Raising Sound Sleepers

Raising Sound Sleepers: Helping Children Use Their Senses to Rest and Self-Soothe

“Children weave back and forth between courageous outer exploration and the need for greater inward security. Most measures of child development miss this inward aspect. They take careful note of the (outer) milestones for gross and fine motor skills, and for speech and socialization, but there is little, if any, discussion about the inner steps for growth.” -from the introduction

What can parents do to avoid bedtime meltdowns? Why do established settling routines stop working? How can children be encouraged to fall asleep more consistently? What simple, natural steps can parents take to help children feel calm?

Sleep and rest aren’t always the natural processes we expect them to be. Dr. Adam Blanning, a child-development consultant and holistic physician, suggests that they are learned skills that grow with children along with the physical developmental stages.

This insightful book offers practical ways that parents and care givers can support children toward using their senses—from taste, smell, and touch to balance and movement—to self-soothe, sleep, and, ultimately, build resilience for life.

Based on extensive research and using clear examples, Dr. Blanning explores a range of methods for children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. He tackles key parental concerns and offers:

— Tips for settling toddlers who always say “No!”
— How to establish calming daily rhythms
— Ways to help children settle during times of anxiety
— Self-soothing techniques that improve disruptive behavior

Raising Sound Sleepers is an invaluable resource that empowers parents and care givers to guide children towards rest, sleep, and calmness—skills that are useful throughout life.

C O N T E N T S:

Introduction

1: What Is the Inner Sensory Pathway?
2: Soothing Patterns for Babies
3: When Soothing Gets Stuck and How to Shift It
4: Finding Balance from Age 1 Onward
5: Rhythms and Routines from Age 1 Onward
6: When Older Children Struggle to Sleep and Settle
7: Independence and Boundaries from Age 2½ Onward
8: Building Well-being and Resilience for All Ages
9: Stuck Sensory Behaviors and Therapeutic Applications
10: Common Times of Anxiety and Transition

Afterword

About the Author
Endnotes
Acknowledgments
A Note on Anthroposophic Medicine
Index

About the Author

Adam Blanning, MD, practices anthroposophic family medicine at the Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies (DenverTherapies.com) in Denver, Colorado. He is president of the Anthroposophic Health Association (AHA), an umbrella organization for groups working to bring anthroposophic insights into the realms of medicine, nursing, naturopathy, body therapies, artistic therapies, movement therapies, and counseling. Dr. Blanning lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on topics related to holistic medicine and the dynamics of human development. He is the author of Understanding Deeper Developmental Needs: Holistic Approaches for Challenging Behaviors in Children (2017).