When is the best time to hire a sleep consultant?
So, you are currently finding that your baby or young child is experiencing sleeping difficulties. Let me hypothesize for a moment. By saying that you’ll have been trying to find a way to help your child sleep better yourself. This can be through reading a book or website, calling to ask a friend, talking with your doctor. All of these many have you were you are right now. It has you thinking of one step further, considering hiring a professional to help you. You’re looking to find the right child sleep consultant?
There are many of us out there now so why me and why now?
Let me answer that for you now.
So, over the years of doing this business, I’ve spoken to many tired parents who all tell me the same thing on our initial 15 min introductory sleep call.
They say “that they have actually been thinking about calling me for a while now. But they had just been hoping that everything would get better over time and on their own”. There are the odd few parents who have said they thought; believed it was too early or perhaps maybe even too late to contact me to ask for my help. This leads to the most common question I get asked. “So when exactly is the right time for parents to make any sort of changes to their child’s sleeping habits?”
The short answer – is it never too early to start teaching sleep. The longer answer – is anywhere between the ages of 4 – 14 months ideally. Of course, this is certain situations. Such as, when the baby full term when it was born and is their health good. So what happens when I get one of these calls.
Firstly, I start by commending the parents for calling me. Two reasons. Firstly, while their babies are this age. Secondly, by making their decision to help their child learn and establish good, healthy sleep habits. It is best at this age when a child is most able to learn & develop great independent sleep skills themselves. In the quickest way and with the least amount of struggle. They are still young enough to not have developed those long-standing habits which can be hard to break. While they have not yet entered the realm of the wonderful world of the temperamental toddler age. They are old enough as they are past that newborn phase. Meaning that they are developmentally able to achieve and sustain those longer stretches of sleep which are needed.
That’s not to panic those of you who have children older than 14months,.Do not worry. Children older than 14 months with sleeping difficulties can be taught sleep too. I simply used different methods to achieve it.
It is more down to the fact that it is this age group I work with most often.
As I mentioned, it is completely possible to also help those toddlers too. They can develop the same independent sleeping skills. The only difference is that it is just a slower & longer process. I advise those parents of testing toddlers. The journey for their toddler to independent sleep will be like running a long, distance race. I
If your baby is younger than 4 months old. I make you aware that their ability to sleep for long periods of time has not yet matured. However, that does not mean you do not do anything. These few simple things can be done to help them to develop a really good healthy sleep habit.
These are easy steps. As I said I just use different processes for this age group than I would plan for older babies.
Let me be honest here. The latest research does not show that your children’s sleep will not get better by just leaving them. This does not happen until the children are around the age of 5/6 years old. I believe that this a very long time to be a sleep-deprived family and in all honesty, it is unnecessary. So, if you are the parent of a little one, (at any age) that are not sleeping well, I would recommend not waiting to see if your child’s sleep will get better on its own.
I can help.
By contacting me for a free 15-minute introductory call. In this call, we will discuss your own situation and how I can help you. book a call with me when it suits you from my available, or you can email me at lisa@lisagargarosleep.co
The good thing about my services is I offer several different types of programs. I can advise you on what would be the best solution for your family’s specific needs. Every family deserves to be happy, healthy and well-rested. I look forward to speaking and helping your family be just that. Sleep well