Kate, Will & Baby H’s Story

What was sleep like before we worked together?

We had periods of reliable sleep but over the last few months before we worked with you it got progressively worse and worse. We were dealing with false starts, often 3 wakes before midnight and then another 2-3 after midnight, with consistent 5am wakes, sometimes even earlier. We were also dealing with stomach/digestive upset which made things challenging.

How was it impacting you or your family?

We were running on empty, everything felt like a struggle and we dreaded every night. After we started working with you we both realised how much anxiety we had around sleep and getting H to bed at night. Every noise we heard him make would make your heart sink. We also realised that H was getting sick a lot and taking longer to recover than before.

What made you decide to reach out for support?

We pushed through initially, thinking it might be a phase and that it would pass, or that he was just a bad sleeper. But in the end for the sake of our mental health and H's total wellness we decided something needed to change but we didn't know how to do it ourselves.

Did you have any worries or hesitations before working with me?

Before we met you, we were worried that the situation couldn't be improved, that we'd spend all this time and money but see no results. But ultimately realised that things likely couldn't get much worse so had nothing to lose. But once we met you, we instantly felt more relaxed, reassured and hopeful that change was possible.

What was your experience of working together?

Our time spent working with you was so enriching. We felt fully supported to make decisions that would fit in with what was important to us, and really see H as a person with his own needs, habits and personality. You were knowledgeable and delivered your advice with compassion. We had to change our schedules around a bit to accommodate the new routine but it was a small sacrifice for overall much better sleep!

What changes did you notice throughout our time together?

Obviously sleep improved drastically, and actually it improved really quickly - much more so than we expected! But alongside that, the anxiety disappeared, we both became much more confident about getting him to sleep, and were less frustrated when he did wake up overnight. And best of all H was waking up happier. We had more energy to enjoy spending time with him, even though our days are much longer.

How are things looking now?

It's totally changed our lives, H is still mostly waking up once a night but does sometimes sleep through. Though he's reliably going to sleep, transfers are easier, there's no false starts so we can actually enjoy the rest of the evening together. Then in the morning, some days he naturally wakes up about the time we wake him, or we'll go in and get him. There's usually still some grizzling (clearly takes after his mum, not morning people) but recovers quickly and is happy to get going. Overnight the resettles are much easier too.

What has been the biggest positive change for your family?

I think the confidence that we can support better sleep for H and for ourselves too. Now that we know how much sleep he needs (for now) it's much easier to manage our days with naps without having to stick to a tight schedule and we can all still get some rest.

Was there anything that surprised you during the process?

Actually, just how quickly H responded to the changes that we made.

What would you say to another parent who is thinking about reaching out for support?

Just do it, stop thinking about it because you'll start and then wonder why you didn't start earlier! But also, take the time to find someone that feels like a good fit for your family. Everyone has different needs and goals, and Fran's process will help you to define what those are and then make a personalised plan to work towards them, with support every step of the way. It's so worth it!