The Sleep Nanny Podcast

Bosses with Babies, Snoozeshade inventor Cara Sayer

Welcome to my Bosses with Babies podcast series where I talk to entrepreneur mums who have built their successful business while raising little ones!
This week I am talking to Cara Sayer, Inventor of the Snoozeshade and mum to 12 year old daughter, Holly.
Cara was having a lunch out with a group of friends when she was inspired to create the Snoozeshade.  All the mums had the same concerns throughout the year… 
Were their babies warm enough in the winter or exposed to harmful sun rays in the summer? It was at this lunch when she looked around and noticed that they were all covering their buggies and prams with jumpers and blankets, that the idea was born! Cara saw it as a problem that needed to be solved!  
The Snoozeshade took two years to develop and went live in March 2010 but she hasn’t looked back since!   
Many people have great ideas like the Snoozeshade but don’t necessarily do anything with them. According to Cara, stubbornness has definitely been a factor in her success coupled with curiosity. 
Safety obsessed, she made sure that the Snoozeshade has the safety standards of a newborn toy.  She also worked with other great women on her product and feels that this has been key and essential in taking the Snoozeshade from an idea to a physical product. 
Cara acknowledges that external approval for any concept is a really great idea.  She took her concept to mumsnet to get opinions on her ‘buggy blind’ with world domination in mind!  Today her product is widely available and is carried in JoJo Mama Bebe  and Mothercare to name a few. 
Her next venture? Cara is currently writing a book and has a digital course on how to invent and develop a product, covering topics like intellectual property to help delay people copying your ideas, to how to get your foothold into the market and encourage customer loyalty.  
Cara’s top tips: 
Work with people that you like and trust.  
Make mistakes and learn from them – running a business is never neat and tidy, it’s a rollercoaster.  
When it comes to the challenges of growing a business and raising a family at the same time, Cara feels like she has had two babies, her daughter and Snoozeshade.  She experienced a break down in 2011 which was a wake up call proving that you can’t do everything all at once. She learnt that some things can wait, the world won’t stop turning.  
Cara often felt like she was a jack of all trades and master of none however she tried not to miss any of her daughters special moments, despite starting the business when she was just six months old. Now her daughter is really proud of her mum and it’s really good to see her mum being a successful business person and role model.
2020 has shown how difficult the juggle has been for mums working and homeschooling. Cara admits to not being a messy play mum and how important it is to not judge yourself against other people. We need to accept who we are as individuals and not be too tough on ourselves. 
Cara’s main lesson from being a mum and an entrepreneur is to know your numbers! Prior to her divorce she was not having to rely on the numbers but in 2014 she had to really look at this important part of her business.  
She was in lots of retailers and working with distributors but wasn’t actually making too much money from this so she took control back and had to look at the numbers.  The third parties were not giving the customer service that she wanted either so she has taken back control of that too. Her main piece of advice is to focus on the numbers, look at the open doors and get yourself visible.  
Cara’s attributes the following three character traits to her success; 
Resilience
Realism AND Optimism – especially this year
Abundance, there is room for everyone.
I hope you enjoy listening to Cara as much as I did!

Baby Sleep Schedule During Daylight Savings 2020

It’s that time of year again when everyone gets just-a-little-bit confused about what time it is.
There are an increased number of reported road traffic accidents on the day after the clocks change, which just shows how much we are affected by disruptions to our sleep!
Did I oversleep? Have I woken up too early? It can catch adults out and the majority of us are able to tell the time! Just imagine how confusing it can be for children!
With that in mind, I wanted to offer some tips on how you can help your little ones to adjust.
There are a few ways you can manage your child’s sleep with the clock change but younger babies are more sensitive to the time so they may benefit from a gradual adjustment….
The gradual approach works by moving your child’s bedtime in 15 minute increments over the four days prior to the clock change:
Wednesday night bedtime is 7.15pm
Thursday night bedtime is 7.30pm
Friday night bedtime is 7.45pm
Saturday night bedtime is 8pm. (Then the clocks go back in the middle of the night)
Sunday night bedtime is the new 7pm
For older children or those less sensitive to the smaller minutes, my recommendation is to go for an immediate switch to the new time, and save a week’s worth of confusing bedtime routines.
For example, if your child’s bedtime is normally 7pm, on Saturday night try to keep your child up for an extra hour and, for one night only, give them an 8pm bedtime.
Remember that the clocks change overnight and you gain an hour, so ideally your child will wake at their usual time (i.e 7am) by the new clock time. They’ve had their usual amount of sleep, you’ve adjusted to the time difference, everyone’s happy, and on Sunday night just continue with your 7pm bedtime by the new clock time.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Some little ones will struggle to make it to 8pm on the Saturday, which could make things difficult. Over-tired, grumpy little ones can lead to night wakings or an unusually early start for mummy and daddy. If you suspect this might happen to your child, here’s some suggestions.
• If your child is still taking regular naps, add in an extra mid-afternoon catnap.
• If he doesn’t take naps, add in a short, one-off nap in the afternoon.
The alternative is to try my Split the Difference approach:
Splitting the difference means just that- take the extra hour and split it in half. This means putting your little one to bed at 7:30pm rather than stretching it out to 8pm. It may mean he wakes a little early (by the new clock time) but that will soon iron itself out when you return to a 7pm bedtime on Sunday.
With the clock change, the amount of light in your child’s room will also change which can affect their melatonin levels (melatonin is a hormone associated with the onset of sleep.) Make sure they get plenty of daylight and fresh air first thing in the morning to regulate their melatonin levels and suppress that sleepy hormone. Blackout blinds can also be a huge help so the new, lighter mornings don’t confuse them further!
Above all, make sure all those bedtime cues in your routine (such as bath time and story time) remain the same, as the familiarity of these will ensure that any adjustment is made with the minimum amount of fuss.
It may take around a week to be fully back into routine on the new time.
Many children are not affected by a small difference in time so it is simpler and perhaps easier to make a quick adjustment by doing the immediate shift. Ultimately, you know your child best so you’ll be able to identify which plan will work best for you- all I suggest is make sure you have a plan in place to avoid a horribly early wake up call on Sunday morning!
Join us for a free sleep training – Sleep Training Made Simple: https://www.sleepnanny.net/ss-register

Sleep Talking with…Emma Lambert

This week I am Sleep Talking with Certified Sleep Nanny Consultant and mum of 2, Emma Lambert. We discuss her journey into becoming a sleep consultant, the joys and challenges of running her own successful business and how it feels when tired parents get their babies sleeping!
Experiencing extreme sleep deprivation and reaching out for help first hand, Emma wanted to pay it forward and share her knowledge to save other families from going through the same pain!
Emma reflects on the work:life juggle, and is enjoying being able to be around for her boys, having flexibility whilst also having a rewarding career.  She gets a buzz from being in control of her own day, and can feel the stress that has been lifted by making a move out of the corporate world with this new career direction.
The most rewarding element of her new career is being able to help people come back from extreme sleep deprivation and witnessing the life changing effects of this.  She loves educating and coaching parents, and imparting knowledge too.
Recognising her weaknesses and working through them have been key to Emma’s success.  She believes that by getting the big things done the little things will sort themselves out is key to a good day, and quashing impostor syndrome by having a mentor and coach to help lay the foundations of her new business.
Emma had a super successful first year as a Sleep Consultant which she puts down to her focus, planning and being clear on her direction and goals.  She was realistic about the challenges and used structure and consistency in order to overcome these, analysing all the time.
Emma continues to focus on her goals and wins, and being financially independent so she can treat and reward herself and her family!
What are your child’s current sleep challenges? Book in a complimentary call today with Emma by either email emma@blissfulbedtime.co.uk or call Emma 07568 490457.  Alternatively check out Emma’s Facebook page, or website.
Register for our free training: An Introduction To Childhood Sleep Consulting >> https://www.sleepnannyacademy.com/ICSC-register

Sleep Training Is Nonsense!

Learning to fall asleep is just that – a learned skill – it is something we actively teach our babies to do whether you realise it or not.
How much effort do you put into teaching your toddler to walk? Maybe you feel the back pain, or maybe you barely notice it but either way, you DO teach them! They watch you as you demonstrate and guide them without even knowing it. In fact, most things we teach our children are through example.
So why do some folks feel like teaching a baby to sleep is so terrible?
I just don’t get it.
Why is helping your little one to develop an absolutely essential skill in life and giving them all the added health, cognitive, and learning benefits, seen as such a terrible thing?
Whatever you choose to call it sleep training is sleep training.
If you intentionally take action steps to help your little one sleep better, it’s sleep training. Some people try to lure you in with suggestions that sleep training is bad but their solution is wonderful – their solution is still sleep training – just like us, they promote a kind, responsive and loving approach, but it’s still sleep training!
I’d rather call it what it is and acknowledge that it is a force for good.
So if you’re happy with how your little one sleeps, excellent and if you’re not, that’s okay, most of us aren’t! Whatever you do, shoot for the best possible scenario for you and your family.
For this reason, sleep training is wise.
Just like any learning or training, why would you deprive your child of sleep when he or she COULD be sleeping so much better. I am so passionate about this which is why I get frustrated when people try to create fear in parents about sleep training like it is something bad based on old ideas and methods that are so out-dated they are irrelevant. 
Modern-day, healthy sleep training that is responsive its not only safe but it is the kindest most responsible thing you can do for your little one.
Get your free copy of our Baby Sleep Guide.
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Sleep Talking with Lucy Piper

This week I am ‘Sleep Talking’ with friend of mine and TV presenter Lucy Piper. Lucy and I met working on The Baby Show which she has presented for 16 years, and she has a wealth of knowledge on the subject of pregnancy, labour and becoming a mum.
Lucy loves all things baby and has a lot of empathy and admiration for all new mums.
Lucy is mum of 2 to Phoebe, age 14 and Charlie who is 10.
On this episode we talk about all sorts including…
* The upside of the lock-down.
* Children settling at bedtime and the importance of routine
* How children’s personalities can affect sleep.
Lucy and I really could talk ALL DAY but we have captured the best bits for you! Check out this episode now.
Get your free copy of our Baby Sleep Guide.
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Sleep Talking with Jenni Dunman – Daisy First Aid

This week I am Sleep Talking with Jenni Dunman of Daisy First Aid.  
Prior to creating her business, Jenni was a police officer in London and experienced a vast number of real first aid emergencies including treating casualties at Edgware Road tube station during its bombing in 2005. 
 
In 2014 Jenni (mum of 3 to Daisy aged 12, Lottie 10 and Benny 7) was sitting in a coffee shop chatting with a friend when her friend’s daughter choked on a cookie, being an advanced first aider, Jenni knew just what to do. She quickly stepped in and successfully removed the blockage and the little girl recovered perfectly.
 
It was this moment that she realised then that first aid was not something regularly offered to new parents.
Jenni felt she wanted to educate parents in a way that made them feel happy, confident and empowered rather than terrified and intimidated…. And so Daisy First Aid was born 
Jenni has grown her business from table top to a multi-award winning company in just 4 years.  She is now considered a paediatric first aid expert.  She has featured in numerous publications, has a huge celebrity parents portfolio and volunteers her time at many national charity events.
It was such a pleasure to talk with her for this episode of Sleep Talking, check it out now!
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Sleep Talking with Ashley Wilson @amothersedit

This week I am Sleep Talking with Ashley Wilson, Instagram star and founder of AMothersEdit.com the fashion and lifestyle site.  She is mum to 2 beautiful girls Vivienne and Margot.
Ashley started her successful website and Instagram when her eldest daughter was just one, and has since loved growing it into the fashionable mothers online resource for beauty tips and tricks, travel, health and shopping.
We had a timely chat as Ashley is currently having a few battles with her youngest daughter, Margot (3) who is reluctant to ditch her dummy, we talk about the challenges this brings and how difficult it is to stick to your guns – as when you’ve made the decision to ditch it – there really is no going back!!
We also discussed;
* Nap changes during the lock-down.
* The ‘sleep tank’ and when to top this up.
* Homeschooling challenges
* And the consequences of making comparisons….
It was a delight to talk to Ashley, we are so grateful that she made the time to take part in this series – check it out now!
Get your free copy of our Baby Sleep Guide.
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Sleep Talking with Jools Oliver….

This week I am ‘Sleep Talking with…’ the amazing Jools Oliver!
Jools is a busy mum to five kids, Poppy Honey, 18, Daisy Boo, 17, Petal Blossom, 11, and Buddy Bear, nine, as well as three-year-old River Rocket.   She is wife to TV chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver.
I first spoke to Jools over a year ago when she was having challenges with Rivers sleep.  The family moved from sleep perfection to chaos overnight, when River found out that he could climb out of his cot and into their bed!
I wanted to touch base with her to see how things are a year on.  We talked about how River Rocket is living up to his name, and how being the youngest of 5 has shaped his personality!
We also discussed hormones, technology and trying to keep your kids happy and well rested during the lockdown.
Check it out today!
Get your free copy of our Baby Sleep Guide.
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Baby Wakes as Soon as Put Down!

Do you find yourself holding your baby until they’re asleep and every time you try to put him down, he wakes up? You’re not alone, I am contacted by tired parents all the time who have this challenge.  
Babies don’t know how to fall asleep until we teach them. Fact. So, understandably it’s strange for a baby to go from all the comfort of the motion, sound and closeness that lulled him to sleep in the womb, to suddenly being placed in a flat, still, open space.
To help your baby become a great sleeper means teaching them how to settle to sleep, here I am setting out some simple steps to help your little one learn these skills….
Get your free copy of our Baby Sleep Guide.
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Sleep Talking with Gina – The Honest Parent.

This week on ‘Sleep Talking with…’  I am talking with Gina aka The Honest Parent (@thehonestparentuk).  A former client of mine, Gina shows all sides of parenting and not just […]