Sleep Waves Consultancy

11/10/2024

Are you starting to suffer the effects of waking up every hour with your baby??!! It doesn't have to be that way I promise.

Every parent deserves to sleep well so they can enjoy life to its fullest with their beautiful families.

Sometimes 'sleep training' is not even required .... simply a few changes to a baby's schedule or routine are all that's needed to get a baby back on track with sleeping well - The coffee chat and sleep plan is a perfect solution for those who babies have previously slept well but have started to become unsettled. A few tweaks here and there will get your bub back on track.

For those more complex cases or where we have some deep-rooted sleep associations then let me support you during either the 7-day support package or the 14-day enhanced package which guarantees you a better night's sleep and a happier, more content and well rested baby.

To book simply send me a DM or head over to the Sleep Waves website www.sleepwavesconsultancy.com.au

11/10/2024

The weather is heating up and summer is around the corner!! I don’t know about you but I feel very very ready for some warmer weather here in Perth

A big cause of extra night waking that needs parental assistance is room temperature. If your baby is learning how to self settle then being to hot or too cold will really impact how successful they are in doing this independently.

Now is a good time to assess the tog rating of your babies sleeping bag and make some changes if needed.

For more guidance on this please do reach out

25/09/2024

Why is food so important to Melatonin production?

Melatonin is also known as the “sleep hormone” or the “hormone of darkness,” because it helps regulate your circadian rhythm, or your internal clock that tells you when to sleep and when to wake up.

Melatonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in many foods, such as turkey, cheese, and eggs. However, tryptophan alone is not enough to produce melatonin.
You also need vitamin B6, magnesium, and zinc, which are involved in the conversion of tryptophan to melatonin.

My top Melatonin super foods are:
Pistachios
Eggs
Milk
Walnuts
Salmon
Pineapple
Tart Cherries

So by encouraging your baby or child to try meals that include some of these foods will be setting them up with the best chance of sleeping better.

24/09/2024

I absolutely love Dr Karp and all the amazing research he has done into teaching us as parents how we can help our newborns switch on their calming reflex.
There has been talk about the impacts of using white noise in the media recently but this interview with Dr Karp helps to clarify this.
He also talks about the other wonderful elements that contribute to an ideal sleep environment for our little ones including light, temperature and the importance of a bedtime routine.
Check out the interview on the link below

Dr Harvey Karp shares his views on white noise for babies after a new study suggested it could harm development.

13/09/2024

Clients like this just remind me why I do what I do 🥰

06/09/2024

Considering the Ferber method or something similar?

Then save this post!!

I understand that this method can feel super daunting but if you are sleep deprived and suffering then it could be the best way for you and your family to get back to loving life again!

If you would like me to help coach you and your family through a Ferber style of sleep training, then reach out today.

No one should have to suffer through sleep deprivation ....

02/09/2024

Should you wake a sleeping baby?

This can feel like one of the hardest things to do especially if sleep has been a bit all over the place….

……however, sometimes to help your baby sleep well and in some scenarios it can be necessary:

1. Excessive daytime sleep can disrupt night time sleep

2. If it’s too close to bedtime, waking them can help build up sleep pressure for a better nights rest

3. Establishing a consistent wake-up time in the morning can help set a routine

4. Balancing nap timings is important to avoid disrupting overall sleep schedules

5. Managing morning nap durations ensures baby is ready for a longer afternoon nap

6. Newborns may need to be woken up for feeding both during day and night

Do you wake your baby?

29/08/2024

Top nap tip!!!

😴 In my experience many families find the first nap of the day to be the ‘easiest’ to practice.

😴 If you are starting to work on sleep it might just help you. Then you can build up to the other naps in the cot too (if you want to!)

😴 It’s always okay to do naps on the go, or on you, as long as it’s working for you…..

😴 However, it’s also okay if you want to be able to put your baby down.

Is the morning nap on the go or in the cot/crib for you?

26/08/2024

THE SCIENCY STUFF - SLEEP EDITION

In a super easy-to-understand way, let’s chat about basic sleep science. This will help you understand why the wake-ups are happening.

SLEEP CYCLES AND STAGES:

Each night and nap is made up of a series of sleep cycles, which vary in length based on age. Each of the stages of sleep has a unique role in brain and body restoration.

There are two primary categories of sleep stages:

REM – rapid eye movement which is when we do our dreaming.

Non-REM – non-rapid eye movement sleep that progressively gets deeper.

The sleep stages include:

Stage 1 – Non-REM:
Lightest stage of sleep where we are transitioning between being awake and falling asleep.
We are aware of our surroundings and are very easily awakened. Breathing occurs at a regular rate

Stage 2 – Non-REM:
Sleep is beginning to deepen, yet this is still a lighter stage of sleep. It is relatively easy to be woken up. Our breathing and heart rate begin to slow and our body temperature drops

Stage 3 & 4 – Non-REM:
Deepest sleep and it is difficult to be awoken
When our babies grow, the body repairs and the immune system is strengthened

Stage 5 – REM:
This is our dream sleep.
Breathing rate can be erratic and irregular and this is when the brain processes and synthesizes memories and emotions. These activities are crucial for learning.

The chart shows you how babies move through these sleep cycles during the night. It shows you why you get a long stretch sleep when you first put them down and why you can experience lots of wakes up in the early hours of the morning.

If your baby has not mastered the skill of self-settling, then each time they go through a cycle, they will need your assistance to go back to sleep - SIMPLE!

for help and support on your babies sleep cycles then book in a FREE discovery call today.