From Constant Wakings to Blissful Slumbers—One Baby’s Journey to Independent Sleep

Case Study: How Roman Learned to Love His Cot—A 6-Month Sleep Success Story

Meet Roman

Roman is a bright, curious 6-month-old who’s been juggling bottle feeds and two solid meals each day. Like many little ones, he’s a routine enthusiast—just not for sleep. By four months, his rolling milestone and the end of swaddling sent his nights into a tailspin: he began waking four times each night, and his daytime naps were brief catnaps of 20–30 minutes (with the occasional longer snooze only in the car).

The Challenges

  • Night wakings: Roman would rouse roughly four times each night, needing a feed and up to an hour of rocking, bouncing on the fit-ball, cuddles or dummy-soothing before settling again.
  • Day naps: Every nap felt like a mini-project—20 minutes of trying to settle, then a 30-minute nap at best.
  • Sleep props: He relied heavily on mum’s arms, a dummy, or a gentle bounce on the fit-ball. Co-sleeping was the path of least resistance, but mum and dad were exhausted and knew it wasn’t sustainable long-term.
  • Startle reflex: Roman had a particularly strong Moro reflex, so beginning and linking his sleep cycles independently proved even more challenging.

Our Consultation and New Routine

Elaine Harvey offering gentle sleep support via Zoom

During a focused bath-and-bedtime consultation, we streamlined Roman’s evening ritual and gently introduced my fully support settle approach to guide him through the changes to the routine:

  1. In The Cot Awake: After his bedtime bath, mum placed Roman in the cot awake—no dummy in hand.
  2. Layered Support: When he fussed , mum provided support with touch: hands-on patting and soothing as reassurance not rhythmic patting adjusting reassurance to his temperament., more layered support as he grew more worked up, eased back as he calmed soft singing and gentle contact, then tapper off once he lay calm.
  3. Letting Sleep Unfold: Once he rolled onto his tummy—a natural sleep position for him—his startles were less dramatic, and he drifted into uninterrupted slumber. (Because Roman can roll both ways unassisted, SIDS guidelines support this approach.)

We discussed how to follow this plan consistently, adjusting overnight feeds and daytime naps with the same principles of putting him down awake and offering just enough reassurance.

The Results

  • Night 1: Roman slept 6½ hours straight. After a quick feed with mum following the new guidelines, he went back to sleep in minutes and dozed another 5½ hours.
  • Day 1 naps: Three naps of roughly 30 minutes each—more predictable and less frustrating for mum.
  • Night 2: A blissful 13-hour stretch.
  • Day 2 naps: First nap: 1½ hours after a 20-minute settle. Second nap: two hours with just a five-minute settle.
  • Night 3: Another solid 13-hour sleep.
  • One week later: Roman is confidently self-settling in his cot for both night and day sleeps. He links his sleep cycles with ease, responds positively to his bedtime routine, and greets mornings happy and refreshed.

A Mother’s Words

“If you’re even considering hiring Elaine, 100% do it! Holding my baby until he fell asleep felt like the best thing once—but at six months, it was breaking my back. Within two nights of sticking to Elaine’s routine, Roman was sleeping 11-12 hours straight without a peep. I finally have time to myself and real sleep again. My only regret is not doing this sooner.”

Why This Works

Happy mum and baby after a successful sleep consultation

Roman’s journey highlights the power of a consistent, nurturing routine combined with gentle self-settling support gradually tapering off naturally and then encouraging independence as his confidence grew. By giving him the space to practice falling asleep—and layering support only when needed—he built confidence in his own sleep skills. The result? Better rest for baby and parents no longer surviving but thriving.

If sleepless nights feel like your new normal, remember: with the right routine and a few simple tweaks, you can help your little one learn to sleep—right in the comfort of their own cot.

Ready for Your Own Sleep Success?

If you’re inspired by Roman’s transformation and ready to reclaim restful nights, let’s create a tailored plan for your family. Book a one-on-one consultation with me today, and together we’ll assess your little one’s unique rhythms, design a gentle, attachment-focused routine, and give you the confidence and support you need every step of the way.

Schedule your personalised sleep consultation now — because better nights start with the right guidance.