about ....
Soothe.Sleep.Support

I have worked in the postnatal support world (for a national parenting charity) since the birth of my first son (who is now 22).  After having challenges with sleep with my second & experiencing first-hand the exhaustion, the worry and the judgment, I can truly empathise with the plight of sleep-deprived new parents.

I have co-ordinated new parents support groups and drop-ins for many years and have witnessed the sleep recommendations constantly evolving with many new products, 'sleep aids' and approaches becoming the must-haves and  must-dos.    I've also watched the growth of an unregulated  and dare I say 'predatory' sleep industry and worried about the confusing, undermining and sometimes downright dangerous advice which parents have to navigate through.

For many years I was wary & cynical of the work of  'sleep consultants'.  That was until I came across the work of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre BASIS – Baby Sleep Information Source (basisonline.org.uk) which provides accessible, evidence-based research on biologically normal infant sleep.   At the same time a training opportunity whereby you were given the tools to 'disrupt the mainstream sleep narrative' caught my eye.  Lyndsay Hookway's L6 Holistic Sleep Coaching programme totally aligned with my Health Promotion training...& I haven't looked back.

Essentially a health promotion approach in the context of sleep support involves helping clients to increase control over and to improve their family sleep situation.  My basic tenets are to explore each situation holistically then educate, empower and enable parents to find their way forward which is realistic, compassionate and achievable. 

During a coaching consult we will discuss all things sleep (for everyone) including timings,  routines, cues, associations and daytime activities.  However importantly we will also consider context, any health or development issues, everyone's temperament and personality, any feeding/diet factors, your parenting styles, resources and expectations.  I will only recommend ways forward which fit with your individual family circumstances and are sustainable.

I am committed to spreading the word to debunk sleep 'training' (in favour of gentle, respectful sleep support) and offer accessible and affordable support so look forward to hearing from you