Help Baby Sleep

"I thought it was just tiredness…"

This photo of my son with deep purple shiners under his eyes still makes me pause. At the time, I thought he just needed more sleep. But dark circles like these can be an airway red flag — a sign the body isn't getting enough oxygen at night.

When I came across an airway screening questionnaire for children, I found myself ticking almost every single box for him. And then — with a lump in my throat — I realised it wasn't just him. It was me too.

To cut a long story short… six years on, we've seen multiple ENTs, three brilliant myofunctional therapists, an airway dentist, and done a sleep study. I'm now waiting for another one for myself. And when I look back at both mine and my son's early years — all the clues were there.

The signs we missed:

Reflux symptoms that lingered despite treatment
A tongue tie that made feeding difficult
Constant tiredness, even after sleep
Mouth breathing
Crowded teeth
Trouble focusing, tantrums, hyperactivity
And when it comes to reflux — so many of the symptoms we see in babies are also airway red flags in disguise:

Arching or pulling off the breast
Clicking or gulping during feeds
Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
Needing to sleep upright
Frequent waking or catnapping
Chronic congestion or "colic" crying
These are often treated as isolated reflux symptoms… but they can be the body's way of coping with restricted or dysfunctional breathing.

This is exactly why awareness is so important. That's why I'm running an Instagram Live with the amazing on Wednesday, June 25th at 6PM to talk about the link between reflux and sleep. We'll explore how airway issues can present early — and why they're so often misunderstood.

You can find the link to join our Live in my bio.

Let me know in the comments if you'll be joining us, or if this post resonates. I always love hearing your stories.

Why Babywearing Can Be a Game-Changer 💛

It’s not just practical — babywearing supports your baby’s development and your own wellbeing and there are so many reasons why it's almost as old as civilisation itself!

Here’s why I recommend it so often:

✨ Babies cry less and communicate more clearly through body language
✨ Regulates both your nervous systems — ideal if crying dysregulates you
✨ Builds strong emotional bonds (especially brilliant for dads)
✨ Can help reduce postpartum anxiety and depression
✨ Supports breastfeeding (yes, you can feed upright on the move!)
✨ Acts like “moving tummy time” — builds core strength and motor skills
✨ Boosts language and sensory integration — your baby’s right in the action
✨ Can help babies with tension or torticollis
✨ Keeps your hands free for your toddler, your coffee, or you

I love babywearing for parents who want to stay calm, connected and responsive — while still meeting their own needs too.

And for contact naps in a carrier — a few parent-tested hacks:

🟡 Invest in a really good carrier — it’ll save your back and arms!
My go to experts are and for tailored babywearing support.

🟡 Turn nap time into you time:
Set up snacks, queue a podcast or show, or head out for a coffee walk while they snooze on you.

🟡 Use the newborn season to your advantage:
Thanks to the stimulation barrier which is still present in the early weeks many babies sleep well in busy places — cafes, friends’ homes, the park — take your contact naps on the go.

🟡 And don’t forget the golden rule…
P*e and eat first! You’ll thank me later 😉