FAQ
I can help you understand the sleep needs of children from birth through Kindergarten. However, it is not until 4 months of age that I can create a full sleep plan and schedule. This is because before 4 months a baby’s circadian rhythms are not yet fully developed. Without those rhythms the baby’s sleep is not organized and therefore the baby cannot develop a schedule. If your child is younger than 4 months there is a lot you can do to set yourself up for success and build a good sleep foundation. Please see my newborn/expectant parent package to learn more about what I can do for you.
As I am sure you have found, there is an unbelievable amount of information out there about how to help your baby sleep better. Often you will find this information conflicting, confusing and overwhelming. You could do this by yourself, but my job is to weed through that information and create a plan that will work for you. Once you implement your plan I will be constantly evaluating and making changes as needed. Finally, I will be the support that Google doesn’t offer; I will help you through the hard parts and will be only a phone call away when you have a question.
By becoming certified by the Family Sleep Institute, I chose to join a team of some of the pioneers in the field. Many sleep consultants have no formal training or training in only one specific method. Graduates of the Family Sleep Institute have spent many hours learning a variety of approaches from many leaders in the sleep industry. I have studied authors such as Dr. Marc Weissbluth, Dr. Richard Ferber, Kim West (The Sleep Lady), and Dr. William Sears. Being a member of the Family Sleep Institute also comes with continued support from my instructors, fellow graduates and other sleep consultants. Finally, I am required to complete continuing education courses throughout the year in order to keep my certification current.
Teaching a baby to soothe himself is only one part of the puzzle. The other part that we will work on is an age appropriate schedule. When a baby is not sleeping at the correct time of day they will become overtired and struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. In my sleep plan I will provide you with a schedule that will meet your baby’s needs. When it comes to teaching your child to self- soothe I have a variety of approaches to try. Unfortunately, when we are trying to break sleep associations there is always going to be some crying. Your baby will be upset that things are changing and will protest. There are quite a few ways we can respond to this protest, if you choose you can be in the room with your child during this time. There is a lot of incorrect information out there about the harm in letting your baby cry. Many of the studies that are cited were poorly conducted, studied animals or studied children in extreme neglect situations. We will try our hardest to minimize tears during this process, but remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics has approved all the methods I use.
During our initial consult we will discuss a variety of methods you can use. The method you choose will affect how long the process takes. Some of the more direct methods will show great improvement in as little as 3 days, the more gradual methods can take up to 2 weeks. No matter which method you choose you will see success as long as you are consistent and follow the plan!
The first step is to look over my services and see which package you think suits your needs. Then, contact me either by phone or email to set up your free 15-minute phone consult. During this I will get a general idea about your situation, and we will make sure we are a good fit to work together. After that we will jump right in and get you sleeping again!