Why Should I Hire a Sleep Consultant?

Working with a sleep consultant isn’t the right fit for every family.

Surprised to hear me say that?  Maybe you were expecting me to start off with a list of reasons why you need a sleep consultant.  I’m not here to persuade you to work with me to solve your child’s sleep issues.  I simply want to make families aware there is support available if you’re struggling with your babe’s sleep.

Every babe is different, and some get the hang of independent sleep skills much earlier and much more easily than others, just as they do with other skills like walking and talking.  If things are working well in your household, keep doing what you’re doing!  If your little one is having a tough time with sleep, know that you’re not alone, remember that sleep is a complex issue, and understand things don’t have to stay this way indefinitely.  That said, a sleep consultant might not necessarily be your first stop when you look for support.  With the plethora of information about infant and child sleep available online, hundreds of books, devices, and apps that teach your child how to sleep, and the advice from family and friends who have managed to get their kiddos sleeping through the night, why would you choose to hire a consultant?

This is an important question and a valid concern shared by many parents and carers who are considering professional help with their little ones’ sleep habits.  The truth is that most families who are struggling with sleep don’t start by working with a sleep consultant. 

Many families have great success after learning a little more about newborn, infant, or toddler sleep on their own. For others, the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming, conflicting, and difficult to pare down into a plan that addresses their family’s specific challenges. 

Lots of parents look to friends or family members for advice, and most will happily share their experiences with you.  Their tips and tricks may work well for your babe and nights and naps might become much more restful.  We all love to find the most cost-effective solutions to our problems, and if you can solve your sleep issue with the help of a friend or family member, that’s wonderful.

The only problem is that every baby, every parent, and every family is different. What works for one babe, one parent, or one family doesn’t always work for another. Most of my clients are families who have already tried a number of different techniques gleaned from books, websites, or family and friends, and they just aren’t working, for a huge number of reasons.

Some kiddos rely heavily on external aids (sleep props), like motion or soothers to help get to sleep. Other babes may not be getting enough daytime sleep, and some might be overtired. One baby might have developed an association between feeding and falling asleep, and another might be ready to drop their second daytime nap.  Some children struggle with early morning wake-ups or settling into sleep at the end of the day.  You may be dealing with additional health concerns, multiple children at home, or sleep deprivation yourself.

Your little love might be dealing with one of the issues I mentioned about or something completely different.  The information you read online or in a book, or the advice shared with you by friends might be a great solution to a sleep problem, but it might not be the sleep challenge you’re facing. 

Adding to the difficulty is the fact that most solutions don’t work immediately.  Learning to sleep independently is a skill that takes time, practice, and patience.  Many families try a solution that could be helpful, but struggle to stick with it for any length of time because they’re unsure about how to troubleshoot or move forward, especially with a little one that is most likely protesting change, overtired, and frustrated.

In short, sleep is a very complicated issue and there’s very rarely one single thing you can do to solve issues that might arise.  This is why you might want to consider working with a sleep consultant if you would like to make some changes with your little one’s sleep.

As a professional sleep consultant, I have the experience and training to recognize which issues result in specific symptoms, and I will work with you to develop a customized plan for your child that addresses those individual issues. Your plan is one that takes into account not only your little one’s sleep needs, but also your family dynamics, your parenting style, and your lifestyle.  The absolute best part about working with a sleep consultant is the follow up support I provide until you get to where you want to be.  I will cheer you on when you make progress, support you during the tough moments, and give you the encouragement and confidence you need to follow through on your plan until it starts to work.

It’s helpful to consider the analogy of a personal trainer if you’re thinking about working with a sleep consultant.  Imagine you’ve made the decision to improve your physical health and you decide to join a gym.  You could read about exercise online or in a magazine, ask your friends what they do, watch how other gym-goers use the equipment, and do your best to get healthy, so why would you pay someone to help you reach your fitness goals?

A personal trainer is able to give you specific, personalized advice based on education, experience, and your strengths and challenges.  They help to keep you motivated and they know how to respond to any challenges you face along the way. A trainer will map out a customized plan to help you succeed and stick with you until your reach your goals.  This is exactly the same way I work with families, minus the treadmill.

Working with a sleep consultant is a significant investment of time, money, energy, and most of all, trust.  It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.  A professional sleep consultant can provide all the experience, knowledge, support, guidance, and motivation you need when it comes to your baby’s sleep. It’s wonderful when you’re able find success and solve sleep issues on your own, but if that doesn’t happen for you, know that you have other options. And if you’d like to chat about what that might look like for your family, please reach out.  I’d love to help you and your family get the sleep you deserve.