Tina Southwood has been a sleep consultant for our family, helping with sleep issues with our 26 month old and our 10 month old children.
As new parents two years ago, my husband and I were struggling to get our eldest child into a routine with her sleep. She became dependant on milk and comfort from us and did not sleep through the night with one of us constantly waking up throughout the night. This continued for a long time and we were desperate for help. We spoke to Tina who visited us for an hours consultation and at that time Tina suggested that we give M a wide berth as she had stomach problems and not to worry too much about sleep patterns in the short term. We understood her reasoning and agreed to work together when Ms health situation was better.
Our second child was born a year later and we knew that we had to get H into a routine from the outset as we were still struggling with M. Tina came to help us for three nights. Using child-focused techniques and giving both my husband and I lots of support and advice (and sleep), we were able to get H to sleep through from approximately 4 months onwards. Tina concentrated on night times but then supported us in the daytime too and H has been sleeping beautifully ever since! A sleep deprived baby, trained in a week to sleep through – amazing!
We felt that the time was right to tackle Ms sleeping problems and after three nights and lots of support at a very difficult and stressful time, Tina managed to sleep train a fractious, milk dependant 2 year old. M now sleeps for 12 hours, without waking up and without milk. She is a changed child who is happy, content and rested.
None of this could have been achieved without the in depth knowledge and understanding that Tina has which has come from years of experience. Tinas methods are both child and family focussed and she understands the need to coach, train and provide emotional support for the whole family as well as the child. Tina is highly organised in that she plans her working week around the childs needs as a guide (changing from night to day as neccessary), she is flexible and punctual. (She has never arrived late at our house; in fact she is usually ten minutes early). Tina is able to balance the need to remain a highly professional practitioner as well as blending into a family in crisis. This is an excellent skill and in my opinion, her forte. She is always at the end of the phone for help and advice and will get in touch for regular updates as to how the children are doing.
I would have no hesitations in recommending Tina as a sleep consultant or child care provider and wish her every success in her future endeavours.