Frequently Asked Questions
Where I can read reviews from former clients? And how do I know this will work for my strong-willed child?
Believe it or not, nearly every family I work with says that their child is unusually strong-willed. So don't worry, you are not alone and you can absolutely succeed.
But don't take my word for it. Read reviews from other parents on Park Slope Parents and on Google.
What is sleep training?
Sleep training should more accurately be called "sleep learning." It means helping your child learn to fall asleep, and stay asleep, on her own.
There are many methods, from lots of parental involvement (you stay in the room with your child) to no parental involvement. A free consult will help us find the method and approach that’s best for your family.
Why should I sleep train my child?
When parents and children aren't getting the sleep they need, no one is at their best. Parents and children both need great sleep to thrive.
Children can't play and learn effectively when they are overtired. They have more meltdowns and ironically, have more trouble falling asleep, leading to more night wakings. It's a vicious cycle.
Parents lose their tempers more easily when they aren't getting the sleep they need, and enjoy their children less. They may resent their partners when they are exhausted. They are at increased risk for depression, obesity and high blood pressure. They struggle to focus and stay awake at work. Worst of all, tired parents are at increased risk for getting in a car accident.
Sleep training helps children and parents be their best, happiest, and healthiest selves.
When is the best age to sleep train my child?
The very best age to sleep train is to gently teach great sleep habits from earliest infancy so that sleep training is never needed.
I was able to do this with my younger daughter -- she slept ten hours straight at ten weeks old without any crying. I was able to do this by gently putting her on the ideal schedule for her plus gradually offering her more and more self-soothing opportunities.
But if you are already past that stage, don't worry!
The second best time to teach children how to become great sleepers is right now. The sooner your child gets the sleep she needs, the better she will feel.
For easy tips on how to help guide your child towards healthy sleep, check out my blog.
Am I selfish to sleep train my child?
Parents often worry that sleep training is selfish. But if you could teach your child to fall asleep, and stay asleep, so that he can play and grow feeling his best, wouldn't you want to? Wouldn't you want to both enjoy your time together as much as possible?
Teaching your child to be a great sleeper is a beautiful gift. It's not selfish at all.
Can I sleep train my baby with zero crying?
Yes, you can train your baby to be a great sleeper with zero crying... if you start guiding her sleep in early infancy. This means watching her closely for signs of sleepiness, and putting her down to sleep before she is overtired. It also means putting her down drowsy but awake, and letting her practice self-soothing, at least some of the time. We can talk about my methods in a free consult or you can book a sleep support package right now.
If you have an older baby, toddler, or preschooler who is accustomed to being rocked or fed to sleep, it may not be possible to teach your child to fall asleep without any tears. In this situation, we are asking your child to make a big change to his beloved routine and it's not fair to expect that he won't have strongs feelings about that. But we will support him while he expresses those big feelings and know that your strong connection will easily survive some short-term protesting. Let me support as you guide your child to great sleep with my Child Sleep Support or my VIP Support package.
Is sleep training safe?
Many parents fear that their children will be damaged by sleep training. But the authors who suggest this base their claims on studies of children living in chronic stress. There is no research to suggest that a few nights of crying is dangerous to children. In fact, studies show that sleep training is beneficial to children -- who need great sleep to thrive -- and their parents, who have lower rates of depression than those who don't sleep train. Sleep training is a gift for the entire family.
Still worried? I will send you the research paper I wrote that shares the literature and actual evidence used to write it.
Why do I need to hire a sleep coach? Isn't learning to sleep a natural process?
Learning to be a great sleeper is a natural process, but it isn't always easy. Anyone can read a sleep training book -- if she can stay awake long enough. More energy is required to have the confidence and committment to create a plan and stick to it... even in the middle of the night when your child is crying. Not surprisingly, this is a challenge for a lot of exhausted parents!
Let me help. I will create a plan for you that is tailored to your family's lifestyle and perhaps more importantly, help you tweak the plan as you go. I'll be with you every step of the way, providing reassurance and calm when you are feeling frazzled. And I'll be there to cheer you on and celebrate every victory along the way with you.
Why should I hire you instead of some other sleep coach?
I am the only sleep coach who offers a Better Sleep Guarantee. If you aren't thrilled with your results -- after two weeks of following the program we design together -- I will give you your money back.
What have you got to lose... besides those dark circles under your eyes?
Beyond that, I am a seasoned pediatric nurse practitioner and neonatal ICU nurse with many years of clinical experience under my belt. I am a certified as child sleep coach by the prestigious Family Sleep Institute. And I have helped dozens of exhausted families change their lives for the better. Check out a few of their video and written testimonials here and more on Google.
Can I sleep train and continue breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to nourish children, both physically and emotionally. You should continue as long as you want!
We will help your child to separate breastfeeding from sleep, though, because it is problematic when breastfeeding becomes the only way a child knows how to fall asleep. This habit generally means frequent wakings for both you and your child. This leads to an overtired family. But no, you never need to choose between breastfeeding and sleep training.
My friend says it's normal for children to wake up to nurse several times a night until they are two.
It may be common for children to wake up multiple times during the night, but that doesn't mean it's necessary or optimal for your family. If it is exhausting you or your child to be nursing at night, let's change it. Let's talk about how we can do that.
You can continue to nurse during the day and look forward to great sleep for both you and your child during the night.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to sleep train. I know we need better sleep but I'm not sure I have the committment to start.
No problem! You'll never feel any pressure to commit. We can talk in a free chat and then you reach out to me when you ready. I understand it's a big decision.
Believe it or not, nearly every family I work with says that their child is unusually strong-willed. So don't worry, you are not alone and you can absolutely succeed.
But don't take my word for it. Read reviews from other parents on Park Slope Parents and on Google.
What is sleep training?
Sleep training should more accurately be called "sleep learning." It means helping your child learn to fall asleep, and stay asleep, on her own.
There are many methods, from lots of parental involvement (you stay in the room with your child) to no parental involvement. A free consult will help us find the method and approach that’s best for your family.
Why should I sleep train my child?
When parents and children aren't getting the sleep they need, no one is at their best. Parents and children both need great sleep to thrive.
Children can't play and learn effectively when they are overtired. They have more meltdowns and ironically, have more trouble falling asleep, leading to more night wakings. It's a vicious cycle.
Parents lose their tempers more easily when they aren't getting the sleep they need, and enjoy their children less. They may resent their partners when they are exhausted. They are at increased risk for depression, obesity and high blood pressure. They struggle to focus and stay awake at work. Worst of all, tired parents are at increased risk for getting in a car accident.
Sleep training helps children and parents be their best, happiest, and healthiest selves.
When is the best age to sleep train my child?
The very best age to sleep train is to gently teach great sleep habits from earliest infancy so that sleep training is never needed.
I was able to do this with my younger daughter -- she slept ten hours straight at ten weeks old without any crying. I was able to do this by gently putting her on the ideal schedule for her plus gradually offering her more and more self-soothing opportunities.
But if you are already past that stage, don't worry!
The second best time to teach children how to become great sleepers is right now. The sooner your child gets the sleep she needs, the better she will feel.
For easy tips on how to help guide your child towards healthy sleep, check out my blog.
Am I selfish to sleep train my child?
Parents often worry that sleep training is selfish. But if you could teach your child to fall asleep, and stay asleep, so that he can play and grow feeling his best, wouldn't you want to? Wouldn't you want to both enjoy your time together as much as possible?
Teaching your child to be a great sleeper is a beautiful gift. It's not selfish at all.
Can I sleep train my baby with zero crying?
Yes, you can train your baby to be a great sleeper with zero crying... if you start guiding her sleep in early infancy. This means watching her closely for signs of sleepiness, and putting her down to sleep before she is overtired. It also means putting her down drowsy but awake, and letting her practice self-soothing, at least some of the time. We can talk about my methods in a free consult or you can book a sleep support package right now.
If you have an older baby, toddler, or preschooler who is accustomed to being rocked or fed to sleep, it may not be possible to teach your child to fall asleep without any tears. In this situation, we are asking your child to make a big change to his beloved routine and it's not fair to expect that he won't have strongs feelings about that. But we will support him while he expresses those big feelings and know that your strong connection will easily survive some short-term protesting. Let me support as you guide your child to great sleep with my Child Sleep Support or my VIP Support package.
Is sleep training safe?
Many parents fear that their children will be damaged by sleep training. But the authors who suggest this base their claims on studies of children living in chronic stress. There is no research to suggest that a few nights of crying is dangerous to children. In fact, studies show that sleep training is beneficial to children -- who need great sleep to thrive -- and their parents, who have lower rates of depression than those who don't sleep train. Sleep training is a gift for the entire family.
Still worried? I will send you the research paper I wrote that shares the literature and actual evidence used to write it.
Why do I need to hire a sleep coach? Isn't learning to sleep a natural process?
Learning to be a great sleeper is a natural process, but it isn't always easy. Anyone can read a sleep training book -- if she can stay awake long enough. More energy is required to have the confidence and committment to create a plan and stick to it... even in the middle of the night when your child is crying. Not surprisingly, this is a challenge for a lot of exhausted parents!
Let me help. I will create a plan for you that is tailored to your family's lifestyle and perhaps more importantly, help you tweak the plan as you go. I'll be with you every step of the way, providing reassurance and calm when you are feeling frazzled. And I'll be there to cheer you on and celebrate every victory along the way with you.
Why should I hire you instead of some other sleep coach?
I am the only sleep coach who offers a Better Sleep Guarantee. If you aren't thrilled with your results -- after two weeks of following the program we design together -- I will give you your money back.
What have you got to lose... besides those dark circles under your eyes?
Beyond that, I am a seasoned pediatric nurse practitioner and neonatal ICU nurse with many years of clinical experience under my belt. I am a certified as child sleep coach by the prestigious Family Sleep Institute. And I have helped dozens of exhausted families change their lives for the better. Check out a few of their video and written testimonials here and more on Google.
Can I sleep train and continue breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to nourish children, both physically and emotionally. You should continue as long as you want!
We will help your child to separate breastfeeding from sleep, though, because it is problematic when breastfeeding becomes the only way a child knows how to fall asleep. This habit generally means frequent wakings for both you and your child. This leads to an overtired family. But no, you never need to choose between breastfeeding and sleep training.
My friend says it's normal for children to wake up to nurse several times a night until they are two.
It may be common for children to wake up multiple times during the night, but that doesn't mean it's necessary or optimal for your family. If it is exhausting you or your child to be nursing at night, let's change it. Let's talk about how we can do that.
You can continue to nurse during the day and look forward to great sleep for both you and your child during the night.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to sleep train. I know we need better sleep but I'm not sure I have the committment to start.
No problem! You'll never feel any pressure to commit. We can talk in a free chat and then you reach out to me when you ready. I understand it's a big decision.
