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Bedtime Settling Problems

I needed to regain control over 2 year old Lily’s bedtime and she needed to learn to fall asleep in her own bed. We were both tired and instead of enjoying our evenings, we spent them arguing.

The Problem

Suzanne,35 years old, single working mum, was starting to dread every bedtime. Lily her 2 year old daughter , had always fallen asleep with a bottle of milk on the sofa and Suzanne carried her up to bed each night. Once asleep she would sleep all night-but recently Lily was having none of it and bedtime was creeping later and later and becoming a real battle ground every night.I needed to regain control over Lily’s bedtime and she needed to learn to fall asleep in her own bed.

We were both tired and instead of enjoying our evenings, we spent them arguing. I was also sure this was having an effect on Lily’s daytime behaviour. Her bedtime was getting later and it was impossible to wake her in the mornings for nursery.

I was desparate for help,then a friend suggested I try a sleep clinic. I found Millpond on the Internet, and turned to them for help as they are all qualified health professionals, parents themselves and have had so many years of experience.

The Solution

I felt a great weight had lifted from me when Millpond clinic said they could help. At last I wasn’t alone. I had to keep a sleep diary for Lily for a week and complete a questionnaire. My Millpond sleep therapist Juliet suggested a fixed bedtime with a winding down bedtime routine, focused around the bathroom and bedroom. We were not to come back to the living room, once Lily was in her pjs.

I was to do a gradual retreat programme, to teach Lily to fall asleep in her own bed by 8.00pm.

This way she would be reassured that I was nearby and gradually learn to feel confident going to sleep by herself, as I distanced slowly towards the door on my “Sleepy Cushion”.

Progress was excellent. Although it took stamina and determination, within 3 weeks I was outside her bedroom door and 2 weeks later I was sitting alone on my sofa by 8.15pm with Lily happily tucked up in her own bed.

We now both enjoy our evenings together and bedtime is something we look forward to. Lily’s behaviour in the day has also improved as she’s getting more sleep and I’m back in charge.

I can’t recommend the Millpond Team highly enough. Thank you we have our lives back.

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
  • I think this on-line course was presented very well, to a high standard.

    S Jelley, Community Nursery Nurse, Ceredigion
  • I have my Diploma in Children’s Service’s and have worked with wee ones (aged between 12weeks and 3 years) for 15 years, as a Nanny and within centers. Honestly, I think the course was brilliant. I loved it being online; it allowed for a ‘hands-up’ system which I think saves time and the content was so relevant, so much better than expected!

    Jane, Nanny, London
  • “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
  • “Fantastic training very informative and interesting…really gained a lot of new information and strategies to help families in the future.”

    M Cartwright, B5 Child Health Nurse
  • 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.
    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.”

    Mothercare's Parenting Consultant, Liz Day
  • 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.
    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!”

    Diana Hill, Essential Parent

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