Rachael Sherwood Sleep
About Me
Certified Holistic Sleep Coach
Midwife
Public Health Nurse
I’m Rachael – I live in Kent with my husband and two beautiful children who are the reason for me diving into the world of infant sleep. Having spent my career as a midwife I have always believed that women know their own bodies best and I honestly believe this to be true of their babies. You are the expert in them and I am simply here to listen, understand and work with you to find solutions that are right for you and your family. Always trust your gut, if the way you are parenting feels instinctive and right to you then it is, block out the noise from others about what you *should* be doing.
My Approach
My background in midwifery and public health nursing Is very much focused on the parent-infant bond. Attachment and responsiveness is at the heart of what I do. Sleep is often complex and intertwined with multiple factors and when you’re in the trenches of rubbish sleep it’s quite hard to see the wood for the trees. I will explore your child’s sleep in a way that is age and developmentally appropriate, whilst considering the whole family’s needs alongside this. No judgement, no cry it out, just evidence based, responsive strategies supporting the parent-infant attachment. Children’s need for independence is born out of having their needs for dependence met, and by doing this we are nurturing their brains to become healthy, happy and securely attached adults.
Understanding normal infant sleep biology is crucial, and can often be transformative to how you approach your little ones sleep and can actually reduce a lot of anxiety. We expect a lot of ourselves as parents and indeed our little ones; society hasn’t exactly helped this either, with constant myths and unrealistic expectations of sleep. I’m sure everyone has been told by someone that what they’re doing will make a rod for their back or they are spoiling them. With a never ending list of apps/trackers/books about sleep its no surprise that we feel a bit lost with it all, especially when we consider that these strict schedules only work for about 20% of infants, so where does that leave the rest of us?
Want to make changes but terrified of tears?
Crying is communication, and it’s perfectly normal and acceptable for our children to be telling us they are finding this hard. My approach to sleep is very much responsive and requires parents to be present in supporting their little ones through the changes. After all, we as adults struggle with change too but we have the cognitive ability to process, rationalise and regulate our emotional state. Children’s brains aren’t developed enough for this skill so they very much need our help and support to co regulate them. This is different to mainstream sleep strategies where the idea is to move onto certain steps by certain days to achieve the desired outcome. Infants just don’t work like this and is actually quite unfair as it doesn’t account for their readiness for change. I work with you and your child at a pace that they (and you) can handle. For some children this may be quite quick but for more sensitive children this can often take more time. Habit change in adults can take around 6-8 weeks – so it's only fair that we expect this at the minimum point for sensitive little ones where sleep habits are more ingrained.
Support Packages
Gentle Foundations Package
£120
For parents looking for some supportive guidance on normal infant sleep and behaviour. Troubleshooting concerns around sleep and discussing strategies on how to gently shape sleep and lay good foundations.
Detailed 4 day sleep diary analysis
1 hour initial video call
personalised sleep plan
1 week follow up support via whatsapp.
Gentle Adjustments Package
£220
For parents looking for some support with 1 or 2 sleep concerns such as early rising, split nights, bedtime battles, nap transitions.
Detailed 4 day sleep diary analysis
1 hour initial video call
Personalised sleep plan
3 weeks follow up support via email or whatsapp.
Gentle Transitions Package
£350
For parents looking for support with complex sleep issues with an extended period of support.
Multiple night waking, moving away from co sleeping, night weaning, moving on from sleep associations.
Detailed 4 day sleep diary analysis
1 hour initial video call
Personalised sleep plan
6 weeks support via email or whatsapp.
Contact me to book a free 15 minute call
During this call we can pin point your issues, work out what support package would be best and whether we are the right fit.