Sleep Class for New Families

With a new child in the family, sleep becomes a major issue, both for babies and for parents! If you are one of the many parents who need more good information about sleep, this is the perfect class for you.

In this interactive class you will learn:
– about normal sleep and naps in infants and toddlers up to 3 years
– how sleep impacts babies’ development and growth
– the strategies to help your child learn to sleep on his / her own, from ‘cry it out’ to the ‘no cry sleep solution’ and everything in between
– how to set your lifestyle, and bedroom, for good sleep
– how parents can still get the sleep they need despite parenting in the night

Most importantly, each family will develop their own custom sleep plan over the course of the class, a plan they will benefit from immediately.

Here are the details:
Instructor: Dr. Catherine Darley, naturopathic sleep specialist
Two Dates: Friday June 17th or Saturday June 18th, 10a to 1p
Location: 1904 3rd Ave, Seattle WA, 98101, 2rd floor
(next to Bed, Bath & Beyond in downtown Seattle)
Cost: $65
Register: http://www.naturalsleepmedicine.net

Sleep Health for Powerful Women – Class May 15

Women have unique sleep challenges – keeping a balanced life between work and family, hormonal changes, aging and stress.

If you are one of the many women struggling to sleep well and enjoy all the benefits of healthy sleep, this class is for you.

In this interactive class you will learn:
– how changing hormones impact women’s sleep
– the most common sleep problems, and how to identify the red flags
– how poor sleep interferes with optimal performance in all arenas – mental, physical, emotional, and decision-making
– how to use sleep skills to improve your own sleep, insulate your sleep from the stresses of daily life, and how to address sleeping too much

Most importantly, each woman will develop her own custom sleep plan over the course of the class, a plan she will benefit from immediately.

Here are the details:
Instructor: Dr. Catherine Darley, naturopathic sleep specialist
Date: Sunday, May 15th, noon to 3pm
Location: 1904 3rd Ave, Seattle WA, 98101, 3rd floor
(next to Bed, Bath & Beyond in downtown Seattle)
Cost: $45
Register: http://www.naturalsleepmedicine.net

Register Today!

A Consistent Bedtime Routine Helps Baby Sleep

A consistent bedtime routine is a powerful tool to help infants consolidate their sleep into longer periods at night.  And when baby sleeps, parents can too!

Researchers had parents implement a 3-step bedtime routine.  The steps were a bath, a massage, and a quiet activity like cuddling or singing a lullaby, in that order.  Lights out was within 30 minutes of finishing the bath.  Nothing else was changed, the parents continued to put their child to bed they way they had been.

After just two weeks of this bedtime routine, the babies woke up fewer times in the night, and were awake for shorter periods.  Their mothers were less likely to perceive the babies sleep as a problem.  Not only that, but the mothers’ mood improved, so they were less tense, less depressed and less angry.

This gives hope to new parents, that they can help their child sleep better in just a few weeks, and that this improves the well-being of the family too!

Dr. Darley will be speaking on ‘Help your baby ‘Sleep Like a Baby'” on Tues, June 1st, in Mukilteo Wa.  This program is sponsored by Program for Early Parenting Support.

Sleep Health Education in Seattle

Talking with people about sleep health, giving them the facts, and the knowledge of how to promote healthy sleep for themselves and their families, is one of the things I love to do.  Just last week we put excerpts from a recent PTA talk on YouTube.  You can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syxCF12fWdM.  Watch it and let me know what you think!

The calendar for 2010 is growing, please let me know if you’d like me to come talk to your PTA, civic group, or corporation.  Here’s a sample of what’s going on so far.

“Optimizing Work Performance – The Sleep Connection”

Vulcan Inc.
January 26, 2010, 12:30-1:30pm
Open to employees

Join Dr. Darley to learn about how good sleep health can improve your job performance.   Objectives for this one hour “Lunch and Learn” are:

• Understand the ways poor sleep interferes with mental, physical and emotional performance
• Understand the most prevalent sleep disorders, including insufficient sleep
• Learn ways to improve sleep

“Sleeping Like a Baby”

PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support)
Good Shepherd Center, Seattle
January 26, 2010, 6:30-8:00pm
Open to PEPS participants

Many new parents struggle to help their infant get into a regular sleep routine, and get enough sleep themselves.   Dr. Darley will discuss questions parents frequently ask about how to get their baby to sleep, the safety of co-sleeping, nap routines and sleep schedules.   There will be 30 minutes for questions and discussion after her presentation.

“Sleep and Mental Health: A Dynamic Interplay”

Continuing Education event for the Seattle Counselors Association (SCA)
February 19, 2010
Open to SCA members and visitors

Dr. Darley will discuss the dynamic interplay between sleep and mental health.   We’ll look in depth at a few conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, and depression.   The second half of the presentation will include screening questions for counselors to use in assessing whether sleep may be a contributing factor.   We’ll also discuss the effects of pharmaceuticals, over the counter medications, and supplements.   There will be ample time for questions and discussion.

“Sleep Well, and Succeed in School”

Loyal Height Elementary, Seattle Washington
April 29, 2010, 7:00p to 8:30p
Open to school parents

Many children have sleep problems, and their mood and performance suffers.   Come learn about common pediatric sleep problems, how they influence your child, and what you can do to ensure your child gets healthy sleep.

Join Dr. Catherine Darley, ND from The Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine as she discusses:

• normal sleep in children
• the effects of insufficient sleep, the most common sleep problem
• sleep disordered breathing in children
• Learn steps to take at home to improve your child’s sleep