The Promise of Sleep

What about me? You say. Sleep deprivation is no laughing matter. In fact, it is classified as a form of torture. So in this episode we look at practical ways to manage that serious, fog-inducing lack of sleep. Dr Delwyn Bartlett from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research talks about the difficulties new parents face. Nutritionist Heidi Sze talks about the food that can nourish us. Social worker Lana Sussman from The Parents Village gives us some simple coping strategies, and psychotherapist Melissa Hughes from Baby and Beyond Counselling, talks about the impact sleep deprivation can have on relationships and how to minimise the fall-out.

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There are all kinds of things that can wake your child up at night like nightmares, bed-wetting, and illness. And then there are the more serious kinds of disruptions like night terrors, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

We hear from Dr Delwyn Bartlett from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, and Dr Arthur Teng, paediatrician and sleep disorder specialist at the Sydney Children's Sleep Disorders Clinic who tells us how to spot a sleep disorder, and what we can do about them.

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Most parents at some point will end up co-sleeping with their baby or toddler, and yet we are often told that it's the worst thing we can do. It's not difficult to find a story about co-sleeping that ends in tragedy. But many of us still do it. Some choose it consciously but keep it to themselves.

This week on The Promise of Sleep we look at the pros and cons of co-sleeping with experts including parenting educator Pinky MacKay, James McKenna, Ph.D, Director Mother-Baby Behavioural Sleep Lab, and Lorraine Harrison, Red Nose Safe Sleep Educator.

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Self settling is essentially controlled crying's more evolved sibling. Once upon a time people would say to let a baby "cry it out." Self settling is a process of letting a baby cry a little bit, then responding when it feels right. Little Ali (8 months old) is not sleeping well at night.

This episode follows the family's experience with Mothercraft Nurse Chris Minogue as she takes a holistic approach, tweaks Ali's routine and applies self settling techniques to improve his sleep.

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Where do you turn when you can't get your baby to sleep? There are mountains of articles and online forums - not to mention advice from friends and family - but there are also professional sleep consultants you can call on.

Host Shevonne Hunt talks to Derek McCormack, Acting Executive Director at Raising Children Network; Jo Ryan, founder of Baby Bliss; Cindy Davenport, Director of Safe Sleep Space, and Mothercraft Nurse Chris Minogue about how to find the right consultant for your family.

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We've all been told that when a baby arrives they turn your world upside down, and we've all been warned about how little sleep we will get. But what does the first year of sleep actually feel like with a new baby? Is there a magical time when bub will sleep through the night? What happens before then?

Host Shevonne Hunt talks with a number of experts to find out what we can expect in the first year.

We hear from Fran Chavasse, registered nurse and midwife, and senior nurse educator at Tresillian, Professor James McKenna, Director of the Mother Baby Behavioural Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and Jo Ryan, a sleep consultant from Baby Bliss.

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The Promise of Sleep is a new Kinderling podcast that aims to get your family sleeping better. We find out about self-settling, co-sleeping, how to choose a sleep consultant, and how parents can deal with sleep deprivation - all with real families, guided by experts.

Presenter & EP: Shevonne Hunt, host of Kinderling Conversation and mum of two

Producer & Editor: Cinnamon Nippard

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