MEET THE PARENTS: EDITION ONE
WITH Trishna & family, singapore
Join me in this week's interview as I chat with Trishna, a parent who shares her experiences navigating the joys and challenges of raising young children in the vibrant city of Singapore. Discover the positive influence my sleep coaching services have had on her family life, as I've had the opportunity to support both of her babies. Trishna's experiences shed light on the practical aspects of my one-on-one sleep support, offering insights into how it can genuinely enhance lives. Take a deeper look into what my services entail and how they might contribute to positive changes for your family
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, WHERE YOU ARE CURRENTLY BASED AND A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOB/CAREER/BUSINESS?
We are a family of four. Our boys are 3 and 1 years old, so I am currently in an outnumbered household! We were based in Hong Kong and moved to Singapore last year. Both parents are working. Jason works in travel luxury beauty and I work in compliance, so complete opposite careers!
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO SEEK THE SERVICES OF A CHILD SLEEP COACH IN THE FIRST PLACE? THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND I’M KEEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO NAVIGATE THESE ISSUES ON THEIR OWN, AND THOSE WHO SEEK A DEDICATED COACH TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU?
Our first, Ayaan was a terrible sleeper from birth and I was going back to work when he was 7 months old. Ayaan was not a textbook baby. We tried everything, from books, websites and apps and it just was not working. It was important “small” tweaks we needed to implement which Jade helped us with, which I had not come across or read anywhere, let alone would I have thought of.
HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS MY SERVICES, AND WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE ME?
My friend had gone through something similar and when she finished Jade’s programme, I was sold. We all desperately needed our sleep back. We then knew for our second, we were going to book Jade the earliest we could as get started earlier than our first.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR SLEEP SITUATION WAS LIKE BEFORE YOU STARTED WORKING WITH ME? WHAT WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES YOU WERE FACING?
For our first, every night was unpredictable. We used to dread going to sleep, not knowing how many times Ayaan would wake up. Some nights it was 5 times and other nights 10 times. The inconsistency was mentally draining and a bit traumatizing.
For Ishaan, we’d come out with an awful 4 month of sleep regression. With two small ones, we knew it was important to get the sleep right early on and if we had a choice, would’ve actually got Jade’s help earlier but Ishaan wasn’t old enough and over the 4-month regression yet.
WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF MY COACHING PROCESS AND APPROACH?
❝ Jade’s approach is extremely personalised and empathetic.❞ She helps you build confidence when building a routine. We loved the gentle yet firm approach and how ❝ she always tells you to follow you gut. She truly is the baby sleep whisperer.❞
HOW DID THE COACHING PROGRAM AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF YOUR FAMILY? WERE THERE ANY NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN SHARE?
Everyone was much happier and the kids went from being cranky during the day to thriving. They’re both definitely routine babies and have become confident and independent in wanting their own space to sleep and being able to self-soothe.
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM THE PROCESS? DID IT MATCH YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
I wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was that I needed to be ready to put the work in with the guidance of Jade.❝ It exceeded any expectations we may have had at the time.❞
CAN YOU SHARE ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED DURING YOUR JOURNEY WITH MY SLEEP COACHING SERVICES??
Our first had no tears and was sleeping through in a week. That is probably one our most memorable moments as we were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
For our second, what we found amazing was how we learned to wean Ishaan off thenight feeds. We followed Jades guide and it was amazing to see how when reducing night feeds they automatically increased the day feeds. Going through that was pretty amazing over only a few days. We’d gone from a few night feeds to none and full nights sleep.
HOW HAS YOUR CHILD'S SLEEP QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IMPROVED SINCE WORKING WITH ME?
It’s been amazing. Every now and again we have a little snag which doesn’t last long. We can’t be perfect sleepers all the time and Jade is ALWAYS there to help if we’re not sure how to tweak our current routines. I really appreciate that I can go to her at any time, especially as she knelt the history of our babies sleep. I’ve had Jade help me through going from 2 naps to 1 nap, from cots to in their own bed to managing jet lag. It’s been extremely comforting and helpful.
WERE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OR POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT YOU EXPERIENCED FROM USING MY SERVICES?
We loved the tailored approach. We were asked if we wanted to continue night feeds so that this would be factored in without suffering from broken sleep, for example. Jade was always considerate and checked if we wanted to do the routine with our babies still in our room or if wanted to learn to transition them to their own rooms. She helped us factor in bedtime stories with our little ones. we were ask do we still want the kids in our room, it is all these personal touches important to us and Jade considered all of it whilst the household regains their sleep. It’s truly a unique experience
AS A FAMILY, HOW DID YOU FIND THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH A CHILD SLEEP COACH? DID IT POSITIVELY AFFECT THE DYNAMICS WITHIN YOUR FAMILY?
What we appreciate is the consistency. From the coaching, we are all on the same page in what we should do at naps, bedtime, managing jet lag to anomaly nights due to sickness or just having the odd bad night.
WHAT ADVICE OR INSIGHTS WOULD YOU OFFER TO OTHER FAMILIES CONSIDERING THE SUPPORT OF A CHILD SLEEP COACH TO ADDRESS THEIR SLEEP CHALLENGES? HOW CAN IT BE MORE BENEFICIAL THAN LOOKING AT VARIOUS OTHER RESOURCES ONLINE OR IN BOOKS FOR EXAMPLE?
I know for many it sounds bizarre having a sleep coach. I see some people react in a way that they think we’re crazy to hire someone to help you make your baby sleep better. “Jade’s services go beyond sleep”. You learn a lot about your babies’ cues, it’s personalised to your lifestyle. We dig deeper at our whole day routine including their feeding schedules, when they go outsides and get fresh air, when they have their family video calls and so on. It’s a whole package. You learn the importance of how all parts of your day affect sleep and some of the tools can be used for adult routines too.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS OR BENEFITS THAT OTHER FAMILIES CAN EXPECT WHEN THEY WORK WITH A CHILD SLEEP COACH?
❝ It is the best money we’ve invested in our family life❞ . Whether we travel or are making lots of social plans, we’ve learnt so much in how to manage our kids so their sleep isn’t affected and learning their limits. We love that once they go to bed, we know 99% of the time if we go out in the evening, we’re not stressing about them waking up or worrying etc. Bedtime routines are enjoyable and we don’t dread going to bed.
Thanks so much Trishna for sharing your experience in so much detail. It is an absolute pleasure to have played a big role in your parenting journey over the last few years, and continue to remain in touch!
As your dedicated holistic sleep coach, I offer a personalized approach that aims to create a positive and sustainable sleep experience for your baby or toddler. Achieving consistent, restorative, and wholesome sleep patterns is the goal, and many parents witness this transformation within a matter of weeks, if not days in certain cases. My methodology involves a thoughtful evaluation and adjustment of various factors in a specific sequence, gradually and supportively addressing high-level dependencies. The emphasis on these foundational sleep elements, combined with my unique sleep schedule creation process, ensures that every adjustment is tailored to your child's distinct needs rather than conforming to a one-size-fits-all approach.
In contrast to generic advice prevalent in mainstream media, my approach recognizes theshortcomings of average-based recommendations. Resolving sleep challenges requires a specifically tailored strategy that aligns with the unique needs and temperament of your baby. The intricacies and differences among children are not adequately addressed in generic advice or books. This is precisely where my expertise makes a significant impact, offering a tailored and nuanced approach that aligns with the individualized transformation every parent seeks when dedicated efforts are made.
There are proactive measures that can be taken well before considering the concept of self-soothing. While teaching this skill is a vital aspect of the process in most cases, my approach ensures a gentle and supportive journey. By prioritizing these crucial steps initially, theoverall experience becomes smoother and more manageable – an aspect often overlooked by various books and coaches advocating a different, cry-it-out approach. Unlike those who rely solely on time-based techniques, my focus extends beyond, and the upcoming interview will delve into the details.
Rest assured, the avoidance of generic information is a key aspect of my approach. Recognizing that such advice often falls short and proves ineffective, my methodology is designed to prevent parents from reaching a point of frustration or the misconception that their baby isn't a good sleeper at all. Change is not only possible but achievable within a short timeframe, offering significant benefits to your baby across various factors that should not be underestimated.