Hi, I’m so glad your hear checking out my background and if I really have all the skills experience and vibe to help you with the challenges you are currently facing.
So let me introduce myself I’m Elaine Harvey, a wife, proud mother, veggie grower, dog/ chat and chicken lover, keen mountain bike rider, and the founder of Lullababy SOS.
I am passionate about supporting parents who are navigating the challenging journey of early parenthood, particularly when it comes to their little ones’ sleep and your overall parenting experience.
With my background as an Early Childhood Educator a Maternity Nurse Practitioner, Certified Paediatric Sleep Specialist, and the Australasian Regional Director of the International Association of Professional Sleep Consultants I have dedicated myself to helping parents like you feel empowered in their journey as a parent so you and your family can thrive not just survive this beautiful and challenging chapter in your life.
I understand the struggles and uncertainties that can arise during this time. As a mother myself, I know that your role as a parent is your most cherished and important life achievement. The journey of motherhood is filled with immense love, joy, and fulfilment, but it can also present unique challenges that leave you feeling overwhelmed and questioning your abilities.
A little about me – I grew up in Ireland with a large extended family and lots of little cousins to care for and from a young age it was clear that I had a bit of a baby obsession. I will admit I played with dolls for a lot longer than was typical for the average little girl. My upbringing, tbh wasn’t fantastic, but it shaped who I am today, and for that, I’m grateful. One of the driving forces to the career path I had chosen was that I wanted to break the patterns of my own childhood and ensure that I could be the best mother I could possibly be first and foremost. It took therapy, years of working closely with young children, and never once feeling the need to raise my voice or lose control to convince myself that I was capable of being a ‘good mother’ and providing a nurturing and loving family home. This personal journey fuelled my obsession with understanding early childhood development, maternal attachment, and creating strong mother-child bonds.
As fate would have it, my journey as a Sleep Consultant began unexpectedly. After 4 years working full-time as a nanny while training in maternity nursing and then 3 ½ years working as a post-partum maternity nurse (Essentially, I supported new mothers in their own homes 24 hours a day, 6 days a week for 12 weeks, helping them establish strong routine foundations for both them and their baby. This gave me a deep understanding of the challenges that new mothers face. My husband and I moved to Australia in 2005 and I retrained to be an Early Childhood Educator. While working as a Lead Educator in the nursery at a childcare centre, it became apparent that I possessed a unique ability to settle babies in a way that surpassed the average. Colleagues and parents alike would visit our room, amazed at how we managed to have all the babies sleeping simultaneously.
This experience marked the beginning of my path as a Sleep Consultant, One of only 2 sleep consultants in Australia at the time, and it has been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling endeavour ever since.
Since establishing Lullababy SOS in 2007, I have seen how the parenting landscape has changed, and it has changed a lot, some for the better and some not so much. Parents now have access to more information and resources about Early Childhood Development than ever before, but sadly they seem to be more confused and doubt themselves more than ever. Babies, unfortunately, don’t come with a manual, and parents are searching the internet for that little nugget that will finally help them.
While this wealth of knowledge can be helpful, it can also lead to confusion, self-doubt, and an overwhelming sense of pressure to have all the answers. I want you to know that you are not alone in this journey. Parenting is a journey, and each day what you learn can change your perspective, build your confidence, or erode it away. Parenting is a learning process, you’re not supposed to know everything right away, and it’s natural to encounter challenges along the way. But with the right guidance, support, and belief in your own abilities, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way.
I want you to know that my approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and the belief that every mother and child is unique. I don’t rely on traditional settling methods, but have a truly unique supportive and gentle foundation block that I work around. I also understand that every child and every family have different needs. I take the time to comprehend your individual journey truly. By combining this personalized approach with a deep understanding of the science behind sleep, development, and routine, I aim to empower you with a truly supportive program and the knowledge and confidence to help your little one thrive, sleep peacefully, and grow with love.
I am here to show you that you CAN teach your child to sleep better without traditional sleep training. You CAN teach them how to self-settle with a consistent routine around feeding, sleep and nap times. I am here to be your ally, to provide you with the support and reassurance you need as you navigate the early years of parenting.
I am grateful to every mother I have had the privilege of working with, as you have entrusted me with your emotional well-being, your precious little ones, and your journey through motherhood. It is my sincere hope that together, we can create a space of empowerment, growth, and confidence as you discover your child’s ability to sleep better and thrive on a routine and your own parenting power.
If you would like to have a chat and know more about how I can support you, book a free introductory call today HERE
YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
• The evening that I saw a mother and father look at each other and cry because their 14-month-old daughter who wouldn’t go to anyone else or interact with anyone else but them and her big sister was sitting on my lap after retrieving her pyjamas from her mum and wanting me to get her dressed after her bath after only meeting me ½ an hour ago.
PARENTS TRUST
• Spending three days with the client in Canberra who I had never spoken to prior to the consultation because she couldn’t get out from under her baby enough to talk to me, so everything was arranged via text message, this first settle with her son was the hardest one for me but he turned a huge corner in less than 24 hours and his mum was finally able to eat a full meal and have a shower. This difference that this consultation made to this family will always stay with me.
MY OWN BATTLES
• During my first round of IVF, I had to excuse myself and pretend to go to the bathroom to give myself a trigger injection. I already had the client booked in at the time, so when I was told what time I needed to take the trigger I didn’t want to cancel on the client, so I just went ahead, the same thing happened when I get the first call to say my round was unsuccessful. These nights were the hardest night I ever had to get through and I made sure to plan my downtime better in future.
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS BE YOUR BEST BUT YOU NEED TO TRY
• When it doesn’t work- because sometimes it doesn’t and these times hit me hardest and make me doubt myself. But I have to accept that we can’t always be at our best and I and my methods or recommendation will never be right for everyone.
Final note:
Keep doing you and be kind to yourself.
Life is too fucking hard to be hard on yourself.
If it’s not a problem, it’s not a problem REPEAT THAT …..
Being a new parent is like being a teenager. You think everyone else is looking at you and judging you, but the reality is everyone else is just trying to keep their shit together too.
Really; they’re not judging you they’re too busy judging themselves and trying to get on with it themselves to care about what you’re doing that glance is nothing more than just that a glance that is never given a second thought. That look another mum gives you that you may think is judgment is more likely to be a look of understanding or empathy. So just be you and do your own thing xx
