If you thought sleep training was strictly for babies, think again. Bedtime and middle-of-the-night troubles can continue into the toddler years (and, basically, your kid’s entire childhood) and it usually begins with two words, spoken in a tiny voice you can’t ignore: “I’m scared.” Good luck, parents, because almost nothing is as hard to ignore as those two little words. Not I’m thirsty. Not, I’m hungry. Not, I want another story (because you’ll hear all those, too). Nope, nighttime fears are the ones that break out hearts.

“What’s tricky for parents of young children is that a child’s fears are usually coupled with natural, normal limit-pushing behaviors—stalling the bedtime routine, saying they’re not tired, wanting another sip of water,” says sleep consultant Kim Rogers, whose company, Sleeping Well Consulting, has been helping babies (and parents) sleep through the night since 2016. “Well-meaning parents are caught between wondering if their child is pushing limits like all young children do or if their child is expressing a legitimate fear that needs attention.”

So how do you know when your kiddo really is scared? And how do you show compassion without staying up all night yourself? There’s no shortage of advice online. A quick Reddit search will turn up a multitude of tricks to comfort scared sleepyheads, from using “Monster Spray” and hanging dream catchers to letting siblings sleep together or playing audiobooks as a distraction.

But what is the “right” way? Is there one? We asked experts to weigh in on what to do when your kid is scared at night. Read on to find out more.

First things first: Are they really scared?

Let’s be honest: Don’t we parents just know most of the time? Rogers says that despite a brew of conflicting emotions, parents can usually tell when children are truly scared and when they’re just doing the don’t-wanna-sleep dance.

“If a child has had a nightmare, you can usually put your hand on their chest and you can feel their hearts beating really fast,” Rogers says. But even if you can’t feel a thumping ticker, parents can usually tell if their kid is truly frightened just by the way they’re talking. If they can give you details about what’s scaring them, for instance, it’s usually legit. Experts say to trust your gut.

Stay calm

The best thing parents can do to help soothe a scared kid is to show them that you’re not scared. Be calm and in control. Offer empathy—without making anything a big deal.

“If we’re giving our child the message that being upset is upsetting to us, and therefore, we must make it stop, we end up accidentally creating more fear and anxiety for our child,” Rogers says.

Nix the “Monster Spray”

Despite the cute social media ads and Etsy pages devoted to “Monster Spray” that’ll exterminate scary creatures from your child’s room (while also making it smell delicious), experts say that these sorts of products aren’t a good idea. And that’s because THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MONSTERS. In effect, you purchasing a professionally packaged product to rid your little’s room of evil only makes them think there might actually be something sinister hiding in the darkness.

“I would not recommend perpetuating the idea that there are monsters or villains or bad guys, because what if you’re not there to spray the monster spray?” says Dr. Whitney Casares, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Instead, she suggests saying something like, “You’re scared that there are monsters. You saw a monster on that TV show. Your mind thinks that they’re real, but I’ve been around a really long time and I know there are no monsters.”

Same goes for checking the closet, under the bed, etc.

This one’s a little trickier because if your kid is truly terrified, taking a quick peek in the closets and crevices may offer the peace of mind she needs to fall back asleep. But if it becomes a nightly routine to do a full security sweep of your child’s room, you might be perpetuating those fears. In addition, this sort of nightly ritual can set the stage for more obsessive thinking, Casares says.

Instead, just say something like, “I don’t need to check for monsters because monsters don’t exist.”

You can address shadows

Shadows may seem like nothing to you, but little kids don’t always understand them. So it might help to explain how shadows form (this book may help) and how the things in their room might look on the walls and floors at night.

Don’t get stuck negotiating

Parents need to be calm when talking to their kids about their nighttime fears, Rogers says. While you don’t want to dismiss their emotions, you don’t want to dwell on them either. “Parents get so caught up in talking and negotiating, even with their two-year-olds,” she explains. “It just ends up being this long drawn-out process, with the parent thinking it’s their job to make the fear go away.”

Instead, tell your kids that they’re safe, that you are there if you need them; and that sleep is a nonnegotiable—“like buckling into the car seat.”

Always offer comfort if your child has a nightmare

According to the AAP, nightmares can begin as early as 6 months and peak between the ages of 3 and 12.  Experts say if your kid wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, you should always offer comfort. Here’s how:

  • Ask them to tell you what happened in the dream (this can reveal useful information, especially if it’s something they’re watching on TV that you can curb or has to do with something happening during the day)
  • Tell them you’re not going to let anything happen to them
  • Assure them that dreams aren’t real
  • Sit with them for a few minutes and encourage them to go back to sleep
  • Once they’re calm (or asleep), try to leave the room

If they come into your room after the nightmare, try to walk them back to their room to comfort them. If you’re too tired to get out of bed (it happens) or want to get some snuggles in, Casares says it’s OK to let your kiddo fall asleep with you after a bad dream. Just make sure your child isn’t crying “nightmare” night after night as a way to sleep in your bed (more on that below).

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Night Terrors in Toddlers

If you’re going to lay with your child… be prepared for a battle when you decide not to

We get it: Sometimes it’s just easier to lay with your kid until they fall asleep. For some parents, this works (up until the child stops wanting it). But experts warn that if parents do this, they should be prepared for pushback when they decide to call it quits.

“The parents who I work with are parents whose lives are falling apart and nobody is sleeping,” Rogers says. “If everyone is in a family bed and everyone is happy and getting plenty of sleep, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Ditto for bed-sharing (with you or a sibling)

Letting your kid climb into your bed after a nightmare—or have sleepovers with siblings to stave off bad dreams—is probably fine if it only happens a few times. But if your child is coming in every night looking to get under your covers, it’s probably becoming a habit (and not an actual nightmare).

“If your ultimate goal is to have your child sleep on their own, I wouldn’t start the habit of letting them come int0 your bed every time they have a nightmare,” Casares says. “I would have it be that you comfort them in their bed and you help them go back to sleep in their own bed.”

Letting your little sleep with a sibling can also be problematic, since there may come a day when that sibling doesn’t want to co-sleep (especially if it’s an older sibling, who will likely want to sleep solo).

Find a favorite stuffie

If your child doesn’t already have a favorite blanket, doll, or stuffie, it may help to get one. Even the AAP recommends that children have a “security object” to help them self-soothe as they “learn to transition from dependence to independence.”

Similarly, having a “brave stuffie” that sleeps with them can help them feel brave themselves. It can also work to help them self-soothe when they’re alone in their room.

Teach your kid some self-soothing techniques

Rogers recommends breathing exercises: Have your child put her stuffie on her belly and watch as it rises and falls with their breath. You can also play soothing music (no words, because this can keep a child awake) to promote relaxation.

Related: Easy Meditations for Kids

Audiobooks can work as a distraction—but may not put your child to sleep

If you’ve got an older kid who can’t quell racing thoughts after a nightmare, it’s OK to let them put on an audiobook as a distraction. For some children, this might help them fall asleep; for others, it’ll just work to fight the fear (a win) but not bring on the Zs (sigh). Younger kids may enjoy storytime podcasts like Sesame Street’s “Goodnight World,” which includes soothing music to lull littles to snoozeland. There are also sleep meditations—like these—that can help anxious kids learn relaxation tools.

Casares says you want to be careful teaching restless kids to fall asleep with music, since “if they wake up in the middle of the night they’re looking for that music again.”

Know when it’s OK to walk away

If you thought sleep training a newborn was hard on your heart, walking out of the room to let your child handle their own fears is just as difficult—if not more so. But parents need to remember that their kids are OK, and that learning to self-soothe is an important part of building resilience.

“Parents need to remember that they really are there,” Rogers says. “If it was an emergency, they’d be there in a heartbeat.”

You’ve figured out what works—congrats! Maybe your baby sleeps in a crib. Maybe you co-sleep. Maybe you’re bottle-feeding or nursing. But you finally know what your baby wants: They want to wake at a regular time (usually too early). They want to eat, they want to be changed, and they want to nap. This leaves you with enough time to race through a few chores when—surprise! It happens all over again. The routine does not vary. Life has become a little bit less confusing but a whole lot more boring.

People say, “It’ll be easier once you find a routine.” And it’s true. But they don’t tell you, “You will also have to stick to this routine, and sometimes you will want to scream, because while feeding/changing/sleeping is very interesting to an infant, it’s far less so to the adult who has to oversee it.” This has nothing to do with love and everything to do with babies lingering over their meals like old French women over lunch. It has nothing to do with gross-outs over diapers; instead, it’s about those chores that will never be done. There you are, deciding what’s for dinner, laundry piling up, for the third day in a row that you haven’t left the house or changed your sweats.

Someone’s going to sing that song about cat’s cradles and silver spoons. They will warn you that babies grow up and you’ll miss these days because that sweet baby will be a miserable teenager one day. Shove an infant their way and say, “Here, you clearly miss your baby, so hold one for a minute while I shower.”

Babies do grow up, but this does not mean they automatically spark joy. People who insist they should have forgotten the inherent tyranny of infants. Teenagers want things. Infants demand them. You can walk away from your 13-year-old; a crying baby creates a visceral, measurable hormonal flood that sends you scrambling to fix it through any means necessary.

Related: I Miss the Attention I Got When I Was Pregnant

Like most of you, I survived the baby doldrums with electronics: a Kindle and a phone. Sometimes, when I had a sweet, cuddly baby at my breast, I also had my eyes plastered to a screen. What, was I supposed to stare at my kid’s face for hours at a time? And don’t say, “Yes you were. You were supposed to stare at that precious little squish to promote prosocial interaction and help them learn to be a perfect human.” Hours. Literally hours, every single day, on the couch, unmoving, a cup of ice water at my elbow. You’d have to be a Buddhist monk not to reach for your phone or cue up an episode of Abbott Elementary.

It’d be one thing if this were just a few weeks. But the routine becomes your life—and it can be extremely isolating. To avoid disrupting the schedule, you have limited time to accomplish outside activities. This is a logistical nightmare that people without infants simply do not understand and willfully forget once their children grow up. Car nap? No car nap? To feed at Target or not to feed at Target? Will your child sleep in a baby carrier? Will your baby startle awake like a zombie in the middle of a grocery store run and demand to have their diaper changed? Will your mother-in-law banish you to a back bedroom to nurse (and how will you feel about that)?

Just take them wherever you go! some will say. But if your kid’s one of those who clings to their routine, all those admonitions to get out more can set your teeth on edge. You’d be thrilled to get out more. You’d give anything to be among the people. You’re also dying to go to Europe, but that is not happening in the foreseeable future. “I would love to see people,” you can say. “Would you like to come over and hold my baby?”

This is an important—and necessary—request. Don’t say, “I can’t have people come over. My house is a wreck.” Of course your house is a wreck. You are stuck in an infinite infant time loop! Real friends will notice your laundry piles and start folding. If your friends care about dirty dishes, look for ones who don’t. (In addition to Facebook groups and local message boards, there are apps like Peanut to give you an assist.) Surround yourself with love and positivity, not judgment.

Related: When You Realize Your ‘Mom Friends” Aren’t Your Real Friends

Only when you’ve accepted and settled into your mind-numbing groove will it… change: Your baby goes from two naps to one. Your baby transitions to solid foods. Your baby hits some vague developmental milestone and decides to stop sleeping entirely. This shift in routine is also routine, and it can drive you batty. You’ll have a month of boredom, then two weeks of catastrophic disruption, and on the cycle goes. Welcome to parenthood. Sometimes they make funny T-shirts about this stuff. They aren’t that funny, not really.

Parenting is hard. You can love your kid to pieces and still get bored. It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad parent or that you’re not cut out for this or that you should throw your arms in the air and re-examine your life choices. It’s just a slog sometimes. I wish I could offer a solution that wouldn’t sound like manic pixie stupidity: Dance in your kitchen! Bake some muffins! Sing along to your favorite music! But there is no magic bullet. Routine is hard and you have to find your own way through it. You’ll make it. You’ve got this.

We get it: Sleepless nights come with the territory as a new parent. But there comes a time, usually at around 3 or 4 months, when getting the baby to sleep is suddenly a thing.  How you lull your little one into slumber—that is, which baby sleep training method you choose to make it happen—is the question new parents like to debate.

Will you let your baby “cry it out”? Are you a fan of “Ferber-izing”? Or might you opt for no method at all?

“There’s a lot of emotion around sleep training and not a lot of science,” said Dr. Elham Raker, a Los Angeles-based pediatrician, blogger, and parent coach.  “I really would love to take the pressure off parents who say, ‘You have to do it this way or that way.’ What works for you mentally, physically, emotionally—that’s what you should do.”

In other words: There is no “right way” to sleep-train a baby.

“Sometimes sleep training is not possible because there are other kids in the house and a cry-it-out method is not realistic,” she said. “Or sometimes parents really need to do the cry-it-out method and get kids to sleep as soon as possible because they have to go to work the next day.  There are a lot of factors that are important to consider.” 

That said, you’re probably very, very tired… and that baby needs to sleep! So what are your options? Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular sleep training methods. See if any resonate with you. But remember, it’s your baby and your sleep (or lack thereof). So do what works.

Note: Experts say the best time to start sleep-training a baby is around 4-6 months old.

Related: Baby Sleep Guide: Expert Advice & What to Expect the First Year

a baby asleep because of a baby sleep training method
Anastasia Zhenina/ Unsplash

The Ferber Method

What is it: Developed by renowned pediatrician Richard Ferber, author of the best-selling book Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems and director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital Boston, this method aims to help children learn to fall asleep on their own by allowing them to cry for short periods before parents soothe them. This method is also referred to as check and console, graduated extinction, or the interval method.

How it’s done: Put your child into her crib when she is drowsy (but not asleep), then leave the room. When/if she cries, wait a few minutes (three is recommended on the first night) before going into the room to comfort her. When you go in, don’t pick her up, feed her, or turn on the light. Instead, just pat (or rub) her on the back and talk to her in a comforting voice. Do this for just a few minutes, then leave the room again.

If your baby cries again, wait a little longer (five minutes) before doing the same steps. Repeat this process, extending the time between check-ins, until your baby falls asleep. The next night, wait a little longer before going in the first time and repeat the process. It helps some parents to keep a sleep log so they can see the progress night after night.

Benefits: You feel like you’re tending to your baby’s needs, and most babies respond to this method in about a week.

The hard part: You can’t pick up your child when she’s crying, which can feel like a big challenge. (Even if studies have shown that cry-it-out sleep methods don’t cause long-term damage.) Also, some babies become more agitated when parents come into the room and respond better to a full-extinction method.

More information: Whattoexpect.com

baby sitting on bed looking sad
Prostock-Studio / iStock

The Cry-It-Out Method (CIO)

What is it: The infamous, often-controversial method of letting your baby cry until she learns how to soothe herself to sleep without your help. It’s also known as extinction.

How it’s done: It’s simple, but perhaps the hardest method to tolerate for many parents (those baby cries!). After your usual nighttime routine (that should include a bath, lullabies, stories, etc.), place your baby into the crib fully awake. When she cries, don’t comfort her. The idea is that she will eventually get tired and fall asleep independently.

Sure, it won’t be easy when you’re standing at your baby’s door listening to those desperate wails, but experts say most babies will respond to this method within a week—with babies crying increasingly less by the third or fourth day. Keep in mind, this method only works if you put your baby down when she’s tired, so look for signs of sleepiness, including rubbing her eyes, pulling at her ears, or overall fussiness.

Benefits: It works quickly and, if you can safely ignore your babies’ protest, parents might be able to get more sleep (this helps if both parents have to wake up for work in the morning).

The hard part: Those cries can be stressful for both baby and parent! And while studies have shown that letting your baby cry at night isn’t harmful to her development (as long as she’s getting the requisite love and care during the day), some experts still advise against this method due to undue stress it may cause the baby (this study, for instance, found that letting crying it out did cause an increase in babies’ blood cortisol levels, though this is not definitively linked to any long-term consequences). It is also unrelentingly hard for most parents.

“I cried more than my baby did when we were sleep training,” blogger Fiona Tapp said in this Romper article (Spoiler-alert: Her baby learned to sleep independently after a week of the CIO method). “I sat in our office next door to his bedroom, stopwatch in hand, and felt like a delinquent mother ignoring his little cries.”

“The good news, after one week he was going to sleep by himself in his own room, sleeping through the night like a champ,” she wrote. “The bad news? Well, the process was the most stressful, tear-filled week of my life.”

More information: Babycenter.com

Related: How to Create a Calming Bedtime Routine for Baby

Wes Hicks/ Unsplash

The Pick-Up/Put-Down Method

What is it: A gentle sleep-training method in which you go to your baby to comfort them, but then put them back down in the crib and leave the room once she is soothed (repeating this process until baby falls asleep). It’s similar to the Ferber Method, but you’re allowed to pick up and cuddle your baby.

How it’s done: After your usual nighttime routine, place your sleepy baby into her crib and leave the room. If she cries, wait a full minute, then go in and try patting your baby lightly while shushing them (whispering). If she is still crying, pick her up and offer cuddles until she is calm but still awake. Then, place her back in her crib and leave the room. Repeat this process until your baby is asleep.

The next night, repeat this process but add two minutes to the wait time each time before you go back into the room. Repeat every night, adding two minutes more every night. The goal is that your baby learns that she is safe—You are there!—but that she can fall asleep independently.

Benefits: You can pick up your crying baby, which feels right for many parents (even if it means losing sleep in the meantime).

The hard part: It can take longer—both to get the baby back to sleep and to eventually sleep-train your baby—when using this method. This is hard, especially if parents need to wake up and go to work in the morning.

More information: Whattoexpect.com

Chris Anderson/ Unsplash

The Shush/Pat Method

What is it: A precursor to the pick-up/put-down method, this one (which was developed by Tracy Hogg, author of the bestselling “Baby Whisperer” books) works for newborns up to about 4 months old and relies on a particular way of “shushing” and “patting” your baby to lull her to sleep.

How it’s done: Lay your sleepy baby in her crib, propping her on her side (since tummy sleeping isn’t recommended), and steadily pat the center of her back while whispering “Shh” in her ear. If your baby doesn’t want to be put down, you can also shush/pat her over your shoulder. Keep shushing and patting until you feel your baby relax and fall into a deep sleep. Then lay her in her crib and leave the room.

Benefits: It works quickly to get your baby to sleep, and can also easily be used for naptimes.

The hard part: This method is meant for younger babies and, consequently, doesn’t always translate into a baby/toddler who will fall asleep independently.

More information: Thepostpartumparty.com

Enrique Hoyos/ Pexels

The Chair Method

What is it: A gentle sleep training method that allows you to comfort and sit close to your baby as she fusses. Parents sit in a chair next to the crib, moving their position further and further away each night until they no longer need to be in the room. This method works best for older babies (6-9 months).

How it’s done: After your usual bedtime routine, place your sleepy baby in her bed and sit in a chair just beside the crib. You can sing or offer soft, soothing words to (hopefully) help your baby slip into sleep. If your baby cries, you can give verbal comfort and rub your baby’s back but don’t pick her up. Sit back down in the chair when your baby calms down—and leave the room only when your baby is asleep.

After three nights, move the chair a little further from the crib, and repeat the above steps with a little less verbal comforting—use just soft “Shh” noises to calm your baby. After three more nights, move the chair by the door and repeat. Then, finally, move the chair into the hallway (but still be visible).  After about two weeks of doing this consistently, you should make it out of the baby’s room.

Benefits: You are there to comfort your baby when she fusses.

The hard part: You can’t pick her up when she fusses. Also, some babies simply won’t be OK with you being there and not picking them up. “The pro of this method is that mom or dad is there and present,” sleep consultant Alanna McGinn told Today’s Parent. “But the con is, there will likely still be some crying, and now baby is watching you watch them cry. It can be really hard to be consistent with this method.”

More information: Whattoexpect.com

Kevin Liang / Unsplash

The “No Method” Method

Do none of these methods sound right to you? That’s OK, too! Maybe you’re the sort of parent who just wants to do what feels right in the moment—to heck with parenting advice and social media missives! Or maybe you’d prefer to co-sleep with your baby and feed on demand?

Remember: There’s no right way.

“I would say the important thing is, ‘How do we get the best version of us to be available to our kids during the day,” Raker said. “Whatever you need to do at night to make that possible I would go with that method.”

It’s important to note that children with neurodiversity including ADHD and autism may have a harder time falling asleep—and these troubles may start in infancy. In addition, some children just require less sleep (though all babies and kids should get at least the minimum of the recommended amount of sleep per day).

“Here’s what I want to say to parents: You may have tried everything; you may have done everything by the book, and it still doesn’t work,” Raker said. “There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s nothing wrong with your child. If you want to go to them, go to them. If you want to cosleep, cosleep. Do what works for you; just do it safely.”

Ice-T recently revealed he and his wife co-sleep with their 7-year-old daughter, and we’re just bracing ourselves for the internet trolls

Ice-T is a legend for his role on Law and Order: SVU. But it seems like, behind the scenes, he’s also a pretty legendary dad. He and his wife, Coco Austin, love to share tidbits from their “unconventional” parenting and family life, and the best part is watching them do them without seeming to care one bit what the internet trolls have to say about it.

The latest example is Ice-T’s recent appearance on the “That Moment with Daymond John” podcast, where he talked about his relationship with his youngest daughter, 7-year-old Chanel.

“I am so much more connected to her than my other kids,” said Ice-T, who is also a proud dad to 47-year-old daughter Letesha and 31-year-old son Tracy from previous relationships.

Ice admitted that when his other two kids were young, he was busy and “distracted” by his career—understandable since he was just starting out on SVU at the time. But now, the third time around, he says he has a lot more time for family bonding.

“I’m comfortable [now]. I’m in a cruise pattern,” he said. “I was there when Coco was pregnant, I went to the hospital and Chanel still sleeps in the bed with us.”

Now’s the part where we’re bracing ourselves a little bit, because the internet is just chock-full of parent shamers, and we have a feeling they’re going to have thoughts about a 7-year-old co-sleeping with her parents. But we also love that Ice-T and Austin just don’t care. They’ve gone viral in the past for their parenting choices, and they always seem to just let it roll off them, content to do what they do regardless of what their haters say.

A prime example is when the internet freaked out because Austin gave Chanel, then five, a bath in the sink instead of the tub. Um, y’all, that sink is as big as some people’s tubs. And if the kid fits in there, why not choose to bathe her there rather than wrecking your back and knees using a bathtub? Come on.

So no matter what the internet has to say about Ice-T and his family co-sleeping, we’re sure they’ll take it in stride. The real takeaway here? If it works for them, it works for them, and non-family members (especially strangers on the internet) don’t get an opinion on that matter.

We’ve got ways to save money, how to maximize your water park time, and loads of other Great Wolf Lodge tips

With new locations coming up across the U.S., Great Wolf Lodge is the largest collection of indoor waterparks and resorts in North America. There are currently 17 locations in the U.S, and most are a skip-and-a-jump away from a major city. As soon as you walk in the door to the massive lobby, you’ll be immersed in the wilderness theme that leans into the “great outdoors” aesthetic. We checked out some of the Great Wolf Lodge properties and have a number of tips and tricks for you to make the most out of your indoor waterpark visit! 

Tips for Checking In and Staying Late at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge

1. Get there early!

There is so much to do inside the doors of the lodge. Even if your room isn’t ready, you can ask to check in early in order to use the facilities and leave your luggage in the car. With daily events lined up, there is no time to waste. In October you'll have trick or treating and in the winter season, it's all about holiday crafts and storytimes. 

2. Check out the app

The Great Wolf app has the menus of all the restaurants under its roof, information on the attractions, and times of the daily events. It has everything you need to know in one place instead of continuing to call the front desk or check with an employee. You can also use it to check in and avoid the long lines!

3. Charge your phone. 

While you enjoy the park, leave your phone on so that you can get updates on when your room is ready. You can also text the Great Wolf Lodge number for any issues you have during your stay.

4. Check out and stay late

You don't have to end your water park day early on check-out day. You still have access to the water park until closing on your check-out day. Pack up your room and store your luggage in your car or with the front desk. You change in the locker rooms before heading home. 

Related: We Finally Got a Bay Area Great Wolf Lodge & You’re Gonna Love It

How to Get the Best Room at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge

5. Upgrade your room to suit your family. 

Skip the standard room and go for a Wolf Den room or Kid Cabin so your crew can really spread out. Older kids will love their own pseudo-room within a room. For younger kids, the bunk beds' twin-sized mattresses can easily be taken down and put on the floor. Couches have pull-out beds and there is space to add another bed or crib and shift furniture for parents who co-sleep. There's even a TV in the kid room to keep everyone entertained when you need a little downtime. 

Related: Ditch the Campout & CampIn with Great Wolf Lodge This Summer

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Tips

Great Wolf Lodge is one of the most popular water parks in Dallas Texas
Great Wolf Lodge

6. Set up camp at the water park

Even if you aren't planning on heading to the water park until later in the morning, it's a good idea to send an adult down once it opens to set up your home base for the day. On crowded days, chairs will get snagged early in the morning and you'll be forced to sit on the floor in a corner. Grab a few chairs and leave some flip-flops or other cheap gear on them with your towels. When you come to the water park, show the kids where your home base is located so they can find you if they are older and can explore on their own.

7. Snag a cabana

If you have a larger group or would like your own designated area with a waiter, a cabana is a good option. You have access to the cabana beginning at 10 a.m. and it includes water, sodas, a fan, and a little bit of privacy. You can also get your waiter to bring you lunch and drinks when you are ready so that you can avoid the lines. 

Other Activities at Great Wolf Lodge

 

Great Wolf Lodge

8. Find activities for everyone

If you have a child or two that’s not super fond of swimming, there are plenty of dry activities. Spend time in the arcade and running around the hotel to find treasure with an interactive witchy game called MagiQuest. There's a ropes course for older kids (be sure to bring socks/closed-toe shoes for this activity). 

9. Free Activities at Great Wolf Lodge

Consult the day's schedule on the app to see what is being offered for the day. You can typically find activities like crafts, yoga for kids, character meet and greets, and so much more. There's even more to do if you visit during Snowland or one of the other themed times of year. 

10. Buy a pass

To save money on those inevitable impulse purchases that kids on vacation want, buy a pass depending on your children’s interests and ages. From most expensive to least, there is the Wolf Pass, Paw Pass, and Pup Pass. This is especially good if you have kids that want to spend time outside of the waterpark on other activities like the arcade and ropes course. 

11. Leave space in your luggage.

You’ll bring home more than you left with whether it's sweet treats, magic wands, gemstones, souvenirs from the gift shop, or prizes. Some locations have additional attractions like ropes courses, mini-golf, arcades, or Build-a-Bear workshops. 

12. Save the Magic Wands

MagiQuest is the brand’s exclusive adventure game. If you’re planning on visiting another location or the same location at another date, save your wands to continue playing the game. This way you don’t have to buy a new one. 

Related: Now You Can Enjoy Great Wolf Lodge Without Staying the Night

Great Wolf Lodge Dining Tips

Great Wolf Lodge

13. Make dining reservations early

If your GWL restaurants take reservations, book yours early. We found that many of them book up early in the day on busy holiday weekends. 

14. Avoid lines and order food via the app

This was especially important when you are buying lunch in the water park, Avoid the long lines and order your food through the app. You'll be notified when it is ready for pickup. 

15. Get food delivered

Many GWL locations have restaurants nearby that will deliver. The Bay Area location in Manteca is connected to a Costco via the parking lot so you can walk over there and snag a large pizza to bring back to your room. You'll also have a mini fridge and microwave in your room to heat up food brought from home. Consider bringing a cooler with you and leaving it in your room (coolers are not allowed in the water park). 

How to Save Money at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge

16. Get the email deals

Sign up for the lodge’s email club to receive alerts on deals and specials. You can also find GWL on sites like Groupon during the off-season. 

17. Grab a day pass

If you want to check out the water park, ropes course, and arcade but want to avoid the cost of staying overnight, snag a day pass. These are available at all Great Wolf Lodges, depending on capacity. 

18. Go during the off-season

Prices vary greatly depending on time of year and whether you are visiting on a weekend. You can save a lot by being flexible on when you visit. 

What to Pack for Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California

Don't forget to bring these essentials with you: 

  • swimsuits and cover-ups for walking from your room to the water park
  • closed-toe shoes if your GWL has a ropes course
  • pool bag for schlepping your gear to the pool (so you can avoid returning to your room)
  • snacks to keep in your room (outside food is not allowed in the water park)
  • waterproof phone case so your phone doesn't get water-logged on the lazy river
  • goggles 
  • swim diapers
  • reusable water bottles
  • sound machine or white noise app
  • puddle jumpers (some kids prefer these to the life jackets available on-site)

Editor’s note: This visit was paid for by Great Wolf Lodge but all opinions belong to the writer. 

This Volvo ad nails parenting

Co-sleeping happens in millions of families throughout the world. While there is no shortage of opinions on the matter, it seems parents who let older children co-sleep often take heat for their choices. That’s why this sweet Volvo add not only normalizes co-sleeping, it shows it’s a natural part of what makes some families unplug and reenergize.

The new advert, which showcases the manufacturer’s new Volvo Recharge Hybrid Plug-in model, is titled “The Chase.” It features two parents and their adorable daughter and follows them about their hectic day of work, school, and home life—all while needing various devices to charge. The daughter, who looks to be in elementary school, can be seen waking up in her parent’s bed and ends up there at night. Whether she starts off in her own bed or they have a family sleep situation remains to be seen, but as every parent knows, if your kid wants to be in your bed, they will find a way in.

 

In the opening scene, the mom is half-off the bed in a position all parents are familiar with, while the daughter happily sleeps sprawled out in the middle. The dad, screeched all the way on the other side, looks like he’s barely hanging on for dear life. In the closing scene, the daughter is flipped 180 with her feet on the pillows and her head at the foot of the bed, the dad trying and failing to miss his daughter’s limbs.

Basically, it’s what every parent’s bed has looked like at least once in their children’s lives. And that’s the point. Some kids are perfectly happy to stay in their own beds from the time they are little until they are grown. Others, like my son, went to great lengths to escape his crib as soon as he could walk and climb into my bed. He did so until he was around eight. Just when I thought he would never stop sneaking into my room, he did. And that was that.

Bottom line—whatever works for your family, works for your family. It’s nice to see an ad that not only shows the real chaos of family life, but celebrates that family just the way it is.

‌I sometimes joke that I could sleep on the edge of the Grand Canyon and not fall off. That’s what over seven years of co-sleeping will prepare you for—the ability to sleep on less than five inches of the bed with tiny feet smushed in your face. Although this method is what has mostly worked for my family, the pressure of perfect parenting reflected in social media had often left me wondering if my children not falling or staying asleep on their own fits the norm—and I have a feeling I’m not alone.

If we look beyond modern Western culture and recent human history, then the simple answer is, yes, it is normal for children to experience varying independent sleeping skills. From an anthropological viewpoint, parents—particularly mothers—sharing their sleep space with their young children is a centuries-old practice. And in some cultures, sleeping alone doesn’t occur until adulthood.

“Teaching our kids to sleep alone at a young age is a unique piece to Western culture and one that we often teach because we want our children to have experiences that require independent sleep skills, such as slumber parties and sleepaway camps,” says Emily McMason parent, coach, and sleep consultant at Evolving Parents.

Though it really does come down to personal preferences and the health of your family. If soothing your child to sleep or co-sleeping is what results in the best rest, then there’s little reason to change it while your child is very young. However, if it’s not working or you believe your child is old enough to begin an independent sleep routine, there are some steps you can take that do not involve traumatic experiences for you or your child.

According to Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, pediatric sleep psychologist, assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, “Children often develop a sleep-onset association—also known as a sleep crutch. If you’re always there when your child falls asleep or co-sleep, they begin to pair parental presence with their ability to fall asleep. So, when you’re ready to teach independent sleep skills, start by figuring out what their sleep crutch is and gradually remove these things from their routine.”

In Dr. Schneeberg’s book Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor’s 5-Step Guide, Ages 3-10, she recommends small steps such as placing a body pillow between you and your child, giving them a nighttime toy to sleep with, and moving them to their own bed but staying in the room until they learn to fall asleep without the need for your presence.

Furthermore, helping children understand the sleep cycles—that often differ for each family member—and providing a reason for them to be excited for sleeping on their own is an effective tool. And one that Emily McMason recommends, encouraging parents to help children understand why uninterrupted sleep is important with phrases such as “your body needs peaceful sleep to grow, and I can’t wait to see how much bigger you are in the morning!”

Whether you decide it’s time to transition your child to sleep on their own or want to embrace your child’s sleep dependencies, remember that the choice and experience are uniquely yours, and it’s unlikely you’ll be their sleep crutch forever.

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Sometimes the greatest escape from the hustle and bustle of the city isn’t an escape at all. An Airbnb staycation is a perfect alternative to all of that flight booking, guidebook reading, and restaurant scouring. Make your next family vacay R&R-ready by booking at one of these local abodes with kid friendly perks (think: dress up closets, projector screens and fun green spaces).


Yard for Days 
Even though this Arlington home is full of wide open spaces (exhibit A: the sprawling basement playroom), it manages to give off major cozy vibes. Just a hop, skip and jump from Westover Library, spontaneous story times are the standard. If your brood is in a bouncy, ball tossing kind of mood there’s plenty of yard plus three public parks nearby.

From a guest: “It had tons of space, a playroom for the kids, is close to restaurants, and a 10-15 minute drive to downtown D.C.”
Sleeps: 8

Online: airbnb.com/rooms/16879191


The Whole Kid and Caboodle
This house was literally designed with kids in mind. Equipped with cribs, play kitchens, and tons of books, you’ll only need to bring your bambino’s change of clothes (leave the hefty toy bag at home). Located in Brightwood, you’re two blocks from Rock Creek Park and just minutes from Silver Spring, gateways to family fun activities. Bonus: The master suite boasts a king-size memory foam bed, so you can sleep-in or co-sleep comfortably.

Sleeps: 9

Online: airbnb.com/rooms/23558219


Cute as a Button
his adorable home is located in Capitol Hill, just minutes from H Street (date night!) and Eastern Market (weekend stroll!). The light and airy vibes are perfect for your fams rest and relaxation but you’re still close enough to see any of the museums and monuments. With a play space, projector and dress-up costumes on site this will provide your kids with hours of fun while you relax on the patio with a bevy.

From a guest: “Terrific host and beautiful home. The kids loved the projector and the outdoor space and are already asking about going back!”
Sleeps: 6

Online: airbnb.com/rooms/8149062


Garden Party
The garden of this home will entice you to spend the majority of your time outdoors (we’re envisioning kids chasing butterflies and making some major grass angels). Not to mention, this home is located in Arlington,  right next to a historic park. FYI: Let the host know, before you go if you need a crib, toddler bed, or kid’s table, all of which she’ll set up before your stay.

From a guest: ” After very busy days, being able to come “home” to a quiet, spacious and relaxing retreat was perfect for our family.”
Sleeps: 6

Online: airbnb.com/rooms/6314741

Fun Land
This 100+ year old historic row house located in D.C.’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood is perfectly situated to fun spots for the entire family, including Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo that are next-door neighbors, and the White House and National Mall that are two miles away. After exploring the city, let the kids hang in the playroom with toys, books, Wii games or splash in the ball pit (yes! there’s a ball pit!).

From a guest: “The attic room is a kid’s haven. We had to drag them out everyday. They enjoyed the ball pit, puppets, Legos, drum set, Wii game console, and a myriad of other toys.”
Sleeps: 8

Online: airbnb.com/rooms/1761677

—Miller Jackson

Camping with a baby can seem intimidating but it’s an inexpensive vacation for families, a way to explore the incredible beauty we have in the world, an opportunity to introduce kids to the outdoors, and with a little bit of preparation, it can be a fun getaway for parents and kids alike!

Here are my tips to make camping with a baby a success!

1. Research Campground & Campsites. Do your research. Whether you are into hiking, biking, sandy beaches, or just relaxing in nature, there’s a campground that is right for you. Once you’ve decided on a location, check out the campsite map online to figure out where the bathroom, water spigots, beach, and other amenities are located. My recommendation is to find the “radio-free zone” which may be a little quieter, and a site that is in as much shade as possible. Try to choose a location that is close to a water spigot but otherwise as far away from other campsites as possible.

2. Keep Baby Contained. If you have a baby that is on the go, you will need a safe place to keep them contained while you are cooking, doing dishes, or when you have a fire going. We brought along a small baby seat with a tray. I put the seat on a blanket directly on the ground so when she inevitably threw her toys, they wouldn’t get dirty. The tray was super helpful so I had a clean place for baby’s food (instead of a dirty picnic table!). It also comes with straps so you can safely secure it to a picnic table or lawn chair. During the day, I also brought the play yard out from the tent so she could play in a clean, safe area and not crawl off into the nearby poison ivy (unfortunately her Daddy was not so cautious with the poison ivy!)

3. Prepare for ​Bug Bites. Don’t forget about protecting baby from bugs! Mosquito repellent containing DEET is generally not recommended for babies under 6 months old. There is an abundance of repellents out there with ingredients like picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oils, citronella, and other various ingredients that can be considered “safe” for infants. Consult with your doctor about what is best for your little one. Since I didn’t have time to check in with our family doctor prior to leaving, I opted to keep it simple. I dressed baby in long-sleeved clothing, especially at dusk and dawn, and used a fitted mesh mosquito netting over their crib during naps and bedtime. Also, don’t forget to completely zip up the tent so mosquitoes can’t sneak in!

4. Bath Time. Have a plan for bathing your baby in the woods. Many parks have shower facilities but my juggling abilities were not up to the task of keeping baby off those grimy tiles. We brought a simple dish basin, filled it 3/4 full with soapy water, and let baby splash away the day’s dirt and grime. Have a bowl or jug ready with clean water for rinsing, a clean towel, and warm pajamas for your squeaky clean little one! It is also helpful to put the ‘bathtub’ on a tarp so you don’t end up with a mud puddle on your campsite afterward.

6. Sleeping. There are many different sleeping arrangements possible in a tent. If you decide to co-sleep, ensure that the mat baby is sleeping on is firm and there are no loose blankets. If you don’t already co-sleep at home, I wouldn’t recommend trying to do so for the first time while camping where the “bed” is unfamiliar.

We brought our Baby Bjorn Travel crib and I highly recommend it. It easily fit in our tent, and I slept better knowing she was safe (and contained!). I also placed fitted mesh mosquito netting over the top to help keep the bugs away.

It can be stressful trying to keep your baby quiet throughout the night so their cries don’t wake up the entire campground. Whenever our daughter woke up, I would immediately scoop her up and breastfeed her to keep her quiet. I set up touch lights from the dollar store in different locations in the tent so I wouldn’t be fumbling around in the dark. It was so much easier than trying to juggle a flashlight and a wailing baby. I also set up a mini diaper changing “station” with a change mat and supply of diapers and wipes right beside her play yard for easy overnight changes. 

Keep baby’s bedtime routine as similar to home as possible. If you use a white noise machine at home, consider popping in some batteries and bringing it along. The white noise can help drown out conversations from around the fire and other noises that may distract your baby from falling asleep. In order to ensure she was warm enough to sleep, I layered her onesie, a footed sleeper, and the light cotton swaddle. When we went camping in August, the nights were just perfect and not too cold. If you are camping in the late spring or early fall consider packing a hat and mittens to help keep your baby warm.

Camping with a baby can be a bit complicated but spending a week with family, outdoors and free of distractions was worth it! My favorite part of the week was watching my daughter, surrounded by her cousins singing “pat-a-cake” to her while she giggled and squealed with delight. We plan to continue to take a yearly family camping trip and look forward to the challenges that camping with a toddler will bring! ​​

Matt Jacob is a 37-year-old from Romania. He is a cisco certified Network Engineer and currently doing Masters in Networks Security from the Spiru Haret University