The Gentle Approach by Emma Dolan

07/09/2025

I just love waking up to messages like this 🙏

I seriously love what I do:
supporting tired parents to get more sleep,
to get a little bit of freedom back in the evening.
Being able to share the bedtime routine with a partner.

Being heard and supported and not feeling alone, like this lovely mama said.

Are you wanting to night wean? At just bedtime, through the night? Or stop altogether?

It is possible my friends, in a gentle way 🩷

Get in touch if you would like a chat 🙏

01/09/2025

Do you have a little one who is up a lot in the night?
Is it becoming unsustainable?
Have you just had enough?

Let’s look at the bigger picture to see what is happening? What is causing the wake ups? What is really going on?

Sometimes it’s nothing to do with sleep!

I’m here to listen my friends and share my knowledge and expertise 🩷

Hugs Emma 🩷

28/08/2025

Do you have a little one starting preschool or nursery this September? Or know someone who does?

Film Your Family would love to gift a few copies of the Back to School Video Playbook in exchange for some feedback. It’s packed with simple filming ideas to capture those very first September milestones, mostly pitched to school starters - but you can apply the same ideas!

And as a bonus, anyone who comments will also receive a New Starter Checklist from The Gentle Approach by Emma Dolan . It’s a calm, practical resource to get your little one emotionally ready, build their confidence and their self-esteem. 💛

Comment “Yes please” below and/or tag a parent of a preschool starter you know 👇

25/08/2025

I love receiving messages like this 🩷

This lovely Mama was feeling a little overwhelmed with day to day routine and finding balance.

We spoke about time blocking, meal planning, optimising bedtime routines, organising afternoon activities for the children, visual timelines for the children, using visual timers for time keeping and more importantly SELF-CARE!

I love supporting families, I love sharing my knowledge, I listen, I respect your beliefs and family dynamics, I am here to help 🙏

Have a wonderful day my friends 🩷

19/08/2025

Stop doing everything for your child.

Let them figure things out by themselves, this builds the life long skill of problem solving.

Give them tricky things to do, offer support but don’t jump in.

I have many more tips just like this one on my starting nursery and school checklist.

Comment “list” and I will send it over to you. Get your little ones emotionally ready for school 🫶

Hugs Emma 🩷

28/07/2025

You have to get up for work, your little one is ready to party at 5:30, you just need an extra hour, get in touch.

If your little one is waking up super early 4/5am ready for the day and it’s no longer sustainable get in touch.

There’s a few reasons this could be happening:

*too much daytime sleep
*timing of naps
*bedtime too early
*sleep pressure

Filling in a sleep diary can help to show you the bigger picture.

Comment ‘sleep’ or DM me are I will send you a free sleep diary template 🤩

Hugs Emma 🩷

26/07/2025

Hi everyone,

Thank you for following my page.
Just want to let you know my Instagram page is my main social media platform that I use 🤩

Head over there:

https://www.instagram.com/thegentleapproachsleep?igsh=OWR4c3I3ZGVkMGQ%3D&utm_source=qr

Have a great day 🩷

482 Followers, 1,127 Following, 230 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Emma / Infant sleep & behaviour coach ()

24/07/2025

🔹 THIS IS A POWERFUL MESSAGE MY FRIENDS 🔹

Children pick up on how we handle our emotions far more than they listen to our words about emotions.

When you’re frustrated and take a deep breath instead of yelling, your child notices.
When you’re disappointed but talk through your feelings calmly, they’re learning that skill.
When you’re angry but still speak respectfully, they’re absorbing that approach.

It’s like learning to ride a bike - no amount of explaining the mechanics matters as much as watching someone actually do it and then practicing alongside them.

Your child is constantly observing how you react when you’re stressed, sad, excited, or overwhelmed.

They’re not just hearing your advice about “using your words” or “taking deep breaths” - they’re studying your actual responses in real situations.

This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. In fact, when you mess up and then repair - maybe you snapped and then came back to apologize and explain what you should have done differently - that’s incredibly valuable modeling too.

You’re showing them that everyone struggles with emotions sometimes, and what matters is how we handle it and make things right.

The most powerful emotional regulation lessons happen in everyday moments: how you respond when someone cuts you off in traffic, when dinner burns, when you’re running late, or when you’re having a disagreement.

Your child is taking mental notes on all of it, building their own emotional toolkit based on what they see you do.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We are all learning everyday!

Hugs Emma 🩷

21/07/2025

Are you dreading certain moments in the day with your little ones? Or are the tantrums and meltdowns consistent at the moment?

Why can’t kids “just calm down”?

I will tell you why: they physically can’t!

There brains are still under construction and won’t be fully developed until around the age of 25, they need our help to regulate their brains and bodies, through co-regulation.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call and we can have a quick chat about what’s going on and if I can help you bring calm into your home 😊

Hugs Emma 🩷

14/07/2025

A sleep diary can hold so much information and tell the real story of what’s happening with your little one’s sleep.

Read above 👆👆👆

Drop me a message to learn more about working together 😃

Hugs Emma 🩷

Sleep diary. Sleep coach. Sleep science. Development needs. Supporting families. Infant sleep. Frequent night waking. Bedtime battles. No cry it out needed.

05/07/2025

Let’s play a game 👆👆👆

04/07/2025

How I get toddlers to listen….

I have been working with children for 30+ years (showing my age 🤪) and I’m a mum to two teenagers!
I would say I know my stuff 😂

Basically, toddlers brains are not fully developed yet, they don’t understand the word “don’t”

You say don’t run - they hear run
You say don’t shout- they hear shout

etc, etc…..

Tell them what you want them to do…..

Let’s walk
Little voice
Gentle with your toys/sister/brother

Model the behaviour- you are a mirror to your child!

Give it a go, you will be surprised!

Let me know how you get on….

Hugs Emma 🩷