When I was a new mom I was pretty confident that I could handle all of the things my new baby could throw at me, and it did all seem pretty intuitive, for a little bit. I fed her on demand, I let her sleep on me, I could put her in her bassinet to sleep when I needed to cook or shower… then she grew out of the newborn sleepy stage and I could feel the difficulties coming on. I wanted help, but had no idea who to ask. How could I help my baby sleep through the night? How could I put her down for naps? Would she always need me to rock her to sleep?

Saying that all babies are different really isn’t going to be helpful in this case. The truth is, there are solutions to almost every sleep struggle. That is where a sleep consultant comes in. It’s important for parents to know that they are not alone, and that they can be given all of the tools necessary for giving their baby the best sleep possible.

I reached out to a sleep consultant when my first baby was five months old. It was so helpful that someone could calm my fears, answer my questions, and give me helpful advice. And guess what? I didn’t know what a sleep consultant was either! I just needed to know, would she be able to help my baby sleep through the night? Would I be able to put her down, awake, for naps?

A sleep consultant is a resource and a support person. You may ask, how do I find one that will be the best fit for me and my family? Will they really help my baby sleep?

• The first thing to look for is the word “certified.” There are a lot of people trying to create regulations around sleep consulting, but at this time it’s not regulated. So making sure you know they are certified through a credible source is very important.
• Try to look through their website thoroughly, look at their packages/services, testimonials, about page, and social media accounts. You’re looking for someone who you can relate to. Though all certified sleep consultants should have a great handle on the knowledge they will give you, you want someone you can feel comfortable talking to.
• Does their website answer any of your questions? That would be a good indicator that they would be able to give you more individualized support.
• Does their method speak to you? Try to decide on a method you are comfortable with. A lot of parents prefer not to use the cry-it-out method. While many sleep consultants do teach that method, many also use a gentle approach. And many also prefer to choose a method that works best for the individual.
• Definitely take advantage of any free consultations or discovery calls. That is the very best way to determine if it would be a good fit for you. Talk to as many as you need to in order to find the right one. Be sure to look up the program they were certified through, check their credibility, and read reviews.
• Have a clear budget in mind. Many sleep consultants offer a variety of packages, and some can seem rather costly. Your only question may be “how can I help my baby sleep through the night?” but that can end up being a much more involved question to answer. While a 1 hour consultation will be extremely helpful, and provide great steps to a sleep struggle solution, a 2-week package might be more what you need. A 2-week package will typically include daily support via text, email or phone call, and will guide parents through each step of the process. It typically takes 7-10 days to see a true change in a baby’s sleep. So decide what you’re willing to budget for the support you need for your family.

What should you expect from a sleep consultant?

One on one support from a sleep consultant is meant to be just that, support. A sleep consultant shouldn’t be telling you how to raise your child. They will be there to answer your questions and give you tools to help your baby sleep. You should expect:

• Knowledgable answers to all of your questions
• Nap support
• Bedtime support
• Advice on giving your child a safe and restorative sleep environment
• Safe sleep practices
• Scheduling help
• A sleep plan
• Availability
• Opportunities for future support

What is my goal as a certified sleep consultant?

My aim is to help families gain the confidence in their abilities to achieve happy and healthy sleep for the whole family. With my help, I can educate you in how sleep happens, what needs to be in place in order for your child to sleep well, and yes, I can help your child to sleep through the night!

My approach is to ask you questions about your family, your home, and your schedule so that we can have a well-rounded idea of what is possible. While it works for my family to have dinner at 4:30 and bedtime between 6 and 6:30, I know that won’t work for all families. I am here to help give you all of the tools and strategies to make every bedtime work, and also to give a bit of a cushion for the ones that don’t. I will be there to support you while we get the plan in place, and through all the naps that don’t happen, or the 5+ times your toddler gets out of bed at bedtime.

Sleep is one of the most important pieces to the well-rounded-child puzzle we are helping to build. Sleep promotes so much growth and learning in children! I’ll write more about that in another post, so please, stay tuned! I can help you baby develop consistent, consolidated sleep.

I’d be happy to have a chat with you!