sleep associations

November 23, 2016

All the sleep advice on Google was just not working for Rose; her baby was still waking every 2 hours.

Rose was exhausted searching the internet for help on her son’s sleep problem; she felt she had tried everything to help her 7 month old son, Ben sleep better. He had regressed from waking twice a night at 3 months to waking every 2 hours at least as a 6 month old.

What if it’s not just a sleep problem?

Rose felt she had read everything about sleep and tried several different sleep training techniques with Ben as described in books and on reputable internet sites with no success whatsoever. The sleep deprivation was having a huge impact upon family life and Rose couldn’t find a way to make it better, “we were losing confidence in being able to deal with Ben at night” and she started to worry that it might not just be a sleep problem.

I need to speak to a health professional

Rose felt that she needed to find a sleep consultant with a medical background who would have the experience to tackle Ben’s frequent waking issue. “The website suggested that techniques used by Millpond were the most up to date and evidence based, and that Millpond trained NHS staff, so we would be getting help from reputable, highly qualified people”.

Underlying medical issue identified

Rose started working on her consultant’s plan for Ben and she found her approach supportive and gentle; but most importantly she was able to assure Rose and tell her that Ben’s problem was not just behavioural, but medical. “Juliet was able to point us to where to get help and was very flexible about the timetable, to allow us to seek some medical help before continuing with the sleep training consultations”.

Ben started to sleep through

Rose is now delighted that Ben’s night waking has improved, and he has even slept through for several nights. Ben still has to see various consultants to get his tummy and skin issues under control, but Rose feels, “we feel more confident about identifying what he needs if he wakes at night and we know there is an end in sight”.

September 18, 2016

From waking seven times a night to sleeping through in 3 weeks!

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Archie now sleeps through the night

Archie was just over six months old when exhausted parents Helen and Benny realised that their son had a sleep problem and that it was not going to go away on it’s own.“He was waking up to seven times per night and needed help falling asleep every time. His daytime naps were also irregular. We had read several books and tried making changes to his sleep associations, all without success,” says Helen honestly.

The couple contacted Millpond after a recommendation from their health visitor. After their initial consultation with Millpond’s Mandy Gurney they were given a clear program that was tailored to Archie’s specific sleep problems.

“We started to see results after about a week. The second week in the program he was waking up a couple of times per night and after the third week he started sleeping through the night. We couldn’t have done it without Millpond,” says Helen.

We are so glad that Helen and Benny took action by contacting Millpond as soon as they realised their son had a sleep problem and that it was sorted completely after just three weeks.

May 21, 2016

Baby Sébastien was taking a long time to go to sleep

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Sebastien was taking a long time to go to sleep

Véronique & James realised their son, Sébastien, had a sleep problem when it began to take increasingly longer periods of time to get him to sleep.

“We had created so many sleep associations, a bottle of milk last thing at night and/or multiple times at night, cuddling him and/or putting him in our bed until he fell asleep. He’d wake numerous times at night, needing resettling,” explains Véronique.

This situation led to the couple having very little time for themselves; Sébastien would wake badly rested, while they were shattered, cranky and concerned.

They chose to contact Millpond after seeing founder Mandy speaking on one of the sleep DVD’s in the Essential Baby Care Guide. Their sleep advisor, Jackie, guided them through a programme of gradual retreat, which included the elimination of each sleep association to slowly wean Sébastien off each association.

“Since working with Millpond Sébastien consistently sleeps for 11 hours straight. He also takes 1 hour 45 minute to 2 hours daytime naps. We’ve been putting him into his cot after a story, walking out of his darkened room and he now self settles within 20 minutes,” explains Véronique. “Sébastien gets himself back to sleep in the wee hours which is great news not only for us but we know it’s an important skill for him now and in the future – we are delighted”, she continues.

We are so glad the whole family are now getting the sleep they need and deserve.