The Sleep Department aims to support working parents and employers with Gentle Sleep Coaching®, reducing hidden costs, and fostering a productive and balanced workforce through our bespoke corporate sleep programs.
1 in 4 children under the age of 5 do not sleep well.
But what does this mean for working parents and their employers?
The answer is simple but alarming: sleepless nights cost companies more than just productivity.
At The Sleep Department, we help babies and children of working parents sleep better so they can be well-rested and happy—benefiting both parents and employers.
Together, we make a difference.
The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Businesses
Working parents with poorly sleeping children face major challenges:
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70% say their work suffers due to sleep deprivation.
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64% consider reducing their working hours.
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50% do not pursue their ambitions.
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21% call in sick due to exhaustion.
For employers, this can lead to costs of €2,800 per parent per year, and in cases of long-term absence or resignation, even exceed €100,000.
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59% of parents prefer 1:1 child sleep coaching to establish healthy sleep habits and restore their family's sleep.
These insights are taken from the report “The Hidden Cost of Sleep Deprivation & How to Fix This”, published by The Sleep Department in 2024.
Report:
The Hidden Cost of Working Parents’ Sleep Deprivation & How to Fix it.
Want to learn more? Fill in your details to Download the full report.
Why Invest in Child Sleep Coaching?
Higher productivity and engagement
Lower absenteeism and turnover
Improved talent retention
Up to 220X ROI with long-term sleep improvement for employees
Breaking the Taboo: Sleep Deprivation Is Not Just a Private Problem
Many parents struggle in silence with sleepless nights, early mornings, and constant exhaustion.
Shame or a sense of failure often prevent them from sharing their challenges.
Sleep deprivation is still seen as a private issue—something to be solved at home.
But we believe it shouldn't be. The impact extends to the workplace, and companies have a unique opportunity to support their employees.
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Only 10% of parents discuss their sleep struggles with a manager.
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91% would like their employer to help, for example, by financially supporting child sleep coaching.
Let's break this taboo and give parents the help they need—good for them, good for employers.
About Petra
A Mission for Rest and Results
Hi, I am Petra Čubretović, founder of How About Sleep and The Sleep Department.
As a professional and a mother, I understand the challenges of working parents and employers—from sleepless nights to the impact on well-being and work.
With nearly 15+ years of experience in senior leadership roles, I know what organizations need to optimally support their employees.
As a certified child sleep coach, I understand the impact of sleep deprivation on both families and
business results. I offer tailor-made solutions for your organization and working parents during this challenging phase where careers and personal life are a juggle.
The Sleep Department’s Mission
I aim to do more than just help your working parent’s children sleep better. I want to:
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Bridge the gap between parents and employers, fostering more support and understanding for these often-unspoken problems of parents with young children.
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Offer tangible solutions for employers who want to address sleep deprivation – through sleep solutions for your working parents.
our services
We offer customized solutions for businesses that want to invest in the well-being of working parents.
From 1:1 child sleep coaching to corporate sleep assessments and workshops, we provide everything needed to restore balance at home and improve workplace performance.
Well-rested parents with good-sleeping children are more productive, loyal, and take fewer sick days.
Together, we create a lasting impact—both at home and at work.
Our Programs
At The Sleep Department, we deliver tailor-made and results-driven programs.
Choose the approach that fits your company, team structure, and parents' needs.
Company Sleep Scan
Discover sleep-related challenges in your organization and the best approach. Includes a report and recommendations.
Sleep & Thrive Program
A customized starter package.
1:1 Child Sleep Coaching for Working Parents
Personalized, gentle, and successful within 3 weeks.
Sleep Workshops & Masterclasses
Focused on the most common sleep challenges parents face.
Keynotes & Talks
We speak about sleep-related topics for employees and leadership teams.
Our Process – How We Work (Step-by-Step)
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Working with Parents
Direct support through coaching and workshops.
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Company Sleep Scan
We assess how many employees struggle with sleep due to their children, their needs, and how The Sleep Department can help. (Anonymous and confidential)
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Evaluation for Parents
(Anonymous)
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Customized Approach
Tailored solutions based on company needs.
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Results Presentation to HR & Leadership Team
Why Child Sleep Coaching Is a Smart Investment
Child sleep coaching benefits not only parents but strengthens the foundation of your organization.
It’s an investment with direct impact on employee well-being and business success.
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Increase engagement and productivity
Well-rested employees perform better, stay focused, and feel more engaged. -
Improve work-life balance for working parents
Well-slept parents experience less stress, take fewer sick days, and achieve a healthier balance. -
Reduce absenteeism and burnout
Sleep deprivation is a major cause of sick leave and burnout. Effective sleep coaching prevents these issues. -
Save up to €100,000 per employee
The hidden costs of sleep deprivation—sick leave, productivity loss, and replacements—add up quickly. Sleep coaching is a cost-effective solution. -
Retain valuable working parents
Supporting parents boosts loyalty and ensures talent stays with your company. -
Become a top employer
Investing in parental well-being makes your company more attractive to current and future employees.
Working Parents: A Key Employee Group
Parents hold crucial positions in every organization—from middle and senior management to support and commercial roles.
By investing in their well-being, you invest in the strength and stability of your company.
The result?
Less absenteeism
Higher productivity
Stronger company culture
More engaged employees
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What does a Gentle Sleep Coach do?As a Sleep Coach I help to give you clarity, direction, guidance and motivation during our journey of coaching your little one to sleep better. I help you to understand the why before the how which will lead to long-term positive results. Consistently is key to success. Presenting changes to your child is not always smooth and it’s easy to fall back to old habits, especially when you are sleep deprived. As a Sleep Coach I am your accountability partner. I take your hand and help you follow through and finetune our sleep plan along the way. I want you to feel that we are in this together and I will be coaching you towards positive change all along the way.
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Do you come to our house or is this an online service?For the intake call and the consultation we plan an online (video) call. Face-to-face sessions are available for an extra travel fee.The sleep coaching services with daily advice and feedback is done through whatsapp (voice message, text, quick calls when needed)
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How do I choose the right Sleep Program?I would love to speak to you so I can understand your sleep struggles and help you choose the best sleep program for your family. Sometimes a single consultation is sufficient. Most parents choose a coaching program with 2-3 weeks of daily support so you can set yourself up for success for the long term and stay consistent. If you are curious how I could possibly help you then I invite you to book a free 30-min intake call. Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Will I have to let my child cry?Hearing cries from your baby can be heartbreaking and hard. Unfortunately, presenting a change at bedtime to babies and children often results in some tears. This is their only way of communicating with you and expressing their frustration. You will see that with the Gentle Sleep Coaching approach, you can still give your little one the love and support and comfort and reassurance he needs and also give him space to learn the skill of falling asleep by himself. And once he feels secure and has learnt the skill, there will no longer be a need for crying.
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I breastfeed. Do I have to stop when we start sleep coaching?No, you don't need to stop breastfeeding, unless you wish to do so (and if this is age and developmentally appropriate). When we do the deep dive into the sleep challenges and create a sleep plan, this will be tailor-made to your family needs and goals. Every family is different, every baby sleeps different, every sleep plan is therefore different.
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What happens if my child gets sick during the coaching period?That’s okay and this happens occasionally. We can pause the coaching until your child feels better and re-start once he/she is feeling better.
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Can you help me if I have a newborn?Yes, I would love to help you. Life with a new baby can be quite overwhelming and sleepless nights can take its toll. When a baby is younger than 5 months old they are not developmentally ready for any Sleep Coaching and your baby needs you more than ever to soothe and fall asleep. I recommend you to look into my Newborn Sleep Shaping Program where I help you to understand the science of sleep, create a healthy sleep environment and sleep practices. This will set the stage for your baby to learn how to sleep independently when he/she is developmentally ready (5+ months).
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What if Gentle Sleep Coaching also doesn’t help?With a current success rate of 95% I am confident to say that I can help your little one to learn how to sleep better. I will help you to define realistic goals and expectations (age and developmentally appropriate) during the intake call and consultation when we do a deepdive and create a tailor made sleep plan for your family. If you are as dedicated as I am to help your little one to learn how to sleep better with your support, I will offer you an extension of the coaching weeks until you sleep better than when you started the sleep coaching program. Sometimes sleep coaching may not be successful indeed, underlying medical issues and not following through in a consistent way. Rest assured, I am here to help identify any red flags and support you all along the way!