Joy Gilmour Davies with her daughter Lola.
Camera IconJoy Gilmour Davies with her daughter Lola. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mum reclaims joy of sleep after stay at Ngala

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

The Ocean Reef resident said Lola almost slept through the night and even had long day sleeps – every parent’s dream. All that changed when, at four months, Lola began waking hourly at night and catnapping for 20-minute periods during the day.

An ear infection was diagnosed so Lola had grommets inserted and her mother hoped for the return of night-time sleep-throughs and decent day sleeps.

Lola had other ideas – she’d formed a habit of waking throughout the night and it began to have an impact on her brother Hudson (3) too.

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With two children waking during the night, it didn’t take long for Mrs Gilmour Davies to reach breaking point.

She contacted Ngala’s helpline and was referred to its day-stay service before then booking in for an overnight stay.

“It was great – the nurses allowed me to get some much-needed rest and provided the ‘reset’ I required to get all our sleep patterns back on track,” she said.

“The staff were kind, reassuring and so helpful. They listened and never pushed their ideas onto me – they supported me the way I want to parent, not the way they thought I should parent.

“I found the whole experience quite nurturing.”

Mrs Gilmour Davies said one of the most important pieces of advice she received was to trust her instincts.

“I believe that a more assured and confident parent will raise a more assured and confident child,” she said.

“They reinforced what I was doing and supported me to assist my kids in gaining the sleep they needed.”

Ngala’s Helpline is available from 8am to 8pm every day on 9368 9368.

Get more information or donate to Ngala’s Good Night’s Sleep fundraising campaign at www.ngala.com.au.