You may be wondering… what is a sleep consultant? Or you may be like my mom and say, “there are people out there who actually do that?” Yes, there are! And for good reason. The phrase sleeps like a baby, is very misleading because there are a lot of things to know when it comes to baby sleep. That's where a sleep consultant comes in! A baby and toddler sleep consultant is one who has been professionally trained and certified to help infants, toddlers, and their families learn all things sleep. We are there to support, educate, and encourage families while putting in place a healthy sleep foundation. Introducing a new baby into the world is a huge change and being sleep deprived on top of that, can make life very chaotic.
Everyone has heard about how little they will sleep once their new baby arrives, but it does not have to be that way. Sleep consultants can take away some of that stress and confusion when it comes to your child's sleep. When the family as a whole is getting more sleep, the life balance is so much better!
As a sleep consultant, my role is to reach sleep goals that both the family and myself agree upon for their child. This includes teaching healthy sleep habits; safe sleep as recommended by the AAP, an environment conducive to sleep, sleep training techniques, and day and night time schedules. All while being there to support and guide you along the way. A sleep consultant certification does not allow one to give medical advice; therefore no diagnosing, treating, or examining of a child is done. That is, unless the sleep consultant has other credentials, licenses, or certifications in which that is in their scope of practice.
Now, not every family is ready for this. If a family just isn't ready to fully commit, then they should take some time before proceeding. If there are any safety, health, or behavioral issues with the child, then those are things that should be referred out or given the okay by their pediatrician first before moving forward. Examples of this would be if there are issues with a baby not gaining weight, if the baby snores and needs to be evaluated for sleep apnea, or if the baby cries inconsolably and cannot be settled.
If your baby is struggling with sleep and you are not sure what to do next, I can help. I will be there with you every step of the way. You can start by scheduling a free 15 minute consult here!
Psst... ever thought about becoming a pediatric sleep consultant yourself?? Check out this blog where I explain all about this!
- Your Sleep BFF,