We interviewed Lyndsey Hookway, author of Holistic Sleep Coaching, about responsive sleep for toddlers to tweens. You can view the replay below. Please note that you will be asked to provide your email address at the 30-minute mark to continue viewing the replay.

What Is Responsive Sleep?

Lyndsey Hookway is a holistic sleep coach who is well known for her use of responsive sleep parenting, which gently helps a baby to sleep without using some form of sleep training. Her work is focused on attachment, relationships, connection, managing the underlying causes of sleep disturbance, and using her knowledge of sleep biology in order to help parents tackle sleep without any form of behavioral sleep training.

In This Webinar

In this webinar, Lyndsey builds upon her success with babies to give us tips for responsive sleep for toddlers to tweens. She emphasizes a gradual, empathetic approach to improving children’s sleep, using strategies tailored to individual needs such as habit stacking, deep pressure activities, and addressing nutritional deficiencies. She advises parents to consider the child’s emotional responses and underlying causes of anxiety, advocating for a holistic approach over traditional sleep training methods. She also highlights the importance of modeling emotional regulation and offers practical calming techniques, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

She discussed:

• What is normal sleep?
• What is responsive sleep?
• How does sleep work?
• What are common causes of sleep disturbance?
• Tips to optimize sleep that don’t involve a non-response
• Practical, easy-to-implement ideas that won’t cause you or your child stress

Key Discussions

Gradual Process of Improving Sleep

Improving children’s sleep is a gradual process that involves methods like habit stacking and reducing night wake-ups slowly. There are no quick fixes; consistency and patience are important.

Managing Anxiety and Emotional Regulation

Helping children manage anxiety and self-regulate their emotions is crucial for better sleep. Techniques such as deep breathing, silly time, and calming activities can help transition children from a dysregulated state to a more regulated one.

Impact of Sensory and Neurodevelopmental Issues

Children with Sensory Processing Disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism or ADHD may face additional challenges with sleep. Tailored strategies, such as deep pressure activities and working with occupational therapists, are needed to address these unique needs.

Holistic and Responsive Sleep Approach

A holistic approach to children’s sleep issues involves understanding the underlying causes, such as self-esteem, confidence, growth mindset, and broader emotional well-being rather than focusing solely on sleep behavior.

Nutrition and Sleep Hygiene

Proper nutrition and maintaining sleep hygiene are essential for better sleep. This includes addressing any nutritional deficiencies, avoiding screens before bedtime, and creating soothing bedtime routines.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Text disclaimer, speaker’s qualifications, expertise, and projects.
12:21 Modern life overwhelms kids, no carefree times.
18:16 Sleep issues may have deeper root causes.
19:10 Children experience small events that upset them.
28:18 Manage emotions, model calmness, and practice mindfulness.
31:49 Using specific, simple language for clear instructions.
39:41 Manage bath time, consider morning or post-play. Prioritize children’s nutritional needs.
41:31 Realistic sleep needs for children explained.
48:31 Set boundaries for breastfeeding.
56:18 Encourage separate sleeping for better night’s sleep.
59:14 Encourage confidence, no pressure on potty training.

About Lyndsey Hookway

One of her specialist interests is supporting families of very sick children who are breastfed, and in 2019 she set up the Breastfeeding the Brave project – a collaborative project of parents seeing to raise awareness of the unique breastfeeding needs of seriously, critically, and terminally ill children. A mother of a childhood cancer survivor, she often talks about the impact of chronic serious illness on families, and seeks to support other families living through a serious childhood illness.

Lyndsey is a respected international speaker and teacher, as well as a published author, and she regularly speaks out against the dominant sleep training culture, as well as advocating for the rights of families to receive high-quality, compassionate and expert lactation and respectful, responsive parenting support. She is the author of Holistic Sleep Coaching: Gentle Alternatives to Sleep Training for Health and Childcare Professionals and Let’s Talk About Your New Family’s Sleep.You can find out more about her work at her website https://lyndseyhookway.com/

Disclaimer

This webinar is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Epidemic Answers has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this webinar.

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