ACHIEVE QUALITY SLEEP FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE...AND YOU!
CLICK THE BUTTON THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THIS STORK COMMUNITY
AND PREPARE FOR THINGS LIKE...
> THE NEWBORN PHASE
> NAP TRANSITIONS
> THE CRIB TO BED TRANSITION
> MOVING
> GOING ON VACATION
> ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS
> FINDING & STARTING A DAYCARE THAT MAKES (SAFE) SLEEP A PRIORITY
BASICALLY?
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE SOME PREDICTABILITY IN YOUR LIFE WHILE PROVIDING SAFE AND QUALITY SLEEP FOR YOUR CHILD (AND YOU).
AND AS A BONUS TO DOING THIS?!
YOU CAN ENJOY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD WHEN THEY ARE AWAKE WHILE ALSO INDULGING IN SOMETHING ELSE YOU ENJOY OR NEED TO DO WHEN THEY SLEEP.
WHILE, YES, YOU ARE A PARENT, YOU ARE ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL. YOUR DESIRE TO FEEL LIKE YOURSELF AGAIN, TO FEEL FRICKIN' HUMAN AGAIN IS EXTREMELY VALID.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO SACRIFICE SLEEP OR YOUR ENTIRE SELF IN ORDER TO BE A GREAT PARENT.
TOGETHER, WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE...
> LENGTHEN NAPS
> REMOVE THE NEED TO HOLD, FEED, ROCK (YOU NAME IT!) FOR SLEEP
> MAKE BEDTIME EASIER AND ENJOYABLE
> REDUCE NIGHT WAKINGS AND EARLY RISINGS
YOU NAME IT. I TRIED IT.
Just one month ago I was in a bad, bad place: I hadn’t slept for more than 30 minutes at a time in almost 5 months, my hair was falling out in clumps, I was constantly sick and I was beyond exhausted. I had no patience for my 3 year old and no time to spend with my husband; it was ugly. So many people suggested so many ideas to try to help.
You name it, I tried it. Swaddle blankets, sound machines, rocking, patting, feeding, lights, no lights, oh gosh- the list goes on and on.
At this point it was taking almost two hours to get my daughter to crash for 30 minutes just for her to wake up again. She was so overly exhausted (as was I) that her body was in a hyper-alert state and she simply couldn’t sleep.
I had no idea how someone living in another state could possibly help me, but I was desperate and had nothing to lose at that point. With Megan’s knowledge, advice and tremendous support, my daughter now knows how to soothe herself to sleep. She’s sleeping 12 hours at night (we’re still working on weaning nighttime feedings) and her naps are falling into a consistent schedule.
Mother of Camryn, 5 Months Old
SLEEP FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Sleep is one specific area of a family's life that is often turned upside down from the moment a child is born to several months or even years after. Sleep deprivation weighs down on your family physically, mentally, emotionally, and economically. It affects your relationships, your health, your productivity both at work and home and your overall happiness and well-being.
Whether you desire to be proactive or are struggling, it doesn't have to be that way! Through the Three Elements of the EPS, you can reach a well-rested child and family.
First, EDUCATION to understand the nature of sleep, the components for quality sleep, and how to create an effective sleep plan. With my one-on-one packages, this occurs through your scheduled consultation.
Second, create an effective PLAN to reach your sleep goals. With most of my one-on-one packages you will receive a customized Sleep Plan which will be based off of your situation, child's personality, parenting preference, and our discussion during your consultation..
Third, implement your Sleep Plan with some form of reliable and valid SUPPORT. When working with me, you receive support based on the package chosen. Support from an expert provides reassurance, adjustments in real time, trouble shooting, answers to your questions, and accountability.
Here in the Stork Community, you will find these three elements through consultations, customized sleep plans, weekly/daily support, masterclasses, and more. Whether you are an expecting parent or have a newborn, infant, or toddler, reach your sleep goals through effectively creating and implementing your little one's sleep plan with the guidance of a child sleep expert. Find out more by downloading your copy of What Does Working With a Child Sleep Consultant Entail?
STORK PHILOSOPHY
1. NO PARENT SHOULD BE SHAMED FOR STRIVING TO ACHIEVE QUALITY SLEEP FOR THEIR CHILD
Regardless if improving sleep for the child’s sake or a parent’s sake. Sleep is just as important as food for surviving and thriving. It is nutrition for the brain and body with both quantity and quality playing important roles.
2. WELL-FED AND WELL-RESTED CAN COEXIST
The age of a child, whether or not a feeding is a true feeding, the pediatrician’s recommendations, and the parents’ preferences will contribute to whether or not night feedings are removed. From my experience, most children drop feedings naturally between six and nine months when they can fall asleep and transition between sleep cycles independently.
3. SLEEP TRAINING IS MORE THAN JUST CHOOSING A SLEEP TRAINING METHOD
Building a strong sleep foundation for your child involves “CATRing” to your child’s age. Meaning age appropriate CONSOLIDATION of sleep for an age appropriate AMOUNT of time at the age appropriate TIME of day. All occurring REGULARLY.
When you understand sleep, you can better understand your children and how to build a safe and strong sleep foundation with realistic expectations based on your child’s age. The type of sleep that a newborn requires is different from that of an infant which is different from that of a toddler.
4. YOU HAVE OPTIONS AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DAMAGE YOUR CHILD
“Cry it out” is not the only option when it comes to sleep training. But it is also not something that will damage your child if you choose it.
Each child is different. Each family is different. Therefore, the sleep plan that your family creates to form healthy and safe sleep habits might look different than your neighbor’s or your sister’s. And that is OK!
How you respond while improving sleep should depend on your preference as a parent, your child’s age, and your child’s temperament. These factors will determine how and when you respond to your newborn or which method you choose to help your infant or toddler sleep better.
5. YOUR CHILD IS HUMAN
For humans, change takes time and can be challenging. And for an overtired child who doesn’t yet understand or want the changes, protesting may occur. Hence, it is important that you, as a parent, trust in the process, believe in your child’s abilities, and keep a positive mindset while also setting realistic expectations.
Regardless of your parenting philosophy and preferences, reaching a goal of a well-rested child and family requires patience, flexibility and consistency. Your child needs the space and time to adjust to any changes that will be happening.
6. THE AAP IS THE GUIDING SOURCE FOR SAFE SLEEP
If you choose to use my services, regardless of your parenting philosophy, you will be required to use safe sleep practices outlined by the AAP. Thus, every sleep plan consists of guiding the child to sleep in their own safe sleep space.
NOTE: Working together does not mean that you must use Cry It Out (or the more appropriate term for it, Extinction) unless this is the method you choose, does not mean your child cannot room share, and it does not mean getting rid of all night feedings unless your child naturally drops them or you make the decision to wean.
So, are we a match? Find out more about what working with me looks like by downloading my document “What does working with a sleep consultant entail?”
CERTIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
