Passionate about helping parents through the ups and downs of infant and child sleep, best friends Georgette Redding and Maria Fraser created Little Hush, to help babies get the sleep they need and parents get the rest they deserve. Both mums themselves, they have experienced first-hand the challenges of sleepless nights, and want to reassure other parents that a better night’s sleep is possible. Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultants/Coaches, they work with newborns through to 5-year-olds to help tackle sleep challenges, creating a personalised plan and offering daily check ins and follow ups to provide the best support to parents. Here they talk to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Little Hush, the challenges they have overcome, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
MARIA: I grew up as the eldest of six children, so babies have always been a part of my life! I found as I had my own children, that my exposure to the norm of babies, and my practical approach (and the support from my mum) made it easier for me to implement good habits and prioritise sleep for everyone. This led to me accidentally becoming the sleep-go-to for family and friends – I loved being able to help!
GEORGETTE: When my now 3-year-old hit the 4-month sleep regression, I was lucky enough to have the expertise of Maria to help us improve his sleep and feel like a functioning person again! After this, I knew that helping parents to get the best sleep they could for their little ones was something that I was really passionate about. My background is in teaching and I have always loved being able to help and guide people, so this felt like the perfect fit for me.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
MARIA: I started out by formalising my sleep coaching training via babysleepconsultant who offer a 6-month course, which I completed in 2016 whilst pregnant with my second. At the time, I also answered an ad for a sleep coach for the Sleep Store and completed a Happiest Baby course through them and began working as a Sleep Coach on their Facebook Sleep Support Groups.
GEORGETTE: I started sleep consulting after completing my training through babysleepconsultant. Through this programme, you work with a whole range of volunteer clients of different ages under the guidance of an experienced sleep consultant as your mentor, as well as completing assignments based on theory. Once I finished my training, I was fortunate to quickly get my first client and I have loved working with different families ever since.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
MARIA: When starting out, I primarily offered my services via the Sleep Store and their Facebook support groups, giving free advice across multiple groups/in a group setting. At this time, I took on very minimal 1:1 client work due to a demanding corporate schedule and having young children at home. I am still a Sleep Coach for the Sleep Store, and in 2022 my best friend Georgette and I decided to team up and relaunch Little Hush with a website and 1-1 client offering, with both virtual and in-home consults available.
GEORGETTE: When Maria and I joined forces to set up Little Hush and we set our minds to growing our business and helping as many families as we could, this was when sleep consulting became a viable career option for me. I am lucky enough to be at home with my boys and so together, Maria and I have been able to put lots of time, effort and passion into growing Little Hush. We also came to realise that on top of working well together after being friends for a long time, we also have some great complementary skills for business!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
MARIA: It is a juggle, that is for sure! I also work full time in corporate, so try to schedule my weeks properly and ensure I only take on clients I can give my full attention to and not spread myself too thin. Georgette and I try to share the load as well and I am so grateful to be able to work with her. It’s so much fun and we always look out for and support each other with our families as well as our work together.
GEORGETTE: Balancing family and work will always be a challenge, but this is one of our primary goals in helping families to manage this. Maria and I work very collaboratively bouncing ideas off one another and ensure we are sharing the load so that each of us has time for our family. I couldn’t ask for a better business partner who is always there to support and help in any way she can – whether with my clients or with my boys! I am also lucky to have a wonderfully supportive husband who is just as passionate about seeing Little Hush thrive as we are.
