A lovely recommendation

My little buddy

I just found this in my drafts and wondered why it never got posted!

But, by way of an update, this little girl is a legendary sleeper. We never had to consider any sleep work (but maybe that’s because I was looking after her for two days a week over the last two years!). Her doting Granny looked after her the rest of the week and between us, we had it sussed.

She is about to become a big sister in 2015. Fingers crossed Number 2 will be equally as amazing!! X

Niamh advised us on sleep routines and general infant care when our grandchild was 5 months old and her Mum had to go back to work. 

She gave us, experienced grandparents – (one a child psychotherapist) and the baby’s parents – (one a doctor) the confidence to enjoy our baby – She simply whisked our worries away!

Niamh is inspirational in her dedication to healthy lifestyles for babies. She places good sleep routines at the core of things and thereby puts families on the best track possible. 

She has a deep and sincere belief in the value of healthy lifestyles for babies and in the capacity families have for achieving them  – from this source she inspires each and every family she meets. 

The babies she sets onto the secure and healthy path are massive testimony to her skill, devotion and faith in things going well being best for all. Such a gift! Niamh operates from an ethic of  putting Families First – She not only profoundly cares about supporting and caring for babies and their families – but she puts her considerable knowledge, her skills, her care and her support into action – ever and always pragmatic.

 

Marie and Barry Dillon

A lovely recommendation

Niamh advised us on sleep routines and general infant care when our grandchild was 5 months old and her Mum had to go back to work.

She gave us, experienced grandparents – (one a child psychotherapist) and the baby’s parents – (one a doctor) the confidence to enjoy our baby – She simply whisked our worries away!

Niamh is inspirational in her dedication to healthy lifestyles for babies. She places good sleep routines at the core of things and thereby puts families on the best track possible.

She has a deep and sincere belief in the value of healthy lifestyles for babies and in the capacity families have for achieving them – from this source she inspires each and every family she meets.

The babies she sets onto the secure and healthy path are massive testimony to her skill, devotion and faith in things going well being best for all. Such a gift! Niamh operates from an ethic of putting Families First – She not only profoundly cares about supporting and caring for babies and their families – but she puts her considerable knowledge, her skills, her care and her support into action – ever and always pragmatic.
Marie and Barry Dillon, Dublin

SPRING FORWARD – UPCOMING CLOCK CHANGE

SPRING FORWARD – THE UPCOMING CLOCK CHANGE

Saturday 30^th March 2013

I have decided to write a quick post on the best ways of dealing with the upcoming clock change.

A simple hour change can (but not always) throw their sleep pattern off for up to a week.

Get your little ones to go to bed 15 mins earlier every few days, for a few days leading up to it

 It’s not too late after the event – so even if you forget until D-Day, you should catch up within a week,

Best way to approach it is without fear and apprehension….as adults, we become obsessed with the amount of hours sleep we get. Infants are reliant on our guidance and don’t get much of a say in the matter! There’s no point putting them down too much earlier than their normal bedtime, quite often they wont be tired enough and the wheels fall off!!!

Same rules apply when the clocks go back in Winter….the only change is that for a few days before, get your baby and toddler to bed 15 mins later each day. Although get them up at the same time each morning. That way, by the time the clocks actually change, the child has no idea and as a parent, you’ve adjusted (in your own head) to the idea of losing an hour sleep

 

Hope this helps

 

Niamh X

Nap time and Routine for 9 mth olds

I was asked by Eumom and Supervalu to write a piece about napping for 9 month olds. It is on the supervalu.ie website and thought I would share it here too

Enjoy and hope you find it helpful

N

It’s no secret how important sleep is to us (as adults). For an infant/child it’s equally, if not more, important.

If you have any experience at all with children, you’ll know that after a good nap/night sleep they are less likely to be cranky and are far happier. As a result, a parent will be happier too. But there are more fundamental reasons too:

Development in all areas – emotional, physical, intellectual. Good strong brain development occurs during sleep. It’s a time where they can dream and process all the things that have gone on during the day.

It’s said that the better they sleep, the better they sleep!!! This has long term effects on the child. Setting a good sleep pattern as an infant can decrease chances of poor general health and emotional issues as they grow up.

If you have no set routine, an infant can become anxious

Getting into a routine shows a child boundaries which they genuinely love. If a child knows what’s coming next, they will be feel safe and secure and even feel like they are in control of a situation. If you have no set routine and the bedtime is a bit of a moveable feast, an infant can become anxious, leading to sleep problems. Popping them into the cot and hearing your words “Night Night it’s sleeptime”, gives them a strong bedtime and naptime association and so they become less likely to have any problems when you want them to sleep.

Also it’s highly important for mum and dad to have their own time, be that in the daytime or evenings.

As your baby gets bigger, he or she will want to stay awake for longer periods during the day. Instead of perhaps three naps a day (including one long one), they may start to change this and stretch their mornings out to fill in more playtime.

From six months, parents are advised to have a 40 minute nap in the morning, a 40 minute nap in the afternoon and a two hour nap at lunchtime – although we know this may be wishful thinking for many!

It’s highly important for mum and dad to have their own time

From nine months, baby is probably beginning to terrorise the floor boards and they may be less willing to nap successfully in the mornings. Try and stretch them out till lunchtime. You may find that initially they just can’t make it and some even fall asleep in their lunch! Allow them a 15 minute catnap before 10am. Wake them and have a snack and a drink of water. They should be able to manage to make it to midday for a good nap.

Later in the afternoon, they may or may not sleep again. This normally depends on how well they sleep at lunchtime. If they do catch a nap later, don’t let them sleep for too long and try and have them awake again by 5pm, giving you a nice couple of hours before bedtime.

Suggested Daily Routine for Baby at 9 Months
7.00/7.30 Wake and Bottle
8.30 Breakfast
(maybe a short nap around 9.40 but wake at 10)
10.30 Snack and Water
11.45 Dinner/Lunch (this is main meal of day – what we would describe as dinner)
12./12.15 Sleep (Up to 2 hours).
2.30/3.00 Bottle (7oz)
4.00 Snack and water
(May have a nap at around 4.30 but awake by 5)
5.30 Tea (lighter meal than lunchtime)
7.30 Bottle (7oz)and bed

Don’t forget to check out Eumom’s Baby & Toddler sections for more information and useful tips.

Bringing a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to help you in your child’s first special years with the confidence you need to overcome any hurdle, Niamh O’Reilly at The Nursery combines the practicality of Mary Poppins, the humour of Mrs Doubtfire and the magic of Nanny McPhee. Niamh will bring you back from the brink of total sleep deprivation and the constant stress and worry from the daily toil of being a Mum or Dad. Sometimes, all a family needs is some structure and some practical advice at working together to get back on track. Niamh can give you the confidence to do just that.

Good Sleep Habits for Toddlers getting out of bed

I recently worked with a client who had spent almost 4 years trying to reclaim the night from his little guy.  Their son had spent more time in his parents bed than in his own (and the novelty was really wearing off for mum and dad!)  We decided to create a list of tips to encourage this roving little boy to stay in his own bed!  Check out his dads blog to see how they got on http://www.godadgo.ie/toddler-sleep-solutions/

TOP SLEEP TIPS FOR TODDLERS

1. Set up a regular bedtime routine – it’s the anchor of your day
2. Make a reward chart with him. Make it fun. His involvement may inspire him.
3. If you like, get new bedclothes that he can help choose
4. (For monsters and things that go bump in the night) Get an old squirty bottle. Decorate it with him and tell him you are putting magic spray inside so he can get rid of the monsters. (So magic, it’s invisible!!)
5. Make it clear to him that this is his bed and that is our bed.
6. Ensure he understands that its night time and what that means.  Bedroom should be peaceful – there’s only one job to do here and that is to SLEEP!
7. Don’t go on about the changes and new rules – he will sense your anxiety and use it against you!  HIs job is to push boundaries and yours is to set them!
8. Put him down to bed with minimum fuss and limit the cuddling
9. Be persistent and consistent. Be determined – see the finish line and the big picture.
10. Work as a team so everyone knows the plan, and stick to it. Take turns returning him to bed – no Good Cop/Bad Cop and no soft target!

 

Niamh X