Helping Babies Sleep with Helen Cummings

01/11/24 • 66 min

Helen Cummings is the Calm Baby Sleep Expert.

Helen educates pregnant parents in how to care for their newborn babies. She is a maternity nurse who can help with feeding, daily caring tasks and most importantly – helping people learn how to soothe and calm their babies into a restful sleep.

Helen is a qualified nursery nurse, and began working as a maternity nurse 20 years ago. Since then, Helen has helped all kinds of parents learn how to recognise their baby’s cues for sleep, and how to help the baby self settle, which can allow parents to have a better quality of sleep themselves.

Listen to this podcast episode to find out:

what babies need for good sleep
how to become aware of when a newborn is tired, and able to sleep on their own
how newborns can sleep “not on a parent”
how newborns can learn to self settle
why Helen thinks sleep regression isn’t really a thing
how to help with sleep regressions
different needs for different weights of babies – and why
if there a difference between sleep times for formula fed or breast fed babies
where newborns should sleep
how to safely swaddle
what newborns should wear to sleep
that parents are not taught how to look after their newborns
when and how to move a baby to their own room overnight
what the startle reflex is and how to help babies with this
when to work with multiples
why to look at baby’s behaviour and feeding/awake periods over a 24 hour period

Helen on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/helenthecalmbabysleepexpert/?hl=en
Helen on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076355500476

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You can support this podcast here:
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Suzanne's website - podcast, blog, booking and resources:
www.motherheal.com
Suzanne is mother.heal on Instagram
Suzanne is at Suzanne.mother.heal on Facebook
music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
https://www.shooglenifty.com/
The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier

Helen Cummings is the Calm Baby Sleep Expert.

Listen to this podcast episode to find out:

what babies need for good sleep
how to become aware of when a newborn is tired, and able to sleep on their own
how newborns can sleep “not on a parent”
how newborns can learn to self settle
why Helen thinks sleep regression isn’t really a thing
how to help with sleep regressions
different needs for different weights of babies – and why
if there a difference between sleep times for formula fed or breast fed babies
where newborns should sleep
how to safely swaddle
what newborns should wear to sleep
that parents are not taught how to look after their newborns
when and how to move a baby to their own room overnight
what the startle reflex is and how to help babies with this
when to work with multiples
why to look at baby’s behaviour and feeding/awake periods over a 24 hour period

Helen on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/helenthecalmbabysleepexpert/?hl=en
Helen on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076355500476

Send us a text

Previous Episode

Herbalism in the Home with Medical Herbalist Lucie Bradley

In this episode, medical herbalist Lucie Bradley talks about how she was initially led to explore alternative health options when medical treatment for persistent vaginal thrush failed to work for her. This enquiry led her to study medical herbalism, and subsequently spend time in Africa working with nurses and doctors in integrated clinics, using herbal medicine alongside medical practices.

Her exploration of local uses of herbs in Tanzania led her to then complete a Masters degree in ethnobotany while living and working as a single mother in Africa.

On returning to the UK she set up a clinical herbalist practice in Edinburgh, and is now based in Glasgow with a busy herbal practice. Lucie is eager for people to be able to take more control over their own health, and so also runs a course on using herbal remedies to treat simple ailments in the home.

Lucie Bradley embodies the values and aims of The Mother Podcast, to empower women to take more control over their health by exploring and learning about alternatives to Western medicine. Lucie has worked tirelessly through her life to teach people to not only use, but integrate, plant medicine into their lives.

Listen to this episode to find out:

How persistent vaginal thrush led Lucie to find alternative health practices
The connection between the food we eat and our health
How our past experiences and trauma can affect our health
How plant medicine is used in malaria treatment
The challenge of being a successful practitioner and running a business
Working with money blocks to be able to earn money as an alternative health practitioner
How practitioner-grade herbs are more effective
How the processing of herbs determines its effectiveness
How plants work synergistically, and pharmacological medicines don’t
Reasons why people are suspicious of herbal medicine, and how herbal medicine got pushed out of mainstream culture
How understanding your own constitution is important for taking control of your health
That most herbs are safe in pregnancy
Why it is important to maintain your health – and gut health – to stay well, and why it is even more important for pregnant women to keep themselves healthy
How to use garlic and onion as antimicrobials
How to make fire cider
Making your own berry tincture in the autumn to stay well in winter
How staying well includes treating our stress levels
Adaptogens and their importance in keeping stress levels healthy
Finding reliable information on herbal medicine
How to use herbal baths for infants and children

Lucie can be found at https://www.luciebradley.co.uk/
Lucie's instagram handle is lbradleymedicalherbalist
You can access Lucie's Herbs for Simple Ailments online course through her Instagram

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Next Episode

Homeopathy for Pregnancy and Postpartum with Lyssa Clayton

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Lyssa Clayton, a homeopath who is passionate about working with women and families.
Homeopathy is an intricate interplay of healing substances and a person's energetic balance, along with close connection of the practitioner to their client. Yet, like many holistic healing practices, you can buy do-it-yourself kits! And a popular one is the homeopathic kit for labour and birth.
Listen to this episode to find out:

Do these remedies work without the input of an experienced practitioner?
Where does homeopathy come from?
How homeopathy can be helpful during pregnancy, the birth and the recovery
How homeopathy can be used with babies

Lyssa can be found at www.lyssaclaytonhomeopath.co.uk
and is available at her in-person clinic in East Lothian and for online consultations for those further afield.
and is on instagram

Send us a text