A Sleep Success Story
The Sleep Sanctuary recently worked with this lovely family who were struggling with their baby’s sleep. Read their testimonial and see how we got this little one sleeping through the night in less than a week, and how enlisting a Sleep Consultant might help you!
Review written by Lizi, VIC
Our 3rd child, at 10mo, had never slept through and would regularly resist any attempt we made to settle her overnight leading to severe sleep deprivation all round 😬
Within just a few days, Sarah helped us get our girl to settle herself to sleep and she started sleeping 12hr a night consistently! Sarah was super attentive and generous with tips, advice and encouragement. She made sure to always check what we’re comfortable with and how we felt it was going and tailored her whole approach to us.
Many thanks to Sarah for our sleep and sanity 🥳
Sleep: A biological necessity
Sleep is about so much more than rest. Did you know that getting your allocated hours in can lead to a reduced risk of serious disease? Find out more as we dive into the importance of sleep for you and your baby.
Sleep, just like eating, drinking water, and breathing is a biological function we NEED to survive. When our little ones come along and sleep goes out the window, it can leave us feeling pretty awful.
The United Nations (CAT), considers prolonged sleep deprivation a form of torture. And us Mums (and Dads) are trying to function for months, if not years without consistent sleep!
Sleep isn't just about rest. It is a time when our body repairs, our hormones regulate and new cells grow. Science states that adults who get 8 hours of sleep in:
Get sick less often
Have a lower risk of getting serious health problems
Can concentrate more
Find it easier to learn
These are just a few reasons why sleep is so important. Not just for us Mums and Dads, but for our kids too!
Don't feel overwhelmed or like getting more sleep is an impossible task. Getting more sleep can be a gentle process that we work on over time. If you are interested in finding out how you can improve your family's sleep, reach out today!
Swaddling for better sleep
If you are struggling to get your newborn to sleep, you aren’t alone! Many parents come to me asking how they can get more sleep when a new baby enters the family. With some simple adjustments, you can improve your baby’s sleep. See how you can help!
Let’s talk about swaddling and why it is so important during the early months of your baby’s life! All babies are born with several normal newborn reflexes. Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is one of these primitive reflex responses intended to keep a baby safe. Have you noticed your baby suddenly startle while sleeping before? This is the Moro reflex at work! The baby will experience a sensation of free-falling, where the baby reacts by lifting and stretching their arms. It often ends in the baby crying and/or waking.
We can EASILY prevent your baby from startling by swaddling them for sleep!
Over the years I have had many parents tell me, ‘My baby doesn’t like their swaddle’ or ‘They fought it so much I stopped doing it because they were always getting out’. There are lots of reasons why parents stop swaddling early. But education is power when it comes to little ones!
Here are some swaddling facts:
Babies generally don’t grow out of their startle until around 4-6 months
Swaddling helps simulate the security they felt in the womb (they squirm and move the same way they did in your belly; they just have the freedom to break out now)
Swaddling helps to reduce overall crying and helps to calm babies’ nervous system
Swaddling can help to extend sleep both overnight and for naps
Babies with Colic, reflux, and other painful conditions are the ones who benefit from swaddling the most. They also generally will be the ones who take the longest to grow out of their startle!
Some babies are less likely to startle and will grow out of this reflex quickly
Babies should be swaddled firmly around their chest/arms and loosely from the waist down to protect their hip position (think froggy legs, not straight down)
A baby who can roll easily from back to belly shouldn’t be swaddled
There are so many swaddling options out there. My personal favourite is always the classic muslin wrap! So, keep wrapping your little baby burritos for the best sleep possible!
Have you heard of the fourth trimester?
The 5 S’s by acclaimed Paediatrician and “Happiest Baby on the Block” Author, Dr. Harvey Karp are the foundation of how we work to settle a newborn baby. Backed by science, read how The 5 S’s can help get you and your baby the sleep that you need!
The theory and idea behind the fourth trimester came from the acclaimed paediatrician, Dr Harvey Karp. He defines his idea of the fourth trimester as the first 3 months of a baby’s life after birth. Karp’s belief is that babies are born 3 months too soon and are still adjusting to the world outside. Therefore, to comfort and calm a crying newborn, they need you to simulate the environment they had in utero.
Karp's 5 S's are:
🌟 Swaddling - helps to calm that pesky startle reflex
🌟 Side/Stomach - think chest-to-chest cuddles
🌟 Shushing - white noise
🌟 Swinging - rocking or swaying
🌟 Sucking - feeding or dummy
Karp believes that this formula can help to calm any unsettled newborn baby!
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