Olena Santangeli, PhD

Olena Santangeli, PhD

Pediatric Sleep Specialist
.
SCA
5
(
21
reviews)
More than 500
families helped
More than 10 years
experience
Virtual worldwide
Gentle and responsive, Attachment-based, Tailored to each family and situation
https://calendly.com/olenasantangeli_sleepconsultant/free-discovery-call

Olena Santangeli, PhD

My approach is gentle, evidence-based, and highly individualized to each child and family. I work in an attachment-focused way and believe that sleep support should never be one-size-fits-all. I tailor my recommendations to a child's temperament, developmental stage, sleep needs, and the parents' goals, values, and parenting style. I also place a strong emphasis on emotional well-being, connection, and creating sustainable sleep habits that feel realistic for the whole family.
I hold a PhD in Medicine from the University of Helsinki, where my doctoral research focused on sleep and depression across developmental stages. That scientific foundation informs everything I do in practice. I'm also committed to continuing education, most recently completing advanced training through the Child Sleep Institute's Sleeposium conference. I bring both the research lens and the hands-on coaching experience to every family I work with.
My philosophy

I believe better sleep can be achieved without compromising connection or responsiveness. My approach is gentle, science-based, and always tailored to your child’s temperament, emotional needs, and your family’s parenting style.

Credentials & Certifications

SCA

SCA

The Sleep Consultant Academy

✓ Verified by SlumberMatch

Specialties

Co-sleeping to independent sleep, Frequent night wakings, Gentle / no-cry-it-out approaches, Night weaning, Breastfeeding-friendly approaches, Sleep associations: rocking / feeding / holding / pacifier, Bedtime battles, Behavioral and temperament-specific sleep work

Case Studies

Anonymized · with permission
Frequent Night Waking
6-month-old baby girl with 8+ night wakings, frequent feeding to sleep (3–5 feeds overnight), long stressful bedtimes, and difficulty settling without rocking or feeding. The family wanted a gentle, responsive approach that respected their parenting style and their baby’s temperament. Over the first week, we focused on creating a predictable daytime structure and helping her calmly settle in the crib at bedtime. By week 2, night feeds had reduced to one, and by week 3 she was sleeping through the night with significantly calmer bedtimes and improved longer naps.
Frequent Night Waking
13-month-old with multiple night wakings, prolonged periods awake overnight, strong reliance on parental support to fall back asleep — especially during night wakings — and noticeable moodiness during the day. The family felt exhausted and worried that improving sleep would involve too much crying. We used a gradual, attachment-focused approach tailored to the child’s temperament and the parents’ comfort level, while improving daytime rhythm and bedtime consistency. Within 3 weeks, the night wakings had disappeared, the child was sleeping through the night, and the family noticed a much happier mood, better appetite, and a more predictable daily routine.

Reviews

21
verified reviews · from booked clients only

5

★★★★★
21
reviews
5
21
21
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Stephanie H.
Stephanie H.
June 29, 2026
Sleep regression
★★★★★

Lena helped us through a difficult period of sleep regression with our 7 month old - her advice was invaluable and made a huge difference! We are so grateful for her support and her suggestions, all of which helped us massively. Thank you, Lena!!

Review originally posted on Google
Buddug S.
Buddug S.
June 29, 2026
Night weaning
★★★★★

Lena has been incredible with helping my 16 month old sleep better during the day and night! We set out clear targets at the beginning and ensured throughout that we were working on changes to achieve these goals. She helped with night weaning and tweaked our daytime routine and now my 16 months old sleeps through the night in less than 3 weeks! If you're thinking of using a sleep coach I highly recommend Lena. We went for the full package and support and can't fault the service we received! My baby is now happier and is eating so much better during the day! As a sleep deprived mother I've been sleeping the best I've slept since pre-pregnancy and our evenings now are stress free and enjoyable!

Review originally posted on Google
Tatyana S.
Tatyana S.
June 29, 2026
Co-sleeping transition
★★★★★

Life-changing! Before meeting Olena, our daughter wouldn't sleep in her cot all night; she would only sleep half the night there and then be brought to our bed. There were also random night wakings, with us spending up to one hour settling her back to sleep. After just one week, there were massive changes Olena changed our daytime routine and was always ready to help via WhatsApp messages, answering any questions we had, mornings, days, evenings, basically anytime we needed her. The approach she used felt so supportive, and while it was hard work, we are really happy right now! After two weeks, our daughter goes to sleep happily on her own now in her crib, in her own room, and sleeps through the night. The daytime routine has become much more predictable, and there is no guessing anymore around nap times. We've also nailed a solid bedtime routine, and now we finally have our evenings to ourselves again!!! I cannot recommend Olena enough! She really guided us every step of the way. Her support was invaluable, and we couldn't have done this without her.

Review originally posted on Google
Kate M.
Kate M.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Olena is our saviour! We've gone sleepless nights and a grumpy baby to having a full night's sleep and a happy family because we're not tired anymore! She is so knowledgeable about all things sleep and if you're struggling with your little one, I highly recommend getting in touch with Olena!

Review originally posted on Google
Caroline B.
Caroline B.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Amazing experience ! Before seeking the help of Lena my 10 month old daughter would only breastfeed to sleep, meaning I would be up multiple times during the night ( sometimes every 45 minutes) Daytime naps were either contact or in her pram . I wanted to take a gentle approach to sleep training and this is exactly what Lena provided. After 2 weeks my daughter now takes her 2 daytime naps in the cot and settles herself to sleep at night with only 1 wake up for a feed. The support Lena provides is invaluable . If you are thinking of seeking help JUST DO IT !

Review originally posted on Google
Samara L.
Samara L.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

I can't recommend Lena enough. My 10m old at the time went through a sleep regression where he was waking up to 6x per night consistently for almost a month and we were forming bad habits. I was at my wits end. After 3 days of recording our daily activities I received a 10 page report with observations, analysis, recommendations and a step by step plan on how to achieve better sleep for my son (AND me). I was very nervous as to how it would go because it seemed like such a drastic change but with messaging support and after an hour consultation on how to carry out each phase I felt confident to try and trust the process. Within 2 days my son was only waking once in the night and within 9 days I was able to put my son down in his crib awake and he could self settle and put himself to sleep. I felt like with Lena's help I was able to understand my son's sleep needs much more. There were certainly hard moments but the plan gave me confidence that I was setting the best foundation for good sleep habits. She is so caring and considerate of what your personal goals are and how to achieve them in a gentle way. Lena was also flexible in how I could choose how much support I wanted to receive. 100% recommend to anyone who is struggling with their little ones sleep - life changing!!

Review originally posted on Google
Christina A.
Christina A.
June 29, 2026
★★★★★

Olena's calm and caring approach to infant sleep is outstanding. She has extensive knowledge and understanding and has been a huge support to us. Thank you x

Review originally posted on Google
Vanda S.
Vanda S.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

My partner and I recently used the services of Lena Santangeli for sleeping consultancy for our 8 months baby boy and we are absolutely thrilled with the results! My toddler was struggling with frequent night wakings and irregular nap times, which was exhausting for our entire family, plus he was in a fuzzy mood. From the first consultation, Lena was, calm, attentive, understanding, and incredibly knowledgeable. She provided a personalized sleep plan tailored to our child's specific needs and temperament. And at time when things wore difficult she was always there to support was. The strategies were practical and easy to implement, and she offered continuous support and adjustments as needed. Within a few weeks, our baby was sleeping through the night and had a consistent nap schedule. The improvement in our baby mood and our overall family well-being has been fantastic. I highly recommend Lena to any parent struggling with their kid sleeping issues. We are super greatful.

Review originally posted on Google
Kate M.
Kate M.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Couldn't recommend Lena more. She helped my family so much and very quickly my baby started sleeping through the night. I was very hesitant to try sleep training at first but her gentle and gradual approach worked so well I never once felt like I was putting my baby through anything bad. The positive impact she had on our lives was immense.

Review originally posted on Google
Emma A.
Emma A.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Working with Lena has completely changed our lives! Our 10month old son used to wake multiple times a night to be fed and would only have contact naps during the day. He now only wakes once in the night and sleeps in his cot or at nursery during the day. He's also learned to fall asleep by himself, such a huge change in a very short time. None of this would have been possible without the amazing help and support provided by Lena, we are so grateful! She gave us the confidence to tackle the sleep issues we were having and we are all sleeping much better now. Lena was with us every step of the way and always on hand to offer advice and suggestions. I'd highly recommend Lena to anyone considering sleep training for their little one! Thank you so much Lena ❤️

Review originally posted on Google
Lucy R.
Lucy R.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Lena was absolutely amazing for us. Our 14month old was sleeping through the night within a week. No crying, no stress, just calm and to the point settling. I honestly can't recommend Lena enough. If you need sleep, call this lady, you'll all be nicer humans within a week! Thank you Lena, you saved us ❤️

Review originally posted on Google
Mariana D.
Mariana D.
June 29, 2026
★★★★★

Lena was great giving us the support we needed and her method really works. It was hard at the beginning but it was also much easier and faster than we thought. Lena was always there to answer our questions or our concerns.

Review originally posted on Google
Anonymous
Anonymous
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Olena is an excellent sleep trainer and I would highly recommend. She helped our baby boy who woke 2-3 times a night for hours needing food and comfort. He can now self settle and will stay asleep almost every night now. It took less than one month. She was so responsive over WhatsApp throughout the whole process.

Review originally posted on Google
Lea M.
Lea M.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

Our experience with Lena has been absolutely fantastic! Our 1 year old son went from waking up every few hours in the night to sleeping through the night & putting himself to sleep all within 2 weeks! Her approach is gentle, considerate & gradual so it allowed us to feel confident & comfortable through the whole process. It was clear & simple to follow & she was always available for online consultations & support throughout. It has made such a huge difference to not only our son but us as well since we're finally able to sleep through the night after a year! We couldn't recommend her more. It's been such a fruitful journey. Nothing but love & gratitude. Thank you so much Lena!

Review originally posted on Google
Joanna W.
Joanna W.
June 29, 2026
★★★★★

Lena was so helpful and super supportive. Her methods worked for us and it was great to be able to contact her throughout the process. Highly recommend if you need guidance and support with any help understanding sleep needs and creating the right schedules for your family. Jo

Review originally posted on Google
Masa P.
Masa P.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

I highly recommend Lena's services!! It has definitly been one of the best things we have paid for since we had our baby! My daughter was waking up every few hours at night and putting her down for day time naps was a long hard process! With Lena's help we saw changes within the first few days! We now have a predictable sleeping routine and my daughter sleeps through the night! We felt very supported during the entire process and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

Review originally posted on Google
Maggie L.
Maggie L.
June 29, 2026
Co-sleeping transition
★★★★★

For anyone who has ever thought about sleep training for their children and has been unsure about trying it, you absolutely should give it a try. I'm hear to tell you that Olena and her no-cry-it-out sleep program has changed my life and my son's life. My son and I co-slept for the first nine and a half months of his life. Before starting the sleep program he needed breast in his mouth to fall asleep and would waking 10 times or sometimes more during the night. During the 3 week program he learned to sleep without the breast, sleep in a crib, put himself back to sleep after waking, and fall asleep with a simple sleepy phrase and some shushing. Now he can sleep 8 hours straight before waking for his night feed! It wasn't easy, but with Olena's continued support and confidence in my son and me we were able to work through the difficulties, which changed his sleeping habits for the better. I could not have done it without her. I am so grateful for her knowledge and patience. I wish I had found her sooner. I highly highly recommend Olena's sleep program for anyone who is struggling with putting their children to sleep. It is without a doubt worth every penny!

Review originally posted on Google
Rebecca F.
Rebecca F.
June 29, 2026
Frequent night waking
★★★★★

I would give Lena a million stars if I could! My 7 month old son was waking at least 5 times in the night wanting multiple feeds and by the 7th night my son was sleeping through the night! He now sleeps 11-12 hours straight. Lena was so professional and supportive throughout the whole process, she really is a true expert in her field. We opted for the package in which we were able to have ongoing support for 3 weeks during the sleep training and we are so glad we did, as we had so many questions throughout the process. Lena's communication was fantastic and she was always there when we needed her. For anyone that is considering sleep training with Lena, go for it, you won't regret iy! We as a family are so much more rested and happy now, thank you Lena!

Review originally posted on Google
Jess J.
Jess J.
June 7, 2026
Frequent Night Waking
★★★★★

Working with Lena has been LIFE CHANGING. Before finding Lena I was really struggling with my mental health from cumulative sleep deprivation. My 5 and a half month-old baby took 2+ hours to fall asleep each night, was waking 5-8 times a night, would only fall asleep with me/on the breast, and naps were short and usually involved me carrying her in a carrier. Needless to say, I was exhausted!! And I quickly learned that my baby was exhausted too. After working with Lena: My baby now goes to sleep BY HERSELF in her cot for all naps and bedtime! And enjoys it - she coos to herself. My partner or I can put her down. SUCH a relief! My partner and I have our evenings back. My baby now wakes only 1-2 times in the night for feedings. I was scared to try sleep training - I had so many questions and worries. Lena compassionately supported us through it all and was so responsive to all of my questions and messages. She even supported us through lengthy travel and preparing our baby for a big time zone change. Working with Lena, we knew we were supporting our baby in the most loving (and research-backed!) way possible. Working with Lena, I now have my energy and mental health back, my baby has great sleep (so important for her development!), and we are confident to meet any challenge - travel, teething, illness - that will inevitably come our way. I am so proud of my baby and the sleep skills that I watched her build. Working with Lena is a no-brainer. For what it would cost to spend 1 or 2 nights in a hotel, you can improve your, and your baby's sleep for LIFETIME. Thank you Lena for all your caring help! Sourced from consultant testimonials.

Sourced from consultant testimonials
Andrea T.
Andrea T.
June 7, 2026
Co-Sleeping Transition
★★★★★

I can't recommend Olena enough. My nearly 3 year old was sleeping in my bed from when she was born. I wanted her to transition to her own bed/room before her little sister was born, and kept putting it off. I loved Olena's method, it's a very gentle approach. I feel our bond became stronger, and my daughter really trusted me through the whole experience. Sourced from consultant testimonials.

Sourced from consultant testimonials
Jennifer V.
Jennifer V.
June 7, 2026
Frequent Night Waking
★★★★★

I found Lena via social media. At the time, our son was 10 months old. We had previously sleep trained him at 5 months via a cry it out method. But after sleep regressions and developmental leaps we were all struggling with sleep again. It was clear this time the previous sleep training method was just NOT a good fit. Lena's approach resonated with me. I attended one of her Zoom sessions on night wakings. That session alone was so helpful in making positive changes in my son's sleep, but there were still challenges. So I reached out. I had read SO much on infant sleep, purchased other resources and guides, and I only wish I found Lena sooner. She is science and evidence based, incredibly thoughtful and compassionate. Responsive, professional and good humoured. She also takes into consideration the child's temperament which ended up being a game changer in supporting my son to improve his sleep. I cannot say enough positive things about Lena. Firstly, she helped my son totally transform his sleep. He now sleeps contentedly through the night. His mood became so much more regulated, and his sweet and fun personality was finally able to shine through. Lena also gave us the tools to navigate set backs like regressions or illness in a way that feels best for our family. I would absolutely recommend Lena's services. My only regret is that I didn't find her sooner! Sourced from consultant testimonials.

Sourced from consultant testimonials

Ask a Question

Have questions before booking? Send a message directly to this sleep expert.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.