A Peaceful Approach to Sleep

Sleep can bring up lots of emotions and questions, especially in the early years. When transitioning into an Early childhood space, it’s natural for parents to wonder:

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"How will my baby sleep here?"
“What will it be like for them?”
"What happens when their sleep routine changes"
"Can we keep our home sleep habits?"

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We want you to know that here at Gems, your child's wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do – including how we approach rest and sleep. We understand that sleep isn't just a routine, it’s a deeply personal and emotional part of your child’s day. There is no single way we support children to sleep – instead, we respond gently to each child’s needs and cues, helping them feel safe, secure, and understood.

How We Support Tamariki with Sleep
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We don’t have a "one size fits all" approach to sleep. Instead, we take a calm, flexible approach, responding to each child's unique rhythms and cues. Some children are used to being sung to sleep, breastfed to sleep, co-sleeping, or bedsharing at home. We honour those routines as much as possible and aim to bring comfort through familiar associations.

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Here's how we do it:

• Individualised routines: Every child is different. Some may need sleep earlier, others later. Some need more support, others prefer space. We adapt to suit to their needs.
• Child-led settling: We tune into tired signs like rubbing eyes, turning away, or becoming unsettled. We use soft transitions and soothing strategies – such as cuddles, gentle songs, quiet voices, or holding a familiar item to help children relax. We're guided by what your child responds to best.
• Familiar comforts from home: We also encourage families to bring comforts from home, such as a cuddly toy, special blanket, sharing their sleep time song, or item with a familiar scent. These help children feel more secure in a new environment.
• Calm, predictable environment: Our sleep areas are quiet, dimly lit, and unhurried. Soothing music or white noise may be used, depending on what works best for the child or group.
• Unhurried transitions: Children are never rushed to sleep. If they’re not ready, we offer rest time with books, quiet play, or cuddles.

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Our Pikler-Inspired Philosophy

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At Gems, our sleep support is guided by Pikler philosophy, which values:

• Respectful care
• Trusting relationships
• Freedom of movement
• Responding to natural rhythms

We believe children settle to sleep best when they feel emotionally safe, physically comfortable, and truly heard. Sleep becomes easier when the relationship between child and caregiver is strong and based on trust.

We avoid rushing children to sleep or following strict schedules. Instead, we tune into their signals and needs. When tamariki feel seen, heard, and safe, sleep comes more naturally. The same values and support are reflected during wakeups. Cosy cuddles and slow, calm transitions that follow sleep are respected too.

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Primary Caregiving & Relationship-Based Sleep Support

Each child has a Primary caregiver – a familiar person who supports them with care throughout the day, including during sleep times. This trusted relationship helps your child feel secure, making settling easier and more consistent.

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When it comes to sleep, this person:

• Recognises individual sleep cues and preferences
• Supports children emotionally through the settling process
• Mirrors your home routines as much as possible
• Builds a secure, loving connection that helps your child feel calm and safe

We’ve seen that strong relationships are key to peaceful settling and healthy sleep habits. Being attuned helps us create the right conditions for rest.

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Different Rhythms from Home
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Your child’s rhythm at the centre may differ from their rhythm at home – and that’s okay. Sleep times and lengths can vary due to the group setting, but we try to follow your routines where possible.

• In a group setting, children’s sleep times might shift slightly.
• Some tamariki sleep longer or shorter than expected.
• Your child may need more support here than at home – or sometimes less.

We value flexibility and communicate with you regularly if we notice changes or patterns in your child’s sleep. We also know that sleep associations created here rarely impact your associations at home.

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Gentle Transitions & Whānau Involvement

We know it can be a big step for your child to sleep away from home. To support them:

• We offer gentle settling visits, so tamariki can get to know us in a calm, unrushed way.
• We talk with you about what works at home, so we can reflect those rhythms here.
• We build trust with your child through familiar routines, emotional availability,
  and lots of cuddles.

We know that naps may not always align perfectly with what happens at home. But we do our best to create a consistent and peaceful rhythm. Your insight and knowledge about your child are incredibly valuable to us – you are your child’s expert.

When we work together, we create the best environment for your tamariki to thrive – both in rest and play.

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Let's Keep the Conversation Going

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s primary caregiver or any of our teaching team if you have questions, concerns, or updates around your child’s sleep needs. We're here to support both tamariki and whānau in this journey.

Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child’s journey. We are honoured to walk alongside you in these early years, creating a nurturing space where your child feels safe, loved, and well rested.