In this final episode of 2025, join me, Kerry Davies, The Sleep Fixer, sleep coach and CBT-I therapist as I wrap up an incredible year of Sleep Stories.

This episode is a heartfelt thank you to every single listener who has tuned in, taken comfort from the stories, and used them to better understand their own sleep. Throughout 2025 we've explored real experiences, science-backed strategies, and the soul behind sleep, the things that light you up, soothe you, and help your nervous system feel safe enough to rest.

As we head into the new year, I’ll be back with Series 2: more sleep science, more real-life stories, more simple strategies, and even more soul. Because sleep becomes easier when you feel good and building a positive sleep identity is the foundation of it all.

If you're struggling with sleep or curious about how to improve yours, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. You can find me on Instagram @thesleepfixer or on LinkedIn as Kerry Davies, The Sleep Fixer.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, a restful end to the year, and a bright, calm start to 2026.
See you in the new series. 💙✨

In this gentle, reassuring episode, I share Fern’s story, a bright, spirited three-year-old who had been co-sleeping and waking multiple times a night for a very long time.

Before we dive into her journey, I remind you of something incredibly important:

✨ There is no right or wrong way to sleep as a family.
✨ Co-sleeping is absolutely okay when it’s safe and intentional.
✨ Change should only ever happen when you feel ready.

Fern’s parents reached that point , they wanted her to build confidence, sleep independently, and finally experience good-quality rest. So together, we used a beautifully gentle, connection-first approach:

💙 Camping out in her bedroom
💙 Predictable routines
💙 Reassurance, not pressure
💙 Loving sleep phrases
💙 Gradual retreat
💙 Morning celebrations and confidence-building
💙 A sleep-training clock for early wake-ups
💙 No distress-based methods
💙 No rushing — just steady, supported progress

Over weeks and months, Fern blossomed.
Her confidence grew.
Her nights lengthened.
And she began falling asleep independently in her room — proud, calm, settled.

This is a story for every family choosing the gentle route, and every parent who needs the reminder:

You're not doing it wrong.
You can co-sleep if you want to.
You can change things when you're ready.
And sleep improves most when it feels safe.

If this resonates, please share it with a friend.
And if you need support with your own little one, drop me a message — I’m here.

In this episode of Sleep Stories, Kerry Davies — Sleep Coach, CBT-I Therapist, and founder of The Sleep Fixer — shares the real-life story of “Eddie,” a man in his 40s whose tiredness, snoring, and daytime sleepiness revealed something far more serious than simply “being tired.”

Even though Eddie slept 7–8 hours a night and didn’t look like the “typical” sleep apnoea case, his unrefreshing sleep, micro-naps, and brain fog were major red flags.

Kerry walks you through:
• Why sleep quality can matter more than total sleep time
• The misunderstood signs of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
• The dangerous daytime symptoms people ignore
• How screening tools like STOP-Bang and Epworth Sleepiness Scale work
• How Eddie’s diagnosis and CPAP treatment transformed his life
• Practical behavioural strategies you can use today to reduce daytime sleepiness and micro-sleeps while you seek support

If you or someone you know snores loudly, feels unrefreshed despite “good” sleep hours, or struggles to stay awake in the day — this episode could make a life-changing difference.

STOP BANG

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3992/stop-bang-score-obstructive-sleep-apnea

EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE

https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-osa/epworth-sleepiness-scale

n this episode of The Sleep Fixer Podcast, Kerry Davies, sleep coach, CBT-I therapist, and founder of The Sleep Fixer explores one of the most frustrating sleep struggles: waking up in the night and not being able to fall back asleep.

Through Denise’s story, a woman in her 30s with ADHD who feels “alert but exhausted,” Kerry explains how neurodivergent brains can struggle to switch off , and what actually helps.

You’ll learn:
🌙 Why ADHD brains often stay “on” long after bedtime
🔬 How cortisol and melatonin timing affect sleep cycles
🎧 Why constant background sound can calm sensory sensitivities
🕯 Practical steps to rebuild sleep confidence : from structured wind-downs to middle-of-the-night resets
☀️ How morning light exposure helps regulate the circadian rhythm

Denise’s story is a reminder that poor sleep isn’t about willpower, it’s about understanding how your brain and body work together. With structure, sensory stability, and self-compassion, better sleep is always possible.

✨ Key takeaway: Sleep isn’t forced. It’s invited.

Resources & Links:
🔗 Free 7-Day Sleep Reset:

https://www.thesleepfixer.com/7daysleepreset
💌 Join the Sleep Fixer community for more strategies, workshops, and tools.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesleepfixcommunity

In this episode, Kerry Davies ,The Sleep Fixer , shares the story of Colin, a high-performing C-suite professional whose racing mind kept him awake into the early hours. Despite his success, Colin’s inability to switch off at night was taking a toll on his energy, focus, and wellbeing.

Through sleep coaching, Colin learned how small, intentional changes in his day could make a profound difference at night. Kerry explores the connection between stress, routine, and rest, and how integrating mindfulness and relaxation into the day can transform sleep quality.

This episode is a reminder that great sleep doesn’t start at bedtime , it starts with how you live your day.

If you’d like to experience these shifts for yourself, Kerry’s free 7-Day Sleep Reset is the perfect place to begin. It’s simple, science-backed, and designed to help you reset your sleep gently — one day at a time.
👉 Start your reset today at https://www.thesleepfixer.com/7daysleepreset

🌙 Key Takeaways:

• Colin struggled to switch off his brain at night.

• High stress levels can severely impact sleep quality.

• Small wins in daily routines can lead to better sleep.

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are crucial for rest.

• Sleep issues often stem from daytime stress and habits.

• Creating intentional evening routines can support deeper sleep.

• Writing down thoughts can help clear the mind before bed.

• Colin learned to enjoy his evenings again.

• Sleep is not just about hours in bed, it’s about the whole day.

• Rest is essential for both personal and professional wellbeing.

In this week’s Sleep Stories with The Sleep Fixer, Kerry Davies shares the story of “Bertie” a six-year-old with autism whose bedtime had become a nightly battle lasting up to three hours.

Bertie’s story is one that many families will recognise, the sensory overload, the iPad attachment, the emotional distress, and exhausted parents desperately trying everything.

Kerry gently unpacks what was really happening beneath the surface, and how small, thoughtful changes helped transform Bertie’s nights (and his family’s evenings) from chaos to calm.

You’ll hear how understanding sensory needs, reducing stressors, and respecting a child’s natural sleep rhythm can make all the difference and how “sleep” should never be a fight, but something that happens when the environment feels safe.

✨ Perfect for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting children with autism and sensory sensitivities.

💡 The Challenge:

• 6-year-old Bertie, with autism and sensory processing differences

• Took up to 3 hours to fall asleep each night

• Bedtime was stressful for the whole family; emotional outbursts, sensory overload, and confusion around what “should” work

🧠 The Insight:

• Bertie’s body clock didn’t match his 7:30 bedtime

• Sensory stressors (bath, teeth brushing, transitions) heightened anxiety

• Inconsistent strategies created uncertainty and stress for everyone

• Parents’ stress levels fed into the bedtime resistance cycle

🌙 The Fix:

• Adjusted bedtime from 7:30 → 9:30 PM to match Bertie’s natural rhythm

• Separated stressful activities (like bath/teeth) from bedtime routine

• Introduced calming transitions — threading activity + gentle music

• Used sensory strategies like tucking the quilt across his body

• Added a visual “Now & Next” schedule to support predictability

• Parents gained peaceful evenings and Bertie began sleeping calmly through the night

💬 Kerry’s Message:

“Remove the stressors away from bedtime. Just because someone says a child should have a bath before bed doesn’t mean it’s right for your child. Follow what feels easier, calmer, and more natural for them.”

🔗 Mentioned Resources:

• Free printable sleep diary: www.thesleepfixer.com/resources

• 7-Day Sleep Reset: www.thesleepfixer.com/7dayreset

In this week’s episode, Kerry shares a real-life story from her one-to-one coaching work, the story of Annie, a busy professional and mum who found herself lying awake night after night, chasing sleep that just wouldn’t come.

Through gentle, practical shifts, from fixing a consistent wake-up time, creating space for rest, and reframing those 3 a.m. wake-ups. Annie began to rediscover the ease of natural sleep.

Kerry talks about why sleep should happen to you rather than be something you do, and how a few simple, compassionate changes can make all the difference.

If you’ve ever struggled to fall asleep or stay asleep, or felt stuck in a cycle of “trying too hard,” this story will remind you that effortless sleep is possible, for all of us.

🕯️ Simplifying sleep so that everybody can sleep, and sleep well.

https://www.thesleepfixer.com

Welcome back to Sleep Stories with Kerry Davies, your weekly dose of calm, science, and practical wisdom for better sleep.

In this episode, Kerry gently unpacks the physiology of sleep — what’s really happening inside your body and brain when you drift off each night. By simplifying the science, she helps you understand why certain habits make such a difference.

🌙 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the circadian rhythm is and how it acts as your internal body clock

• Why a consistent wake-up time is more powerful than trying to force an early bedtime

• How morning daylight and evening dim light send powerful sleep signals to your brain

• The truth about sleep pressure (your body’s natural sleep drive) and how to build it through the day

• Common habits that can lower your sleep pressure — and how to avoid them

• Why structure, routine, and gentle self-awareness are the keys to effortless, restorative sleep

💡 Kerry’s takeaway:
You don’t need to overhaul your life to sleep better — just start with one small change: set a consistent wake-up time and let your body’s natural systems do the rest.

✨ Tune in next week for Episode 3, where Kerry will begin sharing real-life sleep stories and the gentle transformations that follow understanding your own sleep story.

Hello and welcome to Sleep Stories with me, Kerry Davies, also known as The Sleep Fixer. I’ve spent nearly 15 years helping thousands of people understand and improve their sleep, in this first episode, I’ll share what this podcast is all about.

Each week, I’ll bring you real stories (always anonymised), gentle science, and simple strategies to help you sleep better minus the overwhelm.

Together, we’ll explore what truly helps, what might be holding you back, and how small, science-based shifts can make sleep, and life, feel easier.

Real moments. Simple science. Better sleep.

www.thesleepfixer.com