Emily McDonald
Emily is originally from the MetroWest area but has been in Central Mass for about 15 years. She, first, was a dog mom who loved to travel with her fur babies before she met her husband. Then, she settled down in a nice farm town and added two children to her pack. She enjoys traveling with her family and has a wild hobby of collecting limited edition cloth diapers. She is a former pediatric sleep consultant, who still loves all things sleep, works as a paramedic, and has a crafting side hustle making custom clothes and bags.
Elements of the Perfect Nursery: Considering Necessities Over Extravagance
We all want to have that picture-perfect nursery in the Pottery Barn catalog. But is that really practical? Heck no. It is pretty and expensive and has way more than you need. In fact,...
Getting Children to Sleep in Stressful Times
A lot of parents have reported that their once perfect sleepers starting exhibiting difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep back in the spring. Many felt that as the "chaos" died down and things went...
Transitioning from Crib to Big Kid Bed: When & How to Make the Move
Congratulations, your little one just turned one! They are officially a toddler. Time for a big kid bed! NOPE! Don't ditch that crib yet. My advice? Stay in that crib for as long as...
Going from Zero to One Nap: The Adult Nap Transition
Okay, while this isn’t really a thing, and not ALL adults need a nap on a regular basis, let’s talk about it. I know there are some days where I know I’m not going...
Rest on the Road: Sleep Tips for Traveling with Kids
Vacations and travel are going to be a bit different for a lot of families this year. With travel restrictions and many avoiding air travel, there might be some long-distance car rides in your...
Developmental Milestones and Their Effect on Sleep
Everyone has heard about sleep regressions. But what if I told you that sleep regressions are anything but a regression? Regressions are a “return to a former or lesser developed state” (Oxford). That cannot...
Navigating Toddler Boundaries at Bedtime
Toddlers have a lot going on as they try to navigate the world. Creating boundaries is important to help teach them self-discipline, keep them safe and healthy, and can help with coping.
In regards to...
How to Properly Secure Your Child in the Car Seat
Disclaimer: I am not a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), however I am well versed in car seat safety. When in doubt, check with a local certified CPST!
Fun fact: In the Commonwealth of...
Car Naps: Does the Reward Outweigh the Risk?
Disclaimer: I am not a certified CPST however I am very well versed in car seats. When asked if car naps are SAFE, the short answer is NO. Sometimes, we don’t have control over...
Reducing Potential for Toxic Stress
I have to say that looking back on my childhood, I had it pretty good. I had two wonderful loving parents. They may not have been perfect, but no one really is. They may...