From the moment of discovering you’re pregnant until well in to your baby’s first year and beyond for many first time mums it can be an extremely scary time.
Many don’t have a clue where to start, from what to buy for the baby, how to feed and wind, to the most holiest of grails, how to get the baby to sleep through the night.
That’s where Jo Tantum comes in. With her book and website ‘baby secrets’ along with her personal consultation service she has been described as a miracle worker by many.
Chatting to Jo one Thursday afternoon it is clear that she has years of experience and is just brimming with tips. She explained how through caring for children in a variety of settings including hospitals, local authority family centres, travelling parents around the world and as a nanny in peoples’ homes she has built a wealth of knowledge in sleep patterns and in aiding babies to sleep through the night.
When first asked to design a routine for one mum’s baby Jo described how at the time there was no real guidance out there for parents regarding routines. She decided to keep a log of the baby’s natural routine and then designed a routine around the baby which led to the baby sleeping through the night. After this initial success she then went on to devise routines for other babies, always after keeping an initial log and she always managed to get them to sleep through.
Her next challenge was twins and it was their mother, and Jo’s co author of ‘Baby Secrets’ who encouraged her to write the book.
‘Baby secrets’ targeted the gap in the market for flexible routines, at a time when Jo felt they were either very rigid or very wishy washy. Reading through the book it’s almost as if you’re talking to Jo, as it’s full of useful tips and the routines are all really flexible.
Her tips on sleep are excellent and I could recognise a lot of what I did to help my son sleep through so I can vouch that it does work. She is keen to promote giving babies the confidence to sleep as many babies are scared to tip in to sleep by themselves. She does not promote controlled crying but is also keen for parents not to ‘rescue’ their baby as soon as they hear them upset. She calls this spaced soothing and has found it to work with many babies.
I was keen whilst I had the chance to ask Jo for advice on some common sleep problems.
For babies whose routine has been broken she says this often happens for a reason such as illness or teething. Stick to the routine as much possible through this time then go back to it properly when well again
When asked about her view on bed sharing Jo was keen to point out that due to risk of cot death she would never advise it and that baby should be put in to their mose’s basket after a feed. To allow for skin to skin time, give baby cuddles in a morning with their breastfeed.
Moving your child in to their own bed from a cot should be done as late as possible so they can understand what is happening and don’t see it as a game. Daytime naps should be kept as long as your child needs it. Not only for the child but also important for the parents to have some time to themselves.
Jo’s top tip for twins is keeping them both in the same routine. Try to feed and change them at the same time so it doesn’t become a constant cycle e.g. If one baby wakes during the night for a feed, wake the other baby for a feed too.
Jo is full of useful tips and I can certainly see how she has helped many sleep deprived parents. As well as her book ‘baby secrets’, with a new edition in the pipeline, tips can also be picked up at her website babysecretsltd.com. Here there’s information on all of Jo’s services, including her rescue packages and home consultation service where she designs a routine especially for your baby.
You can also see Jo at both the Scottish and Manchester baby shows where she will be giving a 30 minute talk followed by question and answer session, as well as being available at her stand (number G73).