Peace and Joy Sleep Consultancy

Peace and Joy Sleep Consultancy Hey! I'm Cia, and I'm a baby sleep consultant!

I love helping babies and little ones sleep better and seeing whole families get more rest and get to really enjoy their kids!

"Sleep training might help parents get more rest, but it doesn’t stop babies from waking—they just don’t always call out...
31/01/2025

"Sleep training might help parents get more rest, but it doesn’t stop babies from waking—they just don’t always call out. Is that really a ‘success’? 🤔💭"

Let’s break this down because I see this statement floating around, and I don’t like how it makes parents feel. It plays on guilt, fear, and doubt. But here’s the truth:

💡 Babies wake up—it’s biologically normal.
💤 Sleep training isn’t about stopping wakes—it’s about giving them the skill to go back to sleep independently.
👶 They WILL still call out when they truly need you.

I’ve seen it with my own babies. I’ve seen it with my clients. And I promise you—teaching your baby to self-settle is NOT neglect. It’s a skill that helps the whole family rest better. And that, mama, is a success. ❤️

Have you sleep-trained? How did it impact your nights? Let me know in the comments! 👇

I just got glasses this week! And I'm thankful as I spend a lot of time behind a screen! I love what I do, but I've been...
31/01/2025

I just got glasses this week! And I'm thankful as I spend a lot of time behind a screen! I love what I do, but I've been getting headaches. So here we go - no more headaches (I hope) and getting to do what I love. Helping you lovely people get more sleep!! 💤💤💤

You can see BIG changes quickly when you've got a holistic plan that looks at everything. Little Freddie nailed it. Why ...
15/11/2024

You can see BIG changes quickly when you've got a holistic plan that looks at everything. Little Freddie nailed it.

Why wait till they are older? Why not now?

Are you ready for a change? Book a free call in my linktree bio.

💡There is no right or wrong answer. We all have our preferences of what works for our families- the problem is when it i...
03/10/2024

💡There is no right or wrong answer. We all have our preferences of what works for our families- the problem is when it isn't working.

🪟 For example... Your baby is on awake windows and doing great naps, you know they know how to self-settle but nights just aren't falling into place.. it could be that actually their body is ready for a schedule.

🥱 Or you follow your baby's sleep cues, but recently you find life is busy and you just keep missing the signals and then they are overtired...

🕐 Or maybe you are on a schedule but it just doesn't fit into the commitments you have in life (like the school run) and this is just affecting your little ones sleep.

There's lots to consider.

I personally LOVE awake windows for newborns and love moving towards a sleep schedule some time between 4 to 6 months and especially by the time your baby is on 2 naps a day (but it has to work for you and your family). Why? Because I often see early morning wake-ups can be harder to fix when awake windows are followed. I also love that schedules help to set the body clock AND often make it easier to make plans.

❔What do you prefer?

These little messages mean a lot!! Ive just been tidying and came across the gorgeous card one of my clients sent. It's ...
11/09/2024

These little messages mean a lot!! Ive just been tidying and came across the gorgeous card one of my clients sent. It's the reason I do what I do! 😍

This is just one of the many things I hear from my clients, alongside:- He wakes up happy- She is so bright and joyful! ...
06/09/2024

This is just one of the many things I hear from my clients, alongside:
- He wakes up happy
- She is so bright and joyful!
- It's like he has a new personality
- I used to think he was high maintenance, now I realise he was tired.

And it's no wonder, I'm the same when I get good sleep! We just can't escape that good sleep produces joy and energises us for the day!

Get on touch if you need support!

I just have to share this with you all! Im really proud of myself... In September it will be two years since I embarked ...
24/07/2024

I just have to share this with you all! Im really proud of myself... In September it will be two years since I embarked on this journey and I probably thought it would take a year. But I hope I did it in a way which meant I honoured my own family and their needs, valued my other job and acknowledged the demands it has on me, hopefully managed to resemble some form of supportive wife and friend and didn't burn myself out.

And I've had the joy of turning a passion into something I can share more widely. ❤️

I love a lovely/comforter/cuddly... Whatever you like to call it... And here's why: 🐻 It's such a great sleep associatio...
03/06/2024

I love a lovely/comforter/cuddly... Whatever you like to call it... And here's why:

🐻 It's such a great sleep association.
🐻 It can go anywhere and stick around for as long as they want it... I know adults who still sleep with theirs.
🐻 It's a comfort in lots of settings: starting nursery, car journeys, new settings, having a friend watch your kid for the afternoon..
🐻 It's super cute!

Things to be mindful of:

💡Make sure it meets safe sleep guidelines... Generally a minimum age to have a comforter in the bed is 7 months but unhelpfully different countries have different recommendations.
💡Have a spare and use them at the same pace so they get old together... It can be really sad for your little one if you lose it.
💡 Build the association over time, including it in wind down routines, milk feeds, cuddles with you to help form the attachment.

Picture 1: kid number three taken today
Picture 2: my middle when I washed her comforter..
Picture 3: my firstborn when he was only 2

Does your little one have a comforter? 😍

👋 There are always going to be little ones that are going to fall out of these ranges, but this is a good guide of sleep...
30/04/2024

👋 There are always going to be little ones that are going to fall out of these ranges, but this is a good guide of sleep expectations in a 24 hour period. You kind of have to find your baby's sweet spot...

But what it's worth bearing in mind is if your 9 month old only needs 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period and they are napping for 3 hours a day, the reality is they aren't going to do 12 hours at night too...

Each child is unique, and everyone will know someone who has that baby who can nap 4 hours in the day and 12 hours at night... But rest assured, this isn't the majority. The reality is if you are looking for a longer night, you might need a little less day... If you just need that downtime in the day, you might have to manage your expectations at night.

If you find you are facing early morning wake ups, split nights, or difficulty falling asleep and you've ruled out overtiredness and you know they know how to self-settle... Then maybe have a think about where sleep is falling and whether they are meeting their total sleep in a 24 hour period, just not where you want it to fall.

💤💤💤💤

Sleep training and attachment is such an emotive topic. It brings up all sorts of feelings. Especially because whatever ...
20/03/2024

Sleep training and attachment is such an emotive topic. It brings up all sorts of feelings. Especially because whatever method of sleep training you choose, it's likely there will be some crying involved..

But I want to get the message out there that choosing to teach sleep is not what will affect you having a secure attachment with your child. I passionately want to get this message out because I really struggle with the narrative that sleep training will affect your bond or attachment. I think what is often ignored is that sleep deprivation itself, for some, might pose a far greater threat. It's hard to be the engaged, responsive parents we want to be when we are running on empty... Anyone else been there? 🙋🏼‍♀️

So let's talk about crying... First of it all it's perfectly normal to be impacted by your child's tears and protest. As a Mama I know, I've been there! But the truth is that crying is a perfectly natural and normal way your baby communicates with you. And for an overtired baby they are going to cry, regardless of whether you are sleep training or not. It's also normal for crying to happen when you make changes to sleep. But making these changes isn't about abandoning your child and not being responsive to them, it's about saying "im changing this because what we were doing before wasn't working for either of us, and as your parent it's my job to do what is best for you, this includes your fundamental human need for restorative sleep."

If this is the point you have reached, and you are just needing that helping hand then please know... You do not have to practise any one style of parenting to have a healthy attachment with your baby.

Please reach out if your joy is being affected by lack of sleep!

It was such a privilege working with this family. When they came to me their little one was up most of the night, and mu...
09/03/2024

It was such a privilege working with this family. When they came to me their little one was up most of the night, and mum and dad were having shifts with the baby through the night to give some space for the other one to sleep. Their little one was also struggling to sleep longer than 45 minute stretches through the night. Within a few days of working together little one's sleep transformed and Mum and Dad started getting more rest nearly straight away.

It was an absolute joy to see!! 🎉

I've had three conversations today, all separate, all conversations which came up independently of it being internationa...
08/03/2024

I've had three conversations today, all separate, all conversations which came up independently of it being international women's day - but all about our experiences of being a woman in the here and now.

The first conversation was about how women are more likely to hold themselves back then men. I personally see this in my own career path, we don't always have the same self belief and we look for permission to progress. It's crazy right? What's that about? I know this isn't everyone, but it certainly is me. So saying this just as much to myself, to all the girls and women out there, dream big! You're amazing!

The second conversation was about the juggle of motherhood, the message that is hard to get away from around doing it all: the organising, full time mum and full time career woman, provide for your family, make delicious healthy meals, be present with your kids, be a good friend, be a good spouse, stay in touch with everyone - make sure every single one of these things has your time and devotion. My friend laughed and said 'do you know the one thing we forgot to add?' I looked blankly... 'look after yourself'.. we laughed... 'oh yeah that too'.

The last conversation was about sleep (of course) and sometimes this assumption that mums should be 'on duty' all the time. The truth is that when our kids need us in the night of course we respond, motherhood doesn't stop at night. But hey, I'm a firm believer in the biggest need our little ones have at night time is sleep and it's okay for us to need sleep AND downtime too.

So to all you beautiful women out there and to my gorgeous little girl I'm raising. You are amazing!

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