MEET THE PARENTS: EDITION TWO
WITH SARAH & family, DISCovery bay
Join me in this week's interview as I chat with Sarah, based in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong. She shares her experiences navigating the transformational sleep journey that we went through together to conquer the challenges that they were facing with Milo, 11 months. Committed from the start, Sarah and Wes were an excellent team to work with, motivated to unravel the elements that were somehow getting in the way of his new found potential to sleep like a champion! This process has had a significant impact on their day to day life, with the anxiety that used to creep in as bed time approached, now long gone! Find out how we went from up to 10 night wakings each night to smooth sailing in a very short space of time. Well done to you both – this journey was an incredible one to go through with you and I’m glad to have been a part of it!
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, WHERE YOU ARE CURRENTLY BASED AND A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOB/CAREER/BUSINESS?
We are an Australian family living in Hong Kong for the last five years. My husband is a pilot, and have my own hairdressing business.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO SEEK THE SERVICES OF A CHILD SLEEP COACH IN THE FIRST PLACE? THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND I’M KEEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO NAVIGATE THESE ISSUES ON THEIR OWN, AND THOSE WHO SEEK A DEDICATED COACH TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU?
We were using a sleep logging app which was good for a loose routine but we were struggling with Milo's sleep and had tried several tips and routines from google searches and even another sleep consultant (which was quite generic), so finally decided to bite the bullet to speak to someone who could take the guesswork out and give us step by step structure instead of us trying multiple different things hoping something would work.
HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS MY SERVICES, AND WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE ME?
We had a friend who had used you two months before with great success, and then I felt like every person I had spoken to in Discover Bay, Hong Kong had used you or heard of friends using you so we felt confident in what you could offer. We also felt like your method of a gentle approach rather than CIO aligned with what we wanted.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR SLEEP SITUATION WAS LIKE BEFORE YOU STARTED WORKING WITH ME? WHAT WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES YOU WERE FACING?
We were struggling with false starts multiple times a week, split nights every few weeks, and 5-8 wake ups every night where I would feed him back to sleep. He was ending up in our bed most nights which disrupted both of our sleep!
WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF MY COACHING PROCESS AND APPROACH?
We liked how confident you were from the first phone call we had, it left us knowing that if we committed to your program we would be able to resolve our sleep issues. The process was thorough from get go and I didn't feel like we were left wondering what the next steps were - you outlined what would be happening all the way throughout!
HOW DID THE COACHING PROGRAM AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF YOUR FAMILY? WERE THERE ANY NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN SHARE?
The biggest improvement has been the longer sleep at night, as well as Milo eating better in the day (solids and milk) because we managed to address the night feedings through the night. ❝Before we started, I felt anxious going into each night❞ because we didn't know if there would be false starts or split nights, or how he would go down for his nap ! Before, I needed to feed him to sleep for naps too so I always felt that I had to be close to home.
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM THE PROCESS? DID IT MATCH YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
We had heard what to expect from our friend who had been through the program before us, but you were very clear with regards to the structure of the support, and how to prepare.
CAN YOU SHARE ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED DURING YOUR JOURNEY WITH MY SLEEP COACHING SERVICES??
For me, the best thing has been Milo going down for his naps and bedtime after his night time wind-down routine happily without tears. I genuinely never thought I would be able to lay him down in his crib awake. ❝It’s been life changing!❞
HOW HAS YOUR CHILD'S SLEEP QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IMPROVED SINCE WORKING WITH ME?
He has been consistently sleeping through the night, aside from when he was teething, but even those wake ups were less than before we started!
THANKS SO MUCH SARAH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ME. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO HAVE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN YOUR PARENTING JOURNEY AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!
As your dedicated holistic sleep coach, I offer a personalized approach that aims to create a positive and sustainable sleep experience for your baby or toddler. Achieving consistent, restorative, and wholesome sleep patterns is the goal, and many parents witness this transformation within a matter of weeks, if not days in certain cases. My methodology involves a thoughtful evaluation and adjustment of various factors in a specific sequence, gradually and supportively addressing high-level dependencies. The emphasis on these foundational sleep elements, combined with my unique sleep schedule creation process, ensures that every adjustment is tailored to your child's distinct needs rather than conforming to a one-size-fits-all approach.
In contrast to generic advice prevalent in mainstream media, my approach recognizes theshortcomings of average-based recommendations. Resolving sleep challenges requires a specifically tailored strategy that aligns with the unique needs and temperament of your baby. The intricacies and differences among children are not adequately addressed in generic advice or books. This is precisely where my expertise makes a significant impact, offering a tailored and nuanced approach that aligns with the individualized transformation every parent seeks when dedicated efforts are made.