Ask any new parent and the majority will tell you about the demands of parenting on their sleep-deprived bodies. While lack of sleep to attend to a baby is a reality, does it have to be that hard? How long should the night-waking last?
Ask any new parent and the majority will tell you about the demands of parenting on their sleep-deprived bodies. While lack of sleep to attend to a baby is a reality, does it have to be that hard? How long should the night-waking last?
When it comes to babies and sleep, it seems like there aren’t a lot of options. You are probably familiar with the advice to teach your baby to self-settle, which is done in a structured way. If that doesn’t seem like the answer to you, or if you’ve tried it and it only seems to make life even harder, the only option left seems to be to accept your baby’s current sleep patterns and your own exhaustion.
While a realistic view of a baby’s sleep is absolutely beneficial (babies do wake during the night), parents may be happy to learn that there are effective programs for healthy parent-baby sleep help. One of the premises of this new approach is that parent-baby sleep often becomes unnecessarily disrupted. Unnecessary disruptions can be minimised by understanding some little-known and yet scientifically supported facts about sleep. Here is what you need to know about baby sleep help:
Each baby has a different sleep need.
There is remarkable variation in sleep needs and sleeping patterns from baby to baby. Comparing your baby to others or aiming for a specific number of hours of sleep is likely to be unhelpful. When the obstacles to healthy sleep have been removed, your baby can be trusted to take the amount of sleep that your baby needs.
Sleep is a natural biological rhythm.
Our sleep patterns, and our baby’s sleep patterns, are biologically regulated. You don’t actually need to teach your baby to sleep. In fact, there are two aspects to this force: your homeostatic sleep pressure and your circadian clock. Baby (and parent) sleep can become very disrupted when these powerful biological forces become out of sync with each other or out of sync with real time.
Stress and anxiety interfere with sleep.
Healthy sleep can be promoted with relaxation and the down-regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Babies often fall asleep after feeds, and this is completely natural: the hormones of satiety and relaxation allow the baby’s natural biological rhythms to take over and baby drifts off to sleep. Babies also hunger for sensory stimulation and satisfying this drive brings relaxation, too.
The best way to meet your baby’s hunger for stimulation is to live a rich and enjoyable life yourself, with baby in tow: social activities, time outside in the fresh air, regular exercise, and activities you enjoy. Note that if your baby feeds very frequently day and night, your baby may be experiencing a feeding rather than a sleeping difficulty and it is important to seek professional support.
Remember, every baby is unique, so experiment with how you can best put these facts into practice in your family.
Parenting Support: Who Can Help?
There are a range of organisations that can help if you’re having trouble getting bub down and you (both) need better rest.
1. Maternal and Child Health Services
Maternal and child health services are often located at the hospital; you probably had conversations with representatives while you were there after giving birth. These services offer free support for new parents. Trained nurses can offer guidance on sleep routines, feeding, and general baby care. They can also help identify whether there may be underlying issues affecting your baby’s sleep.
2. Sleep Consultants
You’ll find a huge number of sleep consultants in Brisbane who specialise in baby and toddler sleep. Hiring a consultant can provide personalised support and strategies tailored to your family’s needs. Don’t stress, though. We have a full list of consultants below to make your life easier!
3. Parenting Helplines
Parenting helplines can give you immediate advice and support over the phone. These services are staffed by trained professionals who will be able to guide you through sleep-related concerns. There’s a list of parenting helplines below.
4. Community Parenting Groups
Social media is full of parenting groups, and you might find some in your local area as well. Ask around, and join the groups – you’ll find other parents who are facing similar experiences and may be able to give you advice. Many councils and community centres also offer these community programs.
5. Pediatricians and GPs
If you have concerns there may be something underlying behind the lack of sleep for bub, consult with your GP or pediatrician. They can help rule out any medical conditions that might impact your baby’s sleep. They can also refer you to other specialists if required (which can also decrease the cost of those specialists).
6. Online Resources and Forums
Websites like Raising Children Network and various parenting forums can provide valuable information and support from other parents and professionals. While online resources should never replace professional advice, they can still be helpful when you’re struggling.
7. Sleep Clinics
Some hospitals in Brisbane have specialised sleep clinics that offer comprehensive assessments and treatment plans for babies and young children struggling with sleep issues. You’ll find some of these in our list below.
8. Lactation Consultants
If frequent feeding is interfering with sleep, a lactation consultant can provide support and advice on feeding techniques and schedules.
9. Alternative Therapies
If you’re interested in alternative approaches, holistic therapies such as baby massage, chiropractic care, and acupuncture might be able to offer relief that can promote better sleep for your baby.
10. Early Parenting Centres
Early parenting centres offer residential programs where families can stay for a few days to receive intensive support with sleep and settling techniques, feeding issues, and other parenting challenges. These are often located at hospitals.
Parenting Helplines, For Immediate Support
In Queensland, call the following if you have any concerns or questions.
- 13 HEALTH Queensland: 1343 2584 (13 HEALTH), 24 hours, 7 days
- Parentline Queensland: 1300 301 300, 7 days, 8 am-10 pm
General family health helplines that can assist parents across Australia include:
- ForWhen: 1300 242 322, Monday-Friday, 9 am-4.30 pm
- Healthdirect: 1800 022 222, 7 days, 24 hours
- Lifeline: 131 114, 7 days, 24 hours
- Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) Helpline: 1300 726 306, Monday-Friday, 9 am-7.30 pm; Saturday and public holidays, 9 am-4 pm
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: 1800 882 436, 7 days, 7 am-midnight
- 13 YARN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support): 139 276, 7 days, 24 hours
- 1800 RESPECT (National Sexual Assault Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service): 1800 737 732, 7 days, 24 hours
- Australian Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding helpline: 1800 MUM 2 MUM (or 1800 686 268), 7 days, 24 hours
- Beyond Blue Support Service: 1300 224 636, 7 days, 24 hours
Where To Find Baby Sleep Help in Brisbane: Long-Term Solutions
If you feel at your wit’s end and want to take the next step, the following consultancy services may be helpful:
Ellen Barron Family Centre
Ellen Barron Family Centre in Chermside offers specialist child health services for families dealing with sleep, settling, and feeding difficulties. A referral from a health professional is required.
Brisbane Early Parenting Centre
Located at North West Private Hospital, the Brisbane Early Parenting Centre provides a four-night residential stay with expert advice and support for infants and toddlers up to 18 months. A doctor’s referral is necessary.
Happy Baby Consultancy
Happy Baby Consultancy offers personalised sleep solutions for babies and toddlers through in-home consultations and online support.
Settle & Flow
Settle & Flow is based in Nundah and specialises in gentle sleep training methods tailored to your baby’s needs to promote healthy sleep habits.
Prestige Baby Guru
Prestige Baby Guru offers expert sleep consulting services, night nanny and overnight reprieve to ensure your baby gets the rest they need.
Baby Sleep Consultant
Abby is a Brisbane-based baby sleep consultant specialising in personalised sleep plans for families.
Perfect Timing Sleep Consultant
Perfect Timing offers educational consulting services to help your baby sleep better based on a holistic approach. Offering phone, in-house and night consults.
Bedtime Baby Sleep Solutions
Specialising in alternative medicine, Bedtime Baby Sleep Solutions offers tailored sleep plans. Home visits available in Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Springfield, Logan.
Eat Play Sleep
This Brisbane-based consultant provides 24-hour sleep support for babies. Use the website to book a phone consultation.
The Sleep Sanctuary
Located in Everton Hills, The Sleep Sanctuary offers round-the-clock consulting services to support tired parents and improve the family’s sleep.
Sleep Right Sleep Tight
Sleep Right Sleep Tight offers a free initial 15-minute consultation and provides group seminars, home support, refresher consults, and email support throughout Brisbane.
Baby Sleep Well
This children’s health service provides expert sleep consulting. Offers phone and skype consults, in-home consults and overnight stays within 50km Brisbane radius.
Brisbane Baby Sleep Clinic
Located in Woolloongabba at Queensland Children’s Lung and Sleep Specialists, this clinic offers expert sleep consulting services. Make an in-person booking.
Lavender Sleep and Wellness
Lavender Sleep and Wellness provides holistic sleep solutions and tailored plans for babies and children. Initial consult is online.
Sleep Baby Expert
Located in Moorooka, this service offers 24-hour support for sleep disorders in babies. Contact them at 0409 622 424. Service available in English and Spanish.
Snooze & Co
Snooze & Co provides round-the-clock consulting services to help your baby sleep soundly. Contact them at 0405 805 297.
Dream Winks
Dream Winks offers tailored sleep solutions to improve your baby’s sleep quality. Contact them at 0409 037 121.
Lullababy SOS
Lullababy SOS offers holistic sleep consulting services focusing on gentle and effective sleep solutions. Located in NSW but often visits Brisbane for consultations.
All About Sleep
All About Sleep provides professional advice and sleep plans to address various sleep issues in babies and toddlers. Phone or video consults and virtual in-home visits are available.
Freedomummy
Freedomummy offers customised sleep consultation packages to help your baby sleep better through the night. Phone consults are available.
In the end, understanding that your baby’s sleep needs are unique and recognising the natural rhythms and stressors that impact sleep can help provide a solid foundation for better sleep habits.
Remember, you’re not alone. With the right guidance and help from the professionals mentioned above, you and your baby can achieve healthier sleep patterns.
