Jacqueline, Mum of 18 months old Jessica
I contacted Natalie in a moment of desperation and complete exhaustion. 18 months of sleeplessness coupled with the anticipation of the arrival of my second child in five months left me anxious and scared of how I will cope, or just even survive. My daughter, a bright and extremely active toddler with endless energy, never welcomed sleep. Frequently waking each night, believing she was hungry, I offered her up to three bottles of milk overnight, which she willingly took. This had disastrous ramifications for her day time routine, as she would not be hungry and be clingy and unsettled from a lack of restful, uninterrupted sleep.
I had enough. I was mentally and emotionally ready for change. An in depth phone call with Natalie, at first, put me at ease, and I was comforted in the knowledge I was not alone, and that Natalie could help me teach my daughter to sleep through the night, within a week. After taking her through our day and night routines, Natalie offered sound advice, covering everything from day and night routines, feeding, bottle feeds and playtime. I left the call feeling confident to try the strategies she recommended, although a little skeptical that 18 months of bad habits could be undone in only one week. She also promised that she would be available to talk, if I needed to. This was reassuring. I had also booked the 6 hour program, so Natalie could witness first hand, the behaviours which we needed to address, and more so, to provide me with the support and courage to deal with the feelings of anxiousness and guilt.
After three nights of persistence in applying Natalie’s suggestions, my daughter began sleeping through the night. Two months have since passed, and she has learned to resettle herself overnight without the need for intervention or a bottle. Waking in the morning more hungry after a restful 11-12 hour overnight sleep, she welcomes her bowl of cereal and fruit.
Natalie’s approach to sleep management is different in that she acknowledges each baby/toddler is unique, and only a mother can truly understand what can be effective, and so her strategies are flexible and supportive. She articulates with love the importance of the decisions a parent makes today and their impact on a child’s development and the adult they will eventually grow to be. She has had such a profound positive impact on our family, and I highly recommend her.
Jacqueline
