Frequently Asked Questions

A sleep consultant may be trained in certain methods and have been accredited with a recognised certificate. Some of these will have had a problem with their own child not sleeping, then discovered a method that works for them and shared it with others. Most will use a set technique that they believe is suitable for all children of a certain age i.e. Only works with babies or toddlers, then leave the parents to carry it out by themselves. I always work closely with a parent.

I developed my own methods after working with 100’s of children (aged 0 to 18) and their parents for over 30 years. I start by looking at the overall family situation, when the issue started and how long it has been going on for. I then take some family history and understand what Mum and Dad are experiencing too. I also ask the family to record their child’s sleep and feeding patterns for 3 days prior to starting a programme/home consultation. When I have all this information I begin to work out what is causing the issue and where to start making changes.

Warning -Other methods will work, however don’t be fooled if your child is left to cry himself to sleep, it can create problems further down the line. I primarily work on intuition and strengthen connections between parent and child.

Every child is different and every parent is different, therefore my approach is tailored to the individual family’s needs and routines. I make your sleep recommendations as simple as possible, so parents who like to travel and visit friends often, have a child that is ‘portable’ and able to sleep wherever they are, following the guidelines I provide. The overall basis of my approach is to build connection and doesn’t involve controlled crying or anything that would upset you or your child further. All you need to do is trust the process, I take on your worry, so you can sit back and relax.

I have worked with new born baby’s only a week old which is fabulous and helps prevent parents getting into difficulties, however I mostly work with toddlers and under-fives. I have solved sleep cases in young children that psychologists, GP’s and alternative therapists have not been able to help and have advised parents that after years or broken nights they must accept that their child does not need much sleep. We invariably solve these cases within 2-4 weeks, so please do not be disheartened. I pride myself in using no drugs and can help prevent mums taking anti-depressants, particularly if wanting to breast feed. I assist smart parents -all those that value time, energy and more quality play with their children.

Great question, many parents who have a child who sleeps through the night believe it is easy to give a child a bedtime routine and stick with it. That’s like sending a child to school and expecting them to learn when they are ill or unhappy. There is much more to sleep training a baby or child and maintaining their on-going health and welfare. I personally have invested £1000’s each year for my own personal development and courses thereby have a good understanding of child psychology. This provides you with valuable information about your own child and their particular sleep issue. The time and effort I save a family once sleep is overcome, is easily worth at least £7-15000 p/y particularly when you get back an hour or two each day. A consultant is highly skilled at recognising things a parent would overlook and keeps families who have reached breaking point together, that’s priceless.

My holistic approach combines intuition, tools and techniques developed from over 25 years of childcare experience – from newborn babies to teenagers – and nine years of personal development training. I hold a Montessori Teaching certificate and am trained in postnatal depression and paediatric first aid.

My aim is always the same – to get results in a way that suits my clients’ lifestyle or work commitments, in the shortest possible time. Depending on the circumstances and the level of service you opt for, you can see results in as little as 24 to 48 hours. All programmes come with a guaranteed outcome.

I have over 30 years of experience working as a live-in and day care nanny for newborn babies and upwards. I’m NAMCW, Montessori, PND and early baby care trained, a certified MasterCoach and a published author.

I started working as the Sanity Nanny 15 years ago. Since then, my tried and tested parenting methods have transformed the lives of over 100’s of families in Gloucestershire, London and beyond. I’ve worked with many well-known celebrities and high-profile parents, so discretion is guaranteed.

I don’t advocate controlled crying. It can worsen the situation and have a lifelong impact on your child’s emotional and psychological development. The only time I would recommend that a parent uses controlled crying is out of desperation for fear they may harm their child.

This may be the case, however; it is risky strategy and invariably parents allow the same situation to continue month after month, which means both parent and child are suffering. Fact-A baby is capable of sleeping through for 12 hours from around 6 months old*, who doesn’t want that? A child who has an unresolved sleep issue, beyond a year is likely to carry on suffering into adulthood and ultimately it may affect their mental health/school performance.

*Sleeping though can happen much sooner.

I hear this concern a lot, however it is like saying, “I don’t like pizza”, then going to Italy and tasting one made in a traditional oven with love and care, along with local ingredients you have chosen yourself. My methods work and you will be closely involved at every step of the way and will be delighted with the results. If I don’t think I can assist you, I won’t take you on as a client, so you won’t pay a penny.

Parenting in the 21^st century has changed; technology is everywhere, children are different, some more sensitive but underneath their needs are all the same. Everyone is wanting to get the most from their busy lives and provide the very best for their baby/children. Health and good sleep habits are central to a Mum and Dad staying on top of work and homelife.

Through years of Montessori teaching, nannying and working with sleep clients, I recognized the same common challenges surfacing and created the ‘Modern Family’ Parenting system, this is a 7 Step approach in helping you get the most from your family life. In a nutshell, it’s rather like putting a business head on family life and saying where can we make changes? How can we save more time and effort and spend more quality time with our children, as well as feel fulfilled in our careers/business? For the average parent it is impossible and is simply an unachievable dream, with some professional assistance and by introducing time saving systems, along with new childcare insights and knowledge, you too can become the parent who excels with ease and enables their child to do the same, be that at in nursery/school or home.

Parenting can be fun, enjoyable and not take up every spare minute of your time. Having worked with world class leaders and well-know professionals who set high standards for themselves, I have drawn upon the best practices and can assure parents of being the best they can, freeing up more time and loving every moment they spend together with their new baby or growing children. Early education comes from Mum and Dad, let me help you become self-aware, relaxed and nurture a happy, healthy, well-balanced child.

Discover how your Parenting Style discussed further in my book, impacts your child throughout their whole life. Get things right and life is a breeze, get things wrong and you may pay for things forever. Of course, you get to decide. Your coach will take you by the hand on that wonderful journey, leaving you to sit and admire how well you and your child are doing without worrying or second guessing your next step.

Sleep-Support-Sanity-Systems= Parenting Success.

GOOD CHILDCARE TRAINING & EDUCATION can help you be your best throughout the challenging and early years.

Book a Discovery call and leave understanding your current challenge, how you overcome it and what the next steps are…apply here

This is a common problem that can last for some time if it isn’t dealt with quickly. By focusing on settling techniques and making gradual, consistent changes, many parents see positive results within a day or so.

Crying is your baby’s way of communicating. There are many reasons he or she may be crying, other than wanting food or needing to be changed. Most often your baby simply wants comfort and cuddles, but they may have wind or could be in pain. Always speak to your GP or health visitor if you suspect the latter.

I don’t recommend controlled crying for either a young baby or a child of any age. Try different soothing techniques, reassure your child, then stay close by until he or she falls asleep.

This is a common issue that’s often nothing to do with sleep and more often related to boundaries and building confidence. Introduce a reward chart if your child is old enough to understand and give clear messages.

A good sleep pattern can be achieved by having a good daytime routine and resettling your child until you get closer to your chosen wake-up time, it is possible.

Many parents fall into this trap and end up getting no sleep themselves, either from being kicked by their restless child, or through worry that he or she may fall out of bed! Try to resettle your child in his own room and avoid picking him up unless he’s either teething or ill.

This can be tricky. Naps are important as they can affect the quality of sleep your toddler gets at night. Aim for at least one long nap during the day often after lunch. Try to make sure your child doesn’t cat nap in the car and plan your day around normal nap times. Get in touch if you need help establishing a routine.

The best way to handle this is to keep him calm before putting him into the cot. Perhaps read a story, rub his back and provide plenty of reassurance until he begins to relax and settle down.

It varies, though most babies and toddlers will sleep longer if they have a good routine from an early age. Newborn babies sleep for between 10 and 20 hours, dropping to 14/15 hours by six months and 13/14 hours by age one or two. Four to six year olds need 11 to 12 hours.

Even the smallest thing can trigger these night wakings. Gently talk to your child and give her plenty of reassurance at bedtime. If the issue persists, get in touch.

So-called night terrors can happen because your toddler has seen something scary on TV or in a book. Remove any offending items and don’t engage in conversation – instead, just soothe and calm your child with comfort and cuddles and things should soon settle down.

Babies aged around seven to nine months often experience a period of separation anxiety, and it can be hard for a toddler to understand why you can’t play as much as before. Try finding a quiet activity, such as reading, where you can all sit down together so your toddler doesn’t feel left out. Get in touch if the situation continues.

Infant babies need regular feeds and it’s normal to feed frequently in the first couple of months when your baby only has a small stomach. It takes time for your body to build up milk supply, but feeds will space out by month two or three, and things will become easier.

It’s common for toddlers to go through fussy phases. Keep offering a variety of colours and textures and try not to make too much fuss about it. You may find making funny faces out of fruit and vegetables helps to make them more attractive.

Smoothies can be high in sugar and should be offered in moderation. It’s better to make food fun by offering fresh fruit and vegetables with different tastes and textures.