The Merritts of Sleep

The Merritts of Sleep Psychologist in Alberta helping you feel more confident in parenting & get the sleep your family needs, grounded in connection. (Please no reviews.

This is not therapy.

05/28/2026

Do I take the siblings connection win and ignore the trouble brewing or am I supposed to intervene? 🤪

For real though, if you are finding sibling stuff hard, the book Siblings Without Rivalry is my favorite resource!

05/26/2026

And I don’t mean rest where you criticize yourself for it the whole time. I mean real rest.

Taking your foot off the gas can feel really scary, especially when you grew up being celebrated for being productive. You might even think rest is lazy (that is definitely a story our hustle culture tells).

🫶🏻 As for me, I think rest is productive. It gives us the energy we need to do everything else, and even outside of that, it shows we see ourselves as valuable, because we need rest to function.

Rest is a necessity, not a luxury - and it is not lazy.

🗣️ Comment to share a way you have or plan to rest, so that I can celebrate you!
       

05/24/2026

What’s on your “ick” list for what not to say to new moms?

I suppose people saying these kinds of things are well-meaning, but they sure don’t feel helpful. How about instead people could say:
✨ “You’re doing a great job.”
✨“Would it help if I [insert task here - like making a meal or cleaning their house]?”
✨ “Your baby is blessed to have you as their mom.”

The next time someone says something irritating to you as a new mom, feel free to imagine I’m with you. I’ve got your back! You can say “I’m doing my best and would appreciate your support in a different way,” with a sassy “Mind your own business” in your head 😅
   

05/16/2026

I’m a psychologist certified in pediatric sleep, and I support families with responsive sleep training every day.

Sleep training has been studied many times, including even Cry It Out, and repeatedly it has been found that attachment is the same between sleep trained and non-sleep trained children, even up to 5 years later. There is no research that reports damage to parent-child attachment as a result of sleep training.

I don’t do Cry It Out with families that I work with, because even though the research says it is safe, I want to provide children (and parents) with more support than that.

Attachment is built over time and sleep training is a short-term intervention. Sleep training can also be very responsive, which is protective for attachment. I’m all about respnsive sleep training here!

If you have any questions about attachment in relation to sleep training or beyond, please ask in the comments!

Research on sleep training and attachment (PMIDs):
22966034
27221288
32155677

05/16/2026

While boomers have wisdom to share, including about parenting, it’s important it be shared with consent. If the advice is unsolicited, the adult child won’t listen anyways, and everyone will likely end up frustrated and resentful.

Boomer parents, you can build beautiful relationships with your children and grandchildren by collaborating with, listening to, and respecting your children.

Adult children, you can set boundaries about advice and you can choose what you put into practice. If you have involved grandparents who listen to their adult kids, they are gifts. Letting them know you appreciate them can be a gift in return to them.

If you feel the constant urge to get it “right” as a mom, welcome here. We’re Sammy () & Allie (), therapists and moms w...
05/13/2026

If you feel the constant urge to get it “right” as a mom, welcome here. We’re Sammy () & Allie (), therapists and moms who want to help you be the parent and person you want to be. Follow us for relatable support!

If there’s anything we’ve learned about social media, it’s that content that lacks nuance is often “rewarded” with engagement, making it more likely to go viral, which can also boost their following. Remember: more followers does not mean more expertise and trustworthiness. 

We’re not saying here to never go searching for help with parenting. There can be really helpful resources online! Instead, we want you to see the advice out there as ideas you can take or leave, based on whether they feel like they fit for you and your family.

05/13/2026

What a gift to give your child the safety to know they can be their whole self with you. They don’t have to hide their feelings, their preferences, or their needs. They know who they are is valuable and worthy of love.

It’s heartbreaking that some children don’t get this. And it’s incredibly beautiful to offer more to your own kids than you received growing up. That is part of breaking cycles.

You are doing a wonderful job, parents.

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Calgary, AB

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