Sleep is biological.
Not behavioural.
Holistic, evidence-based sleep support for infants and children - grounded in science, guided by compassion.
Sleep isn’t something to “fix”
Sleep is not a behaviour to control or train.
It is a biological process shaped by development, sleep pressure, nervous system regulation, connection, environment, and individual needs across a full 24-hour period.
When sleep feels hard, it’s rarely because your child is “bad” at sleeping — and it’s certainly not because you’re doing it wrong.
At Learn Sleep Thrive, we move away from quick fixes and fear-based advice. Instead, we focus on understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface.
A bit about me.
I’m Leoni Hayes. Paediatric Sleep Coach. Early Years Educator. Mum of Two.
With over a decade of experience as a primary school teacher — specialising in Early Years — and three years as a SENDCo in a mainstream primary school, I’ve supported hundreds of children and families to feel understood, regulated and able to thrive.
My work is rooted in a deep understanding of the developing brain and how early childhood experiences influence wellbeing, behaviour, emotional regulation — and sleep.
But my knowledge didn’t truly become powerful until I became a parent.
Why Learn Sleep Thrive exists.
My eldest child struggled significantly with sleep from the very beginning.
He was colicky, unsettled, and often dysregulated. Sleep felt fragmented, unpredictable, and exhausting. As he grew, further challenges emerged — including chronic constipation — which deeply impacted his comfort, regulation and sleep both day and night.
I experienced the anxious late-night Googling.
The conflicting advice.
The extreme fatigue.
The heavy sense of failure — despite being responsive and deeply attuned to my child.
What I needed wasn’t a strict plan or a quick fix.
I needed someone calm, knowledgeable and compassionate to sit alongside me and explain what was happening.
Learn Sleep Thrive exists so that you have that person.
Evidence-based. Professionally grounded.
My approach combines lived experience with academic training. I hold:
BA (Hons) Degree in Education
PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Level 6 Holistic Sleep Coaching Accreditation
In 2023, I completed my Holistic Sleep Coach training with Lyndsey Hookway, gaining in-depth, evidence-based insight into infant and child sleep across all developmental stages.
I am deeply committed to dispelling common sleep myths and reducing the fear-based messaging that surrounds infant and child sleep.
A holistic, responsive approach.
My work is grounded in sleep science — including guidance from the National Sleep Foundation — and always centred around your child’s individual needs.
I do not use sleep training methods.
Instead, I support families by focusing on:
Sleep pressure and total sleep across 24 hours
Nervous system regulation and co-regulation
Individual temperament, development and sensory needs
Gradually building supported independence, when developmentally appropriate
Behaviour as communication and gentle boundaries
You’ll receive reassurance, clear guidance and a bespoke, evidence-based plan tailored specifically to your family.
The Learn Sleep Thrive method.
Learn
Understanding how sleep truly works, for your child’s unique needs.
Sleep
Supporting biologically appropriate, responsive sleep.
Thrive
Nurturing regulation, wellbeing and resilience.
Change
Gentle, sustainable and manageable adjustments.
Kind. Compassionate. Never cry-it-out.
I honour your child’s need for closeness and connection while also respecting your wishes as a parent.
I will never recommend leaving your little one to cry alone or using controlled crying techniques.
The goal is to remove the confusion around sleep, thoughtfully balance individual needs, and establish lasting foundations that allow the entire family to thrive.
It’s understanding, balance, and foundations that allow the whole family to rest and thrive together.
Ready to feel calm about sleep?
You don’t need another rigid routine or overwhelming advice.
You need clarity. Confidence. And support that feels aligned with your values.
Let’s work together.