Sleep tips work a dream

IAIN MCGREGOR/Waikato Times

SLEEP EASY: Megan Campbell and her two children, from left Zoe, 2, and Finlay, 4 1/2, are good sleepers thanks to simple behaviour techniques.

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Two years ago little Finlay Babbage barely slept, waking his exhausted parents up to 30 times a night.

Now the 4½-year-old Hamilton boy practically puts himself to bed, and sleeps soundly.

Mum Megan Campbell and dad Tim Babbage put the enormous change in their son's sleeping patterns down to a few simple techniques which they say have changed their lives.

In fact, Ms Campbell was so sold on the techniques taught to her by child sleep and behaviour consultant Tracie Martin that she joined forces with the Auckland mum and started a Dream Parenting website to help other parents of "wakeful" children.

Known as the responsive and consistent approach, the method differs from New Zealand's commonly given piece of advice to let babies cry themselves to sleep.

"It's pretty hard listening to your child cry," Ms Campbell said.

"It's about two-way communication and recognising that children, especially babies can't use any other language except for crying."

After working with Ms Martin, the family discovered there were reasons for Finlay's disruptive sleeping habits.

"He had a lot of health issues like reflux, ear infections and got croup and all those usual child illnesses. We tried cried-out and it did work for a while but every time he got sick we had to do it all over again."

Through attachment theory they realised Finlay had anxieties including being afraid of the rain.

Once the couple sat down with their son, talked about the rain and drew pictures with him, explaining why the rain was important, Finlay's fear disappeared.

They also made going to be bed more appealing by changing the toddler's room and routine around to make it about him, and gradually reduced his need for them to "babysit" him at bedtime.

At the height of the problem, Finlay was waking up to 30 times a night "Fin was a worst case scenario" and at the same time the couple had six-month-old daughter Zoe, who had sleep apnoea and reflux.

"We were literally operating on no sleep.

"You have no adult relationship at all."

The stressed-out parents said after applying the methods to both their children, they now had a much calmer, happier household.

Ms Campbell was so impressed with the results she decided to go into business with Ms Martin.

"We were going to write a book, but if you're tired and stressed the last thing you want to do is read a book."

So the pair created the Dream Parenting website, which allows people to download video clips of Ms Martin's advice for a small fee.

- © Fairfax NZ News