Help, my child is not sleeping

Kim Valade from Good Night Sleep Site Okanagan

Picture this. It’s 3 a.m. and your baby is up for the 5th time that night. You decide to take the step towards better sleep and have decided you’d like some help achieving that. You open an internet browser and do a quick google search which inevitably results in pages and pages of sleep consultants, all of them with glowing reviews. It’s important to not just pick the 1st one you find. So then how do you pick?

Unfortunately, sleep consulting is an unregulated industry, meaning that anyone can roll out of bed, pick up a few sleep books and decide they’re experts. It takes a bit of research on the part of the parent to find the right fit. Horrible advice, I know, since you are likely desperate and just want sleep. It’s an important decision though. You are investing in your child’s sleep, so it’s important to make a good investment. You are hiring someone to work closely with your family and you are inviting them into your lives, so it’s important to make a good choice.

The first step might be to check out the consultant’s website. First impressions can go a long way. Do some snooping. Check out their bio and any social media they have (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Do they seem to offer what you want and what you’re looking for?

What questions to ask

Is there an option for a complimentary consultation?

Most sleep consultants will have an option on their website for a free 15 minute consultation. Use it! This is your chance to learn all you can about the sleep consultant and what they’re about. You can also find out if you connect with them. Even over the phone, you’ll have a good idea if they’ll be a good fit for you and your family.

Ask about certification, training and experience

Where were they trained? What’s their certification? How much experience do they have? Do they have testimonials? Is the sleep consultant realistic? Ask the questions. Some sleep consultants have different backgrounds. Is that something you’d care about? Some are stay at home moms, some are social workers, nurses, psychologists or have experience in child development.

Ask about the methods and plans they use

Is it a one size fits all plan or do they have customized plans? Do they work with multiple methods or just one?

Team or Solo?

Is the sleep consultant on her own or part of a team? This really may not matter to everyone but some parents feel it’s beneficial when the sleep consultant is part of a team as it usually means the sleep consultant can reach out to them for help if needed.

It can seem like a chore when all you want to do is sleep better but by asking questions, you are making sure that you are finding the right person for your family, someone who shares your family values and beliefs. As much as I want everyone I speak with to choose me as their sleep consultant, I’ve accepted the fact that I may not be the choice for everyone and I welcome any questions potential clients have. If you connect with your sleep consultant, you are more likely to be successful with your sleep training. So, do your research and ask those questions!