Caro Graham - Baby and Child Sleep Consultant

16/05/2023

Next Monday is ANOTHER BANK HOLIDAY and we are so excited to invite you to our FATOWL Spring Cheer Gala on Monday, 22 May at North Merchiston Club from 11.00am-12.30pm! 🌷🌼🌸

Not only will your little ones have a blast with our fun-filled activities, but you'll also be supporting our local food bank at the same time! ❤️

These are tough times for everyone, and we're honored to partner with https://edinburghfoodproject.org to make a difference in our community.

Come along to the Gala and please bring along any donations you can. 🙏

Our Gala will be packed with exciting play equipment for your 0-5s, including a bouncy castle, soft play, and a wooden climbing frame!

We'll also have taster sessions of our popular FATOWL BEATS & FATOWL GROOVES class, so there'll be lots of music, dancing, and singing to enjoy. 🎵💃🕺

For our younger visitors, we have a separate room dedicated to babies aged from 0-1 year old. We'll provide baby toys, ball pits, and play equipment, as well as TASTER SESSIONS of BABY MASSAGE and BABY YOGA. 👶🧘‍♀️🧸

Plus, if you've already signed up for our May/June blocks of baby, toddler or pre-school classes, or intend to sign up, you'll get free admission to this event! 🤩

Simply email lesley@fatowl.uk to receive your discount code before booking if you're are signed/signing up.

The cost is £15 per family, and this includes admission for your baby, toddler, or child AND any elder siblings they may have who are off school that day. Partners are also very welcome to attend. If you are bringing siblings over the age of 5 please do send us an e-mail to let us know so we can have activities ready for them too!

Let's come together for a day of fun and giving back! See you there.

Book your spot here:

https://from-acorn-to-oak-with-love.class4kids.co.uk

10/04/2023

📣 Drum roll please! FATOWL is thrilled to announce our new term schedule of baby, toddler and pre-school classes throughout Edinburgh!

🎉 We are proud to introduce new venues and new(ish) classes, but the same amazing teachers that you know and love. 🙌

From baby massage to messy play, we have something for every little one and their caregivers. Our classes are designed to nurture and support the growth and development of your baby and child, all while having fun and making new friends.

We can't wait to see you and your little one at our classes this term! Visit our website to view our full schedule and sign up today. Let's make some unforgettable memories together!

Book here: https://from-acorn-to-oak-with-love.class4kids.co.uk

❤️

19/03/2023

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mums out there and thank you for all you do. Lots of love to anyone that has found today hard for whatever reason ❤️

14/02/2023

I hope you're all having a love filled day ❤

09/02/2023

I feel this 🙈 😬

🫣🫣🫣

02/02/2023

Are you worried about sleep regressions or just don't know what you should be looking out for? Hopefully this post will help - hang in there, they do pass!

18/01/2023

January is a great time of year to have a think about your little one's sleep and how it's all going. Now that we've had a bit of distance from December and all the excitement that comes with it, it can be a good idea to have a think about whether you want to make any changes to your little one's sleep habits or routine.
If everything is working fine for you, don't change it (even if someone else is telling you that you should!) But if you think there are things that you'd like to change and don't really know where to begin, that's where I come in! Please do DM me to set up a chat if you'd like to explore what making some changes could look like (and that definitely won't be cry it out I promise!)

23/12/2022

Happy Christmas to everyone and thank you to all the lovely families that I have had the pleasure of working with this year. It's always an honour to be invited in to help a family with sleep so thank you to all of you.
I'm now off until January so I hope everyone has a restful time over Christmas and that 2023 brings lots of sleep to you all!

14/12/2022

Beautiful but very cold dog walk this morning before I head off to teach my last baby massage class of this block ❄️

07/12/2022

At this time of year, you might be tempted to wrap your baby up to keep them warm while they are sleeping. However, it’s important to make sure your baby doesn’t get too hot, as this can increase the chance of SIDS. Research shows babies are better to be cooler rather than too hot.

Take a look at our advice for winter bedding and what to avoid 👇

✔️ If you use sheets and/or blankets, we recommend using lightweight and not thick, fleecy or padded blankets or duvets. If you think your baby is cold, add an extra lightweight blanket or layer of clothing.

✔️ If you are using a baby sleeping bag, add an extra layer of clothing or choose a higher tog sleeping bag if you feel the sleeping bag is not enough (don’t add extra blankets on top of the sleeping bag).

❌ Weighted swaddles, weighted blankets and weighted sleeping bags are not recommended for babies under 1 year due to the risk of overheating and head covering.

❌ Babies lose heat though their heads so remove hats or hoods when indoors or in a car so they don’t get too hot. Babies shouldn’t sleep indoors in any outdoors clothing.

❌ Do not place your baby’s cot next to a radiator or have a heat source, like a portable heater, directly aimed at your baby. Babies are unable to regulate their own body temperature, and they could overheat if they are too close to a radiator or other heat source.

❄️ You can find more safer sleep in winter tips on our website: https://bit.ly/3DRPe92

02/12/2022

***code now fixed 🙄🙄🙄***

This is not a drill, everyone. This is it. Everything must go.

28/11/2022

Illness often messes up our little one's sleep - it's unfortunately something that we can't control, particularly at this time of year.
I always pause a client's support package whilst their wee one is unwell as there is nothing to be gained from trying to work on sleep whilst they're under the weather.
So, if you're in this situation and sleep has gone wrong, don't worry! Just concentrate on lots of cuddles and get sleep by any means possible (for you and your baby!)
Then once they're feeling better, just jump straight back in to what you were doing before they were ill. If you're consistent with this once they're better, you should be back on track in no time.

21/11/2022

I love sleeping bags for babies and toddlers - I think they make life much easier!

😴 No more loose blankets that can get over your baby's face whilst they're asleep

😴 They make sure your wee one stays warm as they can't be kicked off during the night

😴 They can help prevent your toddler from climbing out of their cot

😴 They are a great signifier to your baby that it is time for sleep - getting into their sleeping bag can become a part of your little one's pre sleep routine

Always make sure you have the right size and tog rating for your little one when choosing a sleeping bag for them.

Do you use sleeping bags for your baby or do you prefer blankets?

21/11/2022

TEAM FATOWL are super excited to be embarking on a series of fundraising events to raise money for 2 fantastic charities - Bright Kids Charity & Leo's Lighthouse

Bright Kids Charity is a grass-roots charity who dedicate their efforts helping some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable children.

Money raised will specifically go to one of Bright Kids Charity’s projects. This project gives practical support to mums of disabled children to allow them to buy equipment so they can work from home and earn a living.

The second charity your money will go to is Leo’s Lighthouse Foundation.

Leo’s Lighthouse Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children affected by Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome, ASXL3, and other rare genetic disorders.

This charity is close to FATOWL's heart as Lesley & Justin’s amazing elder daughter Hannah (11) was born with Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome.

TEAM FATOWL will kick off their fundraising effort on Sunday 27 November with a walk, run, scoot or cycle over the Forth Road Bridge which you are all invited to!

We will then continue the fundraising by running the Inverness half marathon in March 2023 & then the Edinburgh full marathon in May 2023.

Join us on Sunday 27 November at 11.00am to walk, jog, scoot, bike or run over the Forth Road Bridge!

Our 5k or 10k "Turkey Run" (in honour of teacher Kirby’s American roots and to celebrate Thanksgiving Day!) will be a fun community spirited event you can join with all of your family.

You can choose a 5k or 10k distance to complete or simply enjoy a wander over the bridge with friends and family (or come on your own with your little one to make new friends!) and enjoy the stunning views.

We will meet at the Forth Bridge Visitors Centre Car Park, 42 Inchcolm Terrace, South Queensferry EH30 9NA at 11.00am.

All participants will be given a wee cupcake to keep them going! Please register for free here: https://from-acorn-to-oak-with-love.class4kids.co.uk/info/691
so we know how many cupcakes to bake 🙂

If you can’t come on Sunday but would like to donate to our fundraising efforts we would be very grateful. We suggest a £5 donation 😊 the link to our just giving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fatowlturkeyrun?utm_term=dvYDKdqAz

Love

Lesley & TEAM FATOWL X

16/11/2022

Contemplating moving your little one from their cot into a bed? Have a read here first for some tips to help it go more smoothly

11/11/2022

Our new term starts on Monday and we have so many amazing classes to support, educate and entertain you over the Winter months.

Monday:

LifeCare Centre Stockbridge
9:45am - 10:45am Toddler Yoga (18 months - 4 years)
11:00am - 12:00pm Level 1 - FATOWL Beats (Music, Movement & Play) (3 mths - 9 mths)
12:15pm - 1:15pm Level 1 Bond With Baby (12 weeks - pre-mobile babies)
12:30pm - 1:30pm Level 2 - FATOWL Beats (Music, Movement & Play) (9 mths - 18 mths)
1:45pm - 2:45pm Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

South Queensferry Community Centre
10:00am - 11:00am FATOWL Family Beats (3 months - 5 years) (0 mths - 5yrs)
11:30am - 12:30pm Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

That Place in the Bay
10:00am - 11:00am Level 2 Bond With Baby (mobile babies - 18 months)
11:30am - 12:30pm Level 1 Bond With Baby (12 weeks - pre-mobile babies)

Tuesday:

South Queensferry Community Centre
9:30am - 10:30am Level 2 FATOWL MESS (8 mths - 18 mths)
11:00am - 12:00pm South Queensferry Community Centre Level 1 Bond With Baby (12 weeks - pre-mobile babies)
TERM

Bellfied Portobello
11:30am - 12:30pm Level 1 Bond With Baby (12 weeks - pre-mobile babies)
1:00pm - 2:00pm Bellfied Portobello Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

Wednesday:

The Dave King Partnership Centre
10:00am - 11:00am Level 1 Bond With Baby (12 weeks - pre-mobile babies)
11:30am - 12:30pm Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

North Merchiston Club
10:00am - 11:00am Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

Calm on Canning Street
11:30am - 12:30pm Level 1 - FATOWL Beats (Music, Movement & Play)
1:00pm - 2:00pm Level 2 - FATOWL Beats (Music, Movement & Play) (9 mths - 18 mths)

Krafty Kidz
1:00pm - 2:00pm Baby Massage (0 mths - 12 mths)

Friday:

Cramond Kirk Hall
9:30am - 10:30am Level 2 - FATOWL Beats (Music, Movement & Play) (9 mths - 18 mths)
10:45am - 11:45am Cramond Kirk Hall Toddler Yoga (18 months - 4 years)
TERM

Saturday:

Cramond Kirk Hall
10:30am - 11:30am Toddler Yoga (18 months - 4 years)

01/11/2022

Happy November!
I know that some of you will be struggling with sleep still due to the clock change and will be having early mornings. Keep a look out for my post over the next couple of days about early wakes and how to deal with them.