Why hire a pediatric sleep trainer, coach, consultant

Not everyone needs to hire a sleep consultant, but when you know, you know! If your little one is struggling with short naps, early wake-ups, waking throughout the night, and you are just so tired yourself, it is time! As a sleep consultant, I look at the family as a whole and determine the best options for sleep training if your child is old enough.

Newborns
While I don’t sleep train newborns, I do recommend starting consultations as early as when mamma is pregnant or right after the baby is born. Why? Well, I know that there is a lot of information out there and it is easy to get overwhelmed as a new parent. One of the services that I offer is in-home consults which I LOVE! I come and do a nursery evaluation to make sure that you have what you need for a successful sleep environment. I also go over my recommendations for successful sleep hygiene when you bring your baby home. As a postpartum doula, I often answer any questions that you might have with what to expect when you bring your baby home from the hospital. I also offer zoom consultations in the same manner laid out above.

0-3 Months
If your baby can only sleep when you are holding him, wakes up every hour during the middle of the night, is often fussy, is awake most of the day, etc., you might just need a few tips and tricks to help give you confidence and guidance during this 4th trimester! I help you through this time to give you strategies for helping your little one sleep better and help set up expectations for simple routines throughout the day. I also give you guidelines for helping you develop a successful bedtime routine which can often be the key to better sleep. I know for me, when I have a calming soothing routine each night, I sleep better.

4-12 Months
At this age, we really get into the nitty gritty of problem solving particularly during the 4 month sleep regression and any other sleep troubles your child might have. I help troubleshoot any issues that you might be having and coach you through each problem. This coaching can occur remotely or in-home if you prefer. After doing an intake of the
whole sleeping situation, I customize a sleep plan for your family. We then discuss the plan and how you/we will execute it along the way. I offer a variety of support depending on your needs.

Toddler/Preschool Age
This particular age can be a bit trickier as they are more aware of what is going on, they have developed poor sleep hygiene, and many children at this age are so dang smart and manipulative…lol. I do a thorough evaluation of the child, family, routines, sleep environments and develop a plan around whatever issues you are dealing with. Many children at this age have moved out of the crib because their parents thought that they were ready. One of my biggest tips for this age is KEEP YOUR BABY IN THE CRIB UNTIL THEY ARE 3 YEARS OLD (unless they have started climbing out!) Some children at ages 3-5 have simply developed poor sleeping habits and need some firm routines in place so that bedtime will be calmer and more predictable for everyone involved (I got you!).

My role
My role is to take all of my knowledge and experience that I have gained over the years as a certified sleep coach and postpartum doula and pass it on to you. I offer either a lot of hand-holding or a plan that you can DIY. I either offer in-home support (if you are in my area) or help via text, phone, email or zoom. My greatest joy is when a client comes to me desperate for sleep, and we help resolve this issue. There is usually no quick fix, but I’m by your side until we see results. I think there is no other gift like the gift of sleep. Sleep is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Now what?
If you find yourself in any of these situations above and not sure if you need to hire a certified sleep consultant, please feel free to reach out to me to see how I can help. I would be happy to do a quick evaluation to see the right direction for you and your family.