The Little Winks story
In 2018 Little Winks Sleep was established after Anna McMillan, now a Certified Sleep Coach, stepped into motherhood knowing that sleep was crucial. After her experience caring for a little boy in the foster care system, she saw how crucial sleep is for development. Knowing this, when her little baby arrived and did NOT sleep, it became a priority.
After being told to leave her baby to cry until she slept, it didn’t sit right with Anna and she dove deep into the research looking for the body and behavior science behind sleep. From this, Anna then became certified, and opened Little Winks Sleep to help all families have healthy sleep where they don’t need to leave their baby to cry.
Discovering that not only can you work with the body chemistry of a baby, you can also teach behaviours, communication and understanding - it became Anna’s #1 priority to do this in a gentle, safe & baby-centric way, where all members of the family can thrive.
As she continued to help more families, she added slowly and intentionally to her team of coaches, all using the same philosophy to teach babies and toddlers to sleep. As things grew, the team encountered so many babies and successfully taught them to sleep, however, Anna saw the need for change.
When the pandemic hit world wide, we saw a shift in baby’s communication, ability to stay awake or sleep as well as parent coping skills. Encountering one baby in particular changed the Little Winks Sleep Philosophy in a profound way which allowed it to become more baby-centric.
Seeing the need to further incorporate strategies of communication, behaviour and understanding into the relationship, Anna and her team developed their custom approach of Foundations. This is where Little Winks is profoundly different, working with the Stoplight Approach to partner with teaching sleep. This unique approach has decreased crying by over 50%, decreased postpartum mental health struggles with sleep, and allowed a more gentle, smooth transition to independent sleep. Say goodbye to endless bedtimes and tears, and hello to healthy, happy nights and naps!
Since then, Anna’s team has grown to include coaches who meet the needs of 1:1 clients, as well as online DIY courses with incredible support, after seeing a need for a more budget conscious and self lead approach for families. Little Winks Sleep now has 5 online courses, Sleep Sleep Baby, Nurturing Newborn Sleep, Navigating Naps, Learning Your Littles and Taking On Toddler Sleep.
The heart of Little Winks Sleep is to boost connection between baby/child and parent and allow baby to feel confident, calm and secure in their sleep. Since opening, Little Winks Sleep has helped over 1500 families to do just that!
The Little Winks Sleep TEAM
Anna McMillan
It’s been said that you’ll never know what true exhaustion feels like until you become a new parent. When my first daughter was born, I learned this truth very quickly!
Figuring out how to get my baby to sleep so that I could also sleep became my #1 priority. Through the process of teaching my wee girl to sleep and talking with other parents, I realized that my family weren’t the only ones up at night.
In October 2018 I completed my certification and became a Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach and started Little Winks Sleep.
For parents who prefer a self-guided approach, I created the Sleep Sleep Baby and Nurturing Newborn Sleep courses.
I am so thankful to wake up each day well rested, and knowing that we have helped over 1500 other families do the same!
Samantha Paet-Bullaoit
As a leader, I am proud to work alongside Sam. She is a true asset, offering an abundance of knowledge and always willing to share her expertise to ensure the success of both her team and her clients. Sam brings a down to earth, practical approach to every situation, always grounding her work in the perspective of the child. Her generosity and dedication inspire those around her to grow and succeed.
Chantel Watts
Coach Chantel is both a Certified Sleep Coach and an Occupational Therapist with a Masters Degree and 7 years of clinical experience working with families. Chantel brings a unique combination of professional expertise, practical strategies and compassionate care.
She believes every child and family is unique and deserves support tailored to their specific needs. Through personalized guidance and a supportive, judgement free approach, Chantel helps families build sustainable sleep habits and gain confidence in their parenting journey.
Chantel’s services are also eligible for coverage under some Extended Benefits plans through select health care providers in BC and Alberta.
Janet Lewis
How do you describe someone who is like the glue that holds everything together? That’s our Janet! A mom of 3, grandma to 3, wife and the Administrator of LWS.
She’s the beautiful face you talk to on the app when trying to find something, she’s got all the lists going in all the places to make sure parents are getting everything they need for success!
