Gina Johnson
Sleep school is a heavily researched topic, and Masada Sleep School is a popular choice for many parents. However, the question of whether Masada Sleep School works is a subjective one. While some parents swear by the program, others have found it too rigid and not aligned with their parenting style. The program is known for its toughness, with nurses overseeing the baby's sleep attempts for the first two days and nights. While some appreciate the structure and results, others may find it challenging. Ultimately, the effectiveness of Masada Sleep School may depend on individual preferences and circumstances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of nights | 5 |
| Location | St Kilda, Melbourne |
| Covered by private health insurance | Yes |
| Crying involved | Yes |
| Toughness | Uncompromising |
| Effectiveness | Positive reviews, but some negative experiences |
| Parent involvement | Parents stay with the baby |
| Baby sleep oversight | Nurses oversee baby's sleep attempts for the first two days and nights |
| Parent feedback | Positive reviews |
| Nursing staff | Caring, understanding, loving, patient, and informative |
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What You'll Learn
Parent and baby sleep separately in individual rooms
Sleep schools like Masada are designed to help parents address the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with having a baby. The Masada Early Parenting Centre, previously named the Mother Baby Unit, offers a five-night residential program for parents and their infants up to 24 months of age.
During the program, parents and babies sleep separately in individual rooms. The first two days and nights are an opportunity for parents to rest while nurses oversee the baby's attempted sleeps. This can be an apprehensive experience for parents, as they adjust to the idea of their baby sleeping independently in a new environment.
The Masada settling technique involves a sequence of actions, primarily patting the baby. Nurses teach parents how to interpret their infant's cries and respond accordingly, empowering them to find a sleep approach that suits their comfort level and their infant's unique needs. This technique is known as responsive settling, where nurses settle the baby every 10 minutes for a grizzle and every 2 minutes for a cry.
While the babies sleep, parents attend seminars and group education sessions that focus on infant development, parenthood, sleep, and settling techniques. These sessions provide a supportive environment for parents to bond, share stories, and learn from one another.
The experience of parents who have attended Masada sleep school varies. Some have praised the program for helping their babies become "sleep champions," while others have criticized its strict and uncompromising approach. Ultimately, the decision to attend a sleep school should be made based on the individual needs of the family, and it is essential to remember that there are alternative options for sleep consulting that can be done from the comfort of home.
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Nurses oversee baby's sleep for the first two days and nights
For parents of newborns, one of life's true pleasures is getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. However, this can be a challenge, with many parents reporting that they have to resort to patting, feeding, co-sleeping, and even threatening adoption to get their baby to sleep. This is where Masada Sleep School comes in.
Masada Sleep School is a five-night program that helps parents and babies get a good night's rest. One of the appeals of Masada is that for the first two days and nights, nurses oversee the baby's sleep attempts. This means that parents can get some much-needed rest and recharge for the next 18 months of parenthood. During this time, babies sleep in separate rooms, some positioned opposite their parents' room and others clustered in a "pod".
The nursing staff at Masada are described as "amazing," "caring, understanding, loving, patient, and informative." They are known for their tough love approach, which may include letting the baby cry for up to 20 minutes before being checked on. While this method may not work for every baby, Masada has had success, with many parents reporting that the program was life-changing and that they got their life back.
One parent's experience with Masada Sleep School highlights the challenges and benefits of the program. They describe the first night and day as "horrible," as it was confronting and did not align with their parenting style. However, they acknowledge that the program is heavily backed by research and that the nurses were able to provide valuable information about sleep biology and differentiating between grizzles and cries.
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Parents can stay for five nights
The experience can be challenging and confronting, especially if the methods do not align with a parent's philosophy or style. The program is heavily backed by research and Masada has a research partnership with Monash University. The nursing staff are described as caring, understanding, loving, patient, and informative.
Parents can expect to learn about sleep biology and differentiating between grizzles and cries. The program is designed to be hard on the parents, rather than the children. One source describes the program as "tough love", with babies left to cry for up to 20 minutes before being checked on.
The results can be life-changing, with parents regaining a sense of control and much-needed rest. The routine established at Masada can continue to benefit families long after they return home. However, setbacks are common, and some parents may need to refer back to Masada's basics or seek additional support to maintain the gains.
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Mixed reviews from parents
Reviews from parents about Masada Sleep School are mixed. Some parents have praised the school, with one parent claiming that the program was \"awesome\" and that their child was \"well and truly into a routine\" six weeks after graduating. Another parent described the program as \"life-changing\" and praised the nursing staff as \"amazing\". This parent also noted that while the program was \"confronting\" at first, it was ultimately successful and heavily backed by research.
However, other parents have criticized Masada Sleep School, with one parent describing their experience as \"horrible\". This parent felt that the program was too rigid and did not allow for individual differences in babies' needs. They also found the approach of letting the baby cry for 20 minutes before checking on them to be upsetting. Another parent described their experience as \"tough\", noting that they were only allowed to leave the compound and that the program involved a lot of crying from the baby.
Some parents have also expressed concerns about the lack of publicly available information about the day-to-day runnings of the program, making it difficult to know what to expect before enrolling. Overall, while some parents have found success with Masada Sleep School, others have had negative experiences, highlighting the importance of finding the right approach for each individual family.
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Masada's programme is backed by research
Masada Sleep School is backed by research and has a research partnership with Monash University based on their program. The program is tailored to help babies sleep through the night without needing assistance to resettle.
The program is not publicly disclosed, and parents are advised to seek help as early as possible. The nursing staff are described as caring, understanding, loving, patient, and informative. The program is based on sleep biology and differentiating between grizzles and cries.
The program has received positive testimonials from parents, with some claiming that it gave them their "life back" and that it was "life-changing". The program is described as providing a routine for the baby and helping them sleep through the night.
However, it is important to note that the program may not align with everyone's parenting style and philosophy around sleep. Some parents have expressed concerns about the toughness of the program and the limited options if their baby doesn't fit the mold. It is recommended that parents do their research and consult with a pediatrician before starting any sleep-training program.
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Frequently asked questions
The Masada Early Parenting Centre, previously named the Mother Baby Unit, is a sleep school for babies and toddlers up to 2 years of age. It is a long-standing centre of excellence that offers a state-of-the-art service designed to help parents overcome the challenges that a new baby can bring.
While some parents have reported positive experiences with Masada Sleep School, others have criticised its tough approach. Some reviews mention that the program is heavily backed by research and that the nursing staff are "amazing", "caring", "understanding", "loving", "patient", and "informative". However, other reviews have described the program as "horrible" and "not... suitable" for all babies.
During the program, nursing staff are available to review your progress and provide support. Psychologists and paediatricians are also available on a consultancy basis. The program includes teaching sleep and settling skills using techniques appropriate for infants and toddlers, such as responsive settling, which involves interpreting an infant's cries and grizzles and responding accordingly.
