Wondering about the busiest time on my website? You guessed it – it's between 11 pm and 2 am. No doubt fueled by tired parents scouring the internet late into the night, searching for answers to questions like "Why won't my child sleep at night?" or "When will my baby sleep more than 2 hours?" Adjusting to parenthood can be challenging, and doing so on very little sleep can seem impossible. While some babies quickly figure out how to sleep longer stretches, others may need a bit more encouragement. Sleep isn't negotiable; it's a fundamental need for both parents and little ones to grow and thrive.
If you feel like you've tried everything and exhausted all your options, keep reading to learn how I can help!
Why Do People Hire a Sleep Consultant?
Many families turn to sleep consultants for a variety of reasons:
Frequent Wakings: Especially post-6 months, when it's likely less about hunger and more about needing assistance to sleep.
Awake for Long Periods at Night: Those 2 am parties in the crib that last for hours can be exhausting!
Naptime Troubles: Whether it's short naps, nap refusal, or only being able to contact nap.
Early Morning Wakes: While babies tend to have an earlier circadian rhythm, 4 am is NOT the time to start the day!
Toddler Bedtime Struggles: Bedtime routines that take hours and hundreds of books, or needing to stay with your child for hours before they fall asleep (when you wish you could be relaxing with your partner or something else that fills your cup!
When to Seek Help.
Sleep training often faces its fair share of misconceptions and stigmas in the parenting world (just check your local social media for proof) People are under the impression that sleep training involves leaving a baby to cry alone for extended periods of time causing distress and harm. THIS COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. When working with families I use techniques that are responsive and prioritize the emotional well being of the child. Sleep training isn't a one size fits all solution, the uniqueness and personality of each baby is considered and my programs are tailored to fit their specific needs.
Does Every Family Need to Hire a Sleep Consultant?
Nope! There are many cases where kids figure out how to sleep long stretches at night early on or a few months in. Families who can successfully take on the work of independent sleep themselves might not need to hire a sleep consultant.
Some families find co-sleeping works very well for them. However, co-sleeping isn't a reality for everyone (myself included! I'm a deep sleeper and couldn't get any sleep with a baby beside me).
Isn't it great that there are so many options for families? One of them is hiring a sleep consultant (like me!).
Comparing to a Personal Trainer:
Think of hiring a sleep consultant like hiring a personal trainer at the gym! Of course, you can go to the gym and do some workouts. But if you've never been to a gym before, it's much less frightening and way more successful if someone is there waiting for you and walking you through the workouts! Hiring a consultant brings quick success, usually with fewer tears, and you get a buddy to chat with!
When to Seek Help:
Sleep training often faces its fair share of misconceptions and stigmas in the parenting world (just check your local social media for proof). People are under the impression that sleep training involves leaving a baby to cry alone for extended periods of time, causing distress and harm. THIS COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. When working with families, we use techniques that are responsive and prioritize the emotional well-being of the child. Sleep training isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; the uniqueness and personality of each baby are considered, and my programs are tailored to fit their specific needs.
Isn't my Kiddo too old now?
Sleep training isn't just for babies! If you have a 3-year-old that takes hours to get down, there are solutions for that too! I work with kids ranging in age from 4 months to 5 years old. Reading this as an expectant or newborn parent, there is help for this age group too! My newborn education call can help you learn all about the sleep habits of your little one and what you can expect in the coming months!
But I've already tried everything, Erin!
If we haven't chatted yet, you haven't tried everything! As long as there are no medical reasons that you or your family care team are concerned about working on independent sleep, you should book a call. I would love to chat about your situation!
Wondering what other families say about working with me? [Read what they have to say here.]
XO
Erin