When Sleep

Gets Complicated

"She lies in bed for an hour, mind racing, and can't fall asleep."

"He still needs me in the room—I don't know if it's habit or something more."

"She's been calling herself a bad sleeper since second grade. She's convinced she just can't sleep."

"His ADHD symptoms are so much worse when he hasn't slept well. But the ADHD also makes it harder to sleep. We're stuck."

If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone. Sleep challenges at this age look very different from baby sleep struggles—and they require a completely different approach.

Big kids are old enough to be in their own heads about sleep. They've developed stories about themselves as sleepers, picked up anxiety around bedtime, or gotten stuck in habits that no longer serve them. And when you layer in ADHD, anxiety, or other neurodivergent profiles, sleep can feel like an impossible puzzle.

You haven't failed them. And they haven't failed either. Sleep is a skill—and skills can be rebuilt.

Big Kids!

Age 6-12

What You Actually Need to Know About Big Kid Sleep

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What You Actually Need to Know About Big Kid Sleep ~

Children ages 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep per night. When they're not getting it, everything suffers—focus, mood, behavior, learning, immune function, emotional regulation. Chronically sleep-deprived kids can look a lot like kids with attention or behavioral challenges.

Here's something important: sleep deprivation can mimic ADHD symptoms—difficulty focusing, impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation. And for children who do have ADHD, poor sleep significantly worsens those symptoms, which then makes sleep harder. It's a bidirectional relationship that's worth understanding.

(A note on scope: I'm a sleep educator, not a diagnostician. If you have concerns about ADHD or other conditions, your child's care team is the right resource—but sleep is always worth examining alongside any evaluation, and I'm happy to work collaboratively with your child's providers.)

One of the most significant things I see at this age is children internalizing a negative sleep identity. "I'm just a bad sleeper." "I can never fall asleep." "Sleep is hard for me." Our beliefs construct our reality—and a child who believes they can't sleep will struggle to sleep, regardless of what else we put in place.

This is why the mindset piece matters as much as the practical strategies.

How I Work with Families of Big Kids

I meet you where you are—zero judgment, zero pressure to follow rigid schedules that don't match newborn biology.

The goal in these early months isn't to "fix" your baby's sleep (nothing is broken).

The goal instead is to:

  • Build Realistic Expectations

    Understanding what's developmentally normal takes so much pressure off. When you know your baby isn't "supposed" to sleep through the night yet, you can stop blaming yourself.

  • Establish Gentle Rhythms

    We can't force a schedule, but we can create a flow to your days that supports your family and your baby’s development.

  • Create a foundation for healthy sleep habits.

    The choices you make now set the stage for smoother sleep as your baby develops. We focus on what matters: safe sleep, establishing a daily rhythm, connection, and protecting your own rest.

  • Support You

    Newborn sleep coaching is as much about the parents as it is about the baby. We address your stress, your recovery, your nervous system regulation, and how to get the support you need to survive this phase.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Watching your child struggle with sleep—night after night, year after year—is exhausting and heartbreaking.

Especially when they're old enough to feel the weight of it themselves.

Give yourself some grace. You've been doing your best with the information you had.

The good news? Sleep is remarkably responsive to the right approach. Children's brains are still developing and incredibly adaptable. With the right strategies, the right support, and a little time, things can genuinely change.

Every child deserves stellar sleep. Including yours.

Ready to talk? Schedule a free 15-minute intro call to see if we're the right fit.

What You Get When You Work with Little Dipper

Your North Star Solution comes with:

  • A 45-minute Sleep Strategy Session where we dig into what's really going on and map out a plan

  • A custom Stellar Sleep Guide: a comprehensive, personalized plan built specifically for your child's age, temperament, and your family's values

  • 60 days of Expert Support, including weekly office hours and email support, because questions always come up as we go

  • Follow-up handouts, checklists, and resources to keep you on track

  • Peace of mind knowing you have a clear path forward and expert support every step of the way

Not quite ready? 

Download my freebies!

Click below to download free PDF guides that will help you on your path to stellar sleep.

Because every human deserves stellar sleep

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Because every human deserves stellar sleep 〰️