It all begins with an idea. I’ve been seeing more parents—especially mothers—facing what Lyndsey Hookway calls a sleep emergency. This isn’t the usual new-parent exhaustion; it’s when lack of restorative rest becomes unsustainable and overwhelming. A single 4–5 hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep can sometimes be enough to reset your body and mind, helping you regain perspective and strength. If exhaustion feels unsafe or unmanageable, it’s time to reach out for professional help—you don’t have to navigate this alone.

When most parents hear “sleep associations,” they often think of bad habits—like feeding or rocking to sleep. But in reality, sleep associations are simply the cues that help babies connect with rest. Just like adults who have bedtime rituals, babies rely on predictable patterns to feel safe and ready for sleep. The key isn’t to eliminate them, but to notice which ones truly work for your family.