Healthy Sleep Dependencies for Sustainable Sleep
Sleep is a crucial foundation for every child’s development — but for many families, especially those with neurodivergent children, it often feels more like a dream than a reality. Studies suggest that up to 50–80% of autistic children experience sleep difficulties, and even in neurotypical children, around 30% struggle with falling or staying asleep.
One common contributor to ongoing sleep disruption is sleep dependencies — the things children rely on to fall asleep and stay asleep.
A sleep dependency isn’t always a problem. In fact, we all have them — from a certain pillow to white noise or a favourite bedtime routine. The challenge comes when a child’s sleep dependency is something they can’t replicate independently during the night. For example, if your child needs a parent to lie next to them in order to fall asleep, chances are they’ll need you there again when they wake at 2am. That’s exhausting for everyone.
At EBL Consultancy, we work with families to build healthy, sustainable sleep dependencies — ones that help your child feel safe and settled, without needing you to intervene every time they wake. Our approach is gentle, structured, and tailored to your child’s unique needs. We never use “cry it out” methods, and we understand the importance of working at a pace that feels right for both you and your child.
One key part of our method is looking at what helps your child feel regulated — not just at bedtime, but throughout the day. We support you in creating a consistent, supportive routine and help introduce small, achievable changes that build towards independent sleep. Whether your child is waking multiple times each night, taking hours to fall asleep, or unable to sleep without you there — we’re here to guide you through it.
We offer three levels of support to meet you where you’re at:
Parent Coaching (£75): A 30–45 minute online session where you’ll leave with a practical 3-step action plan you can start using right away.
EBL Sleep Start Package (£250): This includes a 1-hour assessment, a personalised written sleep plan, a 30-minute feedback meeting, and a follow-up email check-in.
EBL Sleep Support Package (£450): Everything in the sleep start package, plus three 30-minute review sessions and WhatsApp support for 6 weeks. Ideal for families needing more hands-on guidance through the process.
We believe in empowering parents to feel confident and capable — because no one knows your child better than you. Our role is to guide, support and troubleshoot with you, so that your family can finally get the rest you deserve.
Ready to take the next step toward better sleep?
Book a free consultation to find out which option is right for your family.