Gentle Baby Sleep Advice, Stories, and Practical Tips

Sleep support that’s as unique as your baby

Gentle Sleep Support That Meets You Where You Are

Looking for trustworthy, realistic sleep advice that won’t make you feel like you’re doing it all wrong?

Here you’ll find expert-backed blog posts written with warmth, honesty, and zero sleep-training pressure.

Whether you’re deep in toddler bedtime battles or handling baby sleep hurdles, these posts are designed to help you feel calm, capable, and connected to your instincts.

If sleep feels like a constant struggle and you're not sure what’s next, here’s how I can help:

For personalised, gentle support visit my Sleep Packages page
For practical tools to get started today check out my Free Resources page.
If you’d like a chat about the best way forward book a free call here

Is Your Baby Really Sleep-Deprived? The Truth About Normal Baby Sleep (and Why You’re So Tired)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Is Your Baby Really Sleep-Deprived? The Truth About Normal Baby Sleep (and Why You’re So Tired)

We’re told that frequent night waking means a baby isn’t getting enough sleep, but that’s rarely true.

In this blog, we’ll explore why fragmented sleep is biologically normal, how fear-based baby-sleep advice fuels guilt, and what’s really going on when you’re exhausted but your baby’s thriving.

You’ll learn the difference between sleep deprivation and sleep disruption, and how to support your family’s rest without rigid routines or sleep training. Gentle, realistic guidance for finding calm in the chaos.

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Why Your Baby Wakes at 5am (and What Actually Helps After the Clock Change)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Why Your Baby Wakes at 5am (and What Actually Helps After the Clock Change)

That 5-something wake-up where your baby’s wide awake and grinning while you’re begging the universe for another hour? Early mornings are one of the most common sleep struggles I see, especially after the clocks go back.

In this gentle, practical guide, I’ll walk you through what really causes early wakes (hint: it’s not overtiredness!) and share small, realistic tweaks that actually help your baby sleep later -no harsh schedules or sleep training required.

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How to Adjust Your Baby or Toddler’s Sleep When the Clocks Go Back
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

How to Adjust Your Baby or Toddler’s Sleep When the Clocks Go Back

Ah, the end of British Summer Time - that mythical “extra hour” of sleep parents never get.

If you’re bracing for a 5 a.m. wake-up instead of a lie-in, this guide walks you through calm, realistic ways to help your baby or toddler adjust when the clocks go back.

From gradual tweaks to go-with-the-flow days, here’s how to keep mornings brighter, for everyone.

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Riding the Wave: What to Do During (and After) a Toddler Tantrum
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Riding the Wave: What to Do During (and After) a Toddler Tantrum

Toddler tantrums aren’t bad behaviour - they’re waves of emotion your child can’t manage alone.

In this blog, we’ll explore what’s really happening during a tantrum, why reasoning doesn’t work in the middle of the storm, and how to reconnect once the wave passes.

You’ll also learn what to do when you lose it too, and why repair matters more than perfection. Gentle, real-world guidance for riding the emotional waves - together.

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When Toddler Emotions Feel Too Big (and What Really Helps)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

When Toddler Emotions Feel Too Big (and What Really Helps)

When your toddler melts down in the middle of the supermarket, it can feel like the world is watching and judging.

But here’s the truth: toddlers aren’t manipulative, they’re overwhelmed. Big feelings are part of healthy development. and it’s actually good for children to experience them in a safe, supportive environment.

In this blog, I’ll share why society’s expectations set parents up to feel like they’re failing, and offer a couple of simple, practical ideas you can use when the emotions feel too big.

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Fear Is Not Support: Why Baby Sleep Marketing Needs to Change (And What Parents Actually Need)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Fear Is Not Support: Why Baby Sleep Marketing Needs to Change (And What Parents Actually Need)

Tired of being told your baby’s sleep is a “problem”?

This blog unpacks the fear-based tactics often used in baby sleep marketing - the guilt, the scare stories, and the pressure to “fix” normal night waking.

Instead of shaming or quick fixes, it shares what parents really need: reassurance that their baby isn’t broken, compassion for the exhaustion they feel, and gentle, responsive sleep support that actually works with your baby’s development and your family’s reality.

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Why Calm Matters Most for Baby and Toddler Sleep
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Why Calm Matters Most for Baby and Toddler Sleep

Sleep doesn’t begin with the perfect routine - it begins with calm. 

When your baby or toddler is wired at bedtime, it’s not because you’re failing. Calm isn’t silence or perfection; it’s about slowing the pace, helping their nervous system shift gears, and grounding yourself so they can borrow your calm too. 

This blog explores why calm matters most, how to create it for both you and your little one, and why aiming for calm (not sleep) is the key to easier nights.

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Why Community Makes Baby and Toddler Sleep Feel Easier
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Why Community Makes Baby and Toddler Sleep Feel Easier

Parenting a baby or toddler through unpredictable nights can feel lonely, exhausting, and overwhelming. 

When you’re surrounded by conflicting advice, pressure to “fix” sleep, and the silent weight of unrealistic expectations, it’s easy to think you have to figure it all out alone. The right community won’t magically make your child sleep through but it will change how you feel while supporting them. 

From sharing the messy bits to celebrating small wins, having people who truly understand can make every stage of the journey feel a little lighter and a lot less lonely.

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Why Connection Is the Bedrock of Better Baby Sleep
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Why Connection Is the Bedrock of Better Baby Sleep

When bedtime becomes a battleground of clinging, cuddling, and “don’t go yet” pleas, it’s not manipulation - it’s a need for connection. 

In this gentle, evidence-informed blog, we explore why bedtime stirs big feelings, how attachment deepens across the early years, and how small moments of connection can transform the way your child settles to sleep. For parents craving calm nights and more confidence, this one’s for you.

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How to Gently Change Baby or Toddler Sleep When What Used to Work Stops Working
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

How to Gently Change Baby or Toddler Sleep When What Used to Work Stops Working

Just when you think you've cracked it, everything shifts again. Sleep that felt settled becomes messy, and what used to work suddenly doesn’t. But this isn’t failure. It’s development. 

In this blog, I’ll help you understand why baby and toddler sleep naturally changes (spoiler: it’s not something you’ve done wrong), how to make gentle adjustments without pressure, and why experimenting slowly, at the right time, can help everyone sleep better.

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What You Can and Can’t Control in Baby Sleep: Gentle Tips for Calmer Nights
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

What You Can and Can’t Control in Baby Sleep: Gentle Tips for Calmer Nights

When baby sleep feels messy, most parents try harder to control it - tweaking routines, chasing wake windows, and wondering what they’re doing wrong. But true progress often comes when we shift the question from “How do I fix this?” to “What’s really going on here?”

This blog explores what’s within your control (and what’s not), helping you feel more confident, less burnt out, and more connected to your baby, even during the tricky nights.

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Why Curiosity Is the Secret Ingredient to Better Baby Sleep
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Why Curiosity Is the Secret Ingredient to Better Baby Sleep

When sleep feels stuck, most parents start asking, “What am I doing wrong?” But often, the real shift happens when you ask, “What’s really going on here?” 

This blog explores how curiosity - not criticism - can help you understand your child’s needs, reduce pressure, and support sleep in a gentler, more connected way. 

Instead of rushing to fix the sleep, you’ll learn how to tune into what’s underneath it, and why that small mindset shift can make a big difference.

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How to Feel More Confident About Baby Sleep (Without Sleep Training or Guilt)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

How to Feel More Confident About Baby Sleep (Without Sleep Training or Guilt)

Because sometimes the real baby sleep struggle isn’t your baby - it’s second-guessing yourself. 

This blog explores what true confidence looks like when it comes to baby sleep (spoiler: it’s not about strict routines or sleep training). 

If you’re tired of conflicting advice and just want to feel more grounded in your own instincts, this one’s for you.

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Toddler Crying At Bedtime? What It Really Means And How To Respond Gently
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Toddler Crying At Bedtime? What It Really Means And How To Respond Gently

Bedtime tears can feel intense, but they’re often a natural response to a long, overstimulating day.

This blog explores what your toddler’s crying might really be communicating, five common reasons bedtime becomes emotional, and how you can respond with connection, confidence and calm.

You’ll also find gentle strategies to ease resistance, support big feelings, and bring more peace to your evenings - no strict routines, no sleep training, and no second-guessing required.

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Split Nights: Why Your Baby Is Wide Awake at 3am (And What You Can Do About It)
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Split Nights: Why Your Baby Is Wide Awake at 3am (And What You Can Do About It)

Is your baby suddenly wide awake at 2am - cooing, rolling, or chatting like it’s the middle of the day? 

Split nights can be confusing and exhausting, especially when your baby seems happy and well-rested… but you’re not!

In this blog, we unpack what causes split nights, gently bust some common myths (spoiler: it’s not always overtiredness), and share practical, responsive strategies to bring nights back into balance without sleep training or stress.

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Ready, Set, School: Supporting Your Child’s Big Leap Into Reception
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

Ready, Set, School: Supporting Your Child’s Big Leap Into Reception

Starting school is a big moment but it doesn’t have to take over your summer.

This blog is your gentle, practical guide to what really helps your child feel ready: not phonics or pencil grips, but confidence, calm, and connection.

From Velcro shoes to messy play to embracing the wobbles (yours included), here’s what truly matters in the lead-up to Reception, without the pressure.

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How to Keep Your Baby (and Toddler!) Cool and Comfortable on Hot Summer Nights
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

How to Keep Your Baby (and Toddler!) Cool and Comfortable on Hot Summer Nights

Hot weather can wreak havoc on little ones’ sleep but with the right tweaks, bedtime doesn’t have to be a sweaty mess.

In this blog, I share gentle, realistic ways to keep your baby or toddler cool overnight, without fancy gadgets or stressful routines.

From cotton bedding and fan hacks to how to dress them (and when to just go with the nappy-only look), this guide will help you feel calmer and more in control, even on the stickiest nights.

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How to Feel Like a Good Parent: Why You’re Already Enough
Catherine Wasley Catherine Wasley

How to Feel Like a Good Parent: Why You’re Already Enough

Struggling with self-doubt as a parent? I don’t believe there’s a parent who hasn’t!

This blog offers grounded, guilt-free support for those in the early years - showing why trust, connection, and repair matter more than perfect routines or parenting checklists. A must-read for anyone wondering if they’re doing enough (spoiler: you are).

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Ready to Make Sleep Changes Right Now?

This free guide shares the calm, connection-first approach I return to time and time again with the families I support.

Inside, you’ll find:
– The 7 “C’s” that gently shift sleep without sleep training
– Real-life tips you can actually use (even on no sleep!)
– A fresh perspective that helps you feel more confident, calm, and in control

Whether you're dealing with nap struggles, bedtime chaos, or hourly wake-ups, this is your invitation to step away from rigid routines and into something that actually feels good.

I NEED THIS NOW!

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