A Medical Sleep Problem
Two year old Sam had suffered from severe reflux and associated problems since birth which necessitated holding him upright for up to an hour after his last feed of a night as a small baby – and so the seed of poor sleep habits was sowed.
The Problem
From the age of about 9 months Sam’s sleep routine consisted of being rocked to sleep, then he would sleep on the floor in our lounge until our bedtime after which time he would join us in the marital bed – which I wouldn’t recommend in any circumstances.
Fools, I hear you saying – why on earth did you do that – especially if you take into consideration that Sam was our second child and our daughter had never shared a bed with us – well Sam would wake every 40mins (or if we were lucky he might make it to an hour) and if he couldn’t have physical contact with me he would wake properly and it would result in crying and almost instantaneously, thanks to the reflux – vomiting huge amounts. After he had vomited then he was changed, I was changed and carpets/beds/cots/sofas were cleaned down he had been rocked back to sleep again – the process could take up to an hour. In addition my husband had been seriously ill and a half decent night’s sleep was vital to his recovery – hence we chose the easy option in order to preserve our sanity and health (and jobs!!).
It wasn’t that we didn’t try to get help – we consulted health visitors, our GP, his pediatrician and finally a behavioural therapist. Despite trying every known technique to man – Sam was still in our bed and was fast approaching his 3rd birthday. My husband and I were at the end of our tether, depressed, exhausted (Sam still woke every hour or so in our bed to check I was there, and needed to climb onto me to go back to sleep), and seriously fed up – and then someone mentioned Millpond for my son’s sleep problems – telling me how it had changed their life. I couldn’t believe anyone could help but I felt that I had to try one more place – and thank the lords I did.
The Solution
After filling in a sleep diary for a week we met up with Mandy our sleep therapist.
She then set a list of goals for us to achieve and we agreed a plan .It didn’t involve leaving Sam to cry it out (something, reflux considered I was reluctant to do) and would eventually relieve me of what seemed like a catalogue of disasters in the way that Sam slept.
I wouldn’t say that it was plain sailing, I didn’t sleep at all for the first two nights and I was totally exhausted. I phoned Mandy ready to give up, as I was trying to work, look after two children etc. on no sleep. Somehow she managed to talk me round, and gave me the motivation to keep on going.
Sure enough that night Sam went to sleep by himself in his cot and only woke three times in the night. From Day Three onwards we just kept moving on – so much so that by Day 8 he only woke once in the night and it took me about 5 minutes to settle him.
The transformation was amazing it was so good that we didn’t even need the review meeting, instead Mandy and I kept in constant contact over the two week plan period (and beyond). Even an illness just two and a half weeks after starting the programme had very little impact on Sam’s progress. We simply took a step back in the plan and within a few days he was back to sleeping all night in his cot.
As any parent will know, sleep disturbances will always happen with a child, no matter how good a sleeper they are but three months on Sam sleeps 11-12 hours a night in his own room and falls asleep by himself. He does wake up some nights, but when he does I am normally in and out of his room within 2 minutes.
See what families say about us
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This training day has been very positively received by all members of the health visiting team. Staff feel better equipped to assess and provide advice on interventions that are evidence based to support parents. I strongly recommend that all clinical staff attend this extremely valuable training.”
Carol Adams, Clinical Educator Health Visiting. Lewisham NHS Trust -
Within my role as Infant Feeding Specialist – we have a large volume of mothers worried that their child is not sleeping, often equated to feeding concerns – this workshop has provided me with more in-depth strategies to support families with sleep issues. Lots of interesting research to follow-up and incorporate into my practice.”
D Wilson, Infant Feeding Specialist -
The HSE National Programme ‘Nurture’ engaged Millpond to deliver an extensive number of sleep workshop to registered public health nurses in the Republic of Ireland during 2018/19. Millpond provided an excellent professional service. They were open and willing to engagement and adaptation of the UK sleep programme to local needs. Feedback from the workshop participants was excellent. The Millpond trainers were flexible in developing the programme timetable and workshops were delivered over a wide geographical area in a timely and efficient manner.
Virginia Pye, National Lead for Public Health Nursing, HSE -
The landscape around children’s sleep is increasingly expansive and changing. Millpond’s up-to-date training meets the need to adapt to growing trends in child sleep challengers. Fully comprehensive and nurturing in their approach; encompassing all essential holistic and trending aspects in fully supporting a child’s emotional wellbeing to maximising a child’s sleep potential.
Rozanne Hay, UK Representative & Director of Continuing Education for the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants -
“Our health visiting service will enable us to support children’s sleep using Millpond as accredited and suitable in conjunction with BFI.”
Helen Foskett, Senior Early Help Worker | Tonbridge & Malling Children's Centres -
“An excellent training course with informed and sector-leading practitioners who have a wealth of knowledge and relevant experience.”
A Williams, Early Years Pathfinder Staff Development & Training Officer, Flintshire -
Really great to leave with a sense of a Tool Kit to support the children and families I work with.”
T Harold- School Health Nurse and Community Practice Teacher -
I attended the workshop you did at Oakleigh special school. I wanted to say it was wonderful. I learned lots of new things and was impressed by your extensive knowledge about sleep, especially that it was backed up by research. Thank you.”
T Nicholls -
“Mandy hosted two 2 sleep workshops for parents. The parents were tremendously keen to attend and to get the best advice about good sleep practices for both babies and young children. Mandy’s sessions met the parent’s needs, resulting in families feeling more confident and empowered afterwards.
Parenting Consultant, Liz Day
I have no hesitation in recommending Mandy to host a workshop on children’s sleep whether to parents or professionals.
It’s thought-provoking, interesting and contains good practical advice that works, so making sleep times easier and less stressful for both the child and the parent.” -
I worked for 15 years making science and medical documentaries for BBC television. In 2011 I created my own digital company; Essential Parent (EP) to support new parents.
Diana Hill, Essential Parent
EP works with the NHS, maternity hospitals, children’s centers and local authorities around the UK.
We chose Mandy Gurney as our sleep expert from many other possible candidates, since she was the only one who combined enormous authority, experience and knowledge, along with common sense and warmth. It’s a very rare combination of qualities and one which has served our parents, midwives and health visitors really well.
We’re enormously proud to be working with her – and we know just how lucky we are!” -
I felt this course was really child-centered which is very good to see in something that could easily become behaviour focused.
Amanda Kendrick, Therapist, Western Bay Adoption Service -
Excellent workshop. Delivered by trainers who a passionate and very, very knowledgeable. Very easy to listen to with relevant content on PowerPoint and handouts.
Faye Jeffs, Family Support Practitoner -
I attended the Understanding Babies Communication and Sleep Workshop today.
Having attended past training and finding the evidence-based techniques effective and helpful with clients I work with, I was interested in gaining more information around supporting the younger baby.
Jade Atkins, Perinatal specialist Nursery Nurse -
I have attended a Millpond course before. I found this workshop, Understanding Babies Communication and Sleep to be an excellent, well-informed research-based tool which I can use in my role to support mothers to understand their babies sleep needs using kind, gentle and responsive methods.
George Sibthorp, Specialist Perinatal Nursery Nurse Health and Well Being Ambassador -
I have attended training from yourselves before and really wanted to ensure the Nursery Nurse team with whom I now manage have the same tool belt of vital knowledge and skills when supporting Mum’s and families on the MBU to transition into parenthood.
Amy Daddow, Lead Nursery Nurse Mother and Baby Unit -
“Thank you both for delivering the fantastic sleep workshop. I now feel more confident and motivated to support families that are struggling with sleep issues.
I will use my knowledge to support families at home struggling with sleep. I can already think of 2 families that I think will be keen to help.”
Amy Sullivan Southern Trust Northen Ireland -
“I deliver the Incredible Years Speech and Language Delay program to parents of children with Autism. Parents shared during the session that their children often don’t go to bed until late in the evening and they are struggling with their bedtime routine, I registered for the training to gain more knowledge and information with the view to offer additional support to families.
The training exceeded my expectations.
The presenters made the session very interactive. Provided great insight to the topic and the passion to offer support to other professionals and families who require support with sleep difficulties was evident. Both ladies were amazing. What I liked about today’s session was that there were real-life examples provided and discussed.”
Bernadetta Viana Southern Trust Northen Ireland -
“There was a huge amount of information but the trainers were amazing, never had training with people so passionate and knowledgeable and they don’t read from the slides they just talk with so much information being relayed.
I enjoyed all elements of the course both as a mother to 5 and as a student who wants to help others, there was so much information and I feel really enthused to learn more and provide parents with this information, my only regret was I didn’t know this when my twins were younger! (could have saved myself 3 years of sleep deprivation!) “
Joanne McCourt Southern Trust Northen Ireland -
“I recently attended the Two Day Advanced Sleep Workshop. This course exceeded my expectations. I loved the hands-on practice with actual case studies.”
Dr Noreen Mushtaq, Consultant Paediatrician -
“The Two Day Advanced Sleep Workshop was so interactive, and informative, with lots of cases and discussion. Knowledgeable speakers with much experience. Excellent.”
Dr Gregory Minnaar, Paediatrician -
“The speakers on the Two Day Advanced Sleep Workshop were extremely knowledgeable, and presentations were easy to follow.”
Dr Sarah Ogilvie, Speciality Doctor -
“The Advanced Sleep Workshop workshop reinforced the importance of structured bedtime routines, using a 7-day sleep diary, and addressing delayed sleep phase. This will directly influence how we support families in our service. I plan to work with our multidisciplinary team to create a new pathway, ensuring that children are only prescribed melatonin after completing a structured sleep programme.”
Dr Diane Short, Consultant Paediatrician -
“Both speakers on the Advanced Sleep Workshop training are very knowledgeable and experienced.”
Dr Shachi Buch, Consultant Community Paediatrician
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