The Sleep Nanny Podcast

Sleep Disorders: OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea)

Although Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a medical condition and not something we treat at The Sleep Nanny®, it can still be helpful to be able to spot the signs which can hinder your progress with sleep training.
Signs to look out for are:
Audible Mouth Breathing
This is different to open mouth breathing – sometimes known as ‘catching flies!’ If the breath goes in and out through the mouth, which can happen both during the day and at night, that’s what you’re looking for.
Snoring
A narrowing of the airways, such as when you have a cold, can cause you to snore, which can be a sign of OSN.
Sweating
This is not to be used as a standalone symptom of OSA. It can be an accompanying sign. Some children are just warm naturally, but excessive sweating should be noted.
Tiredness
If your child seems very tired with no obvious reason and everything is in check with their sleep times etc, it could be that they’re having a disturbed sleep.
Can we help a child with OSA? Yes, we can certainly work on the behavioural aspects of the sleep issues. But we’ll only get so far if there are underlying issues.
My recommendation would be to book an appointment with an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist to investigate these symptoms. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are usually present with OSA. Once you have a diagnosis, it will be easier to address any behavioural sleep issues.
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I’ve tried everything and nothing works!

We hear this a lot! As a parent it’s not unusual to think ‘maybe I’ve got a unique child and we’ll have to
just put up with this.’ You’ve probably tried lots of things, most people think this is them.
Take a moment to consider this…
How Long Did You Try One Thing For?
You may have tried for a couple of hours, a couple of days, maybe even a handful of nights. But if you
don’t get fast results you may give up. How about sticking with an approach for a week, maybe even 10
days and see what results you get.
How Consistent Are You?
Did you sometimes see it through, but not every time? Not being consistent in your approach can give
mixed messages. We almost always find when we dig a little deeper that inconsistency is more often
than not the issue.
We understand sticking to something can be tricky when you are tired and sleep deprived, which is where an outside pair of eyes can be helpful.
When parents say they’ve tried ‘everything’, one of those things is bound to be the perfect thing for your
baby. Chances are you have already touched upon the ideal approach, it’s just that a few tweaks may
be needed to see results.
So, find the right approach for you and be consistent with it. Don’t give up, don’t write it off after a
couple of days. The right thing is out there for you. We can help you unpick, investigate and achieve
results.
Grab our free cheat sheet on Consistency.
You can download it for FREE >> Download free Quick-Guide.



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From what age can I sleep train my baby?

The simple answer to this question (when can I start sleep training?) is that babies are most receptive to sleep training from 18 weeks old.
If you’re not at that stage yet, don’t worry as you can still do what we call ‘sleep prep’. This is about setting cues and rhythms to help you baby recognise when it is sleep time. This stage is all about practise.
When your baby is ready for sleep training, work out what is going to be the most suitable approach to sleep training for your baby. All babies are different and everyone’s circumstances are different. There are a few things you can do to identify the best approach, with the key one being to identify the temperament of your baby. Knowing this will help you to formulate the ideal plan that you can stick to. It takes away any element of second guessing and overthinking. You will be equipped and ready to respond.
Remember, it’s never too early to sleep prep and it’s never too late to sleep train.
Grab our free quick-guide to help shape your baby’s sleep.
You can download it for FREE >> Download free Quick-Guide.



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Is the 4 Month Sleep Regression Real?

A lot of parents find that at 4 months of age, their baby’s sleep patterns change. This is usually called a 4 month sleep regression, but is that really what it is? It can often be seen as a regression but here I share with your four ways to help you manoeuvre your way through this.
For a handy reminder at your fingertips, I’ve created a printable cheat-sheet for you.
You can download it for FREE >> Download free Quick-Guide.



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Navigating Sleep And Travel With Young Children

Travelling with small children needn’t be a hassle. In this video I share with you 4 tips on how to avoid ‘throwing things off’.
For a handy reminder at your fingertips, I’ve created a printable Quick-Guide for you.
You can download it for FREE >> Download free Quick-Guide.



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Lucy Shrimpton, the Sleep Nanny, meets Lucinda Miller, the NatureDoc

In this fascinating discussion with leading child nutritionist Lucinda Miller, Lucy Shrimpton and Lucinda uncover brilliant feeding strategies for babies.
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Why Is My Two Year Old Waking At 5am?

Two year olds start having 5 am wakings for the following reasons:
They are overtired
Most two year olds are having way too much fun to want to nap and will not show many signs of needing a sleep so it’s up to you, the parent to know better and get that 2 hour sleep in every day!
Bedtime creeps later or becomes inconsistent
We see a lot of two year olds and their increased stamina fool parents into becoming more relaxed about bedtime, skipping the routine sometimes and having a few late nights here and there. These busy little toddlers need their consistent bedtime of around 7p.m or at least not more than 5 hours after they woke from the nap.
Not being able to self settle or resettle back to sleep
If your toddler is crashing out in less than 5 minutes at bedtime, he is not truly self settling. Or if he is staying up until he zonks, the same applies. It is incredibly difficult to resettle at 5a.m even for the skilled self settler but one who does not have this skill will find it impossible.
Inconsistency
Are you offering a range of responses and options to your toddler when he wakes in the night? If so, he will learn to hold out long and hard for the result he most wants. It is vital that you respond consistently each and every time.
A very basic reward or incentive can work wonders at this age. A sleep clock combined with lots of praise and positive language or even a small reward when he stays in bed quietly until morning – Keep it simple.
For a handy reminder at your fingertips, I’ve created a printable Quick-Guide for you.
You can download it for FREE >> Download free Quick-Guide.


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