For most of us, a bad night’s sleep means a tired morning, an extra coffee and perhaps being a little less pleasant to be around.
For some families, though, sleep deprivation can become a daily reality — and that’s where Ely-based Jodie Fielder is making a real difference.
Jodie is the owner of Behavioural Sleep Solutions, where she helps children with autism develop better sleep habits, using a highly personalised and skills-based approach.
And, perhaps surprisingly, this wasn’t a career she originally set out to pursue.
An unexpected career path
After graduating from university with a degree in English Literature, Jodie applied for a job at a special school.
She was placed in a class for children with autism, working within an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) setting.
“I had no idea what it was going to be,” she explains. But within two weeks, she knew she had found something she loved.
That first role became the starting point for what is now around 15 years of experience working with autistic and neurodivergent children. Jodie went on to study further, completing postgraduate training and eventually a Master’s degree in order to become a behaviour analyst.
It was a journey that involved plenty of hard work — including completing her two-year Master’s course in just one year while also being a new mum.
Why sleep?
As Jodie continued working with children and families, she began noticing just how common sleep difficulties were.
She found that many of the children she worked with struggled to sleep, while their parents were often experiencing the knock-on effects of prolonged sleep deprivation too.
Jodie became increasingly interested in whether her behavioural expertise could be used to help families tackle those problems.
The answer was yes.
She realised that sleep was an area where relatively small changes could potentially have a huge impact on a family’s day-to-day life.
That eventually led to the creation of Behavioural Sleep Solutions.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution
One of the biggest themes running through our conversation was the importance of looking at the individual child rather than simply following generic sleep advice.
For Jodie, the starting point is understanding why a child isn’t sleeping.
Her assessment considers medical factors, the child’s environment, their sleep patterns, their daily routine and what they need in order to fall asleep.
Parents are also asked to keep a sleep diary, helping Jodie identify patterns around things such as naps, bedtime and total sleep across a 24-hour period.
And sometimes the answer can be something surprisingly simple.
For example, Jodie explained how a child who prefers a particular texture might actually sleep better if their bedding reflects those preferences.
It isn’t about following a checklist of generic sleep tips. It’s about understanding the child.
That principle becomes even more important when working with children who have limited communication skills. Jodie looks closely at behaviour as a form of communication and works with parents to understand what a child’s behaviour might be telling them.
“It’s part of autism” — or is it?
One of the biggest misconceptions Jodie encounters is the idea that poor sleep is simply something families have to accept if their child is autistic.
While sleep difficulties can be more common, Jodie is keen to emphasise that there is hope.
Progress may sometimes take longer, and some children may need to develop other skills before changes to bedtime can work effectively, but better sleep is achievable for many families.
And importantly, Jodie doesn’t believe parents who are struggling simply haven’t tried hard enough.
“I’m sure you have tried everything,” is essentially her message.
Sometimes families simply haven’t found the right approach yet — or may have tried something that was right for their child, but not for long enough to see the results.
A kinder approach to sleep
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was Jodie’s approach to sleep training.
She doesn’t use the “cry it out” method. Instead, her focus is on teaching children the skills they need to feel safe and comfortable in their own sleep environment.
One example is something she calls “I’ll be right back.”
Rather than suddenly removing a parent’s presence at bedtime, the skill can be practised during the day — perhaps leaving the room for just a couple of seconds before returning.
Over time, that trust can be gradually built.
At bedtime, the aim is then to slowly reduce the level of parental support without leaving the child distressed.
It is a gradual, responsive process rather than a sudden change. And, as Jodie puts it, there are lots of small skills that can be taught during the day which can make a big difference at night.
Building the business
Interestingly, Jodie has found that building Behavioural Sleep Solutions has been about much more than simply helping families.
She describes herself as a creative problem-solver and has really enjoyed creating resources, infographics and content for parents.
She’s also discovered the less glamorous side of running a business — including social media, accounting and trying to fit everything around family life and another job.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises has been the people she’s met along the way.
When she started the business, she imagined she’d simply be working from home helping families with sleep. Instead, networking and meeting other business owners have become a really enjoyable part of the journey.
And that confidence has grown with the business. Jodie says she started Behavioural Sleep Solutions in January and wouldn’t have imagined herself doing something like the Made In Ely podcast a year ago.
What’s next for Behavioural Sleep Solutions?
Jodie is now looking at ways to make her support more accessible to families.
Alongside one-to-one packages, which can involve up to six weeks of support, she is developing a membership community designed to provide longer-term and more affordable help.
The planned membership will include videos teaching parents how to assess their child’s sleep and develop the relevant skills, alongside guest experts such as occupational therapists and nutritionists.
The aim is to create a supportive community where families can learn together, share experiences and, ultimately, get better sleep.
And perhaps the best summary of Jodie’s approach came during our quick-fire questions, when we asked her to finish the sentence:
“A good night’s sleep changes everything because…”
Her answer?
“…you’re not so moody the next day.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
Find Jodie
Jodie shares free sleep advice and resources through Behavioural Sleep Solutions, including a sleep diary and information around sleep needs and waking windows.
She also offers a free 15-minute call for families considering working with her. Her services are available online across the UK, with home visits possible for families local to Ely.
You can find Behavioural Sleep Solutions at behavioralsleepsolutions.co.uk, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.
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