Why Hire A Sleep Consultant?

What is a Certified Infant and Toddler Sleep Consultant?

You might be wonder why should I hire a sleep consultant.  Before you decide if you want to hire a sleep consultant you need to know what a sleep consultant is.  Most people I talk to never heard of a sleep consultant when I tell them what I do. A sleep consultant helps families set up age-appropriate sleep schedules including naps, teach their little one to fall asleep unassisted, the importance of the sleep environment and the routines involved in putting their baby to sleep.   I work with the parent(s) to develop a customized sleep plan that they are comfortable with and that suits their personal parenting style. I then provide individualized support for the plan.   All families are unique and I try to focus on their personal needs as parents and their desired outcome as a family. There is no one size fits all plan. I also follow all the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for safe sleep. Your child’s safety is my top priority.

A certified sleep consultant uses evidence-based strategies when working with families to help infants and toddlers learn the skill of falling asleep unassisted.   This is a skill that needs to be learned just like any other skill. I was certified through The Family Sleep Institute (FSI). You can find more information on FSI here.

Is Sleep Training for Everyone?

Sleep training is a choice and it may or may not be the choice for your family. There is no right or wrong answer to that question.   If what you are doing works for your family then that is perfect for your family. If, however, your family is overtired and nobody is getting the sleep they need, then working with a sleep consultant may be the solution to learning new and healthy sleep habits.

What Should I Look for If I Want to Hire A Sleep Consultant?

The Sleep Consultation business is not regulated. A person can read some books, give some advice to friends, and open up a business if they decide to. So, you need to do your homework to make sure the person you are hiring to help your family with sleep has proper training and background. I would suggest you do some research and take time to look at social media pages to see if you agree with the philosophy of the consultant you are considering. The consultants at Good Night Sleep Site (GNSS) use evidence-based research, follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, are all certified through FSI and look at the individual needs of the child and family they are working with.

Another important consideration is to consider if the consultant you are thinking about working with is an independent consultant or part of a team. Good Night Sleep Site is a team of talented and experienced sleep consultants. What does this mean to you? A GNSS consultant is not alone when working with your family. A GNSS consultant has the added bonus of being able to reach out to an amazing team for support.

Let Me Tell You About Myself

As I mentioned, I am certified through FSI. The sleep consultant certification program FSI offers is intensive and thorough. This is a six-month training program with over 250 hours of training. You can find information on the curriculum here.

I also received training and education as a Good Night Sleep Educator by Alanna McGinn who is the founder of GNSS.

To maintain this certification there is also a requirement to take yearly courses to keep up to date in the latest research regarding sleep.

My educational background also includes:  BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Learning and Behavior Disorders

It is also important to find out if the consultant that you want to work with has good reviews from other families. Check out what other families that I have worked with have to say. You can find that information here.

What You Can Expect?

Sleep training is much more than just choosing a method. Sleep training is like a puzzle that needs all the all pieces in place. Often people think about sleep training as “CRY IT OUT”, but that is not true at all. There are other methods that are available for you to choose from. However, I will also be honest with you. There is no such method as a “NO CRY METHOD”. One way a child communicates with you is to cry. If a child is learning a new skill (and learning to fall asleep unassisted is a skill), they will cry. I will be there through the process to help you step by step. I will also teach you about all the pieces of the puzzle and not just the method. When all the other pieces of the puzzle are in place there may not be as much crying as you might think. You will also receive lots of information on next steps. I will leave you with information on what comes next in your child’s sleep journey and development and what to do about it. I will teach you how to become your child’s sleep expert.

Are You Ready?

When is the right time to work with a sleep trainer? A child isn’t biologically ready to do a formal sleep training plan until the age of 4-month-old adjusted.

There is, however, a consultation package available if you are an expectant parent to have an infant younger than 4 months of age. This will help prepare your little one to sleep better.

After the age of 4 months, your child is biologically ready to have a sleep schedule. So, as a parent, it is up to you to make the decision. As a sleep consultant I can put together an individual sleep plan for your child and support that plan. It is never too late to teach your child healthy sleep habits. You are the one who will have to make that choice. If you would like to ask me any questions to help you make that decision, please reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. The information is below.

Does Sleep Training Work?

If you are consistent with the plan it will work. If you are not consistent with the plan, it won’t work. It is really as simple as that. Like I said, I will be honest with you. It does take work but if you are consistent your child will be sleeping better and we will be celebrating that success. I will be there through the process to answer your questions and offer support. You won’t be alone. I will also make any adjustments in the plan as we work together if I see adjustments need to be made.

Where Do I Start?

If you want to get more information about the services I offer, sign up for a free 15-minute consultation. It is a great way to hear my voice and see if I would be a good fit for your family. You can sign up for a free 15 minute consultation by emailing me at lynn@goodnightsleepsite.com if you would like more information to answer the question of “should I hire a sleep consultant”.

It is my passion to work with families to help them reach their sleep goals.