What can parents do to avoid bedtime meltdowns? Why do established settling routines stop working? How can children be encouraged to fall asleep more consistently? What simple, natural steps can parents take to help children feel calm?
Sleep and rest arent always the natural processes we expect them to be. Dr Adam Blanning, child-development consultant and holistic physician, suggests that they are learned skills which grow with children alongside physical developmental stages. In this insightful book he offers practical ways in which parents and carers can support children to use their senses -- from taste, smell and touch, through to balance and movement - to self-soothe, sleep and ultimately build resilience for life.
Based on extensive research and using clear examples, Dr Blanning explores a range of methods for children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, and tackles key parental concerns, including:
-- Tips for settling toddlers who always say ‘No!’
-- How to establish calming daily rhythms
-- Ways to help children settle during times of anxiety
-- Self-soothing techniques that can improve disruptive behaviour
Raising Sound Sleepers is an invaluable resource that will empower parents and carers to guide children towards rest, sleep and feeling calm -- skills that will last a lifetime.
Dr Adam Blanning practices integrative and anthroposophic family medicine in Colorado, USA. Alongside his work as a doctor, Dr Blanning lectures and teaches internationally on topics relating to holistic medicine and the dynamics of human development, with a special interest in supporting children. He organises training courses in anthroposophic medicine for doctors and other healthcare providers and works regularly with Steiner-Waldorf schools as a developmental consultant. Dr Blanning is a past president of the Anthroposophic Health Association (AHA) and the author of Understanding Deeper Developmental Needs, an in-depth exploration of challenging behaviours in children. He lives in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Introduction
1: What Is the Inner Sensory Pathway?
2: Soothing Patterns for Babies
3: When Soothing Gets Stuck and How to Shift It
4: Finding Balance from Age 1 Onward
5: Rhythms and Routines from Age 1 Onward
6: When Older Children Struggle to Sleep and Settle
7: Independence and Boundaries from Age 2½ Onward
8: Building Well-being and Resilience for All Ages
9: Stuck Sensory Behaviors and Therapeutic Applications
10: Common Times of Anxiety and Transition
Afterword
About the Author
Endnotes
Acknowledgments
A Note on Anthroposophic Medicine
Index
