Occupational therapist Tanya Muir sheds light on sleep problems encountered by parents, babies and young kids. Combining evidence-based solutions with her experience as a mom, Tanya explains how sleep deprivation can affect caregivers’ physical and mental health, weight loss after pregnancy, and love relationships. She offers practical interventions for getting better sleep all round.

If you are new to podcasts, simply click on the arrow to listen to Tanya and Mariette, or on the download button to download the conversation onto your device.

Tip: Use earphones to listen in private.

In ep. 85 of the weekly podcast series Calm, Clear and Helpful, Tanya touches on

• how much sleep moms really need  

• how sleep deprivation affects moms, including irritability, forgetfulness and getting ill more often 

• how babies’ sleep cycles differ from adults’ sleep cycles  

• practical advice for moms whose babies sleep fitfully  

• strategies for moms whose young kids struggle going to bed, or wake up in the night 

• a consistent wind-down routine before bedtime

• whether young children can experience insomnia  

• sleep deprivation and caffeine: the dos and don’ts  

• how being sleep deprived can hinder weight loss: the role of insulin, ghrelin and leptin  

• a lack of sleep, anxiety and post-partum depression (which Tanya experienced herself) 

• suggestions for agreements between moms and their partners to lighten a mom’s load  

• how sleep deprivation in moms and kids may affect an intimate relationship  

• Tanya’s 3 best tips for sleeping well.

Tanya’s groups for Moms

Tanya runs Mom-Me-Time groups for Moms who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck or lonely in Johannesburg. An 8-week program full of fun interactive activity and meaningful connection with others who get it. Please get in touch with Tanya if you’re interested in knowing more: tanyamuirot@gmail.com

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Feel free to click on Home and browse this website for articles and podcasts on more fulfilling love relationships, easier parenting, and upping your emotional well-being.

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Contact details

Tanya Muir is an occupational therapist and sleep health practitioner from Johannesburg who helps children, adolescents and adults to optimise sleep. She serves on the South African Sleep and Health Society Allied Subcommittee and is a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria.

She offers talks, webinars and workshops for the public, corporates, schools and healthcare practitioners. Her program Mom-Me-Time has been specially developed for groups of moms.

Tanya works face to face and online.

Website https://www.sleep-ot.com/

Email tanya@sleep-ot.com

Facebook Tanya Muir

Instagram Sleep_OT

The free podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful is available on iTunes, Spotify, Player FM and Iono.fm.

Music by Mart-Marie Snyman

Thumbnail image: Unsplash. Model used

Photograph of Tanya Muir: supplied