Sleep Coaching FAQs
Why is your in-person support only for babies under 6 months?
Over 6 months, babies are generally much more aware of who is putting them down for sleep and have strong preferences around that. And surprise, they much prefer their parent over a (very nice) stranger! I like to set babies up for success as much as possible, and find that making changes plus adding a new person to bedtime works better for younger babies than older babies. If your baby is over 6 months, my 2 week virtual sleep package is a great fit and you’ll get daily support to help you through.
How do I know if your approach is right for my baby/for me?
My approach is a great fit for families who are ready to make sleep changes without leaving baby alone to cry. It’s not so much about baby or child readiness as it is about you as a parent being ready to make a change and support your child through it. If we waited for a child to be ready to fall asleep without support or sleep alone, we’d realistically be waiting until around 5-8 years or later. It’s not something a child elects to change on their own without some sort of parent led change, and it’s absolutely reasonable to not want to wait that long!
What exactly is a “sleep plan?”
A sleep plan is a personalized written document that tells you exactly how to make changes to sleep so that you can reach your sleep goals. In our intake call we will do some co-creating on the big decisions of the plan so you aren’t surprised by anything and you feel good about the plan. Your sleep plan looks at the holistic picture of your child's sleep, including circadian rhythm alignment, daytime schedule adjustments, individual sleep needs guidance, feeding suggestions, activity and regulation support, a sleep approach for nights and naps, mindset coaching, and even parent sleep suggestions.
Do you use "Cry It Out?”
No. My work with families often involves parent-present support, where babies are not left alone to cry as they learn new sleep skills. This builds security and confidence quickly, which allows a parent to move out of the room if that’s the goal. I also meet families where they are at, and sometimes that does involve frequent check-ins out of the room. With any of my approaches, your child knows that a caregiver is close by and they are safe and supported through this process.
Will there be crying?
Yes, likely. It's impossible to promise a tear-free experience when we're helping a baby or child learn a new skill that's different from their preference. I believe that babies should get to have and experience all of their feelings, and we can be present with them to love and support them through the hard feelings while still making the changes we need to make for family well-being.
Do I have to night wean?
Nope. I fully support (and in some cases encourage) parents keeping a night feed(s). I can also help guide you in the night weaning process if that is your goal and it is appropriate for baby.
Do you work with co sleeping/bed sharing families?
Yes! Most bed sharing families come to me wanting longer stretches of sleep, fewer night wakes while still bed sharing, or support transitioning into baby’s own room. All of this is possible! I take a harm-reduction approach and teach safer bed-sharing practices based on the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's Protocol #6. While this differs from American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, my focus is on helping families reduce risk and get better sleep within the choices that work best for their family.
For babies under 12 months, I work with bed-sharing families who are fed exclusively human milk. If your child is over one year, I work with bed-sharing families regardless of feeding method.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15 minute discovery call with me!