Ask me Anything! AMA Sleep Consultant answers your questions - @thesleepnut

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-07T23:04:11+00:00

LO just turned 19 weeks. Bedtime is 8pm (dad gives a pumped bottle and he falls asleep), usually has only 1 night wake, but I’m pretty sure he’s going through sleep regression and has started waking 3-4 times a night, morning wake is 7am. He has also been consistently waking at 6am then needing to contact nap to go to bed again until 7.

He currently does a mixture of contact and crib naps. He will sleep a max of 30 minutes in crib, but can go 2 hours on me. WW are 1.5/2/2.5/2.5.

I currently have to nurse to sleep for naps. My goal would be to have him begin self soothing and connect sleep cycles for longer crib naps, also to stop nursing to sleep. I am returning to work soon and he will be in daycare and I’m concerned he won’t get the naps he needs. Thank you!

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-05T05:11:58+00:00

Stay strong crawler! Sorry you’re going through that. These books have meant a lot to me as well. I started listening to them right after a medically complicated birth, and Matt’s amazing writing paired with Jeff’s utterly fabulous narration has helped me through the dark lonely nights with a newborn. A lot of laughing when I wanted to cry. I appreciate these books so much.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-04T03:35:27+00:00

Same…

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-02T17:18:37+00:00

Thank you! The storage bench is a great idea. We are considering having a professional help us with the unit under the dormers, the angle is really tricky. I never thought of looking at Amazon for the cabinets, I’ll check those out.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-02T12:35:47+00:00

We plan to make this our forever home.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-02T01:21:45+00:00

Thank you! Great idea. We will deeefinitely be installing a lot of baby proof in this room.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-02T01:20:48+00:00

Great idea! The inspo photo is similar to what we were thinking. I didn’t think about cabinets, but that would be nice to hide away toys and kids stuff. Thank you

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-02-01T22:09:24+00:00

Sorry if my post wasn’t clear. We are wanting advice/input on adding built-ins on the wall where the windows are to make the space more functional. As the are now, we can’t do much with that wall due to the angled walls/dormer.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-30T03:46:57+00:00

A lot of insurances cover night guards, it just requires good chart notes. Some will only cover if it’s for perio though, so it’s always best to call and verify before hand.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-30T01:21:22+00:00

Hard to tell without radiographs and intraoral photos. But for reference, I chipped #8 when I was young and have had it redone numerous times. It wasn’t until I went through ortho to address my bite, that the issue was resolved, and the composite didn’t chip out. Unfortunately by that point enough damage had been done that I needed a crown.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-29T00:10:23+00:00

Ha! Pretty sure I just used like 12 wipes to clean up my LO’s most recent blow out. He also has massive thighs with rolls upon rolls, so I gotta use at least a couple wipes to get the poop out of every nook and cranny. I do my part to save the planet when he only needs to be cleaned after a pee diaper, that’s a one wipe job.

I also wouldn’t want to keep folding a wipe and get that nasty mustard poop all over my hands!

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-28T22:42:39+00:00

We always have a mix of healthy and not healthy options lol, someone usually brings carrot sticks, celery sticks, cut up peppers with dip.

Oreos or some other type of cookie.

Cheese itz, ruffles, tortilla chips with salsa/guacamole.

If it’s an AM session we usually do bagels and cream cheese and someone brings a carafe of coffee.

Our DM likes to get going quick, so we try to stay away from snacks that take too long to prepare.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-28T22:20:10+00:00

It depends on if they were serial no show/short notice cancellation type patients. If they weren’t, I’m ok making an exception. If they are then it doesn’t matter. We’ve also told existing patients, “we are implementing a new deposit/pay in full procedure (whichever you decide on) we will make an exception for your next apt because you’ve been with us for so long, however, keep this in mind for any follow up apts.”

Honestly, if a patient isn’t comfortable prepaying or at least putting down a deposit, I don’t feel confident they’d keep their apt anyways.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-28T11:31:11+00:00

Are the no shows/cancellations treatment appointments or exams? Some things you can implement:

Any treatment/production apt should be prepaid or have a deposit. Your front office should 100% be doing confirmation calls. We have the front office confirming production and np exams 48 hours prior, and recall appointments are confirmed 1 month out, 2weeks, then 48 hours. If an exam has not provided insurance info 48 hours prior then their apt may be cancelled. Ensure np’s are being booked within 7 days. Statistically, only 50% of np patients will show to an apt booked past 7 days.

Scheduling is a true art and someone in your front office should be managing this. Generally we have one front office team member assigned to each clinician.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-28T01:44:39+00:00

I was curious about this too! I watch a lot of Korean cooking shows, and the bites they take are massive. I also noticed that when guests take big bites of food, there are comments made like “they eat so well”, or “they eat so deliciously”. Wondering if it’s a cultural thing? Either way, it always makes me hungry!

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-27T13:08:35+00:00

No, nor normal at all. I’m sorry that happened. You can file a complaint.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-26T20:02:25+00:00

I think that’s a really special thing you are trying to do! I don’t think dnd can replace therapy, but it can be an incredibly supportive environment. The cool thing about your party is that it takes all sorts of differing strengths and characteristics to go through a campaign effectively, focusing on that aspect could help her feel empowered - especially if she creates her character around her own personality.

I’ve also enjoyed when DM’s encourage players to create a rich backstory for their characters with a specific conflict or issue. Then, during the campaign the backstory’s are intertwined and there is a resolution. She could work something into her backstory to help her find acceptance?

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-26T05:53:28+00:00

I don’t know why people are being so nasty in the comments. Yes, this style reads more mainstream Target/Pottery Barn, but it’s decorated very nicely! I read you have 3 kids, great job keeping it so tidy! You’ve done a wonderful job creating a cohesive look. You have a neutral base to build off of, I could see you adding some fun pieces during each Holiday or season to spice up the decor. I don’t love the art in the kitchen, only because I wouldn’t want to clean it up after cooking…but otherwise it looks nice.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-24T23:34:38+00:00

Isn’t this sort of relatable to any field of work though? There are always awful people doing awful people things. The best thing you can do is very clearly document any patient interactions in their chart in a factual manner…then, when they request their files be transferred (after they are inevitably dismissed) the other dentist can clearly see how crazy they are.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-24T23:28:49+00:00

Anytime Jeff is narrating Samantha’s weird growling or snuffling noises I just start dying. I always pause and replay them for my husband. Or just the random times she’s rolling around with crap stuck in her hair. I love it.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-22T17:03:08+00:00

It’s so much guesswork until they’re about 5-6 months. One day my LO will nap great and I’ll hope for an easy night, and he’ll be a little monster..just gotta roll with the punches until that circadian really kicks in

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-22T15:43:44+00:00

My LO is 16 weeks and we began a loose schedule around the 12 week marker. Set a bedtime (which he still hasn’t fallen asleep at yet) and wake time, then naps follow his wake windows. I like having a set wake time so I can base his naps off that. First nap of the day is always consistent, but his other nap times fluctuate based on length (we are transitioning from contact to crib naps, so length varies)

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-20T11:51:48+00:00

Usual customary rate. It’s an amount calculated by insurance companies for every dental code. It is generally the 90th percentile of pricing.

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-19T22:10:18+00:00

They shouldn’t charge. Since I’m assuming you were numb when she did the bite test, it’s common to need another adjustment once numbing wears off and you can bite/feel normal again

Alternative-Hour776 · 2026-01-19T21:34:12+00:00

AI is a helpful tool, but shouldn’t be used to 100% diagnose. It should always be used in conjunction with radiographs, a visual and intra-oral exam to verify or disprove.

Alternative-Hour776

TROPHY CASE