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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What age babies/children do you work with?
I work with babies from newborn through to 4 years old.
Newborn to 4months is generally just setting up good sleep habits, slowly settling into a nice routine for you and baby and making sure that their sleeping environment is established for optimal sleep.
Sleep issues beyond 4 months can be sorted by teaching them gently to self-settle. Depending on the age of the baby/child will depend on the technique used.
All techniques are gentle yet effective and DO NOT include leaving your baby to 'Cry It Out' (leaving your baby to cry alone until she falls asleep) or 'Controlled Crying' (attending to your baby, then leaving again at increasing time intervals).
For older toddlers, I also use a very gentle and slow technique, which results in very little protest from the child.
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Do I have to give up breastfeeding to sleep-train my baby?
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No, You can definitely continue to breastfeed your baby if you wish to,
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If you wish to have help with weaning your baby, we can assist you with that, too.
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I don't have FaceBook; how else can we do a one-hour consult?
I am more than happy to hold a one-hour consultation using WhatsApp or WeChat instead.
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How are your techniques different to those of other sleep consultants?
I believe there is NO one size fits all method to teaching a baby to sleep. This is one reason that my packages run for the two (2) week duration. I have many different techniques and adapt the approach depending on the parenting style and the response of the baby/child.
How long does it take to teach a baby/child to sleep well?
Generally speaking, a healthy baby/child (with NO underlying health issues, eg. reflux/milk or food intolerances) can learn to sleep well anywhere between 5-21 days.
You say it could take up to 21 days to teach my child to sleep well, but your packages only go for 14 days; what do we do at the end of the two weeks if my child is not sleeping as well as could be?
If your baby/child is not sleeping as well as we would like you have two choices: you can continue on with the techniques on your own and check in with me from time to time, OR you can purchase an extra week of support.
Does teaching my baby to sleep and having her in a routine mean I have to stay home all the time?
Settling your baby into a lovely routine allows your baby to learn and predict what is coming next in their day. This allows them to feel safe and secure. It does not mean that you will be confined to your home for every sleep but generally speaking babies do sleep better in the comfort of their own bed.
A routine will be tailored to your baby/child's needs and will be developed to work with your current commitments (social and family).
I have seen/tried the 'Super Nanny's' technique to get an older toddler to sleep on their own, but I can't stand the screaming. Does your technique include all that crying and multiple attempts to return the child to bed?
No, my technique is very gentle for toddlers and usually results in VERY little protest at all. It is a slow and gentle technique that can take 18-21 days to achieve independent sleeping.
My baby is cared for by another person as well (e.g. Partner /Grandparents / Nanny / Helper etc.). Will this be a problem?
This is not a problem at all. I am more than happy to work with any person/s involved in the baby’s care. We can even set up a conference/group chat so that you can stay up to date with the issues faced while you are away and how we have dealt with them. I have worked with many nannies/helpers.
Would I need to stay at home with my baby every day for the two-week consultation period? How much time is needed to be dedicated to get results?
It is not 100% necessary to stay home throughout the 2-week period. The more sleeps at home, the better, but once we have worked out a good workable routine that suits you/your family and your commitments, we can work out times when you can feel free to be out and about.
My baby is teething/going through a growth spurt. Should I delay working on sleep issues until after this has settled down?
Depending on how badly bub is affected and how bub responds to teething relief, if the teeth are very close to cutting through the gums it is advisable to wait till they are through, but if bub is just showing 'signs' of teething then we can still teach bub and give pain relief if necessary/or extra feeds if having a growth spurt. Ideally, I would also like to try to avoid teaching Bub during a 'Wonder Week' (developmental leap) if possible.
Is there anything I can do to prepare myself or my baby before starting a consultation? (Eg. Keep food/sleep diary, etc).
Depending upon what package you choose and how unsettled bub has been. If you suspect there could be tummy issues (you have had problems with vomiting/reflux/weight loss/irritability/constipation, then yes it is advisable to keep a food diary, which I will review and thoroughly assess. A sleep diary can be a great tool to use to be able to see your baby's progress, so feel free to keep one of these too.
I co-sleep with my baby at night. Would I have to stop this following your approach?
I am happy for you to continue to co-share (co-sleeping with baby in a side sleeper or cot beside your bed) but not bed share. This is because it is very difficult to teach a baby to self-settle and not cause them confusion when you ask them to settle themselves for some sleeps but not for others.
My baby has special needs. Are you experienced in caring for special needs babies?
With my paediatric nursing background, I have cared for many children with special needs. If you have a child with special needs, please feel free to contact me to discuss your individual situation, and I will be more than happy to advise you on the best approach and if I feel I can really help