Tizzie Hall - Save Our Sleep: A parents’ guide towards happy, sleeping babies from birth to two years

Born and raised in Ireland, Tizzie Hall has worked with children and parents for many years, helping with customised sleep solutions for their babies. Tizzie started her Save Our Sleep (SOS) business in the United Kingdom in 1996 after tertiary psychology studies and a career in private childcare. She moved to Melbourne in 2002 where she has continued the success of her infant sleep solutions business.

In thirteen years of operation, SOS has assisted thousands of children of all ages mainly babies to learn how to sleep through the night, every night. By sharing an insight into a babys sleep patterns, Tizzie has developed a method of putting parents at ease about their babys actions. She provides them with the skills they need to take control of their babys present and future development.

As part of Save Our Sleep there is also a self-help website and store, www.saveoursleep.com, visited by thousands of parents a week.

First published 2006 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
This Macmillan edition published 2009 by Pan Macmillan Pty Limited
1 Market Street, Sydney

Copyright Tizzie Hall 2006

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication data:

Hall, Tizzie.
Save our sleep.
Rev. ed.

ISBN 978 1 4050 3952 9

Infants Sleep.
Infants Care.

649.122

Text design by Deborah Parry Graphics Ltd
Set in 12/14.5 Adobe Garamond by Midland Typesetters, Australia
Printed in Australia by McPhersons Printing Group

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These electronic editions published in 2011 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000

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Save our Sleep Revised Edition

Tizzie Hall

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This book is dedicated to the memory of my baby brother Richard, whose own short life had such a big effect on the way I have lived mine. To Richard: there will always be a special place in my heart for you.

Metric conversion table

The birth weight of babies can be measured in both imperial and metric measurements.

From early childhood, all I ever wanted was a baby so that I could practice being a mummy. I was elated when at seven my baby brother Richard was born but, after just nine weeks, Richard died suddenly of cot death (SIDS). From this point I became the big sister to every baby I could find. When parents came to school to pick up their children I would dash to those with a baby and ask if I could have a cuddle. On Sundays I was not beside my family in their church pew but rather sitting in one with a baby I could hold. In retrospect, I think those parents allowed me to interact with their babies because they realised how deeply the loss of Richard had impacted upon me.

I was nine when it struck me that I could help parents understand the message in their babys cry. I had regularly taken a neighbours baby Peter out for a walk by myself, but one day his mother decided she would accompany us. After strolling for about five minutes, Peter started to cry and his mother immediately stopped to pick him up. When I counselled, Dont pick him up, that is his going-to-sleep cry, she looked at me strangely. I explained that he always cried at this point during our walk but I never disturbed him because my mother had instructed me not to pick a baby up until I was on the green (a soft, grassy field where we played as children). By the time I reached the green, Peter would be fast asleep. That day his mother agreed to leave him until wed reached the green, possibly to prove me wrong, however, baby Peter had fallen asleep just as Id predicted.

It wasnt long before all the mums in our neighbourhood called me when they couldnt calm or comfort their crying babies. Very quickly I learnt to read their babies body language and cries and I soon became known as the local baby interpreter. Over the years I have been labelled with all sorts of names, including the baby coach, baby whisperer, miracle worker and even the baby witch! Despite this last tag, I insist there is no magic wand or witchery involved.

After completing school in Ireland I moved to England to continue studying. While studying I worked as a part time nanny which enabled me to keep practising and refining my skills. My reputation as a baby whisperer spread, and it wasnt long before I was again receiving calls at all hours of the day and night from desperate parents seeking help with their babies. Always, and often within hours, I resolved problems such as babies not sleeping through the night, not taking their bottles, or refusing to give up their dummies. In 2002 I moved to Australia and soon discovered that the need for help was as great on this side of the globe.

Over the years, hundreds of parents have repeatedly told me the same two things: first, You should write a book, and second, You should clone yourself so more parents can get help. A book seemed the easier option.

This book is not a medical or scientific volume but a collection of tried and tested solutions and tips based on my many years of experience with babies and young children. Its main purpose is to help parents understand and avoid sleep problems in young babies and toddlers. Some parents might only discover it when they are already experiencing sleepless nights, but dont worry, its never too late for help. You should extract the advice which best fits with your life and beliefs.

I am hoping this book will give parents the confidence to take control of their babies behavioural patterns and as a bonus give me more time to devote to my husband, Nathan, and our family!

Throughout this book I have used real client case studies I have come across during my work to help explain problems you may encounter. Although all names have been changed I am sure some clients will recognise themselves; so thank you for allowing me to use your case studies in this book.