Introducing The Newborn Essentials Guide
Let’s be real. Bringing a new baby into the world is equal parts magical and completely disorienting. One minute you’re staring in awe at this tiny person you somehow created, and the next you’re wondering how something so small can need so much, around the clock, no less. It’s beautiful. It’s exhausting. And no matter how many antenatal classes you took or Instagram accounts you followed, nothing quite prepares you for the rawness of the fourth trimester.
I created The Newborn Essentials Guide because I remember. I remember the cracked nipples, the 3am Google rabbit holes, the questions no one warned me I’d be asking, like, Is this much crying normal? or Should naps be this short? or Is it okay if I don’t feel okay today? And I also remember, as a newborn care specialist and sleep consultant, how differently things unfolded for the families I supported when they had compassionate, evidence-based guidance in their corner.
So, what is the Newborn Essentials Guide?
It’s not another rigid sleep manual or overwhelming baby book. This guide is a warm, practical, and judgement-free roadmap for the early days of life with a newborn, crafted with the care of a professional and the heart of a mum.
Inside, you’ll find:
Clear, flexible sleep rhythms from birth to 12 weeks
Tips on understanding baby sleep (without expecting miracles in week two)
Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and mixed feeding support — minus the shame
How to settle a newborn without losing yourself
What’s biologically normal, and what’s often misunderstood
How to establish healthy sleep hygiene so that sleep can be more manageable
Real-life strategies to support yourself and gentle reminders that you’re not alone
Whether you’re expecting your first baby, already deep in the trenches, or supporting a partner through the newborn phase, this guide was made to meet you where you are.
Why I Wrote This (And Why It Matters)
In my work across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and online with families all over Australia, I’ve seen firsthand how disconnected new parents often feel in the early weeks, from their baby, from their bodies, from their sense of self. We live in a culture that glorifies bouncing back and pushing through, but rarely teaches us how to soften in.
The truth is, what new parents need most isn't a perfect routine or magic product. They need permission to slow down, to feel what they feel, and to ask for help.
This guide is my way of giving that help in a way that’s accessible, gentle, and grounded in both science and lived experience. It won’t tell you how to “fix” your baby. It will remind you that you’re not broken and neither is your baby.
Who’s it for?
If any of these sound like you, this guide was made with love for you:
You’re an exhausted first-time parent wondering if what you’re doing is enough
You’re already a parent, but this baby is completely different
You’re preparing for birth and want a realistic, kind guide to what’s coming
You’re a partner wanting to be more supportive and informed
You’re in Australia and looking for evidence-based newborn advice that aligns with gentle sleep support and the realities of parenthood
Whether you're in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, or nestled in a rural town, this downloadable guide gives you access to the kind of knowledge that should be handed out in the hospital with the nappy bag.
Where to find it
The Newborn Essentials Guide is available now as an instant download on my website:
👉 Get the Guide Here
It’s affordable, practical, and packed with over 20 years of wisdom and heart. Read it in bed, in the nursery, or during a contact nap with cold coffee. It’s there to hold you, however the day (or night) unfolds.
From my heart to yours
No matter what kind of birth you had, how you’re feeding, or where you live, your story matters. Your wellbeing matters. And if no one else has said it to you today: you are doing better than you think.
This guide won’t solve everything, but it might just be the reassuring voice you need in your 2am moment of doubt.
With love,
Sarah x
Founder | The Sleep Sanctuary
Brisbane Newborn Sleep Consultant & Postpartum Support Specialist