FAQs
Is this a "cry it out" type program?
People always ask me whether my solutions involve “crying it out,” I think it’s a great questions and something that should be addressed!
​
Crying is your child’s way of protesting change, and you can expect that making changes to his or her habits will result in some protest. That’s why I’m always sure to tell parents that my program will likely involve some amount of protest on the child’s part.
​
Please know that I would never ask you to leave your child to cry alone, nor ask you to ignore his cries. The reason the Sleep Sense Method is so effective is that it lets you develop a plan that you feel comfortable with, based on your child’s personality and temperament.
How old does a baby need to be before sleep training?
First, what is your definition of sleep training? My definition is teaching babies to develop healthy sleep habits and independent sleep skills by reducing their total dependence on sleep props e.g. feeding to sleep, rocking, patting, pacifier, etc. Healthy sleep habit guidance can literally start from Day One!
Babies naturally start to form their own schedules and sleep patterns. Some babies will start sleeping 6-7 hours overnight by 6 to 8 weeks of age. Most healthy babies who are gaining weight can enjoy 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep by three months of age.
Explain how this process works?
I offer an initial free 15-minute consultation where you share your child’s sleep challenges. It’s a good way to see upfront if I can help you and if we are a mutual fit.
From there I ask you to complete an extensive questionnaire about your child’s day to day sleep habits. Based on this information and our prior conversations I create a sleep plan specifically tailored to your child.
Next, I have a consultation with you, your partner and anyone else involved in the daily care of your child where we carefully review the sleep plan.
After our meeting, I ask you to identify a two or three week time period of “normal activity” where we can commence our time together. We choose a start day (typically a Friday night for working parents) and we get going!
​How long will it take for my child to sleep through the night?
The honest answer to this question is, "it depends!" The age and temperament of the child play into the equation, along with the commitment and consistency of parents implementing the sleep plan. The majority of my clients start sleeping through the night in ten days or less.
Can I breastfeed and do this program?
Absolutely! Breastfeeding and sleep training are not mutually exclusive.
I am not located in the Houston area. Can you still help me?
Yes! Coaching is conducted via the Zoom video conference app, regular phone calls, and email. Sleep principles are the same regardless of your geographic area. If you have an internet connection, I can help you!
​