Sam
Sleep Consultant – Easy Sleep Solutions
Sam shares why sleeplessness doesn't have to be part of parenthood, how to find a credible sleep consultant in an unregulated industry, and why sleep training is about so much more than “crying it out.” She also tackles screen time, early wakings, and working with children of all ages.
What do you really wish more parents knew about your area of expertise?
Lots of points for this one!
SO many parents think that sleeplessness is just part of parenthood, but it really doesn't have to be. Unfortunately, kids don't come with manuals (oh, I wish they did!) and each child is totally unique, so what works for one child may not work quite as well for another.
‘Sleep Consulting’ as an industry isn't regulated—which is frankly a bit scary!
It's definitely worth asking LOTS of questions about experience, qualifications, and which sleep-related associations they belong to. If someone is totally above board, they'll happily answer these questions. If someone is a bit cagey, it could be worth stepping away.
And here's something that surprises a lot of people: sleep training doesn't just involve “crying it out”—there are LOTS of different techniques you can try. Honestly, a lot of them can be found on the internet, but it can be REALLY hard to stick to it all when you're exhausted. By working with a practitioner, they take the brain work out of it for you. They should also have the knowledge and experience to help you make tweaks if the technique you're trying isn't working for your child.
Check that your sleep consultant is registered with either:
- The Association of Professional Sleep Consultants
- The International Association of Child Sleep Consultants
Both associations have strict guidelines for membership, including minimum qualifications as well as opportunities for continuing professional development.
What topic or question do you get asked the most from your clients?
“Will my child ever sleep?”
Yes, they will. You maybe just need a little bit of help and support to get there.
Are there any common myths or misconceptions you'd love to bust?
Three Myths That Need Busting
“Lack of sleep as a parent is just par for the course”
It's not! If you're exhausted, you're not going to parent the way you want to or enjoy spending time with your children. By improving their sleep, you're also improving yours.
“If your child wakes early, put them to bed later”
While this works for some children, often it goes the other way—it's actually overtiredness that's making them wake early. Sam always suggests bringing bedtime earlier rather than later to begin with, and seeing how they do.
No one sleeps well every single night
Whether children or adults—a bad night here and there is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
What's a simple tip, trick, or mindset shift that often helps your clients the most?
Stop, Observe, and Track
Try not to become obsessed about your child's sleep—although I know first-hand it's very easy to do so!
If they're not already, it can be worth starting to write down their child's timings, so they can see if there's any kind of pattern.
The timings don't have to be super precise, just vague—did the child wake multiple times a night or just the once? Did they fall asleep at 7pm or 10pm? Did they have a nap or not? Sometimes just seeing it written down can reveal a pattern you hadn't noticed.
Why is your work so important to you and how do you see it making a difference in families' lives?
Someone in Your Corner
I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction doing the work I do, because I know from my own experience just how awful it feels to be sleep deprived.
Someone holding your hand while you make changes is so powerful—not just from an accountability perspective, but generally knowing there's someone who isn't bored of you moaning about your lack of sleep!
Sleep Support at Every Age
The main difference between working with a 5-year-old and an 11-year-old is their direct involvement in the process. Once children are above about 10 years old, they can be involved more in the consultations themselves, whereas much younger than that it tends to be just the parents.
It really depends on whether it's been an ongoing issue or if it's something new. Some kids sleep absolutely fine, then something happens and they start to have problems; others have struggled their whole lives—so really it's a case-by-case basis.
Sometimes it's easier if I'm dealing with the child themselves, especially if they know there's a problem and want to make a change. But then it becomes tricky again once they're teenagers and don't want to listen to anyone in “authority!”
9mo–3yrs
Highest demand—often as maternity leave ends or a new baby is on the way
Christmas
School-aged children—a term of struggling leads families to take the plunge
A Note on Screen Time
I always ask about screen time, for anyone, regardless of their age. Really it has more to do with what they're watching rather than the blue light itself.
If they're interacting with the screen—YouTube Shorts, for example—that is going to be really stimulating. Also, if they're allowed to watch a screen in the mornings, you can often see earlier wakings just so they can watch things!
It's also worth thinking about whether what they're watching is age appropriate—toddlers can't differentiate between what's real and what's make-believe, so some cartoons can be pretty scary because they don't understand it's not real.
Sleep Support for the Whole Family
Sam works with families of children of all ages—from babies through to teenagers—providing tailored, gentle approaches to establish healthy sleep habits. Every child is different, and every plan is built around your family's unique needs.
Registered with the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants—so you can be confident you're in safe, qualified hands.
