I became a mom 11 years ago and didn’t even know sleep consultants were a thing. I also knew very little about sleep in general. When I was pregnant, I spent lots of time learning about the development of the little human growing inside me, took breastfeeding classes, watched videos on swaddling, attended infant CPR and read books about infant development. But where was the information about sleep?
So, I did what most new moms do. I Googled ‘how to get your baby to sleep more’ in the wee hours of the night. I also asked my friends and family for advice and eventually read several books about infant sleep.
Then why did it take me so long to get my baby to sleep through the night? I didn’t have the energy to be consistent. When I woke in the middle of the night I couldn’t remember what the book said I should do. Or the book didn’t mention how to handle my specific situation. I’d try something for a few nights and then try something different. I was all over the place. My baby didn’t sleep through the night consistently until he was almost 1 year old.
What Is a Pediatric Sleep Consultant?
A pediatric sleep consultant will help you get to the root of your problem and why your baby is not sleeping well. She will guide you through the process of teaching your baby to sleep independently and is a wealth of information and support for your family.
There are sleep consultants that come to your home for the night, but the majority of people work with their sleep consultants virtually and get astounding results.
Why Hire a Sleep Consultant?
If you are someone who appreciates having a coach when working toward a goal, then going this route may be a good idea for you, as a sleep consultant is just that. She is going to help you reach your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Reasons to Hire a Sleep Consultant
Frequent night wakings - baby wakes every 60-90 minutes between sleep cycles and needs help or a feed to get back to sleep.
Baby needs help getting to sleep - you have to rock, bounce or feed baby to sleep only to have them wake up again and do it all over again.
Toddler bedtime battles - challenging bedtimes with tons of negotiating or middle-of-the-night visits.
Nap troubles - naps are short, inconsistent, or only on you or with motion like a stroller or car ride.
Not everyone in the family is sleeping where they’d like to be sleeping - your spouse might be sleeping on the couch or baby is in your bed and you’d prefer they be in their own safe sleep space.
Being proactive - you want an expert's guidance to lay a healthy sleep foundation from the get-go.
Here Is What You Get When You Hire a Sleep Consultant
A detailed sleep plan outlining how to reach your goals
Sleep knowledge and expertise so that you don’t have to read any books or stay up Googling answers to your questions
Regular communication so that you have someone to answer any questions either in real-time or the next day
Someone to support you when you’re feeling defeated, to cheer you on when you and your baby meet milestones and to hold you accountable with the routine
Personalization - When you work with a sleep consultant it’s not a 1 size fits all approach and you’ll receive guidance specific to your needs and child.
How To Choose a Sleep Consultant
What matters most is that you feel comfortable with the consultant you choose to work with. It can be an emotional process, and comfort and trust are key. You are going to see a range in prices depending on location, years of expertise, packages, customization, and the type and frequency of communication you have with your consultant.
Before you invest in 20 different baby products that are “guaranteed” to make your baby sleep better, consider investing in a sleep consultant instead. In the end, it’s more affordable and less frustrating than all the trial and error that can go on with sleep struggles during the first year (or even longer ) of your baby’s life.