Making space for sleep in family life

When sleep is broken, everything feels harder. Fatigue affects patience, confidence and emotional balance – and in early parenthood, rest can feel like a distant dream. In this episode, Dr Lee David speaks with sleep consultant and mum of three Caroline Jones about finding realistic, compassionate ways to support both infant and parent sleep.They explore how small changes, shared support and self-trust can make a big difference – and why flexibility matters more than following fixed rules. Caroline shares practical ways to restore balance, from understanding sleep science to building healthy routines that work for each unique family.This is a conversation about calm, confidence and connection – recognising that good sleep supports the whole family’s wellbeing and that every parent deserves rest without pressure or comparison.Highlights & key moments 00:00 Introduction – when sleep struggles impact mental health 02:25 Caroline’s story – twins, exhaustion and discovery 05:29 The pressure cooker – coping with fatigue and finding freedom outdoors 06:52 Choice in parenting – trusting your instincts and finding what works 07:06 Evidence matters – what research really says about infant sleep 09:02 Sleep architecture – why broken sleep hits parents hardest 11:26 Permission to rest – why parental wellbeing supports connection 12:00 Attachment, security and sleep training – what the research shows 13:20 Making sense of sleep training methods and consistency 16:22 Parent anxiety, perinatal illness and emotional readiness 19:27 Why shared support and small changes make a big difference 22:35 Common myths – overtiredness and “sleep breeds sleep” 24:35 Following your baby’s cues and unique sleep needs 27:50 Sleep in older children – building confidence and security 31:44 Resilience and independence – loving choices at night 33:32 Choice Space takeaways – trust yourself, and rest is strengthAbout the hostDr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david) and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david About the guest Caroline Jones is an OCN Level 6 Certified Sleep Consultant, mum of twins plus one, and self-confessed sleep geek. She supports parents with evidence-based, compassionate guidance to navigate infant and family sleep, and leads Your Sleep Mentors – a programme for training and supporting other consultants. Caroline believes sleep isn’t a luxury but essential for mental and physical health, and is passionate about challenging myths and grounding her work in solid evidence. Website: www.thesleepremedy.co.uk Email: [email protected] Instagram: @thesleepremedyReferenceSci Rep 2025;15:24076About the hostDr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david