A MUM is in dreamland after successfully starting up her own "sleep training" business to ensure parents and their children get a good night's sleep.

Katie Allan endured a torrid time trying to get her two children - four-year-old Alfie and one-year-old Louisa - to sleep through the night. After every tip or trick found online failed to help, Mrs Allan decided if she wanted answers she would have to find them herself.

She said: "I've got a four-year-old and a one-year-old and none of them have ever slept well. Alfie didn't sleep well from being born. I did a search all over the internet, spoke to health visitors and had support from my family but everything that I found was contradictory."

After deciding to study the science of children's sleep herself, Mrs Allan said she made a "massive breakthrough" with her son.

She said: "I basically managed to crack my children's sleep with all the knowledge that I'd learnt. It was a massive breakthrough."

Mrs Allan, 23, of Ainslie Street, Ulverston, said a lack of sleep and the ensuing exhaustion throughout the day created problems between herself and partner Andrew, 31.

She said: "We found it as a couple very draining. He was going to work and I was shattered. He works at GSK and could not afford to go to work like that. When I had Louisa I found it really hard in the daytime looking after them. Having had no sleep from the previous night it would put a strain on your relationship."

Armed with her newly acquired knowledge, Mrs Allan trialled her new skills with her friends to create a sleeping plan which worked for them and their child. She was pleased that it was a great success.

Aside from providing support to beleaguered parents, Mrs Allan said simply providing assurance that they are doing a good job can be enough.

She said: "I felt so let down with myself. The amount of times I went to my mum and said 'I'm a rubbish mum, I can't do it.' You always hear that a nice sleeping baby is contented - if yours isn't you doubt yourself."

Twinkle Twinkle - the name of Mrs Allan's business - has been up and running for just over a month. To parents who may be struggling she said: "There is no one-size-fits-all solution. It's about finding the right thing that will suit your child."

Search Twinkle Twinkle on Facebook to find out more about Mrs Allan's business.

Sleep: How important is it for a child?

Sleep is a hugely important part of a young child's development. The NHS recommends that children aged between one and two should have at least 11 hours of sleep every night. Throughout a child's life a good night's sleep encourages growth and development and when in school can improve concentration and attentiveness. As well as being beneficial for mental health, sleep is also important for physical health. Mrs Allan explained: "My little girl didn't sleep until she was six months old. She was ill all the time. When I cracked the sleep, things did settle down."

What can you do to help your child sleep?

For young children routine can be key when trying to establish a harmonious bed time.

Over-stimulation before bedtime or being put down to sleep at irregular times can often lead to a disjointed night for both parent and child.

There are several things you can do to make getting to bed easier, they include: making sure the room is dimly lit and cool, changing them into fresh clean clothes and a nappy if necessary, making sure the house is calm and quiet by turning down loud music or the television and making sure children are put down to sleep at the same time every night.