IS THIS PODCAST RIGHT FOR YOU?
Do you have an infant or toddler?
Do you value sleep?
Want to learn how to create healthy sleep habits, regardless if being proactive or struggling with your child's sleep?
Find out if this Podcast is right for you by listening to this trailer. In this episode you will quickly learn who I am, what my philosophies are as an Infant & Toddler Sleep Consultant, and what my objectives are for this podcast.
THE SIX PILLARS OF THE STORK PHILOSOPHY
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 realistic expectations, patience, flexibility and consistency. Your child needs the space and time to adjust to any changes that will be happening.
THE AAP IS THE GUIDING SOURCE FOR SAFE SLEEP (ADDED AFTER THE RECORDING OF THIS PODCAST)
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?”
RECAP OF THE OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PODCAST
1. To better understand what a safe, strong, and healthy sleep foundation looks like for your child.
2. To learn how to go about building one based on a child’s age and your parenting preferences.
3. To define what sleep training means in this Stork Community space and what it involves.
4. To debunk the myths and misconceptions that often surround sleep training and child sleep altogether.
5. To share stories of past clients so you catch a glimpse of a parent's perspective.
LINKS
> Learn what it is like to work with me by getting a copy of "What does working with a child sleep consultant entail?"
> On the fence about hiring a sleep consultant? Book a 15-minute discovery phone call with me to discuss your situation.