Sleep Consulting

Sleep is important.

If you have ever slept poorly, you know how it impacts your ability to function throughout the day. You may have problems staying alert, find yourself irritable or moody, be hungrier than normal, or experience loss in coordination. We need sleep so that we can function at our highest level.

The benefits of sleep are essential for every aspect of our health. Additionally, lack of good sleep is much more significant than we realize. Sleep is the building block for a child’s language, memory, learning, and developmental health. In fact, a 2015 study showed that poor infant sleep at 12 months of age was linked to attention regulation and greater behavioral problems at 3-4 years of age.

Why Do I Need A Sleep Consultant?

Chances are, you have scoured the internet and social media for solutions and may have even read a book or two on sleep. There is so much information out there – too much information – and it’s overwhelming and you will often find contradicting advice.

If you are tired of searching the internet for a solution and feeling like it’s impossible to get your child to go to sleep and stay asleep, you are not alone. The good news is, healthy and consistent sleep can happen.

At Arkansas Doulas, we do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to sleep. Our goal is to meet families exactly where they are, without judgment, and create a customized and unique sleep plan that is tailored to your family’s needs, circumstances, and comfort level.

If you are interested in beginning a journey of well-rested sleep for your family, fill out the form below to schedule a free 15 minute discovery call with our Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant.

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FAQ’s -

What ages do you work with?
We provide formal sleep consultation services for families with children ages 3 months to 4 years. However, if you are looking for tools to promote healthy sleep from 0-11 weeks, we offer a one-hour “Ask Me Anything” phone consultation to help new parents develop healthy sleep habits with their newborn.

How long does this take?
Every child is unique and different. Results are based on a child’s age, temperament, current sleep habits, and your comfort level with change. With that being said, once you speak with our sleep consultant, she will be able to give you a better idea of how long the process might take. For some of our families, change comes very quickly, and for some more complex situations, it may take longer.

I am breastfeeding. Will sleep training impact my milk supply or breastfeeding relationship?
No; this is a huge misconception. Sleep training is not the same thing as night weaning. Sleep training does not mean that your breastfed baby will not wake to feed at night; it simply means that once your baby is fed, they will fall back to sleep on their own. We define sleep training as teaching your baby, toddler, or child how to fall asleep and back to sleep independently. That being said, if your goal is to sleep train and night wean your baby, our IBCLC will work closely with you to ensure that your breastfeeding relationship remains strong and that your baby is getting adequate nutrition.

Will there be crying?
We want to be completely transparent when it comes to the expectation of crying. There will most likely be some tears shed when it comes to formal sleep training, since that is how babies and toddlers communicate with us. When babies are learning how to fall asleep in a new way, they might cry; just like when a child cries after becoming frustrated, or when transitioning into preschool. Our role as parents is to respectfully listen to what they are telling us and support them through those feelings – not take them away. Our sleep consultant will work with you to change your child’s sleeping habits in such a way that you may actually find that your child has developed an even greater trust in you at the end of the program.