Your baby doesn't need fixing.
I'm Sapir, an attachment-based sleep consultant in South Africa. If you've been told you need to “train”, “teach” or “fix” your baby – there's a middle ground. We work with your baby's needs instead of against them. No cry-it-out.
Online consultations, wherever you are in South Africa · Newborns to toddlers
Things parents say to me when they first reach out
Five things I hear almost every time a new family reaches out. If any of these sound like you – you're in the right place.
“I've created bad habits”
Who hasn't been told that they're “creating bad sleep associations”? But honestly – a baby who wants to sleep on you or nurse to sleep is doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing.
“I don't feel like myself anymore”
The exhaustion, the constant stress, the dread of every single bedtime, brought you to your limit. You're depleted and out of patience. But it doesn't have to stay this way.
“He never sleeps more than 30 minutes”
Short naps and frequent wake-ups (day & night) are incredibly frustrating. Getting the routine dialled in can make a world of difference.
“My partner and I can't agree”
One of you is desperate and ready to cry-it-out. The other is just can't do it. That tension between you is exhausting on its own. What if there was another way?
“We've tried everything!”
When parents say this to me, I know they're beyond exhausted. But often, what they've tried just wasn't the right fit for their baby.
If you read this and thought “that's me” at least once – I want you to know there is another way. I'm Sapir, an attachment-based sleep consultant. Let's chat
Is sleep training the only option?
If you've ever Googled “how to get my baby to sleep?” you've probably been flooded with advice about sleep training. And it can feel like that's just… what you're supposed to do.
Here's the thing: it's not a choice between sleep training and no sleep. There's a middle ground. We can work with your baby's needs instead of against them.
If this is the first time you're hearing that you have options – hi 🙂 That's what I'm here for.
What this looks like in practice
- Responding to cries instead of leaving them to cry it out.
- Tuning in to what your baby actually needs in the moment.
- Choosing gentle, gradual approaches over strict sleep training.
Every child is different. Every family is different.
How it works
Gentle, gradual, and built around your baby. Here's what working together looks like.
Say hi
Send a WhatsApp or fill in the form. Tell me what's happening – no judgement, I've been there.
I get the full picture
We talk through your baby's days and nights, feeding, temperament and what you actually need – because every family is different.
A plan that fits your baby
Gentle, gradual changes that work with your baby's needs instead of against them. No cry-it-out.
You're not doing it alone
Support while you put it into practice, so you're never left guessing.
At first, I was just a tired mom.
When my daughter was born, I'd google “why isn't my baby sleeping well?”
I got a lot of answers. Most of them made me feel like something was wrong – with me or with her. “Train”. “Teach”. “Fix”.
But deep in my gut, I knew I was okay. And she was just a baby.
That's how I found the world of attachment parenting, which confirmed what I already knew – my baby didn't need fixing, she needed connection.
I know there are other moms out there like me, who think they're making every possible mistake. But deep down, we already have the answers.
How much sleep does your baby need?
Wake windows, naps and total sleep from birth to 12 months – the averages I share with the families I work with. Tap an age for all the numbers.
These numbers are based on averages only and may not apply to every baby. Every child is different.
Little things that help tonight
Short reels from my Instagram – tap to play.
From the blog
Baby sleep at 3–4 months: something has changed (and you're not imagining it)
Around 3–4 months, one of the biggest shifts in your baby's sleep takes place – the sleep stage flip. It's not a bug. It's a feature.
Read the post5 baby sleep myths (and the actual truth)
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me one of these… Number 4 was the one I heard on repeat after my daughter was born.
Read the postWhat is attachment parenting?
At its core, attachment parenting is simple: children thrive when they feel safe, seen and loved. Physically and emotionally.
Read the postQuestions I get asked a lot
Do you use cry-it-out?
No. Babies learn to feel safe when their needs are met, not when they're left alone. Comfort builds trust, and trust builds better sleep. We choose gentle, gradual approaches over strict sleep training – and we work with your baby's needs instead of against them.
My baby only sleeps on me, or nurses to sleep. Have I created bad habits?
Who hasn't been told that they're “creating bad sleep associations”? But honestly – a baby who wants to sleep on you or nurse to sleep is doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing. Nursing to sleep is biologically normal. Your presence while he's falling asleep is not a bad habit – a baby who falls asleep feeling safe and secure is building the exact foundation he'll need later on.
Is it normal that my baby still wakes at night?
Yes. Night waking is completely normal – even into toddlerhood. Their tiny tummies need feeding, and waking actually helps protect against SIDS. Babies still need feeding at night up until age one; their calorie intake works differently to ours. I get that you're exhausted – but that isn't a “habit” to break.
Do we have to follow a strict schedule?
No. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every child is different, and every family is different. The wake windows and nap numbers I share are averages – a starting point, not a rulebook.
Where are you based? Do you work online?
Happy Nest is based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and I work with families online – so it doesn't matter where you are.
How do we get started?
Send me a WhatsApp, or fill in the form below and tell me a little about what's happening. No judgement – I've been there.
Let's chat.
Tell me a little about what's happening – no judgement, I've been there. I'll come back to you on WhatsApp or email, whichever you prefer.