Presentation Information

Supporting Families in a Sleep Crisis Without Sleep Training

• Speaker: Lyndsey Hookway , PhD, RNC, HV, IBCLC
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

Many parents reach out for sleep support, and in an era of unregulated sleep providers, and greater pressure on families than ever, many parents are keen to explore strategies that are compatible with responsive, respectful parenting that is protective of the parent-infant bond, and optimal lactation.

Equipping lactation supporters with robust, evidence based, effective and simple sleep optimisation strategies is pragmatic, as this may prevent parents from seeking support from a provider who is unqualified to make a full assessment of infant feeding.

While many parents are content to be reassured about aspects of normal infant behaviour, feeding and sleep, other parents may feel they have no choice but to pursue non-responsive sleep training, which may jeopardise lactation.

Sleep crisis is a state where a parent or family reaches a level of unsustainability that is difficult or impossible to tolerate. In a sleep crisis, families often report a situation that is urgent and unmanageable.

Finding respectful and responsive strategies to improve sleep while maintaining responsive parenting and breast/chestfeeding can be a challenge. In this session, we will explore these challenges and consider creative, respectful and lactation-supportive options open to families, drawing on case studies and real-life examples from practice.