for baby, simple for parents, and awesome for the planet. Scott and family demonstrate how effortless and easy it is to setup, even if it is their very first time!
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When we started our journey in developing the Juno Bassinet, we knew we needed to find a material that was strong, lightweight, and healthy for baby. Inspired by the baby boxes that have been widely used for over 80 years in countries with some of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, we set our sights on paperboard.
While paperboard is not as widely used here in the US as it is in Europe, it is a truly amazing, baby-grade material. We meticulously formulated our paperboard to be unlike any cardboard material you’ve ever experienced. The Juno paperboard is made of the thickest, most durable, sustainably certified paper, bonded to 2 different structural corrugates to form an exceptionally rigid product. And you don't just have to take our word for it: the bassinet has been tested under the strictest industry standards including ASTM F2194-13 and JPMA.
Not only is it strong, but it will also hold up to 2am blowouts and all that comes along with #babylife. We worked with industry leading experts to apply the most resilient, non-plastic, bio-degradable coating – twice! – to protect against all that baby will throw its way.
We are incredibly proud of what we’ve created because it answers the concern we had as new parents. Shouldn't a healthier product for baby also be better for the planet? We were fed up with the off gassing, the short life span of infant sleepers, and the waste in landfills we generate that impacts future generations. The Juno bassinet is different. It's safe, natural, simple to use, and made of more renewable materials. So, at the end of the product’s lifecycle, whether that be for one child or a few, shared with friends or within your own family, the bassinet can be fully recycled – and that helps us all sleep better at night.
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Hey there! Thanks for your interest in the Juno Bassinet. From the beginning, we wanted to create a healthier product for our kids that would be better for the planet. So, when we set out to design it, we drew inspiration from Dieter Rams' approach of good design that is "Less, but better". We challenged ourselves to find simple, more natural materials while offering the best possible solution for active parents who value functional, sustainable products.
We know that finding the right products for your family can be challenging, and we're here to help. Email hey@hellojuno.com and we'll answer any additional questions you may have!
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