With all of the information that’s readily available online, and the resources you have at your disposal in the form of family, friends and let's not forget Facebook groups, why would you trust (and pay) a total stranger to get your child sleeping through the night?
I don’t hear this question asked exactly like this, but I know that it’s something that goes through the mind of parents when contemplating hiring a professional to help with their child’s sleep.
And it’s a valid question! After all, your mother managed to get you to sleep at some point. Shouldn’t she know what she’s talking about?! Your friend might have four kids who are all champion sleepers, so she should have some answers for you, right?
Well, yes! They may . . . but then again, they may not.
Let me be the first to say, if you have someone who can help you in this situation, go for it! It takes a village to raise a child and the village often has good advice. Plus, I’ll be the first to admit that I like free advice!
However, most of the time my clients are parents who have already tried that route and found it wasn’t successful, and there are dozens of reasons why that might happen.
The biggest reason why the solutions that work for one parent don’t work for another is simple. All babies are different!
Some babies are heavily reliant on sleep props. Some may not be getting enough daytime sleep, while others may be getting too much daytime sleep and still others might be overtired. This baby might have developed an association between feeding and falling asleep, whereas that one might be ready to drop their second daytime nap.
And, of course, it could be any combination of all of the above, or the many other sleep challenges that babies experience.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that baby sleep cannot be delivered via Amazon Prime! In our society we have become so accustomed to immediate solutions and quick fixes; baby sleep doesn’t work that way. A parent might try a solution that could potentially help baby start sleeping through the night, but abandon it before it takes effect due to some heavy protesting on baby’s part.
In short, sleep is a complicated issue and there are frequently a variety of improvements that should be applied as a holistic approach to sleep.
A professional sleep consultant has the experience and training to recognize your child’s specific challenges and can work with you to develop a personalized plan for your child that addresses those individual issues. She can also provide some much needed support when things don’t seem to be working, and give you the encouragement when things don’t seem to be working. A sleep consultant is also your ultimate accountability partner to ensure you are following the sleep plan as specified, implementing the techniques correctly and not taking short cuts.
Consider the example of a personal trainer. You could just get some dumbbells and watch some YouTube videos in order to get in shape, so why pay someone to guide you along?
Well, because a trainer is able to give you solid advice based on education and experience, keep up your motivation and can respond to the problems that might arise when it comes to your specific situation.
So when it comes to baby’s sleep, I hope for all parents to find success on their own, and with as few problems as possible. But if that doesn’t happen for you, a professional consultant has the answers and support you need.