Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a sleep consultant?
A good question to ask yourself is... is our current sleep situation still working for our family? You don't have to continue operating in a way that is no longer serving your family. When it comes to sleep training- there are many popular methods and online information out there about how sleep training methodology. It is not uncommon to try these methods at home and run into issues. First, the methods you can find online often times are written for a one-size-fits all approach. They aren't taking into consideration your child's temperament, sleep needs, what is realistic for your family's schedule, or even just your parental preferences and comfort levels. This is where a sleep consultant can help greatly! After reviewing your intake form and learning more about your child and family, I will work with you to deliver a method that matches your needs and personalize your child's sleep plan. Second, it can feel overwhelming at times trying to sleep train your child on your own. A sleep consultant is a great supporter, place of reassurance, and advocate guiding your family to meet the sleep goals you have in mind. I'll be there every step of the way and normalize the experiences you are going through. You won't do it alone.
Is sleep training another phrase for crying it out?
Oof! This is a common misconception. There seems to be this idea in our society by some people that sleep training is synonymous with crying it out. This is NOT true! There are SO many different methods that we can use as sleep consultants with varying levels of support. Depending on your comfort levels as parents, we can select a more graduate method which provides more support for your child (but is often a slower approach) or a more hands off approach that moves a little faster. We will also not JUST focus on the methodology - but look at sleep holistically. What are your child's sleep needs? What is the environment like? What schedule are they following? There are behavioral and non-behavioral strategies we can implement to improve sleep.
Can you guarantee no tears?
Navigating tears can be incredibly challenging! Often times this is the most anxiety inducing part of sleep training for parents. Unfortunately, we can not avoid crying when it comes to sleep training. There is truly no such things as a "no-cry" sleep training approach. Sleep training is a behavioral intervention: we are changing the way that you interact with your child in order to improve the well being of everyone involved. Together we can work to find a method that fits your family's needs. Remember that crying is a form of communication for our children. They're not able to express their frustration or discomfort- so crying is the only way to release that! We WANT our children to express these feelings and feel heard by us as parents.
Will my child's sleep be perfect after sleep training?
Wouldn't that be a dream!? Something to keep in mind is that sleep isn't linear. Think about your own sleep as an adult. There are nights where you probably sleep great and other nights where it may be more of a struggle! Night wakings are biologically normal for all people- adults as well! However, typically when adults wake up in the middle of the night we have the independent skill set to put ourselves back to sleep without it being disruptive. This is our hope for our children! During our time together, we will create a strong foundation for your child's sleep and work on independent sleep skills that will help them be more restful for the rest of their lives. There may be hiccups along the way for your child's sleep- but my hope is that through working together you will feel more confident navigating those and always rely back on your sleep training method.
What if we need additional support after our contracted time is up?
Great question! Send me an email and we can always tack on additional weeks or additional services. I want you to feel supported throughout this process! Keep in mind too that with most plans you will receive 2-3 follow-up troubleshooting emails after our contracted time is up. Those emails can be used within 30 days after our time working together.