“More and more young parents, especially those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, are realizing they need to learn how to help their newborns get longer stretches of rest, especially at night,” said Gaddis.
Back in 2020, after completing nine months of the US Online Family Sleep Institute certification programme, Gaddis was unsure whether the idea of hiring a children’s sleep coach would gain traction in Egypt, where mothers traditionally pass down child-rearing knowledge.
She hoped, however, that more young couples would adopt the practice over time.
“We have a lot of shared wisdom about feeding, washing, dressing, and putting a child to sleep,” Gaddis said.
“Often, young mothers receive far too much advice, especially about helping newborns sleep, and much of it is contradictory or even misleading,” she added.
A common assumption, she explained, is that a child who is well-fed and sleeps in the same dimly lit room as the mother will automatically fall asleep. “This is not always true,” she said.
“Some children become more alert after a long breastfeeding session before bedtime. Others, especially in the first six months, are light sleepers who may wake easily from even the slightest noise or dim light, and may need complete darkness to fall asleep,” Gaddis said.
She emphasized that children’s sleep coaching is based on the understanding that every child, household, and set of parents is different. “Variables include the child’s brain development, the parents’ mood, energy, and the quality time they can spend with the newborn,” she explained.
The child of working parents in daycare is different from a child with a single working parent at home, or a child with two working parents cared for by a grandmother or sibling, she said.
These variables affect separation anxiety in children and the energy and attention parents can provide.
Gaddis noted that disrupted sleep often results from unclear daily routines. Families without structured schedules may end up with children who sleep and eat inconsistently, leading to highly interrupted nights and increased agitation for both child and family, especially in the first six to twelve months.
In her one-on-one sessions and group courses, Gaddis teaches that newborns do not sleep simply because they hear lullabies. In the first four months, infants need an environment that replicates the womb, including swaddles, white noise, and gentle movement.
“After four months, parents need to adapt techniques, creating a safe and reassuring environment without limiting the child’s need for space,” she said.
For children up to five years old, Gaddis also addresses differences between boys and girls, single children and multiples, and the effects of growth on sleep patterns.
Gaddis discovered children’s sleep coaching when her sister’s newborn struggled to sleep despite support from family. “I had never heard of a children’s sleep coach before, but I knew I wanted to pursue it,” she said.
Already holding a degree in economics obtained in 2011, Gaddis had worked locally and internationally before choosing a career with human interaction and purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for online coaching as families struggled with sleep issues.
Initially serving acquaintances, Gaddis established a small company in Dubai and plans to expand an offer courses in Egypt early in 2026.
“Today, more parents realize that each child has specific sleep needs beyond nursing and cleanliness, and that these requirements vary by age and environment,” she said.
Not all parents follow a sleep coach’s advice, especially when it involves establishing a clear daily routine or addressing differences in boys’ and girls’ sleep patterns. However, resistance is declining.
“The culture is slowly changing, and there is more room for children’s sleep coaching,” Gaddis stated.
Short link: