Meet: Baby ANNIKA

Family members: Mom (Nicole) and Dad (David)

When we started working together: Annika at 10 weeks old

Background story: Nic is a first-time mom to a healthy baby girl. She was anxious and unable to reconcile all the conflicting information that was provided in a sleep book that she was trying to follow. Her early days during the newborn stage were challenging. Like all new parents, she wanted to do the right thing by her child, especially in the area of sleep. However, she did not have clear guidance and could not enjoy motherhood because of all the emotional and mental stress. This resulted in her feeling completely exhausted. 

Initial Sleep Issue:

• Baby Annika was waking up 45 minutes after bedtime without fail every night.
• She was catnapping (unable to resettle) for her day naps

Nicole’s Goals:  

• Night time: Getting baby Annika to sleep through the whole night
• To resolve the persistent wake 45 minutes later bedtime in the evening. (It was also taking a while for baby Annika to resettle when she did wake, resulting in mom and dad not being able to have some downtime at night)
• Day time: For baby Annika to nap well during the day

Success story & outcome:

• Baby Annika stopped waking up at the 45-minute mark in the evenings!
• She started sleeping longer periods at night (at least 8-10 hours), occasionally sleeping through the night (12hours!).
• She now naps really well during the day (2x 2 hours + one catnap)
• Nic is happy, enjoying motherhood more, is more relaxed and reassured, and has more downtime!

What Nicci (and David) have to say: How has it been working with Ruth?

 Before I started working with Ruth, I felt overwhelmed, riddled with anxiety and out of my depth. After working with Ruth, I have become a more confident and knowledgeable mum. I really learned how to better understand my baby, how sleep works for a newborn child, and how to provide for her needs. There’s a lot to learn when a baby enters your life.

For a new mum, your baby’s good sleep is essential in order for you to be a present mother and enjoy the new season. Sleeping on purpose allowed me this learning opportunity by teaching me how to teach my baby to sleep! Ruth coached me with each changing season and provided the support I needed to become increasingly confident. She actually taught me to get to know my baby, especially when changes were occurring so quickly and frequently.

The level of support provided by Ruth was excellent and far exceeded my expectations. Ruth provided great content, lots of information and explained why things happen, really well. In my opinion, this was the most important aspect. She didn’t just tell you what to do, she explained the why behind the responses. It allowed me to better understand sleep as a concept and this is what gave and continues to give me confidence in tackling the changing sleep needs and advances made by my child.  

I am most looking forward to the future because I know Ruth is committed to helping families through the journey. Not just a once off. She’s committed to helping you through developmental needs when it affects baby’s sleep, through travel and changes in family situations and it gives you a sense of unity and confidence to know that you are not alone. It can be daunting when you feel you’ve just got it right, and things are changing again and your baby’s sleep seems to be regressing.

Ruth is present, attentive, supportive and ensures she is there to help you through the next season of change. This has been and continues to be a significant aspect for a new mum.

 

What encouragement or words of wisdom can you give to a parent who can relate to your story?

Get information and knowledge. Be prepared but also get to know your baby! Parent from a confident place and not out of fear and anxiety. And the right information and coaching allow you to do this. Take sleep classes and don’t accept that this is just how it is being a new mum – sleep deprived, barely surviving and miserable.

Having Ruth there to help me understand sleep and how to help my child through this journey, has allowed me to become less anxious resulting in a more enjoyable time as a new mum. It has also allowed me to be a better wife and allowed me to pursue other things that I felt I needed to be a present mum. This was often a cup of tea and some time reading a book (which I was able to do because my baby was napping!) so that I felt I was recharged and energised to care for my baby’s needs.

How would you do things differently if or when you have another baby?

I’d probably be kinder to myself, understand that I am not going to ruin everything if I hold my baby to sleep every now and again. I’d remind myself that my baby’s changing sleep needs is not a reflection on myself as a mother, but rather the fact that my child and I are learning it together and mistakes are bound to take place and I can’t learn it all straight away. I would certainly invest in getting a refresher sleep course.

 

Summary:

• It is so common, especially for new parents to be confused and conflicted by all the information out there regarding sleep.
• This case highlights that besides assisting a child to sleep, reassurance and support for the parents involved is often overlooked
• There should not be an expectation that parents are meant to be baby sleep experts, just by virtue of then being parents