For 20 years, The Sleep Store has offered free sleep support to New Zealand and Australian families - starting in person, then by email and DM, and for the last 10+ years, through our Facebook groups. We were actually offering sleep support online before Facebook even existed!
After a lot of thought, we made the difficult decision to pause our Facebook Sleep Groups at the end of August. The way families access sleep advice has changed hugely since we started. Back then, we were one of the only places online offering this kind of support — now there are sleep apps, websites, social accounts and consultants of every kind, and families can find the community that suits them best.
Our library of hundreds of free articles on all aspects of sleep and settling will continue to be accessible for you, and we will keep updating these with relevant information for you and your family
Below we have listed out some more helpful links to resources and other partners we recommend:
Facebook Groups:
Many mums find due date groups the most helpful as families are all going through similar stages and are usually very supportive.
- Mums Collective - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1094611990575140
- Mum Hub - https://www.facebook.com/groups/themumhub
- New Zealand Mums - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2182871995270771
- Mummy Matters - https://www.facebook.com/groups/108007792615289
When considering Sleep Support Groups:
We recommend always reading reviews and asking in other mums groups for recommendations to find a consultant that works for your family, your sleep challenge and how urgently you need sleep. We firmly believe that over time it is OK to need more sleep yourself - for your own mental and physical health, safety when driving, parenting and enjoying life!
Also ensure any advice includes safe sleep as a priority – no tummy sleeping, bed clear, stops swaddling when baby shows signs of rolling etc. Note that sleep consultants are businesses so charge for their advice and plans, however some do offer a free group to promote their business.
Some other useful resources:
- Plunket Sleep Support Service - https://www.plunket.org.nz/child-development/sleep/online-sleep-support/
- Plunket now have the Plunket Sleep Support Service - Free video call service nurses who are specially trained to help with sleep and settling pēpi. You can book a sleep support session by calling PlunketLine free on 0800 933 922 24/7, website bookings coming soon. Plunket nurses will provide some initial support over the phone and book you an appointment. The focus is on gentle responsive sleep support rather than sleep training.
- https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/.../safer-sleep-information/
- https://rednose.org.au/resources-category/safe-sleep-and-safer-pregnancy/
- https://littlemiraclestrust.org.nz/
- https://www.andbreathefirstaid.co.nz/
Our Sleep Coaches:
Our wonderful, highly experienced sleep coaches are available for private consultations. We have worked with both Maria and Annette for many years and their advice and support is excellent
- Annette – Serene Sleep – focused on older babies, toddlers and beyond - https://www.serenesleep.co.nz/
- Maria – https://www.littlehush.co.nz/ - focused on older babies
Newborn Support
- Cathy from Holistic Baby – https://www.holisticbaby.co.nz/ - Postnatal midwife, lactation and newborn settling – I have known Cathy for over 20 years and she is widely regarded as an expert in the newborn space.
- Libby - https://libbyandco.co.nz/ Libby is a highly experienced nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator
- Maria – https://www.littlehush.co.nz/ - One of our Sleep Store sleep coaches
4-12m Group + toddler
Gentle sleep consultants – For paid sleep support & paid plans for families that are not looking for any type of sleep training and a totally no-cry approach. We have not worked with these businesses and do not know them personally so cannot specifically endorse them but some customers have recommended them - please do your own research if you want this type of paid sleep service.