Night Waking
After 1 am he would wake every half hour, come into our room or cry until we went to him. Four year old Louis only slept properly when finally exhausted – usually at around 10.pm.
The Problem
Problem – 4 year old waking throughout the night.
Amanda and Michael , both 37, suffered years of sleepless nights with their youngest son’s sleep problems, Louis four. Amanda, a full-time mum, and Michael, also have a daughter, Daisy, two.
Until he was about 18 months Louis refused to go to his cot and spent most nights in bed with Michael and me. I was eager to get him used to sleeping alone before Daisy – a good sleeper – was born but failed miserably.The nightly ritual went something like this: Louis fell asleep in bed with me or Michael lying next to him at about 7.30pm. About half an hour later he woke and came downstairs just as we were sitting down to dinner. One of us would bounce him on our knee until about 10pm when we’d try to get him back to bed.
Between then and 1am he would shout from his bed at least twice until we went to him. After 1 am he would wake every half hour, come into our room or cry until we went to him. Louis only slept properly when finally exhausted – usually at around 6am.
We took him to Millpond sleep clinic when he was four.
The Solution
Mandy drew up a tailor-made plan which began with us putting Louis to bed at 10pm. This was his natural falling asleep time but eventually, as he adjusted to the programme, the time was brought forward until he was asleep by 7pm. In Louis’ case , the main problem seemed to be that he didn’t seem to be able to get himself back to sleep when he woke without us stroking his hair and soothing him back to sleep.
When Louis shouted out in the night or came into us we were advised to guide him back to bed without talking to him,but simply to say: “It’s sleepy time Louis back to bed”. We then sat by his bed on a small cushion while he went back to sleep, but we no longer stroked his hair. Gradually we moved the cushion every few nights until we were finally out of Louis’s bedroom and he was able to go back to sleep in the night without us.
As a reward for lying still and quiet in bed while we sat on the cushion Louis was rewarded stars on a chart. Three stars entitled him to a trip to the cinema or swimming pool.
He responded well to the reward system quickly realising it was worth his while to stay quiet in bed. He was also reassured by us sitting on the cushion and so never got upset. As we moved the cushion out of his room in small stages he adapted well. Within three weeks Louis was sleeping from 8.30pm to 6am.
That was a year ago and we were cautious at first, fearful it was just a phase, but we’ve brought his bedtime forward to 7pm and he’s managing 11 unbroken hours.
See what families say about us
-
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 -
“As part of Mothercare’s community programme, Mandy hosted two 2 sleep workshops for parents. 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 parents feeling more confident and empowered afterwards.
Mothercare's 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
Would you like to be kept up-to-date?
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter…
Need sleep? …call us today direct on: 020 8444 0040
