Lauren never imagined that her toddler's sleep would make her question the career she had worked so hard to build.
For two years, her daughter would only fall asleep while holding Lauren's hair. Work trips became impossible. Bedtime could take hours. Every night was filled with screaming, exhaustion and the constant fear that something was medically wrong.
She saw GPs, paediatricians and sleep specialists. They ruled out everything they could think of.
Nothing explained why her daughter wouldn't sleep.
As the sleep deprivation dragged on, Lauren began questioning whether she could keep the job she loved. She wondered if becoming a mum meant giving up the career she had fought so hard to build.
The turning point wasn't finding a miracle solution.
It was finding an approach that worked for her family, her child and their reality.
This episode isn't about creating the perfect sleeper.
It's about the invisible cost of chronic sleep deprivation, the impossible expectations placed on working mums, and the guilt of feeling like you're failing at both work and motherhood.
We talk about toddler sleep, sleep deprivation, toddler sleep problems, working motherhood, parental preference, sleep associations, identity, marriage, medical investigations and why getting more sleep can give you far more than better nights.
If you've ever wondered whether your toddler will ever sleep, or whether you're the only parent quietly falling apart while trying to hold everything together, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone.
To see more of Lauren, follow @awakeat3am.podcast and @sophiassleepschool for more stories, support and sleep tips.
