Ann and Nurturing Sleep

My work with children, babies and families begun many years ago with my NNEB (Nursery Nurse) training, and have over 40 years experience. Initially I worked for 12 years as a private nanny and enjoyed working with many wonderful families and travelling the world.

Eventually I married and became very unwell, and it’s this experience underpins my Emotional Well-being approach that Nurturing Sleep has become well known for.

As I recovered I picked up my work again. I worked in nursery and primary schools, where my main role was supporting literacy, play and learning. At this time I also studied for my degree in Child and Youth Studies gaining a BA with Distinction. My work then shifted back to family support. I worked for a while with Sure Start and cry-sis, and trained and worked as a postnatal doula.

I hold 2 sleep certifications. I maintain certification with the International Parenting and Health Institute which requires proof of on-going professional development. I have also contributed components of my Emotional Wellbeing approach to the IPHI sleep consultant training program.

2011. Nurturing Sleep was born back in 2011 as I completed my first sleep certification with Chireal Shallow at Naturally Nurturing.

2012. I followed through with my Happiest Baby training in 2012

2013. I gained a second sleep certification with the International Maternity and Parenting Institute in 2013; certification is maintained through on going professional development.

2015. I then completed the Aware Parenting Instructor course, and, in –

2016. Hand in Hand Parenting Professionals Intensive course

2017. I studied prenatal and perinatal psychology and healing with Myrna Martin

2018. Studied prenatal and perinatal psychology with Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH). This recent training and certification supports the foundation of my work: identifying, understanding and healing early developmental trauma.

The link to my Peer Reviewed Article: The Foundations of Emotional Development and Considerations for Professionals, published in the Summer 2019 edition of the Journal for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, can be found below.

My most recent study has been with Dr Gordon Neufeld, gaining his Certificate of Sleep Studies, based on the Neufeld developmental- attachment theory and approach.

Nurturing Sleep has gone from strength to strength as emotional well-being and the influence of prenatal and perinatal psychology flows through my sleep work. I’m finding that increasingly more families want to gain insight into their child’s behaviours at a much deeper level!

The Nurturing Sleep approach is much deeper than ‘fixing’ the obvious ‘behavioural’ aspects of sleep. Its about understanding the child from the inside out, so that we can understand behaviours and sleep at a deeper level.

Qualifications and Continuing Education.

Qualifications:

2021: Advanced Skills in Postnatal depression, Birth Trauma and PTSD (OCN Level 4)

2021: Tongue-Tie and Infant Feeding. OCN Level 4.

2021: Infant Allergy, Reflux and Colic. Accredited: OCN Level 4.
2019: PPN Educator: Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology: Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health
2018: Certified Educator: Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology and Healing Educator; (trained by Myrna Martin);
2013: Certified Maternity and Child Sleep Consultant: International Parenting Institute (re-certification 2 yearly)
2012: Happiest Baby on the Block, Certified Parent Educator.
2011: National Baby Sleep Consultant Qualification: (OCN accredited ).
2011: Paediatric First Aid (Basic Life Skills 2015)
2010: ABM Breastfeeding Mother Supporter (I am not a lactation consultant / breastfeeding counsellor)
2010: Recognition with Doula UK;
2009: Postnatal Doula training with Nurturing Birth; Mother and Baby International;
2008: BA (Distinction) Child and Youth Studies;
1978: National Nursery Examination Board.

October 2024: Neufeld Institute: The Alarm Spectrum

November 2023: Neufeld Institute: The Science of Emotion.

August 2022: Neufeld Institute: Making Sense of Pre-schoolers.

August 2022: Neufeld Institute: Certificate of Sleep Studies.

June 2022: Neufeld Institute: Intensive 2 – The Separation Complex.

March 2022: Neufeld Institute: Intensive 1 – Making Sense of Kids.
December 2020: Open University: Understanding Autism
May 2020: Neufeld Institute: Play 101: Special Edition (Coronavirus pandemic)
March 2020: Neufeld Institute: Making Sense of Counterwill (Toddlers and Preschoolers)
June 2019: Human Baby, Human Being Conference, Bristol, UK: Gaining an understanding of pregnancy and birth from the baby’s perspective.
2018 – 2019: Pre and Perinatal Psychology (birth psychology) Educator Program: Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH).
2016-18: Myrna Martin: Healing Early Developmental Trauma.
2016: Wonder Weeks Academy: Infant Mental Health and Development Foundation Program.
2016: British Nutrition Foundation: Complementary Feeding and Obesity.
2016: American Academy of Pediatrics: Early Brain and Child Development and Sleep;
2016: American Academy of Pediatrics: Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Early Education and Childcare;
2016: Parenting by Connection: Hand in Hand Parenting professionals intensive course.
2016: Birth Psychology: Professional Development Series (1).
2015: Aware Parenting Instructor Mentor Course. March 2015 – November 2015; Infant Mental Health; Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (November 2014 – May 2015) + updating 2016.
2014: Advanced Sleep Consulting (IMPI) throughout 2014.
July 2014: International Infant Cry Workshop. Warwick University.
June 2014: Aletha Solter / Aware Parenting: Attachment Parenting and Healing from Stress and Trauma; Presented by Jürgen Peeters
2013: Infant Feeding Course. Mother and Baby International (I am not a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor)

Peer Reviewed Articles:

Conscious Conception: The Foundations of Emotional Development and Considerations for Professionals; Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, JOPPPAH, 33(4), Summer 2019. Read the article here

Contact Ann

Ann Caird BA Certified Baby and Child Sleep Consultant.