CASE STUDIES
'Hilary has been incredible with helping our little one sleep. She has a wealth of knowledge and has gone above and beyond to explain the science behind her methods and ensure we are all on the same page and happy with the plan. What stands out about Hilary is that her plans are completely personalised, not just taken from a template of the average child and that has transformed everything for us.'
Parent of an 8-month-old
(Key: blue - sleep, red - feed/dream feed, green - solids)
I passionately believe that every child and every family is unique, which is why my approach to sleep support is rooted in understanding and respecting each family’s individual needs. The guidance I provide is always fully personalised, ensuring it feels both supportive and achievable. The case studies you’ll find here are real examples of how I work with families to resolve sleep challenges in a manner tailored to their unique needs.
Please note: the name of each child has been changed to protect their privacy.
Responsive sleep support for a 7-month-old baby
Challenges: crying to sleep, short naps and frequent night wakings.
Approach: calm, responsive sleep training. Result: calmer bedtimes, longer stretches of sleep, confident self-settling. The challenge: A, a 7-month-old baby, was waking frequently at night, crying herself to sleep most evenings, and relying on feeding to fall asleep. Her naps were unpredictable, and her parents were worried that ongoing crying could affect her emotional wellbeing. They wanted a gentle sleep training approach that aligned with responsive parenting, without leaving their baby to cry alone. The solution: After a full sleep assessment, including analysis of A’s sleep patterns, I created a fully personalised baby sleep plan, tailored to her temperament, individual sleep needs, feeding needs, allergies, and family life (including two sleep environments). The plan focused on: •Replacing feed-to-sleep associations with positive, independent sleep skills. •Supporting healthy nap structure for a lower sleep-needs baby. •Using an adapted Sleep Wave method with regular reassurance and emotional attunement. •Improving bedtime routines and the sleep environment. •Supporting attachment and separation confidence during the day. This approach allowed A to learn how to fall asleep and resettle without being left to cry it out. The outcome: With consistency and support: •Bedtime became calm and more predictable. •There was no more crying herself to sleep. •She became able to settle herself with confidence. •Night sleep improved, with long restorative stretches. Just as importantly, her parents felt reassured, empowered, and confident that they were supporting both her sleep and emotional wellbeing. Why this worked: There is no one-size-fits-all solution to baby sleep. Sleep training works best when it is responsive, developmentally appropriate, and tailored to the individual child. This case study reflects my approach as a baby sleep consultant: evidence-based, emotionally supportive, and designed to create lasting sleep habits - without compromising attachment.
Helping a 6-year-old overcome anxiety related night wakings and chronic early rising
Challenges: chronic early mornings, fear-response night wakings, anxiety, needing a parent to fall asleep.
Approach: gentle child sleep coaching with anxiety-aware strategies. Result: increased independence, calm unbroken nights, improved sleep for the whole family, no more separation anxiety, later mornings. The challenge: G was a confident, outgoing 6-year-old who had previously slept well, but after starting school, and following distressing fire and burglar alarm incidents, his sleep deteriorated significantly. He began: •Waking between 3–10 times a night in distress. •Waking very early (around 5am). •Needing his mum present to fall asleep and resettle. •Using delaying tactics at bedtime. •Showing clear signs of separation anxiety and nighttime anxiety. These disruptions were affecting the whole household, and his parents wanted help that addressed both sleep and anxiety, without using harsh methods. The solution: Following a detailed sleep assessment, I created a bespoke sleep plan for a school-aged child, tailored to G’s temperament, anxiety triggers, family routines, and parenting values. The plan focused on: •Calming G’s nervous system before introducing some sleep training. •Gently addressing separation anxiety and bedtime resistance. •Using an adapted gradual retreat sleep training method. •Giving G age-appropriate choice and control at bedtime. •Teaching practical relaxation and coping strategies for anxiety. •Supporting independent sleep while maintaining reassurance and connection. Rather than rushing into sleep training, we first removed emotional barriers to sleep as this was key. The outcome: With consistency and support: •G became confident in falling asleep and resettling independently. •Night wakings reduced in frequency until he no longer wakes during the night. •Bedtime became calm. •5am starts became around 6:45am starts. •The whole family experienced better, more restorative sleep. Most importantly, G felt safe, supported, and proud of his progress and his parents felt confident they were meeting his emotional needs while rebuilding healthy sleep habits. Why this worked: Sleep problems in older children are often closely linked to anxiety, life transitions, and emotional regulation. Addressing such sleep difficulties works best when it is: •Developmentally appropriate. •Emotionally responsive. •Tailored to the individual child. •Focused on long-term confidence, not quick fixes. This case study reflects my approach as a child sleep consultant: holistic, compassionate, and evidence based.
Helping 4-year-old twins sleep through the night in their own beds
Challenges: night wakings, needing parental presence to fall asleep, moving between theirs and their parents' beds, early mornings.
Approach: tailored sleep coaching, with their individual needs factored in. Result: independent sleep, no night disruptions, later morning wake-ups. The challenge: F and P, 4-year-old twins, were struggling with frequent night wakings and needed a parent present to fall asleep and resettle. They were moving between their own bedroom and their parents’ bed overnight, which disrupted sleep for the whole family, including their older brother. Both girls expressed worries about darkness, became distressed when asked to settle independently, and regularly woke early (around 5:30am) when sleeping in their own room. Their parents wanted a solution that worked for two very different temperaments. The solution: After a detailed sleep assessment, I created a bespoke twin sleep plan, tailored to each child’s temperament, the family’s routines, and the practical realities of managing siblings at night. The plan focused on: •Replacing parental presence with positive, independent sleep associations. •Using a modified gradual retreat method to build confidence at bedtime. •Addressing fears of darkness and bedtime anxiety. •Supporting consistency across the night without overwhelming the household. •Introducing bedtime passes (as a back-up third stage) to manage night-time visits calmly The approach was phased, realistic, and designed to minimise disruption - especially for their sibling whose sleep had frequently been disrupted. The outcome With consistency and support: •F and P learned to fall asleep without a parent in the room. •Night wakings stopped. •The girls started sleeping in their own beds for the whole night. •Morning wake-ups became later and more consistent. •The household experienced calmer nights and more restful mornings. Most importantly, the girls gained confidence in their ability to sleep independently, while still feeling safe and supported. Why this worked: Sleep challenges in twins and siblings often require a different approach, one that considers different temperaments, individual sleep needs, shared rooms, and family dynamics. This case study reflects my approach as a child sleep consultant: personalised, practical and with the children at the centre, helping children build lifelong sleep skills without compromising emotional security.
Supporting a 22-month-old to sleep independently through the night
Challenges: difficulty self-settling, frequent night wakings and negative sleep associations.
Approach: responsive, gradual sleep coaching tailored to temperament. Result: settled, unbroken nights and confident independent sleep. The challenge: J, aged 1 year 10 months, began waking multiple times a night after moving into his own bedroom. He found it difficult to resettle independently and relied on parental intervention to fall back asleep. Although J was getting the recommended amount of total sleep for his age, his night-time sleep was fragmented, leading to occasional daytime tiredness. Changes in routine - particularly nursery days - appeared to increase night wakings, and previous strategies had brought limited success. J’s parents wanted a to discover the underlying causes and to have a responsive sleep plan that respected his sensitive temperament and avoided abrupt changes. The solution: Following a full sleep assessment, including an analysis of a sleep diary, I created a bespoke toddler sleep plan focused on gradually breaking negative sleep associations and replacing them with positive, independent sleep skills. The plan included: •Gently removing night feeding as a sleep association. •Adjusting the bedtime routine to support calmer nights after nursery days. •Encouraging independent resettling using comfort objects. •Gradual progression to sleep training, only if needed (it wasn’t!) •Clear, consistent reassurance to build confidence around sleep. All recommendations were tailored to J’s personality and his parents’ child-led but structured parenting approach. The outcome: With consistency: •J became confident at settling himself to sleep. •Night wakings reduced and then stopped. •Sleep became unbroken and more restorative. •Bedtime and overnight routines felt calmer and more predictable. •Temper tantrums reduced noticeably. Why this worked: Toddler sleep challenges are often behavioural in nature. A gradual, temperament-led approach allows children who struggle with change to build confidence without distress, leading to sustainable improvements in sleep. This case study reflects my approach as a child sleep consultant: responsive, personalised sleep support that works with your child - not against them.
