Thechildsleeptherapist

If bedtime and wake-up time have drifted later over the summer, don’t panic, but remember that your child’s body clock won’t reset overnight.

Forcing a much earlier bedtime when there isn’t enough sleep pressure will often create more resistance, not more sleep.

Instead:

Move wake-up time earlier by around 15 minutes every 2–3 days.
Prioritise morning daylight.
Gradually shift meals and routines earlier if these have changed.
Allow bedtime to follow as sleep pressure begins building earlier.

This isn’t about forcing a 7pm bedtime. It’s about finding the right timing for your child’s individual sleep needs and the wake-up time required for school.

Save this and start making those small changes now 🤍

Need a personalised plan? My £89 Summer Sleep Plan is available until 1st September. DM me SUMMER for the details.

The photos show sunshine, sea and happy children ☀️

What they don’t show is the endless sand removal, the perfectly timed toilet request, the snack demands and someone declaring they were cold in 26 degree sunshine 😂

We genuinely had a lovely day, but lovely family days can still be messy, loud, annoying and overwhelming.

A little reminder not to compare your whole day with someone else’s best few seconds. 🤍

I work with lots of families whose child already takes melatonin and yet sleep is still incredibly difficult 🤯

That doesn’t necessarily mean the melatonin isn't working. It may be helping with one part of sleep while other factors still need support.

That's why I look at the whole child: sleep pressure, body clock, sensory needs, anxiety, environment, settling and individual sleep needs.

Melatonin should always be prescribed and reviewed by your child's medical team but behavioural and environmental sleep support can sit alongside it 🤍

Sleep habits I'll happily rate 10/10 ✨️

Good sleep doesn't mean rigid schedules, perfect cot naps or putting every child to bed at 7 pm.

I'm much more interested in what works for your child, their individual sleep needs and your actual family life.

Which one gets 10/10 from you? 👇

Going back to work can already feel like a huge adjustment, without adding broken nights, early starts and worries about how your little one will sleep at nursery or with childcare.

We can look at your child’s sleep, their routine, childcare naps and what’s realistic for your family so you feel more prepared and less anxious about the transition.

If you’re returning to work soon and sleep is one of the things keeping you up at night, send me WORK and I’ll point you towards the right support 🤍

The kind of texts I LOVE to recieve 🥹🤍

Calmer evenings. Fewer wakes. Sleeping through. Children feeling proud of themselves. Parents finally able to relax.

These are the little wins that can make such a huge difference to family life.

If you’re ready for your own “I got a text” moment, DM me SLEEP and let’s chat.

This lovely review is from a recent client who reached out for support with their six-year-old’s sleep.

Sleep challenges don’t only affect babies and toddlers. Older children can struggle with bedtime anxiety, needing lots of parental support, frequent waking or finding it difficult to settle.

My support is always tailored to the individual child, their needs and the whole family, with practical, responsive strategies that feel achievable at home.

I’m so grateful when families trust me to support them through such a difficult and exhausting time 🤍

After a difficult night, letting your little one sleep in can feel like the kindest option. But a later start can shift their body clock, reduce sleep pressure and make naps or bedtime harder again the following day.

Starting the day at roughly the same time each morning gives the body a clear and consistent signal that daytime has begun. It helps anchor their circadian rhythm, supports more predictable naps and allows enough sleep pressure to build for bedtime.

That’s why a set wake-up time is usually my first priority when we work together. Before changing settling methods or focusing on bedtime, we create a consistent starting point for the whole day.

It doesn’t need to be exact to the minute, and there will always be exceptions for illness or unusual circumstances. But consistency matters far more than chasing lost sleep with a long lie-in 🤍

Rolling is a normal developmental stage, but it can make sleep feel stressful!

Always place your baby down on their back at the start of every sleep. If they roll onto their tummy but cannot yet roll both ways independently, gently turn them back over.

Once they can confidently roll from front to back and back to front, you don’t need to spend the night repeatedly repositioning them.

Make sure you:

✓ Stop swaddling as soon as they show signs of rolling
✓ Use a firm, flat mattress
✓ Keep the cot completely clear
✓ Avoid bumpers, nests, wedges or sleep positioners

Your baby may need a little time to get used to their new skill, so offer reassurance while keeping their sleep space safe and having lots of day time practice 🤍

Going on holiday with children can bring a lot of questions about sleep.

What happens if bedtime is later?
Should naps stay the same?
How do you manage shared rooms, travel days or a different sleep space?

Your holiday doesn’t need to follow a perfect schedule. With a little preparation, you can support your child’s sleep while still enjoying late evenings, days out and family time.

My Sleep on Holiday Guide is packed with practical, realistic advice for before, during and after your trip.

Only £5, available through the link in my bio ☀️✈️