Will my child cry?

Crying is a natural form of communication for babies. There will be changes to your child’s habits and patterns, which can cause some amount of crying during the process. I will teach you to get familiar with your child’s various cry’s so that we can make sure we are meeting their needs and stepping in to provide comfort when necessary. The techniques we use will be based on the answers that you provided on the detailed questionnaire and our conversation on our initial consult call. I will never suggest or encourage anything that parents aren’t comfortable with.

What age can I begin sleep training?

The minimum age to begin sleep training is 16 weeks old (adjusted). This means for babies born full term 37 weeks+, they can begin at 16 weeks. If a baby was born before 37 weeks , you would add the number of weeks that your baby was born early to the 16- week guideline. Example: a baby born at 35 weeks should wait until they are 18 weeks old before starting sleep training

Babies aren’t born with circadian rhythm so they need both time and light outside of the womb before their bodies start to establish that rhythm. Before 16 weeks old it is completely normal for a baby to have erratic sleep schedules until their circadian rhythm is developed.

However, it is never too early to set up safe & healthy routines around sleep. Check out the newborn foundations package or schedule a one hour advice call if that is something you are interested in.

Does this mean that we have to drop night feeds?

No! Teaching babies to sleep independently does not necessarily mean dropping all night feeds. Your initial questionnaire will include a feeding schedule that I will review before creating your sleep plan. This is also something that we will discuss in depth on our training call. It is important that we make sure your child’s nutritional needs are being met but that we also ensure we are encouraging healthy sleep habits.

What if this doesn’t work for my child?

Most families see noticeable improvements in their child’s sleep within just a few days and typically reach their sleep goals within two weeks. Consistency is key! As long as you follow the personalized sleep plan, use the provided tools, and stay committed to the process, I will be here to support you every step of the way until we achieve your family's sleep goals together.

Does sleep training affect attachment?

No, sleep training does not harm parent-child attachment when done in a responsive and supportive manner. Research supports that secure attachment is built through consistent, loving interactions throughout the day—not just at night.

Multiple studies have found that sleep training methods, including controlled comforting and gradual extinction, do not negatively impact a child’s attachment, emotional well-being, or stress levels in the long term. A 2016 study published in Pediatrics followed children who underwent sleep training and found no differences in attachment security, emotional health, or behavior when compared to children who did not sleep train. Additionally, cortisol (stress hormone) levels remained stable, indicating that sleep training does not cause toxic stress.

Does this mean I have to be home for all of my child’s scheduled sleep times?

Absolutely not! I support families with all different types of lifestyles. In the first two weeks of sleep training I do recommend that families try to stay home for sleep times. After that I like to follow the 80/20 rule. Keep the schedule and environment consistent 80% of the time and leave 20% of the time leave room for flexibility.