The Sleep Dept. in Sydney, Australia | Consultation agency

The Sleep Dept.

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 422 969 946

Address: Cronulla 2230 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.thesleepdept.com

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24.01.2022 What comes first - the nights or the naps? It seems like a pretty simple question but there is always so much behind how and why our babies sleep and this one is no exception! So let’s break it down. ... It’s always best to focus on night sleep FIRST. Let me tell you why - Melatonin (the sleepy hormone) is naturally occurring at night. That means that even though it may take some time initially, your baby WILL eventually sleep - Our internal body clock (AKA our circadian rhythm) sets our bodies up to rest at night and be alert during the day. As our babies start to naturally develop their circadian rhythms, they become more alert during the day, making the sleep thing a little difficult at times - We have 12 hours to work with to help our babies sleep at night (FYI - I have never met a baby who takes that long to go to sleep!) - If your baby is waking for the day after a tough night, it has already set the tone for how the naps will play out that day. An overtired baby can often lead to a less restorative nap - With a lot of the babies that we see, it can also be common for naps to regress slightly once night sleep starts to get better. We prefer to have a few consistent nights in a row of solid sleep before we start to work on a nap routine So, if you’re wondering which one to tackle first, always start with bedtime and overnight wakings before taking on naps As always, it’s important to keep in mind that this is general advice and that not all babies will follow this route - and that’s perfectly ok!! I would love to know how it worked for your baby in your home? Naps or Nights? - @kytebaby

23.01.2022 An important element that goes into a successful nap routine is the nap environment Sleep environment plays an important part in how our babies sleep. If we look at the way WE sleep, it’s likely that you have your own perfect sleep environment. For me, it’s darkness, a glass of water on my bedside table (yep, I get worried I’ll wake and need it if it’s not there ) and pyjama pants - I can’t sleep in a nightie! It’s no different for our babies. They ...need their own ideal sleep environment. Let me share a few things that we want to focus on when it comes to their sleep environment DARKNESS When it’s dark, the pineal gland will release melatonin (the sleepy hormone) into the bloodstream. If there is light sleeping through, it will do the opposite - it will stimulate your baby’s brain! If you currently have a room that is too light, there are some options for you. Gro Company make some great block out blinds but foil on the windows does just as good a job! SOUND The womb is a loud place! Complete silence can be strange for our babies. A sound machine can help drown out outside noises, help to relax your baby and help them consolidate their sleep cycles. Our top picks are straight white noise OR ‘weightless’ by Marconi Union (which is scientifically proven to be the most relaxing song!). To ensure it’s not playing too loud, we want to be aiming for the same volume as a running shower TEMPERATURE As with the nights, we want to make sure the temp in our babies room is not too hot, and not too cold! The best way to determine if your baby is too hot or too cold is to feel the back of their neck Do you use any (or all!) of these during nap time? Don’t forget that we are posting EVERYTHING nap related until there is nothing else to post, so please let us know what you would like to see! - @loulouandcompany See more

14.01.2022 Let’s talk nap totals As always, this is intended to be used as a guide only. Every baby is unique and not all of them will fit into the ‘general’ guidelines - mine sure didn’t!!! He always wanted MORE sleep! Here at The Sleep Dept, we aren’t really into set nap schedules or rigid nap lengths - we much prefer flexibility and working towards what works for the individual baby. Over the years and after working with hundreds of babies, it’s become very cle...ar that one set nap schedule is just not going to work for the millions of babies out there, so if your baby isn’t sleeping the way that a guide says they ‘should’ be BUT they are napping in a way that works for them (and you) AND they are napping within the goal nap totals, then all is as it should be Our little over-sleeper always wanted to sleep just that little bit more. Even now at nearly 2 years old, he loves a good 2.5-3 hour nap! There have been times we need to wake him at the 3 hours mark!! What about your baby? Are they sleeping this much (in total) during their days? See more

13.01.2022 Just as there is nothing wrong with holding and rocking and feeding your baby to sleep, there’s also nothing wrong with helping guide your baby to fall asleep independently Just as there is nothing wrong with going with the flow with your baby’s sleep, there’s nothing wrong with daytime structure and nap routines Just as there is nothing wrong with trying to wear your baby out for their nap, there’s nothing wrong with being home and missing o...ut on some things so your baby is in their sleep space for naptime Just as there is nothing wrong with your baby staying up later with you, there is nothing wrong with an early bedtime Just as there is nothing wrong with waking up all night to your baby, there’s nothing wrong with being happy your baby sleeps all night long Just as there is nothing wrong laying next to your baby as they fall asleep, there’s nothing wrong with walking out and letting your baby fall asleep without you I never knew how much of a routine mum I was until I had Jay. There were times I was made to feel guilty for missing out on things with his schedule but at the end of the day, it works for us and that’s all that matters. The societal pressure out there is a very real thing and I hope that normalising ALL infant sleep behaviour helps families to trust the decisions they make for their own families - unknown, but please tag if you know who’s it is!!

10.01.2022 TWO What a year for Jay. This little guy has been an absolute trooper through it all and is the happiest, smiliest little boy who brings everyone around him so much joy. Couldn’t be prouder of our Jay Jay.

01.01.2022 It’s time to talk about naps Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a deep dive into alllllllll things napping - there’s alot to unpack when we talk about our babies and their day sleeps. Just off the top of my head, there’s at least 20 subcategories that I can think of We’ll bring these to you in easy to digest posts and will ensure that all your questions are answered. We know that naps can be tough at the best of times ... To kick it all off, let’s look at the general guidelines on how many naps your baby ‘should’ be taking. Please always remember that this is a guide only. Not all babies are going to fit into this perfect little nap schedule. My own son held onto 3 naps until he was 12 months old - 3 months beyond what was considered age appropriate! Did your baby keep their naps within the general range or, like my son, did they hold on or drop their nap a little earlier or later?! See more