We recognise that it may not be easy to make the decision to get help with your child’s sleep problem, so here are the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions to help you decide.
I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING, WHY WILL GOODNIGHT GUIDANCE’S METHODS AND TECHNIQUES WORK?
Most people have tried everything, read everything and spoken to everyone they know by the time they come to GoodNight Guidance.
Our Sleep Consultants have formal accredited qualifications in children’s education and in sleep training for babies and children, along with years of experience in dealing with a variety of baby and child sleep issues and behavioural problems.
Our Sleep Consultants have the ability to assess your situation with an objective eye allowing them to clearly analyse all the factors that are influencing your child’s sleep issues. Only then will they develop a suitable sleep plan tailored to your specific needs, adjusting them as necessary in accordance to how your child responds to our methods and techniques.
The families we have worked with say the most helpful aspect throughout our sleep training time together was having someone there for support with empathy and knowledge about their particular situation and reassurance that the methods were working.
WILL SLEEP TRAINING HARM MY BABY?
No. The opposite! Sleep training with Goodnight Guidance is a kind and sensitive approach to giving you and your child the skills needed to maintain a lifetime of healthy sleep.
Our methods and techniques work and have been tested by research; a total of 13 different studies considered the results of the sleep training methods we advocate and teach and found improvements in the quality of sleep for the baby and also better behavioural issues. These issues included crying, irritability, detachment, self-esteem and emotional well-being. Of these studies, 5 based their conclusions on parental feedback and 8 were based on professional observation. None found adverse effects and in fact, children who participated in these sleep training methods were found to be more secure, predictable, less irritable and would cry and fuss less following the training.
Minde K, Faucon A, Falkner S. Sleep problems in toddlers: Effects of treatment on their daytime behavior. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiat 1994.
WILL I HAVE TO DO CONTROLLED CRYING?
No. We do not advocate Controlled Crying at GoodNight Guidance. This is when parents go in at incremental points – usually at 2,4,8,16,32 minutes etc. The idea behind this is that you go in and reassure your baby of your existence, reassure them that they haven’t been deserted and then leave again.
This is an ineffective method. You are training the child to cry for longer – in handy incremental chunks – giving them the message that if they can cry for the right amount of time, then you will return. But upon your return you don’t give them what they want so you are effectively just tantalising them with your presence, reminding them of what they could be having (a breast feed, bottle, cuddle, rock etc) and then leaving them alone. Your intermittent entry into the room is just enough to spark their interest, unsettle them, anger them, and increase their anxiety over what to expect from you, only for you to leave and to start the process all over again…. So, no, you will not do Controlled Crying with GoodNight Guidance.
WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT MAKES MY CHILD SLEEP BETTER?
This very much depends on your child, the extent of the issue and whether there are medical issues such as reflux/ colic/ allergies or there are developmental considerations to be taken into account such as separation anxiety. All planned methods and techniques will be discussed with you at each stage before any sleep training takes place and are adjusted in accordance to how you and your child react. The needs of your child and your own parenting style are at the centre of our work together.
WILL THE SLEEP CONSULTANT DO THE SLEEP TRAINING OR WILL I?
We feel it is important for your child to see you being confident of the new way, so the parent will always do the sleep training.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE MY CHILD IS SLEEPING BETTER?
Our methods and techniques show positive results within the first 5 days/nights and very often within the first 1-2. Do be aware that the speed of improvement is dependent on each unique child, each situation and crucially your – the parent’s – level of commitment to implementing the new techniques and routine.
WHERE WILL THE SLEEP CONSULTANT STAY FOR OVERNIGHT WORK?
Although sleeping is not what the Sleep Consultant is there to do during sleep training nights the most restorative rest does occur when lying down, so each Consultant brings their own put up bed, bedding and pillow. Anywhere the bed will fit they are happy to be.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING MEALTIMES?
The Sleep Consultant will always have had a main meal prior to a sleep training session so catering is not an issue. Your usual meal plans will not be disturbed.