Alison Scott-Wright is the UK’s leading baby, toddler and child sleep expert who also specialises in the management of ‘colic,’ acid reflux, feeding difficulties, dietary related intolerances and food allergies.
Her work is endorsed by some of the top paediatric gastroenterologists and through invitation attends exclusive ESPGHAN Paediatric Gastroenterology conferences.
Alison is the author of two bestselling books; The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan – published in 2010, updated in 2021. With it’s recent sequel; The Sensational Toddler Sleep Plan published in 2021.
For over 25 years she has worked hands-on with families, sharing her knowledge and expertise and most importantly bringing sleep to thousands of homes. Nearly 20 years ago, one client named her The Magic Sleep Fairy and the name stuck – in fact it is now the trademarked name of her ever-expanding consultancy business.
Alison continues to provide practical help, invaluable advice and much needed support to parents around the world through online consultations.
She is a mother, and a grandmother – known by her grandchildren as ‘Mops’ – and she shares her time between her homes on the south coast in Dorset and in Turkey.
Anyone with a reflux baby who doesn’t sleep knows that life can be a living nightmare and a far cry from the idyll of what we dream life will be like with our baby. It can be a terrifying time, especially if you’re a first time parent.
I don’t know what I would have done without Alison. She’s IS magic. More…
Holly Willoughby
★★★★★
In her fabulous book, Holly refers to much of the advice she gained from Alison and mentions some of the great tips she picked up and put into practise when – back in the day, she needed a little extra help withmanaging Chester’s reflux and sleep.More…
Millie Macintosh
★★★★★
It is no exaggeration to say that The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan was an absolute game changer for me and for my daughter. It was a helping hand when we needed it most, a wise voice that rose above the noise, and a guide that offered me some semblance of control when everything felt overwhelming. More…
Clare Byam-Cook
★★★★★
I have known Alison professionally for many years and I am not surprised that grateful clients view her as The Magic Sleep Fairy. Whenever I refer mothers to Alison, they sing her praises and I have witnessed first-hand her ability to feed and settle a baby with complex issues such as gastro-oesophageal reflux.More…
Dr Eltumi
★★★★★
I have known Alison for over 18 years both professionally & personally and in 2009 I was very happy to write the foreword for her brilliant book The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan. Not only does her book help parents resolve sleep issues with their babies but the last… More…
Jonathan Trott
★★★★★
When Alison arrived we were a family in complete distress. Lexi was 6 weeks old cried most of the day & night and was a very unhappy baby who even frowned when she was sleeping. Everyone in the family was baffled as to why she wouldn’t settle and was so restless. More…
Nadejda Savcova and Vladimir
★★★★★
Thank you for everything u have done for us !!!I was so greatful that my dear friend e-introduced us – even though we live on the different sides of the world, you were always able to find a moment to give me precious advice.More…
Nathalie Harrison
★★★★★
My baby never liked to sleep. From the word go she was not a big kipper. But, she’s a baby! What did I expect!At around the 6 month mark we realised not only had she never slept through but not even close, and our status quo was… More…
Samantha
★★★★★
I just wanted to say how glad I am that I bought your book when I was pregnant and after hearing you on the at @madebymamas podcast and didn’t bother to confuse myself with all the other info out there, which suggests babies are too young to sleep through etc. More…
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Today, as I do on everyday, I’m remembering my mumsie. I know it’s international womens day and I’m constantly surrounded and in awe of many inspirational women who I meet, not least recently the women who have survived the horrors of what happened in Southern Turkey and how theyve managed to cope and keep their families clothed and fed. Then every day, I’m talking to more inspirational women who’ve just become mothers and who are struggling with a lack of support, little or no help with their babies who are seemingly unhappy - crying and not sleeping. I feel like a very small fish in a very big pond, but I’m so pleased I’m able to help so many of these women. Happy international womens day ♥️ ... See MoreSee Less
Although I’m currently over here in UK helping sleep deprived parents, my aid-relief efforts in Turkey are not forgotten. Two days ago I had a request from a family I know who are currently living in a makeshift camp near Hatay. They said they’re in desperate need for some pharmaceutical products, so I’ve organised 3 boxes of essential medicines and first aid equipment to be boxed and sent direct to my contact and hope it brings some much needed relief to them. I’ve taken great lengths to ensure the safe passage of the goods and have organised a courier to take them direct. They’ve been given clearance by the local council so I can guarantee they are going to end up where I’ve sent them!So pleased to still be helping - even in a small way ♥️🇹🇷You can donate to this cause by clicking the link in bio ... See MoreSee Less
Anyone with a reflux baby who doesn't sleep knows that life can be a living nightmare and a far cry from the idyll of what we dream life will be like with our baby. It can be a terrifying time, especially if you're a first time parent.
I don't know what I would have done without Alison. She's IS magic. I'm very protective, wanted to do it all my self but simply didn't know how to help my baby, but when Alison arrived I knew she was in the most loving caring hands.
Within 3-4 night's I had a different baby. It was insane. Happy, pain free and she was able to get the sleep she so desperately needed. It was a miracle I didn't think possible after such troubles. Alison was our saviour! Her intuition and expertise are second to none. She's a wonderful human being and became a very special person to our family. I can't recommend her, her work and the book highly enough.
In her fabulous book, Holly refers to much of the advice she gained from Alison and mentions some of the great tips she picked up and put into practise when – back in the day, she needed a little extra help withmanaging Chester’s reflux and sleep.
Sienna was breech – which means that before she was born she was positioned with her head above her feet – and this is known to sometimes cause hip problems. We were therefore offered a routine scan when she was twelve weeks old to check how her hips were developing. We weren’t expecting any problems. But we left that appointment feeling shocked and quite distressed. We were told that she had hip dysplasia and were given a harness that she had to wear for twenty-four hours every day for at least the next six weeks. It was horrible to see our cuddly little girl with her legs strapped up and to the side like a frog. She was very uncomfortable for the first few days, and I felt miserable that I couldn’t make it better for her. I expected that things would improve as Sienna got used to being in that position, but that wasn’t at all the case. Instead, the things that had been difficult beforehand – the sleepless nights, the crying, the fussy feeding – all became much more challenging. I knew that Sienna had displayed some of the symptoms of reflux in the past, but I’d never been particularly worried. We’d been told time and again that all babies struggle to sleep and that there was nothing unusual about a particularly tricky ‘witching hour’ in the evenings. But the fixed position of the harness exacerbated every symptom, and she was crying for hours before eventually falling asleep, completely exhausted. I was so grateful when a lovely friend whose child had also experienced hip dysplasia and sleeplessness reached out to offer support. In our conversation, she mentioned a book that had been hugely helpful: The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan. I bought it straightaway. I was desperate to find a solution and to help my poor daughter. She wasn’t sleeping well at all, which meant that she was overtired, and that in turn made her even more miserable! And, if I’m honest, I was struggling too. I’m not ashamed to admit that there were tears from both of us on quite a few occasions. I felt so guilty, like I ought to be doing more to help her. And the lack of sleep was challenging for me too. I was lost in a fog, doing stupid things (like putting my coffee in the freezer!) and feeling completely detached from myself. In The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan, Alison covers so much more than just sleep – much as she does in this book – so that her readers can be absolutely sure that they are doing the right thing for their child. I remember reading about the signs and symptoms of silent reflux, and recognising almost every single one. I reached out to Alison, and she called me almost straightaway. She promised that things would get better; all the information was in the book and she was on hand to help me too. The relief was incredible. With her guidance, we saw a doctor who prescribed medication to assist with reflux, and the change in Sienna was almost instantaneous. She was calm, settled and so much happier. She couldn’t have slept while so uncomfortable, and I’m so grateful that we were given the right tools with which to help her. Her sleep gradually began to improve, but we still had no routine whatsoever, and it meant that planning our days was very difficult. I was also really keen to have my evenings back; I wanted some time to myself to unwind after such full-on days and to eat dinner with my husband again! I knew that Sienna wasn’t uncomfortable anymore, and so I felt that it was the right time for us as a family to start focusing on a routine. Alison gave us some further advice, and encouraged us to use the tools outlined in her book. After a few days, Sienna was sleeping through the night. I cannot tell you how incredible it feels to have your first full night’s sleep in months. And it takes so little time to get there! I started to feel more and more like myself again. It was as though the fog was lifting and, beneath it, I was happy and relaxed. We had a regular routine for our days, peaceful evenings, and we were all sleeping solidly through the night. And, of course, Sienna was happier than ever too. She clearly had more energy and it was so reassuring to see how smiley she’d become. Alison remains a wonderful source of support and guidance for me and my family. We have had bumps in the road and it is inevitable that there will be more going forwards. Typically, as soon as we’ve mastered a stage, a new change comes along. I look at my daughter now and she isn’t a baby anymore, but almost a toddler. I am so enjoying watching her lovely little personality emerge. And she’s discovering that she has own wants and that she can push our boundaries with her cheeky smile. I am so relieved that we’ll have The Sensational Toddler Sleep Plan in hand when she decides that she wants to read just one more book or have just one more sip of water before going to bed!
I have known Alison professionally for many years and I am not surprised that grateful clients view her as The Magic Sleep Fairy. Whenever I refer mothers to Alison, they sing her praises and I have witnessed first-hand her ability to feed and settle a baby with complex issues such as gastro-oesophageal reflux. If you can't see Alison, buy her book.
Clare Byam-Cook SRN. SCM. Author of ‘What to Expect When You’re Breastfeeding….and What if you Can’t?'
I have known Alison for over 18 years both professionally & personally and in 2009 I was very happy to write the foreword for her brilliant book The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan. Not only does her book help parents resolve sleep issues with their babies but the last chapter gives detailed information on colic, reflux and dietary related intolerances. Alison has tremendous and rather valuable experience with babies who have feeding difficulties, reflux and sleep problems. Her practical and clinical skills are helpful to many families and her unrivalled knowledge, advice and guidance is continually sought by parents around the globe. She is 'The Reflux Expert' and her dedication to her work has proved to be productive and rewarding to families everywhere.
When Alison arrived we were a family in complete distress. Lexi was 6 weeks old cried most of the day & night and was a very unhappy baby who even frowned when she was sleeping. Everyone in the family was baffled as to why she wouldn't settle and was so restless. After reading Alison's book, most importantly the last chapter where she lists the symptoms of silent reflux, I realised that was the problem. Alison's visit saved our family, she brought calm reassurance, knowledge, experience and got Lexi on the right medication and formula. After a short period of time Lexi began to settle and we saw the happy little girl emerge. Alison came back a few weeks later to implement sleep training and as a result I have had a baby who slept through the night from 4 months old!! She really is magic in every way and we recommend her to everyone we meet!!
I was so greatful that my dear friend e-introduced us - even though we live on the different sides of the world, you were always able to find a moment to give me precious advice. I felt very alone living over here in New York and no one listened to me when I raised concerns about my baby being in pain.
In every phone and Skype consultation we had you were invaluable: from solving his reflux, discussing nutrition, providing advice on a sleep regime and even how to solve jet lag problems ! Vladimir is now 18 months and I still have regular Skype sessions with Alison to make sure we keep everything on track.
My baby never liked to sleep. From the word go she was not a big kipper. But, she's a baby! What did I expect!
At around the 6 month mark we realised not only had she never slept through but not even close, and our status quo was her waking every hour and a half or so. I was so exhausted but it was wrapped up and disguised in the veil of happiness of her arrival. We investigated and read about, those long-awaited markers such as starting solids, or periods of common regression passing etc but still we had our all-night family raves.By 7, 8 months I was attempting to get back to work as a Prima ballerina and was at my wits end. I had lost my humour, my logic and felt depleted & joyless -I was just so tired. We then had the fortuitous luck of meeting Alison and she came to help our little girl, promising she could sort out this dysfunctional relationship with sleep.If you'd asked even a month before her arrival I would have laughed you out the room with the suggestion of help.Alison proceeded to literally transform our family's whole existence by giving us all our sleep back. A calm, comprehensive and very much personalised look at the issues we had. My husband and I felt included in the process of diagnosing the root of the problem and hand in hand with Alison we resolved it. It was surprisingly holistic & not brutal like I had feared sleepy-problem-solving to be. Night one she slept 9 hours, night two and three 12 hours- and so much happier in the day too! Giggles and smiles a plenty! She adored Alison throughout her stay, we all did. It's such a gift ( and I'm convinced magic or some mystical witchcraft) to come into a home and read so accurately the situation, and then know how to so easily resolve it. She has an ability to understand babies that I haven't come across anywhere else and a innate caring quality.Every first time mum could benefit from reading Alison's book and drawing from her wisdom. I feel so lucky to have found her and the results are life changing.Accepting help isn't easy but Alison was so caring and respectful in her time with us she is truly gifted. Getting help is sometimes hard but necessary and the results are remarkable. I have better confidence as a mother as a result of meeting Alison.Read her words, hear her wisdom she is able to navigate dysfunctional sleep like no other professional I have come across. Her results are happy, growing rested children and parents enjoying every second of watching their little ones grow.
I just wanted to say how glad I am that I bought your book when I was pregnant and after hearing you on the at @madebymamas podcast and didn’t bother to confuse myself with all the other info out there, which suggests babies are too young to sleep through etc.
We started following the plan as soon as we realistically could, which in feeding routine terms was fairly early although definitely got easier once we were formula feeding and the nap times fell into place around 9 to 10 weeks.
Imogen is an absolute dream sleeper because of it, she loves her 12 hours sleep at night and it’s never too fussed About being put down for naps, even if she whinges for a few minutes. I don’t know how I’d have coped if we were still up three or four times a night at six months, so a big thank you for putting your wisdom on me.