Q. When can I start sleep support?

Depending on what support you are after, if you are wanting to set your baby’s sleep foundations up or start a routine, this can begin from the early weeks with my Newborn Consultation support.

If you are looking at supporting your baby to independently self settle, then you can begin this from 16 weeks (corrected if premature), as this is when babies are mature enough to begin learning these skills.

Q. How long does it take to see a change?

The question everyone’s eager to ask… you’ve heard the saying, how long is a piece of string, right?

Every sleep journey looks different. Some little ones show positive improvement from day 1 or within the first few days, while for others it might take until the end of week one to notice more progress. Some aspects of sleep, like consolidating naps, can take longer, often up to six weeks for a baby to learn how to link sleep cycles consistently.

For some, we are making multiple changes to their day, how they are supported to sleep and where they are sleeping, all at once. So we have to expect and understand that if you have been feeding your baby to sleep for the last 5 months, expecting to see “perfect” sleep from day one might be setting expectations too high. Babies adapt to change very well, but every journey is different. We also can’t forget all the development they are working on in the background.

Some families prefer to make changes gradually, while others go full steam ahead.

Q. Will my baby cry?

One of the most commonly asked questions, and for a valid reason. Crying is how babies communicate. Our job is to understand the why, whether that’s discomfort, frustration, or simply learning something new.

So while there’s no sugar coating that your baby will most likely communicate that a change is happening when implementing your sleep plan, I will always work within your comfort zone. If you’re not comfortable leaving your baby alone or waiting for a timer to go off before you go in, that’s completely okay. There are gentle, responsive ways to support them.

Q. Is my baby too old to do sleep support?

If your child is between the ages of 4 months to 2.5 years, then sleep support is absolutely still an option for you and it is never too late to start. I have even supported families with children up to 6 years old.

Q. I’m co-sleeping, can we still do sleep support?

To work with me, your baby needs to be in a cot and following safe sleep guidelines.

If you’ve co-slept or don’t yet have a cot,  that’s totally okay. I’ve supported many families through this transition - You can read Jett’s (9.5M) sleep journey from co-sleeping to cot on my ‘Client Journey’s’ tab.

Our first step will be setting up a safe sleep space, and I’ll guide you through it all.

Q. Can I continue feeding to sleep?

Independent sleep isn’t every family’s goal , and that’s okay.

If feeding or rocking to sleep works for you, keep doing what feels right. But if something’s not working, it’s worth thinking about your goals.

The way babies are supported to sleep is often what they need to return to sleep. So if you are wanting your baby to learn how to independently settle to sleep, moving away from feeding to sleep may best suit your family and work towards your goals.

Reflect on whether feeding to sleep is affecting their day sleep or feeds.

There’s no one-size-fits-all, but reflecting on what works now  and if it will still work in the future, can help guide your next step.

Q. Are there additional costs?

If your child’s room is already set up to support good sleep, then no, there’s no need for extra purchases. I may recommend things like blackout blinds or white noise to help create an ideal sleep environment, but there are plenty of affordable or alternative options if you’d prefer not to buy anything new.

The only non-negotiable when working with me is having a safe sleep space, a cot is essential. Your baby’s safety will always be my top priority.

Q. What if they are sick during the 2 week support period?

Depending on the severity of the sickness, support may be paused and picked back up once they are well. This is very much a case by case basis, but you can read more in my Terms and Conditions.

Q. Returning to work & starting daycare?

If you’re thinking about sleep support, try to plan ahead so you can offer your child consistency.

If daycare is brand new, it might be best to wait until they’ve settled into their routine for a couple of weeks. However, if you’re ready to start now, regardless of whether they start daycare next week or have just started, I can absolutely still support you with a plan. I’ve worked with many families during this transition to ensure they are able to provide daycare with a plan and feel confident during this period.

Have a question that’s not listed above? Please feel free to reach out via my contact form or flick me a message on Instagram @hereforyou.nz