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FAQs

 

1. What’s the difference between Sleep School and Connection Village?

There are several different options available for sleep schools to learn sleep and settling techniques. Sleep schools generally use sleep training methods such as controlled crying, responsive settling, timed intervals, extinction etc. of which you are taught in an external environment, and subsequently need to adapt to your own environment post-program. The Connection Village offers 1:1 coaching and support in your home environment with our online and in-home programs.

Sleep school is intensive while you are at the facility, but you do not receive ongoing support in the months and years that follow. Our Village is with you for your entire journey! As your child changes age and stages of development we will be there to support and guide you, whether it be a developmental milestone like rolling, crawling or walking, or a transition like dropping a nap, moving from the bassinet to the cot, starting childcare, toilet training, introducing a new sibling, or managing tantrums and off track behaviour. We will be there every step of the way to ensure your child's needs are met, and you can be the calm, loving parent you want to be.

2. Does Connection Village use Cry It Out (CIO)?

Connection Village does not use CIO or traditional sleep training methods. Our consultants use a holistic gentle approach to sleep. At the heart of our approach is connection, and we pride ourselves on nurturing and supporting the emotional wellbeing of parent and child. Rather than CIO, we use a connection-based approach to enable you to implement the connection tools into your parenting to ensure your child’s primary and emotional needs are being met.

There are also many other factors we explore to ensure a holistic approach, including routine, environment, nutrition, developmental stage and genetics to identify the catalyst of your child's sleep challenges, enabling them to sleep to the best of their ability for their developmental age and stage.

At no time will we ask you to leave your child alone to cry it out (CIO) behind closed doors! Our methods are gentle, conscious, attachment-based methods enabling you to be responsive to your child’s needs and coached around how to support, be compassionate and nurture your child.

3. Will my baby cry?

Crying is your baby’s main method of communication. Babies cry to communicate a need, whether it be hunger, thirst, comfort, support, cleanliness, tiredness, overstimulation, and/or to heal from emotional or physical pain; it’s how they emotionally regulate and heal.

When you are implementing changes such as a new sleep routine or a new method to promote sleep such as moving from rocking or feeding your child to sleep, your child will most likely protest cry. This is very new and different to them! But you can be assured that this will never be leaving them alone to cry it out. You will always be there to respond, listen and validate their feelings offering your loving presence to support your child.

4. How does Connection Village differ from other Sleep Training Methods and Sleep Consultants?

At the heart of the Connection Village approach is connection. Our consultants do not use conventional sleep training methods such as cry it out, responsive settling, controlled crying, or timed intervals. We have a very holistic approach to sleep and parenting nurturing the bond and connection of parent and child.

Our methods encompass many factors including routine, environment, nutrition, developmental milestones, transitions and the emotional wellbeing of parent and child. We tailor all of our programs to meet the specific requirements of the individual child and families we support, and will be there supporting you every step of the way- not just for sleep!

We will coach and mentor you using proven, effective connection tools that have become a very welcome addition to the ‘parenting tool kit’ of the families we have worked with. They will transform and change the trajectory of your parenting forever.

5. Who does Connection Village work with?

Connection Village mentors families all over the world with their sleep and parent coaching support. Sleep and parenting looks very different for all cultures, and no two families- actually, no two children- are the same.

Connection Village believes that gone are the days of “conventional families.” We tailor all our packages to meet the needs and requirements of the individual family we are working with. We work with families with two dads, two mums, single parents, foster parents, families where dad is the primary caregiver, families where mum is the primary caregiver, working families with nannies, children attending childcare, stay at home parents and the list continues.

6. Does Connection Village work with children of all ages?

Connection Village consultants mentor and support parents of children of all ages. We have educational programs to support parents prenatally to help to prepare for parenthood and guide and support them into the 4th trimester and beyond. We’re here as children progress and reach milestones and transitions, and also offer parent and connection coaching to bring confidence to your parenting, enabling you to be the calm, connected parent you want to be. Our mission is to build happy families by supporting and empowering parents on their journey to raise connected children, regardless of age or stage.

7. What is Connection Coaching?

We offer a few different connection coaching programs. One of our programs is designed to mentor parents to enable them to implement connection tools into their parenting at any age and stage. These programs can be done 1:1 or in a group setting and are designed to strengthen the bond and connection between parent and child, to help manage behavioural challenges and transitions i.e: offtrack behaviour, separation anxiety, returning to work, starting childcare, introducing a new sibling and to ensure emotional regulation building emotional intelligence.

We also offer a connection coaching package focusing on healing the parent. Sometimes, parents find themselves becoming triggered by their children, and shy away from parenting and connecting with their child the way they would like to. This program is designed to support, empower and heal parents from childhood imprints and trauma and identify their triggers to enable them to become the parent they want to be. It allows the parent to work with a consultant to identify the underlying story behind their triggers and emotions using the Hand in Hand tools, enabling healing and connection so they can be the confident, compassionate parent they want to be.

8. Does Connection Village do overnight stays?

Our role is to support the parent so you are able to support, connect and bond with your baby, so Connection Village consultants do not do overnight stays. We will help to uncover the underlying factors contributing to your child’s sleep challenges. Your consultant will introduce you to the holistic Connection Village approach and coach and support you to implement all our connection-based tools through play, special time, reading cues, emotional regulation, connection, listening and compassion. Together, we will set your child up for the best success with an age appropriate routine. You know your baby better than anyone, and it is of utmost importance you follow your intuition and learn your babies “love language” and how you can provide them the comfort, safety and security for them to thrive. We will be there with you cheering you along every step of the way.

9. Does Connection Village offer parent coaching in their sleep consulting packages?

We pride ourselves on the level of support and coaching we offer the families that we welcome into our Village. We coach every family we work with around the connection tools we implement into our sleep support. We can also incorporate listening time and listening partnerships into your sleep package if requested or advised as part of your individualised sleep plan. Schedule a call to find out more

10. What does it look like to work with the Connection Village?

We welcome you to our Village with open arms, a compassionate ear and would love to be there to guide and support you throughout your parenting. We start with an initial chat about your personal situation, the Connection Village approach and how we can best support you. Based on your circumstances we will then tailor a personalised program to meet your needs to mentor and support you through your sleep and/or parenting challenges. Once you are happy with your chosen program you will be sent an online questionnaire to enable us to review your history and current situation, and write a plan to coach you around your sleep and parenting challenges and support you to parent with connection. Schedule a call to find out more.

11. What sort of sleep challenges does Connection Village help with?

We believe sleep is a biological and emotional process, not a behavioural one, thus the reason for our holistic approach to sleep. There are many factors that contribute to a child’s sleep challenges, and there are many challenges that we can support you with, including

Sleep Challenges

  • Catnapping
  • Nap and/or bedtime refusal
  • Frequent overnight waking
  • Dropping naps
  • Early rising
  • Reliance on carer to rock, feed, hold or pat to sleep
  • Cosleeping or room sharing
  • Colic or reflux
  • Fear of the dark
  • Nightmares or night terrors

12. What sort of challenging behaviour does Connection Village help with?

There are many factors that contribute to a child’s behaviour challenges. As parents we often feel alone, embarrassed and judged if our child is off track, and at a loss as to how to help them. Please be reassured your Connection Village consultant will help you identify possible triggers and causes for your child’s behavioural challenges, and how we can work together to implement the connection tools and bring calm and compassion to you and your child. There are many challenges that we can support you with, including;

Challenging Behaviour

  • Separation anxiety
  • Tantrums
  • Aggression toward parent or sibling
  • Hitting or biting
  • Child anxieties
  • Food refusal
  • Lying
  • Parental rejection
  • Off-track behaviour post divorce or separation
  • Anger, sadness, fear

13. How does Connection Village support new parents?

We have many programs available to educate, support and coach expecting parents, new parents and parents of multiple children. We offer prenatal support to help prepare and transition to parenthood, and have several support programs available to educate, guide and advise throughout the 4th trimester and beyond.

14. Does Connection Village offer tailored packages?

Absolutely yes! All of our packages are tailored to the families we work with. We have some of our most popular offerings highlighted on the our packages page to give you guidance on the inclusions of some of our sleep, parenting and connection coaching packages. Nothing is set in stone; we can include or remove any options within the highlighted packages. Many of our clients like to include listening time, connection coaching and parent coaching to their existing packages and/or add extra phone or messaging support which is not a problem at all.

15. How do I make an appointment to find out more?

We would love to hear from you and schedule a chat. We offer a FREE 15 minute consultation to discuss your situation and how we can best support you. We will also use this time to tell you a bit more about the Connection Village and how we can tailor a package to suit your needs. Schedule a free consultation to find out more.