Kelly Murray Sleep Consulting

Kelly Murray Sleep Consulting I am a Certified Sleep Sense Consultant. I help families achieve uninterrupted sleep through customized sleep plans for babies and toddlers.

My goal is to help you love bedtime again! I offer phone, Skype and in-person consults.

05/11/2026

✨ Struggling with Toddler Bedtime? Try This Simple Sleep Trick That Actually Works

One simple toddler sleep tip we swear by 👇

If your toddler keeps getting out of bed at night, this might be the missing piece in your bedtime routine…

It may sound a little silly, but it’s incredibly effective:
Give your child a “hand hug” 🤲

This gentle pressure massage helps activate your child’s parasympathetic nervous system (aka their “rest and relax” mode). When their body feels calm and safe, it becomes so much easier for them to wind down—and stay in bed.

It’s a small shift that can make a big difference in helping your toddler fall asleep faster and settle more easily at bedtime.

If bedtime battles, night wakings, or toddler sleep struggles are still happening in your home, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

You can book a discovery call with one of our sleep consultants through the link in bio—and we’ll help your family get back to restful nights. 💤

Crib Escape Artist? Here’s When (and How) to Transition to a Toddler Bed SafelyIs your toddler climbing out of their cri...
05/08/2026

Crib Escape Artist? Here’s When (and How) to Transition to a Toddler Bed Safely

Is your toddler climbing out of their crib and keeping you on edge at bedtime?

Before you rush to switch to a toddler bed… pause.

One of the biggest sleep mistakes parents make is transitioning too early. For most toddlers, staying in a crib until as close to age 3 as possible supports better sleep, fewer bedtime battles, and safer nights.

The good news? There are simple, effective strategies to keep your child safely in their crib longer—even if they’ve started attempting daring escapes.

✨ In this post, you’ll learn how to:
• Prevent early crib climbing
• Extend crib use safely
• Avoid common toddler bed transition mistakes

💾 Save this post so you’re ready when your little one enters their escape artist era.

We’ve also linked a full, in-depth blog from in the bio to walk you through this step-by-step.

05/06/2026

Stop Asking This One Question During Potty Training 🚽 (It’s Slowing You Down)

When we ask our toddlers, “Do you want to go to the bathroom?” the answer is almost always… no 🙃

Here’s the shift that changes everything:

Instead of asking, lead with clear direction + fun choices 👇
“Let’s go use the bathroom! Do you want to hop like a bunny or stomp like a dinosaur?”
“Bathroom time! Should we race or tiptoe like ninjas?”

Toddlers crave control and independence—it’s how their brains are wired.
When you remove the yes/no question and offer playful choices, you:
✔ Reduce resistance
✔ Build cooperation
✔ Make potty training feel like their decision

And that’s where the magic happens ✨

Try this simple tweak and watch potty time become easier, smoother, and way less stressful—for both of you.

05/04/2026

Why Is My Baby Suddenly Waking Up at Night? (4 Month Sleep Regression or Teething?) 😱

Why is my baby suddenly waking up more overnight? If this feels like it happened out of nowhere… you’re not imagining it.

One minute you had a great sleeper, and the next? Frequent night wakings, short stretches, and a very tired household.

Here are the two most common reasons behind sudden baby sleep disruptions:

1️⃣ The 4 Month Sleep Regression (aka a major sleep shift)
If your baby is around 3–4 months old, this is the most common cause of increased night wakings.

This stage is actually a huge developmental milestone — your baby’s sleep cycles are maturing, and they’re now cycling through lighter and deeper stages of sleep (just like adults).

That means more opportunities to wake overnight.

👉 If your baby relies on rocking, feeding, or being held to fall asleep, they’ll often need that same help every time they wake — which can quickly turn into multiple night wakings.

2️⃣ Teething (but only temporarily)
Teething can cause night wakings — but usually only for a few nights at a time.

If your baby has been waking frequently for more than a few days, it’s likely not just teething.

👉 Ongoing wake-ups are often linked to:
• Lack of independent sleep skills
• A schedule that needs adjusting
• An environment that isn’t fully sleep-friendly

If you’re stuck in the cycle of overnight wakings, there is a way out.

Head to the 🔗 in bio and grab my FREE mini-training: How to End Overnight Wake-Ups for Good 🌙

Inside, I’ll walk you through simple, practical steps to help your baby sleep longer stretches — starting tonight.

05/01/2026

Sleep Training + Separation Anxiety? Yes, You Can Do Both 👶✨

One of the biggest fears parents have when it comes to sleep training?
👉 “What if my child has separation anxiety?”

And honestly… It’s a valid concern.

For many families, just the thought of tears, clinginess, or bedtime resistance can feel like a stop sign 🚫 — keeping them stuck in exhausting sleep patterns.

But here’s the truth:
✨ You can support your child through separation anxiety and teach independent sleep — at the same time.

It’s not about choosing one or the other. It’s about understanding what’s actually happening beneath the surface.

Because when you know:
✔️ why separation anxiety happens (hello, object permanence 👀)
✔️ What’s developmentally normal for your child’s age
✔️ how to respond with confidence instead of fear

…everything shifts.

In our blog, Senior Sleep Consultant breaks it all down so you can move forward with clarity (and better sleep 😴).

Inside, you’ll learn:
✔️ The science behind separation anxiety + object permanence
✔️ How to tell if it’s really separation anxiety (or something else)
✔️ 7 expert-backed strategies to ease bedtime struggles
✔️ What to do if sleep training gets derailed

✨ If you’ve been feeling stuck, this is your next step.

➡️ Read: How to Handle Separation Anxiety While Sleep Training
Tap the 🔗 in bio.

Because better sleep is possible — for everyone in your home 🤍

04/29/2026

Why Your Newborn Won’t Sleep (And the 5 S’s That Actually Work)

If your newborn won’t go to sleep no matter what you try… you’re not alone. 🤍

Newborn sleep can feel unpredictable and overwhelming, especially in those early weeks. But there’s a reason your baby settles more easily with certain techniques—it all comes down to recreating the womb environment.

That’s where the 5 S’s come in 👇

✨ Swaddling – Helps reduce the startle reflex and creates a sense of security
✨ Side/Stomach Position – Calms fussiness (for soothing only, always place baby on their back to sleep)
✨ Shushing – Mimics the constant sound your baby heard in the womb
✨ Swinging – Gentle movement helps regulate their nervous system
✨ Sucking – Supports self-soothing and relaxation

These simple strategies can be a game-changer when your newborn is overtired, fussy, or struggling to settle.

Remember—newborn sleep isn’t about strict schedules yet. It’s about comfort, connection, and helping your baby feel safe enough to drift off.

Save this for those long nights—you’ll want it handy. 🌙

04/27/2026

Wait for it… the pre-nap car concert 🎤😂

Can you relate?!

Sometimes the only way to save naptime is to turn your car into a full-on concert—because letting them snooze too early? That’s how you sabotage the whole nap 😅

⚖️ It’s all about balance.

We don’t want overtired meltdowns…
…but we also don’t want to kill that sleep pressure too soon.

👉 If you’re about 1–2 hours out from naptime and your one-nap-a-day toddler starts dozing off early, that’s your cue:
Turn up the music, get silly, sing loud, and keep them awake just a little longer.

It might feel chaotic in the moment—but it makes ALL the difference for a solid nap later 🙌

So tell me…
What’s your go-to car concert song with your kiddos? 🎶👇

04/24/2026

✨ Night 1 Was Messy… But Here’s What Happened Next 👇

Was it perfect? No.
Was it worth it? Absolutely.

That first night of sleep training?
It can feel emotional, exhausting… and honestly a little discouraging.

Because here’s the truth no one talks about enough:
You’re not fixing sleep overnight — you’re teaching a brand new skill.

And just like any skill, it takes:
✔️ Time
✔️ Consistency
✔️ A little patience (okay… sometimes a LOT)

But here’s where it gets powerful…

By the end of just a few weeks, most families see an incredible transformation — longer stretches, fewer wake-ups, and a baby who wakes up happy, rested, and ready to start the day. 💤

That moment when you walk into their room…
And they’re smiling back at you instead of exhausted?

That’s when you know it was worth it.

If you’re deep in the night-waking phase right now, you don’t have to figure this out alone 🤍
Tap the link in bio to book a free discovery call — I’d love to hear what’s going on and show you how we can help.

04/22/2026

Stop Guessing Night Feeds 👇 Here’s How to Gently Reduce Them (Even Under 6 Months)

How do you actually start dropping night feeds… without wrecking your baby’s sleep? 😅

This is one of the most common questions we get from tired parents—and the answer might surprise you.

💡 You don’t need to cut out all night feeds at once.
💡 You don’t need to “wait it out” either.

Instead, it starts with one key foundation:
👉 Independent sleep skills.

From there, you can begin to gently guide your baby’s night feeds by putting intentional structure around them—rather than feeding on every wake.

Think:
✔️ Choosing specific times you’ll feed
✔️ Responding consistently
✔️ Supporting longer stretches of sleep (without stress)

It’s not about rushing the process… It’s about being strategic with it.

✨ Inside this post, shares her top tips from our recent Q+A to help you get started.

👉 Save this for later (you’ll want to come back to it during those 2 am wakeups)
👉 Follow along

And if you’re ready for more support?
We’ve got step-by-step sleep courses for both newborns and older babies waiting for you at the link in bio.

04/20/2026

Why Your 4-Year-Old Won’t Fall Asleep (And the Fix That Actually Works)

If your 4-year-old is suddenly taking forever to fall asleep… this might surprise you 👇

It’s not that they’re “not tired.”

It’s that they’re too tired.

Overtired toddlers often:
→ Fight bedtime
→ Get a second wind
→ Take longer to fall asleep (not shorter)

And the biggest mistake I see?
Parents pushing bedtime later… when it actually needs to be earlier.

In this video, walks you through exactly how to:
✔️ Reset your toddler’s schedule
✔️ Spot overtired signs
✔️ Bring back a calm, easy bedtime

Because bedtime shouldn’t feel like a nightly battle 🙃

And if you’re DONE guessing and want a clear plan tailored to your child…
✨ Book a discovery call at the link in bio
Let’s get your whole family sleeping again 🤍

04/17/2026

🚨 When Should You STOP Swaddling Your Baby? (Most Parents Wait Too Long…)

We get it — that cozy little “baby burrito” phase is hard to let go of. 🌯💤
But holding onto the swaddle for too long can actually become a safety risk.

Here’s the truth 👇
The moment your baby:
✔️ Starts showing signs of rolling
✔️ OR fully rolls over
✔️ OR loses the Moro reflex

👉 It’s time to ditch the swaddle.

Why?
Because your baby needs their arms free to roll and reposition safely.
A swaddled baby who rolls can end up stuck face-down — and that’s a risk we don’t take.

If you're noticing more night wakings after removing the swaddle… you're not alone.
This is where many parents get stuck — relying on swaddles or sleep props just to survive the night.

✨ The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
We’ve created a FREE Night Waking Mini Training to help you move past this phase with confidence.

👉 Head to the link in bio to watch it now.

Your baby can sleep well without the swaddle — and we’ll show you how. 💛

Address

Chicago, IL

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm

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+13128841008

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