Louise Morelli Interview – Monaco Sleep Consultant

LOUISE MORELLI – MONACO – CERTIFIED NOVEMBER 2017

www.gentlytosleep.com

1. What drew you to making the life changing decision to study and become a sleep consultant?

My decision to become a consultant came from first-hand experience of the sleep deprivation a new baby brings.  After over a year of night wakings and early starts to the day, I was absolutely exhausted and desperate for sleep for me and our daughter.  I made the decision to sleep train her, and in researching theories and methods I developed a passion for baby sleep and for helping other tired mums.  After much research I found Emma Purdue and her company Baby Sleep Consultant and I immediately knew the comprehensive, evidence-based training she offered was the perfect fit for me.  I enjoyed every minute of the studying and working with volunteer clients, and especially benefited from being supported and guided by an experienced mentor.  I was really sad when the course finished but so happy to be certified and be able to apply my knowledge and do the work I love so much!

2. What sort of clients motivate you the most? Tell us a story if you have one.

I admire clients that are willing to do whatever it takes to get their little one sleeping well.  Some of my clients have taken time off work to fully dedicate themselves to getting their child to sleep and others have even delayed holidays.  I’ve had parents camping out on their sofa to give their room-sharing child the best opportunity to learn how to self-settle to sleep.  I’ve had other parents who started with super-gentle sleep training for their toddler yet moved, by their own decision, to a full cry-based method once they realised that this was a better fit for their child.  Every client motivates me as each one works so hard to achieve the best result.

3. Is the role rewarding, what do you find rewarding?

I absolutely love my job!  It is such a privilege to be chosen by parents to work with their precious child and there’s no greater reward for me than to see the joy of parents when great sleep returns to their lives and to hear their little one is rested and happy.  The best start to the day is to receive a message to say, “he slept through the night for the first time!  Thank you so much!”  This always makes me smile and reaffirms why I’ve chosen to do this.

4. What has been your biggest challenge to date, how are you dealing with this?

The biggest challenge for me has been finding the work/leisure balance.  Running and building a business, being a mum, wife and running the family home is a juggle and it’s easy to become overstretched.  As I love my work so much and want to give the best support, it’s often difficult to say “work stops now” and switch off to relax.  I’m sure this is the same for all people running their own business…but I’m getting there!

5. Why do you believe sleep is important for all families?

Sleep, or lack of it, affects the whole family.  A parent cannot give their best if they are exhausted, a baby cannot be at its happiest when tired and the relationship between siblings and between parents can be put under immense strain if sleep is lacking.  For good mental and physical health, we all need to have great sleep and it’s a biological necessity we cannot ignore.  This is my passion and why I work so hard to get families sleeping again.

6. Tell me one thing you learnt in your studies that will stick with you forever?

That there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach and often the smallest change can make the biggest difference.  This is why each family, each child and each issue should be fully assessed before a sleep plan is created.

7. What are your plans moving forward for the next 12 months?

I’d love to continue to increase the number of clients I work with each week.  I’m currently restricted by the number of hours I can work as our little one is only at school in the mornings, however once full-time school starts later this year then I’ll then be in a position to do more work during the day and reclaim some nights during the week for relaxing!  I also intend to do more sleep talks and would love to set up regular talks for expectant mums on about what to expect sleep-wise during the first few months of their baby’s life and how to build the foundation for great sleep.

8. If you could tell tired desperate parents one thing, what would that be?

That they shouldn’t beat themselves up about what they did and didn’t do to contribute to their child’s sleeping issue.  I hear so often “oh I wish I’d done X or not done Y…it’ all my fault”.  All parents do the best they can and it’s ok to seek help.  Yesterday has gone and tomorrow will be better than today and if parents remain consistent and take each day at a time they will have sleep success.

LOUISE MORELLI – May 2018