Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is your sleep philosophy?
A: Sleep is so important to your child’s mental, physical and emotional health, development and well-being. I am more interested in improving your child’s sleep than sticking to any one particular philosophy. I believe the value of a sleep consultant is having a thorough knowledge of all philosophies, but being able to personalize a sleep program with tidbits from many areas to perfectly suit your child and family.
Q: How much crying will be involved?
A: The number one question I am asked involves crying, and the infamous ‘Cry It Out’ (CIO) method. Crying is one way your child can protest change, so as you can imagine, any change to a set routine will encounter some level of protest. However, I will never ask you to leave your child to cry alone, nor will I suggest you ignore their cries. We will develop a plan for your child based on your own comfort level. If you feel comfortable and confident, your child will feel secure despite the change.
Q: I have a toddler with very poor sleep habits. Can you still help us?
A: Absolutely! It is never too late to develop healthy sleep habits, and I have specialized training in toddler sleep, the ways it can differ from infant sleep and utilize various tips and tricks to tap into their unique motivation system. Regressions are also very common, no matter how sound your child was sleeping at a previous age, and have tools to handle those setbacks.
Q: Will this program work with twins/triplets?
A: 100%. It may require a bit more work (doesn’t everything with multiples?) but it is absolutely doable. Please reach out to me directly for information on packages.
Q: I am roomsharing with my child / my child shares a room with a sibling. Am I still a candidate for your sleep services?
Q: I want to bedshare with my child. Can you work with me?
A: Unfortunately, I will not work with a client who bedshares due to safety issues. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend bed sharing citing epidemiologic evidence that bedsharing increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
While I absolutely understand that cuddling your child is a special bonding time that is fleeting, introducing the skill of independent sleep is one that will greatly benefit your entire family’s health. I promise this program does not take away cuddle time with your child, and we can even inject that special time into your personalized plan.
Children have very different circadian rhythms than adults, and are quite active during sleep. Even if you are not consciously aware of waking up multiple times during the night beside a kicking, wiggling child, science has shown your own sleep is still interrupted unnecessarly (see study below). These interruptions do not allow you to cycle through all stages of sleep in the way your mind and body requires, leaving you feeling less rested than the time you spend in bed would suggest. (see: Covington LB, Armstrong B, Black MM. Perceived toddler sleep problems, co-sleeping and maternal sleep and mental health. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2018;39:238-245). As for your child, co-sleeping interrupts their sleep cycles in a similar way.
Q: I am currently pregnant and want to plan for my newborn’s sleep. Can you help me?
A: Absolutely! We have specialized packages for pregnant and new mothers that can help you to feel prepared before your bundle of joy arrives. Our newborn program can help set the stage for your little sleeper from that very first night they get home to eliminate any sleep associations from developing, which will help ease into regular sleep patterns as they age.
For parents located in NW Ohio/SE Michigan, I offer in-home assessments of your nursery for safety and practicality. I will scan your room and make suggestions on where to place furniture, what gadgets and items are worthwhile (and which to skip!) and even a swaddle/diapering tutorial (the muscle memory will come in handy during those first few weeks!).