I am fully qualified having completed the OCN Level 6 Holistic Sleep Coaching Course, an evidence based, scientific look at sleep and the gentle strategies. I have a particular interest and specialism in “high needs”, sensitive babies and toddlers, “orchid” children. Those where they need much more support to deal with day-to-day life, and sleep training techniques will just not work! Also if you suspect they may be neurodivergent (I am not qualified to diagnose). I also offer orchid parenting support via videocall.
Suitable for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Twins will be charged the same rate as for a single child. I can see babies younger but it will be very much normalising rather than suggestions.
My methods are based on a holistic, family-centred approach and will take into consideration your unique family circumstances. Suggestions will be evidence based and developmentally appropriate.
I will support natural term breastfeeding, bed sharing, attachment parenting, and I will never use or recommend any method that means you will leave your baby to cry or not be responsive to your child.
If you are looking for a quick fix, then this is not for you. If you are looking for gentle suggestions that will gradually move towards maximising your sleep whilst prioritising the developmental needs of your child then check out my services!
Debra wrote: “Can’t recommend enough – my son has gone from sleeping nowhere near enough to getting the correct amount for his age! Thank you Kathryn Stagg IBCLC. We’d tried everything and nothing else worked for us”
Why Holistic Sleep Coaching is Not Sleep Training
Babies do not need to be trained how to sleep. Sleep is biological. Light Sleep and Deep Sleep make up two of the six states of alertness. Sleep works in cycles between deep sleep & light sleep. During light sleep babies often rouse to a quiet alert state or a fussy state. They generally need help to navigate these changes of state. Some babies are able to transition between states more smoothly than others; this is influenced by their personality type and their natural temperament. Some babies just find life easier. Other babies are more high needs “orchid” temperament babies.
Being able to transition between states is a developmental stage like walking & talking – babies do it when they are ready and not before! The window of normal development for learning to walk is anywhere between nine to eighteen months, and there may be some outliers who do it earlier or later. The window of normal for children to be developmentally able to settle themselves back to sleep is even wider. Some babies do indeed do it from the early on like three months, others are more like three years! But this process is also not linear. When babies are learning lots of new things or are in new environments, they often need more support to settle.
“Sleep training” does not train a baby to sleep, it trains them not to ask for help. It works by taking away a response & expecting the baby to be able to regulate between awake and sleep states by themselves. They are often not developmentally capable of doing this and cry out. If crying doesn’t bring the help they need they eventually stop asking. This is called an extinction technique. But the baby is not getting their needs met and many families are not wishing to do this. Research shows that a child who is securely attached to their primary caregiver will be more emotionally stable in later life; it fosters good mental health for the future.
Holistic sleep coaching is not sleep training. It teaches parents about biologically normal and age-appropriate sleep, and how babies can transition from one state to another. It supports parents to be responsive whilst making small, gentle changes that protect strong attachment but maximise their babies’ natural potential to sleep in an age-appropriate way.
Holistic Sleep Coaching is individualised to each family as each situation is unique. It protects the breastfeeding & bedsharing relationship, which are the biological norm. If parents wish to move away from these practices, then gentle transitions and alternatives can be suggested. But it also acknowledges that saying “this too shall pass” is not helpful for a sleep deprived parent who is struggling to function
My services
There are three different types of appointment to suit all budgets and depending on your level of need.
Intensive Holistic Sleep Coaching Package includes 1 x 60 minute videocall and 2 x 30 min follow-up calls over the course of a month with ongoing Whatsapp support throughout the process. Parents fill out info form on booking, parents can ask questions and make notes. I will also use AI Companion to make detailed notes of the sessions, proof read and email these on afterwards so there is a written record of our discussion.
60 minute videocall for in depth support
30 minute videocall good if you just have a few questions or as a follow-up.
To find booking information, pricing and availability, please go to my Services/Book here page
Group Online Sleep Workshop –
I get together with my colleague Miriam Feen to offer two online group workshops on sleep for various aged babies. The sessions are around 90 minutes long, hosted on zoom with a Powerpoint presentation and Q&A at the end. The Powerpoint presentation will be recorded and sent out after the session, but not the Q&A to protect anonymity of the participants.
Understanding Sleep Workshops 0-15 mths
Understanding Toddler Sleep with night weaning
