Sleep Success Stories
Resolving Short Naps and Difficulty Settling
Amanda, mother of Tully (9m)
Background
Amanda sought help for her 9-month-old daughter, Tully, who was struggling with multiple sleep issues. Tully had never napped for longer than 30 minutes, needing to be rocked and held to settle and resettle. Bedtime was a prolonged process, often taking up to an hour for Tully to fall asleep in her parents' arms before being transferred to her cot. Additionally, frequent overnight wakings required constant resettling, leaving both Tully and her parents exhausted.
Challenges
- Short Naps:
- Tully had never napped longer than 30 minutes, leading to fragmented daytime sleep.
- Dependence on Rocking and Holding:
- Needed to be rocked and held to settle and resettle, both for naps and at bedtime.
- Prolonged Bedtime Settling:
- Took up to an hour to fall asleep in her parents' arms before being transferred to the cot.
- Frequent Overnight Wakings:
- Required frequent resettling overnight, disrupting everyone's sleep.
Approach
To address Tully’s sleep issues, a customised and consistent approach was implemented:
- Adjusted Daily Routine:
Tweaked Tully's nap and bedtime schedules to better suit her age and sleep needs. - Introduced Comfort Measures:
Added calming elements to her sleep environment to help her settle more easily. - Reduced Sleep Disruptors:
Identified and reduced factors contributing to her night-time discomfort and wakefulness. - Encouraged Independent Settling:
Used a consistent method to gently encourage Tully to settle and resettle on her own while still providing necessary support.
Results
- Consolidated and Lengthened Naps: Tully's naps have significantly improved, with longer and more restful sleep during the day.
- Increased Solids Intake: With better quality sleep, Tully’s interest in solids has grown, improving her overall nutrition.
- Independent Bedtime Settling: Tully now settles herself to sleep in the evening with no assistance from her parents, falling asleep within 15 minutes.
- Sleeping Soundly Overnight: Tully sleeps through the night without needing resettles, allowing the entire family to rest peacefully.
- Happier and Well-Rested Family: Both Tully and her family are much happier and well-rested, enjoying a more relaxed and fulfilling daily routine.
What Amanda had to say:
On Sunday and yesterday Tully stayed in the cot until 3pm and actually managed to sleep for more than one cycle, and seemed happy and rested!
Last night she fell asleep so fast, she was asleep exactly 4 hours after the last time she woke up. I feel so much more relaxed! We even managed to watch a movie or do some sports at night. We feel much happier, and I think Tully does, too.
I wish we had contacted you earlier, and honestly I think talking with a sleep consultant who is as helpful as you should be part of every new parents' life. I feel not having trained my son was a mistake- we spent so many hours in his room waiting for him to fall asleep, way beyond the age he needed to be held.
In any case, onwards and upwards, thinking about the future instead of the past. I am just surprised that talking with a sleep consultant like you is not a standard thing, like going to see the MCH nurse regularly.
We talk about postnatal mental health a lot, but I feel we don't talk enough about solutions, and fixing sleep, which apparently is possible, is a very obvious way to improve parents' mental health.
Conclusion:
Tully's case highlights the transformative power of a consistent and tailored sleep strategy. By adjusting her routine, adding comfort measures, and encouraging independent settling, Tully's sleep dramatically improved, leading to a happier and healthier family.
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