16. Overcome Bedtime Battles & Help Your Child Sleep Better with Helena Mooney
I was so delighted to sit down with Aware Parenting Instructor, Hand-in-Hand Parenting Instructor and host of the Parenting with PLAY Podcast, Helena Mooney for this episode, and chat about a topic that many parents struggle with - BEDTIME!
We discuss the importance of shifting the current bedtime paradigm of quiet and calmness, to instead meeting our child's needs and wherever they are at, whether that be holding space for upset feelings, or using play, wrestling and rowdiness at bedtime.
Helena explains why we need to throw "bedtime routines" out the window and why these "routines" are setting us up for failure.
Helena shares some playful games to help children with brushing their teeth, power-reversal games for bedtime and joining our children in being loud and noisy at bedtime, and why that will work in our favour as parents, while also having the added bonus of helping our child sleep better at night.
We both also chat about how sleep in a form of separation, which can lead to feelings of anxiety in children, and why these feelings can still occur if we co-sleep with our child.
There is so much wisdom, knowledge and fun in this episode. This episode is one that will benefit every parent, because we've all been there on the battleground that is bedtime.
Where to Find Helena:
Website - Parenting with PLAY
Facebook - Parenting with PLAY with Helena Mooney
Instagram - @helenamooney_parentingwithplay
Podcast - Parenting with PLAY Podcast
Resources Mentioned:
ABOUT HELENA:
I'm a certified Parenting by Connection Instructor, an Aware Parenting Instructor, Doula, Maternity Services Advocate and Mum to 2 children. Which basically means, I love working with mums, just like you, to have the best experience possible - when pregnant, giving birth and being a parent. Because I too have struggled - to know what to do, to be the parent I want to be, to not shout so much(!) - and I have been so fortunate to receive incredible support and to discover an approach that has had a profound impact on mine & my family's lives. And I want to pass this on to you. We're not designed to do it all. And we're not supposed to do it all on our own. So I'm really pleased you're here and I look forward to helping you: through my free blogs, videos & podcasts, my online courses and 1:1 consultations.