Your Village Sleep Support

27/07/2024

Is your toddler/pre-schooler used to holding you hand while falling (back) asleep? It's quite a common sleep association that might mean you're up a few times a night re-settling them like this- and while it's super sweet, it can be very tiring for everyone involved.
If you're keen on a change and more consolidated sleep, look into alternatives like
- introducing a lovey
- give a kiss into their hand to keep all night

I used to read this book at bedtime, before kindy drop offs etc to both my kids + have suggested that to many families I worked with: simple, but to a big effect, especially combined with other tweaks and changes.

It's not about depriving them of your co.fort or love, but a bit of Redirecting and offering alternatives can make a world of difference to your family's sleep 😴

19/05/2024

Sums up my parenting pretty accurately 😄

25/03/2024

HERE WE GO AGAIN:
The dreaded end of daylight savings!..and if your brain works similar to mine, when it comes to exactly remembering who "falls back or springs forward" + what that means for your child's sleep & feeding routine, then a cheat-sheet is exactly what you need 😋
So safe your brain cells (I sacrificed mine already for you) head over to my webpage and download a straight forward handout with all the info you need to be prepared for when the clocks are changing on Sunday, 7th of April at 3am 🥳
https://www.yourvillage.nz/downloads

23/01/2024

😅🤣 Who else can relate??

whateverworks

11/01/2024

One of my current areas of interest, when it comes to sleep and supporting some of the families I (have) work(ed) with.

Interesting, but can be as well oh so frustrsting: what did I read a while ago? ADHD doesn't help you to deal with the struggles of ADHD 😪

Struggling yourself with ADHD and sleep I.e. your child does? A reward based system & Consistency are huge helpers...but be aware that while routine is such a big helping factor, the ADHD brain can get easily bored, so keep the reward system exciting enough 😀

30/12/2023

Tick tock....here we go, last day in 2023!!

One of my big goals for the next year: become more organized to schedule posts in advance 😆

Anyway: here we go with some last minute tips for tonight, should you wonder how to combine your child's sleep & NYE excitement.

Any solutions that work for your village? Feel free to comment below and share your experiences 😊

15/12/2023

Hear about weighted sleep aids for children, I.e. sleeping bags and blankets? Sold with the promise of a better night's sleep, you can now even buy swaddles for newborns with weighted materials.

While for older children and adults, there might be some benefits in using these products (initially, at times recommended by occupational therapists), it's actually shocking to see how these sleep gadgets are advertised to use for sleep, even for newborns!

Unfortunately there are heaps of unsafe products out there, advertised for baby's sleep, leaving parents confused and overwhelmed.

So amongst baby nests & cot bumpers, here the newest item on my list of sleep products to look at with caution.

29/11/2023

Even taking a dummy can take practice...😇
https://youtu.be/mfhdJzMhNJ0?si=qWhxJMmRviJycxsX

Sometimes babies just won't take a pacifier. We know a pacifier can help provide non-nutritive sucking which soothes babies. It also helps reduce the risks o...

21/11/2023

Christmas is nearly here (nuts, right??!!) and most of us can't wait to go on holiday!
(And this summer better be a good one-last year was more than average!).

The holiday season is often a time where usual routines are getting thrown over board and it's all about going on adventures, meeting friends and eating lots!

So what to do about those precious naps and having your LOs in their bed at time?

How does it all work with on the go sleeping, staying in strange places and having skipped the odd nap?

Well, first things first: life is for living and while a structure/ routine around day and night sleep is vital for most children (and adults) to get all of the restorative snoozies in, having times with disrupted routines is just part of life!

While I usually do not recommend to count on your child eventually passing out (because they are just so tired), there are times where relying a bit on that, in order to enjoy life's special moments, is just fine 😇

Check out my top tips around how to make sure your child's needs for sleep are overall met, while making space for your own needs and desires over the holiday season!

26/10/2023

I usually talk about sleep in relation to babies/children, because, well, that's my job 😇

When I work with families though, it's not unusual that parents struggle with their own sleep- even once their kids sleep better! And while I have the knowledge to help out with tips and tricks (I.e. sleep hygiene etc.), I personally have been a night owl my whole life and always struggled with going to sleep at a reasonable time. Currently 1/2am is pretty standard, up again by 7am, when the kids get up. Ridiculous, right?!

So here I am, trying yet again to follow my own advice + apply the knowledge I have, using alarms/timers and the power of routine (+ stickers 🤣) to create healthier sleep habits for myself!

DO YOU RELATE? ANY TIPS FOR ME TO MAKE THIS WORK THIS TIME AROUND?
(Thinking I should ask a friend to do a follow-up support with me as well for a couple of weeks to keep me on track🤔)