Frequently Asked Questions
for interested Parents
What is the process like for working with a Sleep Coach?
The first step is to have a Discovery Call together to discuss the process. When we both decide to proceed, parents will complete a questionnaire to share basic information about the child's current routines and sleep patterns. We will then have a consultation call to review the personal Sleep Plan created for your child. Parents will implement the plan and we will continue to communicate throughout the process, making changes if needed and providing support along the way.
How do I know how much sleep my baby needs?
There are many factors that we will use to determine how much day sleep and night sleep your baby needs. Things like gestational age, actual age, developmental milestones, wake windows, and number of naps in the day are all used to determine how much sleep your baby should be getting each day. I know it can seem overwhelming, but I can help you determine the perfect amount of sleep your baby needs to keep everyone at home happy!
When is my baby able to sleep through the night?
Obviously, this can vary from one child to another, however typically babies around 4 - 6 months can developmentally start sleeping through the night. We always suggest that you also confirm with your pediatrician that night time feeds are no longer needed for growth before beginning any sleep training methods.
When can I start Sleep Training?
As soon as your pediatrician clears your baby to drop all night time feeds (typically around 4 - 6 months), babies can begin sleep training to help them learn to sleep independently through the night. There are many different sleep training methods out there, and I will help you find the best one for your family!
What Sleep Training options are there?
People typically think "Sleep Training" means letting your baby cry themselves to sleep while parents watch the monitor in agony. I'm here to tell you that is not true! I can share the 6 most common Sleep Training methods- from very gentle approaches to more independent methods, including the Association Fading method that is only used by my certification program! I will help you choose which method will fit your family's needs best, making everyone feel completely comfortable with the plan.
What are Wake Windows?
A wake window is the amount of time a baby is awake between day time naps. Babies need an appropriate balance of awake time and sleep time during the day to allow them to also get the best sleep at night. Using wake windows is essential when planning out their days, because their day routine directly affects how their nights will go. Following age-appropriate wake times is very helpful in having a consistent day routine, but is also key to having great nights!
Why does my baby sleep great during the DAY, but not at NIGHT?
Some babies have their day and night schedules mixed up at first. This is very common actually. I can help provide many tips and tricks for getting babies to be more awake, active, and engaged in fun activities during the day so that they will save their best sleep stretches for night time- when parents need it most!
Does Sleep Training cause harm?
Sleep Training does not cause harm to the baby, when done correctly and at an appropriate age. In fact, Sleep Training is a necessary process to help babies learn a great life skill- sleeping independently. Teaching them better sleep skills improves their self-soothing skills, supports healthy developmental growth, and gives them more restorative night time rest so they can have more enjoyable days.
Not to mention, the parents will also be more rested and happier parents!