Frequently Asked Questions

No.  I'm not comfortable with these strategies and I do not believe they are necessary.  I specialise in focusing on attachment rather than detachment when helping families achieve their goals.   

My preference is for continued and responsive parental presence throughout any adaptation of existing sleep rituals; particularly when independent sleep is the preferred goal but the child is accustomed to parental support at sleep time. A big step, such as this, cannot be rushed.  It requires patience, sensitivity and reassurance for little ones; steadily building confidence in new and happy routines, as we would when teaching them any new skills.  Why should independent sleep be any different?

Um...no..  I would imagine you tried that, long before calling me.  Besides, many older babies and toddlers simply hate to be patted and this can be even more labour intensive than feeding to sleep.  Though it can be useful in some circumstances, I much prefer to let babies explore their own happy ways of falling asleep.  Your sleepy presence, close contact, and little dose of curiosity may be all that's required of you.

This is a really common and legitimate question.  Cry it out, spaced soothing or any methods of sleep training that involve sudden restriction of parental presence or response, can be notoriously upsetting for everyone. Though research findings concerning the impact on attachment are not reliable or conclusive, common sense tells me that if something feels  wrong, it probably is.

My preference is to make gradual alterations in sleep routines, step by step, with the continued and responsive presence of a parent or loved one until their help is no longer required.

At the same time, I support parents in developing the skills of mindful listening, co-regulation, emotion coaching, and calm quiet leadership.  All excellent for supporting the nervous system of little ones during times of frustration or uncertainty, and for deepening attachment within the relationship.

There will always be moments of change during childhood that little ones may not like or agree with. However, gentle parenting does not mean that we must ignore the needs of the wider family or our own, to ensure our smallest are always kept happy.

Far from causing fractures in attachment, when my clients see how to make change in manageable steps, with patience and without sacrificing connection, we often find the bond with their child deepens further.

I have countless creative and respectful suggestions for improving sleep; not just one! If any elements do not quite align with someone's parenting style then we work together to make adjustments until they do.  

Preserving attachment is my number one priority.

In-home support is certainly a service I offer.  This is often a great option for those families who consider themselves to be in a sleep crisis. Getting to know parents and children in-person, usually allows me to understand the situation in more detail and get to the root of the problem in the quickest possible time.

I am a keen advocate of both. Bed sharing, baby wearing, extended breast feeding, tandem breastfeeding and elimination communication are things I have practiced with all 4 of my children.  However, 16yrs ago many thought my ideas were a bit woo woo!!  Thankfully these parenting philosophies are starting to be embraced by a broader population.

Yes! Soooo much. This is where the value really lies. 2 months of on going phone support is included in my standard and premium services. Most clients will book in at least 1 call a week during that time. Others will book more and some will need less. Text messages and emails are also welcome within business hours and my private Facebook group is a reliable resource too.

As a holistic sleep practitioner, I already consider the sleep of other family members and siblings when problem solving with my clients. With 2 months of standard follow up, we have plenty of time to address the sleep needs of more than one child. 

This does not incur an extra charge.

See this video where I explain more: https://youtu.be/hdu6ICpdOc0

Absolutely. What better way to relax and reconnect after a busy day. A boost in your Oxytocin levels (the hormone of love and connection), will be good for you both in your readiness for sleep.

Yes.  From newborn.

In these early months most of my work involves normalising the 'chaos' of infant sleep, demystifying the stages of development and giving parents shortcuts to knowledge and the know how on surviving these early months.

I am also watchful for signs of health or feeding concerns that may complicate a baby's ability to sleep soundly.  This is the time to nuture attachment, build trust and foster a love of sleep; the very best ingredients for uncomplicated bedtimes.

Yes, yes, yes!!  I love working with toddlers! They are really receptive to change, especially when bedtime is lots of fun, and they feel understood.  It's a privilege to watch them transition from their ceaseless bedtime resistance, to actively leading the way to bed, with smiles and enthusiasm. 

No. I may offer you recommendations for the timings of naps, bedtimes, etc, but these are flexible and may well change anyway, once you tell me how your baby responds.   It is biologically normal for your baby to have slight variations in sleep needs from day to day.   In most cases the best routines are the ones that emerge over time, once mum and baby's needs are addressed. I believe that schedules written by a stranger, for a 'typical' baby, simply set people up to feel like they're failing.  

No. Beyond my initial intake questionnaire, you won't be required to log anything unless of course you enjoy keeping records that way. It's common for me ask about timing of naps or bedtimes during my support calls but approximations are completely fine.  Some people become highly stressed by the numbers, therefore I don't usually place too much focus on data unless my clients feel that it's important to them.

In most cases, recently acquired sleep challenges that have arisen over the past month, can generally be resolved with just a 1hr phone consultation.

For long term sleep challenges, my standard coaching programme is always my recommendation.

If you are unsure, feel free to drop me an email outlining your situation and your aims and I can let you know the level of service that is most likely to help you achieve your goals.  Alternatively, book in a free 15min discovery call here.

I made a video to answer this one.  ;)

https://youtu.be/tsJABOJJhC4

Only if you enjoy staying at home! A social life is so important for your mental health. We'll figure out how to work naps into your ideal routine. Whether these need to happen in the stroller, the car, a sling or even on the beach...I'm easy!

Not really.  Babies are quick to develop their expectations of different people. For example, breast feeding babies don't expect milk off anyone else than Mum.  If Grandma loves to rock your baby to sleep now and then, that's totally fine. Especially if they both love it. We all know Grandma's job is to spoil us rotten!

No.... life will always throw up random events! Unexpected guests or the occasional, surprise bedtime poo!! I usually suggest aiming for an approximate bedtime but its totally ok to just roll with it if you want to. Some people LOVE routines, but others hate them. I get that. I'm here to work alongside you, not to boss you around!
 

No. If your baby's getting a good amount of sleep across 24 hrs and they're happy and feeding well, then however long the naps are, they're doing just fine.  Don't waste precious hours resettling when you could be living life instead! 

Yes you must!  Parents need to be parented too. It won't be a problem. I can help you work it in around your baby's evening rhythm.

I have over 22yrs of clinical experience as a registered midwife. I have also achieved two qualifications in sleep consulting. The first with the Institute of sensitive sleep, and more recently I became an OCN level 6 accredited, Holistic Sleep Coach, through Lyndsey Hookway's training.  At present, this is the highest internationally recognised infant sleep coaching qualification there is, though I must add that sleep consulting is an entirely UNREGULATED profession. 

Training is not a legal requirement, so ask plenty of questions when selecting your sleep consultant.

Why this question is so hard to answer without sounding avoidant and vague!  Lets just say, plumbers, mechanics and electricians fix things...I counsel and support people. 

I DO NOT fix children.  They may be struggling or misunderstood perhaps, but they are not broken.  I explain it better in this video...https://youtu.be/r4fjA2Fx7bE

Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked.

If you tell me that something in our plan is not working, I will ask lots more questions to find out what details I may have missed or what aspects of our plan might not feel right for you.

I NEVER tell my clients to simply start again or try harder if their sleep situation remains unchanged.  Instead I provide support in breaking down the problems and steadily creating step by step solutions until goals start feeling more achievable. At the same time I also help parents to consider whether other obstacles in life, might be complicating their efforts to make change. 

Full disclosure: I am also very frank in the early stages of working with clients. If any goals seem unrealistic in relation to a child's age, size, stage of development or any number of other factors, then it is my responsibility to be honest about this. Together with my clients, we ensure that our goals remain realistic and achievable for their individual child, their particular stage of development & the timing of their plan.

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Yes.  I am now able to offer 'Afterpay'.  Please enquire if you would like me to arrange this for you.