Hi, I’m Barbara. I love helping individuals and families obtain more nourishing sleep.
My daughter had many sleep challenges. I would spend countless hours rocking, patting, driving, singing, rocking some more and scrolling google looking for ways for both of us to just get more sleep. Sleep wasn’t meant to be so hard. In desperation I hired a sleep consultant, one that promised a gentle method and no sleep training. She came with many positive reviews and had even been featured on a prominent news show as a baby whisperer. When she arrived she promptly put up a curtain of baby blankets tied on the cot. I was told not to look at my crying baby, nor to hold her hand. When I asked ‘but what if she has teething pain’ I was told to ‘rub teething gel on the gums through the curtain’. I was given a document that contained a one-size-fits-all routine that required me to spend up to 2 hours in a dark room to get my daughter to nap. I didn’t know it at the time, but these were all sleep training methods even though the consultant claimed not to sleep train. In the one 15 minute follow up consult I was told that we were causing the sleep issues. Rather than solve our sleep challenges it led to intense frustration for both my daughter and I.
My desire to understand the ‘why’ behind my daughter’s sleep issues resulted in me gaining further education in the field. I know now that my daughter wouldn’t nap because she wasn’t sleepy. She didn’t need a one-size-fits-all routine. She needed no routine and a mum empowered to follow her cues.
Along the way my own sleep derailed and I developed sleep maintenance insomnia. Today, to ensure I sleep well I use a variety of natural treatments, dietary and lifestyle modifications, healthy breathing, and strategies from CBT-I.
Overcoming my and my daughter’s sleep struggles has fuelled my passion for supporting sleep in people of all ages. Now, I aim to educate and empower about all things sleep so that you can sleep better and live well!
Did you know I have lots of free resources?
- Travelling with your Small
- Wake & Sleep Windows
- 5 Foods & Nutrients Needed for Sleep
- Gut Health for Families.
Grab the one that you need today! >> Grab here
Let’s sort sleep together!
My story
My parents always used natural medicines to maintain health. When I was a child they took me to see a naturopath instead of a GP (doctor) whenever my brother and I had health complaints. Through my parents I gained a love for natural medicine and studied to be a naturopath. After I graduated I combined my passion for natural medicine with my love for South America. I did many trips to the Amazon jungle to learn about their medicinal herbs, including a trip where I was able to learn from renowned botanist Dr James Duke in person.
When my daughter was four she was diagnosed with a mild sleep disorder due to enlarged adenoids and tonsils. In the years previous I tried many natural things to ease her difficulty breathing and intermittent snoring and while some things improved it they never fully resolved it. I researched extensively on mouth breathing, Buteyko breathing and facial development as I sought a non-invasive solution for her. I then took her to a specialised dentist who found a tongue and lip tie. Despite having seen 3 lactation consultants when she was an infant not one looked in her mouth. Frenectomy to release the ties, combined with oral myofunctional therapy, was the turning point for us. The release and exercises combined with natural therapies have shrunk her adenoids and tonsils and she is able to breathe through her nose comfortably now without surgery!
Here at Lavender I give special attention to sleep. Sleep is one of the three pillars of good health, along with diet and exercise, however it doesn’t generally receive the same amount of attention in our lives as the other pillars. I’d like to change that.
Not just ‘another sleep consultant’
I am a Naturopath (N.D., BHSc), Certified Paediatric Sleep and Wellbeing Specialist, Adult Sleep Coach, Possums Neuroprotective Developmental Care Provider and Educator, Accredited G.E.M.M Practitioner and mum to one beautiful little girl and two fur-babies. I graduated as a Naturopath in Australia some time ago and followed this up with a degree in Health Science and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology. I have worked in private practice and for natural health companies in both Australia (Metagenics) and the United States (Standard Process and Raintree Nutrition) where I provided technical support, wrote technical documentation and supported health practitioners on evidence-based natural health solutions.
At Lavender Sleep and Wellness I take a holistic approach to sleep, health and wellness and look at and address the underlying causes of health challenges. As a health professional, to maintain full membership with the Complementary Medicine Association I actively participate in continuing education including webinars, conferences and masterclasses and seek to practically apply the latest research to better sleep and wellness. I also hold a current first aid certificate and blue card (working with children check).
What I strive to do
What I strive not to do
Our resident nap experts
Mr Char and Miss Peniche are nap extraordinaire’s. They love to sleep and you may see them napping next to me as I consult. Mr Char finds my office chair the most comfortable nap surface (leaving me a stool!).
Mr Char.
Miss Peniche.
Let’s be friends
I am committed to connection with my daughter so I spend a lot of time with her, free from screens as much as possible. I do a little on social media and through email and, as I know you’re busy too, you’ll typically only get an email from me when I have something important to share.
Thank you for reading this far. I’m excited to walk this journey with you to better your and your little one’s sleep and wellness.