Paediatric Sleep Consulting & Parent Coaching FAQs

Mum hugging toddler on a bed in the sunshine

What Does a Paediatric Sleep Consultant and Parent Coach Do?

How We Support Children and Families

Helping parents with sleep, behaviour, eating, toileting, or understanding additional/developmental needs.
Personalised support based on child development, temperament, and parenting values.
Age range: birth to around 11 years.

How are you different from other sleep coaches?

We don’t just focus on sleep - we support the whole child and the whole family.

As paediatric sleep consultants and parent coaches, we’re trained in child development and understand how sleep links with behaviour, emotions, sensory needs, eating, toileting, and family dynamics. We also know how to spot red flags and when something may need medical or specialist input.

Our work goes beyond “sleep training” and instead helps parents feel confident, informed, and supported long term.

What age children do you work with?

We support children from birth to around 11 years, including:

Newborns (0–3 months) – gentle sleep foundations and helping babies feel secure
Infants (4–12 months) – responsive routines and age-appropriate sleep support
Toddlers (1–3 years) – sleep struggles, big emotions, behaviour, and transitions
Preschoolers (3–5 years) – sleep and behaviour challenges, routines, and consistency
School-age children (5–11 years) – sleep hygiene, night anxiety, and developmental or behavioural challenges

At every age, our focus is on helping children feel safe, secure, and supported, while helping parents respond with confidence

How quickly will I see results?

Many families notice small but meaningful changes within the first 48 hours, often because they feel clearer and more confident about how to respond.

From there, progress usually looks like this:

Week 1 – adjustment and early improvements
Weeks 2–4 – more settled sleep, calmer evenings, fewer struggles
Weeks 5–8 – habits become established and parents feel confident managing things independently

Every family is different, and timelines vary depending on your child and situation. That’s why all support includes 8 weeks of follow-up, so you’re never left to figure things out alone.

Should I speak to my GP first?

Yes — especially if there are signs like snoring, breathing pauses, reflux, allergies, or ongoing sleep difficulties that don’t improve.

That said, many parents come to us because they feel something isn’t right, but they’re struggling to be heard or don’t know what to ask for. We can help you understand potential red flags, gather the right information, and feel confident having conversations with your GP or paediatrician.

We work alongside healthcare professionals and support families once medical causes are being explored, addressed, or ruled out.

Do you support children with additional needs?

Yes. We have extensive experience supporting families of children with autism, ADHD, reflux, allergies, and other conditions that can affect sleep and behaviour.

While we don’t diagnose medical conditions, we’re experienced at recognising when additional support may be needed and helping parents advocate for their child. Our approach is always adapted to your child’s needs and development.

Where do you work? Do you do home visits?

We’re based in Reading, Berkshire and regularly offer in-home consultations across much of the South of England.

We work locally with families in and around Reading and Berkshire, and also travel further afield for home visits, including London and surrounding areas (travel fees apply).

If you’re outside the South of England, we offer online consultations, supporting families across the UK and internationally.

What qualifications and experience do you have?

Our paediatric sleep consultants and parent coaches are professionally trained, including specialist Millpond training in paediatric sleep consulting, alongside qualifications in child development and behavioural psychology.

With over 30 years of combined experience and more than 2,000 families supported, we combine evidence-based knowledge with real-world understanding of what parenting actually looks like day to day.

How is your approach different from sleep training?

We use a holistic, child-centred approach that looks at the root causes of sleep and behaviour challenges — not just the symptoms.

Rather than applying a single method, we take into account your child’s development, emotional and sensory needs, health, environment, and family dynamics. Support is personalised, responsive, and focused on lasting change, not quick fixes.

Is sleep training the only option?

No — sleep training is not the only option.

While some sleep approaches focus on a single method, sleep challenges are rarely caused by just one thing. Children’s sleep is closely linked to their development, emotions, health, environment, and how supported and secure they feel.

As paediatric sleep consultants and parent coaches, we take a gentle, holistic approach. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method, we work with you to understand what’s driving your child’s sleep difficulties and create responsive, personalised strategies that fit your child and your family.

For some families, this may include gradual changes to routines or boundaries. For others, it may be about emotional reassurance, understanding behaviour, addressing underlying needs, or helping parents feel confident in how they respond — without leaving a child to cry alone.

There are many ways to support better sleep. Our role is to help you find the one that feels right for your child and your family.