Secrets of Slumber

Secrets of Slumber I'm Lauren Dean a baby and infant sleep coach, for Newborns to 4 year olds I'm Lauren Dean, baby and infant sleep coach for newborns to 4 year olds.

I use an holistic and responsive approach to transform sleep for all the family. To find out more about how we can help you, we offer a free 15 minute introduction call, booked via our website.

When I work with a family to improve their little one’s sleep I look at these 4 key areas:1. Daytime routine2. Sleep env...
12/02/2026

When I work with a family to improve their little one’s sleep I look at these 4 key areas:
1. Daytime routine
2. Sleep environment
3. Self-settling
4. Comfort levels - this includes emotional comfort too.

When it comes to improving toddler sleep, it’s so often closely linked to separation anxiety and big feelings. So, reconnecting with your little one after a busy day at work can help top them up emotionally and make them feel seen before bedtime.

Here are my tips to fill up their ‘connection bucket’ as I like to call it:

✨10 minutes of one-to-one time after work. No TV or phone. Just the two of you doing something your little one enjoys - let them pick the activity. Lots of eye contact and cuddles.

✨Slow bedtime down where you can (I appreciate this isn’t always possible with work commitments). Starting a little earlier gives space for questions and extra time together.

✨Keep the bedtime routine consistent and stick to your boundaries. Toddlers feel safer when they know what to expect.

✨Read books to help manage separation anxiety or bedtime fears. The Invisible String - a great one for easing separation anxiety.

When children feel seen and connected before bedtime, they’re less likely to fight for attention, making bedtime and settling to sleep a bit easier.

If you do try some of these, l’d love to know how you get on.
Honestly, with these small changes, you’ll start to see some big changes.

If this week felt heavy, you’re not alone.It feels hard because it is hard. Sleep deprivation changes everything.I hope ...
06/02/2026

If this week felt heavy, you’re not alone.

It feels hard because it is hard. Sleep deprivation changes everything.

I hope the weekend gives you time to tag-team with your partner so you’re able to find a moment to recharge 🤍

If you’re reading this on broken sleep, exhausted and questioning everything, I hope these messages give you some hope a...
29/01/2026

If you’re reading this on broken sleep, exhausted and questioning everything, I hope these messages give you some hope and reassurance that things can get better.

With some baby sleep coaching, this could be you sharing these updates with me in a few weeks time.

Here’s one of my top tips for better toddler sleep 👇🏻Before starting their bedtime routine, give your toddler 10 minutes...
28/01/2026

Here’s one of my top tips for better toddler sleep 👇🏻

Before starting their bedtime routine, give your toddler 10 minutes of 121 time with a parent.

No phone.
No TV.
Just the two of you.

Let them choose what they would like to do. Sit with them, play, have a cuddle, lots of eye contact and touch. Let them feel seen before bedtime starts.

This time together helps top up their love and connection bucket after a busy day, and sometimes a day apart if they’re at childcare.

The connection releases oxytocin, which helps your little one feel safe, calm and more ready for sleep.

And I know this isn’t always easy. Some days you’re rushing back from nursery with little time. On those days, it’s okay to skip the bath and just spend that time together instead.

Connection during the day = easier bedtime and less waking in the night for a quick cuddle.

Give it ago and let me know how you get on.

They are asleep, you finally sit down and bam, 40 minutes later they’re wide awake again.That’s what’s called a ‘false s...
27/01/2026

They are asleep, you finally sit down and bam, 40 minutes later they’re wide awake again.

That’s what’s called a ‘false start’.

3 of the most common reasons false starts happen:

1. Comfort
Your baby falls asleep but wind stops them from moving into deeper sleep, so they wake again.

Try moving their bedtime feed away from the moment they fall asleep by up to 30 minutes. So an earlier feed and more upright winding time, before laying them down.

2. Undertired
If your baby isn’t quite tired enough, they treat bedtime as a nap as they haven’t built up enough sleep pressure to stay asleep. Try gently lengthening their awake time before bed or could be time to trim that last nap.

3. Self-settling
If your baby falls asleep being rocked, fed, or cuddled, when they move into lighter sleep (around 40 minutes), they’ll look for that same comfort again to get them back to sleep again.

Learning to settle themselves at the start of the night is key to unlocking longer stretches.

If you’re ready to get your evenings back and you’d like support teaching your little one to self-settle, please get in touch.

It really is a game changer 🤍

Had to share this lovely client review 🙌🏻✨ For most families, getting their evenings back is a big reason they want to i...
22/01/2026

Had to share this lovely client review 🙌🏻✨

For most families, getting their evenings back is a big reason they want to improve sleep.

It was for us too when we invested in sleep coaching for Maeve.

Yes, lovely long stretches of sleep are the ultimate goal. But when bedtime becomes easier, the anxiety fades and you suddenly have a few hours that are actually yours, everything feels lighter.

Time to recharge. Time to reconnect with your partner. Or just time to sit and do nothing.

Those hours are golden 🧡 And I’m so pleased I was able to support this family to get there 🤍

Sleep-deprived and heading back to work? It’s tougher than anyone warned you. But it doesn’t need to be that way.I’m so ...
21/01/2026

Sleep-deprived and heading back to work? It’s tougher than anyone warned you.

But it doesn’t need to be that way.

I’m so passionate about making sure parents with young children aren’t disadvantaged at work just because they’re sleep-deprived.

That’s why I work with companies to offer sleep support as part of their maternity packages - so parents feel supported, confident and valued when returning to work.

Everyone wins!

If you think your company might consider offering this support, DM me or email.

If you have a newborn, this one’s for you 🤍The idea behind the 5 S’s is that they gently help calm your baby by supporti...
21/01/2026

If you have a newborn, this one’s for you 🤍

The idea behind the 5 S’s is that they gently help calm your baby by supporting their nervous system and recreating the womb environment.

Keep in mind, they don’t always work instantly.
It can take 10 minutes or more for your baby to calm down, and that’s completely normal.

What matters most is you staying calm, consistent and keep going 🤍

Save this post for later or share it with a friend who might need it.

A reminder you might need today 🤍 There’s so much pressure to do things a certain way, especially in the early days.If w...
20/01/2026

A reminder you might need today 🤍

There’s so much pressure to do things a certain way, especially in the early days.

If what you’re doing is working for you right now, that’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You’re doing better than you think.

You’ll know when it’s time to make changes. For now, today is enough💖

Parental preference (when your little one wants one parent) is really common and while it can feel intense, it will pass...
18/01/2026

Parental preference (when your little one wants one parent) is really common and while it can feel intense, it will pass.

It’s a tough phase for both parents. I know this first-hand, as we went through it with my youngest. What matters most is deciding together how you want to approach it, staying consistent and trying not to take it personally.

Three ways you might approach it at bedtime:

Option 1: Ride it out
Meet your little one’s need sticking with the one parent and trust that with time, it will change.

Option 2: Stay consistent with both parents
Both parents stay involved. It’s key that the preferred parent doesn’t rush in when bedtime is hard. This helps your little one learn that both Mum and Dad can do it. Otherwise your little one will quickly learn that the preferred parent will always come to help if they protest enough.

Option 3: Build it gradually
One parent leads while the other shadows and slowly increases their involvement - from just bath time, then to bath time and pyjamas, to the full bedtime routine.

When we went through this phase with our toddler, we started with option 1, then moved onto option 2 - and over time, it settled, phew!

There’s no one right way. Just what works for your family and know it will pass 🤍

Here’s why January is a good time to work on sleep ⬇️✨More mental capacity. You aren’t juggling quite as much, which mak...
14/01/2026

Here’s why January is a good time to work on sleep ⬇️

✨More mental capacity. You aren’t juggling quite as much, which makes it easier to stay consistent.
✨Darker mornings and evenings, which can help little ones fall asleep more easily and stay asleep.
✨Clearer diary. I always recommend clearing your diary for 5-7 days whilst working on sleep - January naturally supports this.
✨ The weather isn’t great anyway, so it’s the perfect time to work on that lovely longer lunchtime nap and actually enjoy the quiet to yourself.

So it’s not because of a “new year, new me” mindset.
But because life usually gets quieter = more time & energy to work on better sleep.

If January feels calmer for you, it might be the perfect time to focus on improving sleep 🙌🏻

Address

Horsham
West

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Secrets of Slumber posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category