With Psychologist and Sleep Expert Vanessa Engels Let me introduce myself As a mother of two, I suddenly had to learn how important the topic of sleep is for a newly formed family. After the birth of my first daughter, our world was turned upside down on various levels. Hours of helping her fall asleep, night-time wakefulness, and early morning awakenings were just some of the daily challenges. In search of solutions, I decided to expand my psychological background with further training as a sleep consultant for babies and (young) children. Restful nights became the norm again, and our quality of life improved. Inspired by our own successes, I made it my mission to support other families in their journey to peaceful nights and founded “Sleep Little Sleepers.” As a psychologist and sleep consultant, I guide families towards peaceful and restorative sleep. Notably, my approach is holistic, attachment-oriented, and needs-based, clearly setting it apart from traditional “sleep training” methods. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic of sleep, some of which have persisted across generations. “Just letting them cry it out” or even worse methods definitely belong in the past. Holistic, attachment- and needs-oriented A holistic approach considers various familial factors in daily life, your child’s personal traits, spatial conditions, feeding behavior, and many other aspects to establish a regular sleep rhythm and ensure everyone gets the necessary amount of rest. All factors are related to each other and weighted accordingly. The attachment- and needs-oriented approach applies to both the child and the parents. Every human has a desire for attachment and needs that should be acknowledged. When parents act in unison, perceive and support each other, an important step towards restful sleep is taken. A natural focus is placed on the needs of the baby or (young) child. Physical closeness and security are particularly important for a balanced sleep behavior. Strengthening the bond and trust between child and parents is one of the cornerstones of the child’s healthy emotional development. Proximity and participation in daily life There are numerous ways to enable your child’s physical and emotional participation in daily life. While direct physical contact (bonding) takes up most of the bonding time in the first months of life, the focus shifts to active participation in daily life (participatory) as your child’s autonomy increases. The TiSsi product range offers valuable support at every stage. Especially in the first months, when immediate proximity is essential, the bedside crib in combination with the “Near2me” cocoon guarantees an ideal situation to respond appropriately and quickly to your baby’s needs. As your little ones gain independence, the desire for direct participation in daily life grows. Walking, climbing, and trying things out are now part of it. The learning tower “Felix” provides the necessary eye level to include your child in your life. This way, many new interaction opportunities are created that were previously denied due to their smaller size. TiSsi.de’s Expert Series on Baby and (Small) Child Sleep This post is the first in our expert series. At regular intervals, you’ll find articles by Vanessa on our blog that delve into various topics related to baby and (small) child sleep. We’ll dispel myths, offer practical help for your daily routine, and explain important background information about your child’s sleep behavior. For more information on baby and (small) child sleep, check out Instagram and benefit from the useful tips from the “Sleep Little Sleep” community. If you find yourself in a stressful situation directly related to your child’s sleep behavior, feel free to reach out to “Sleep Little Sleep” for information on their available counseling formats. https://www.instagram.com/schlaf.kindlein.schlaf
