ThereSure, you can do a quick Google search and find tons of resources and advice on how to get your child to sleep. With all of those free options, just a click away, why should you pay for a stranger to come into your home and tell you how to get your child to sleep through the night?
If you feel this way, know that you’re definitely not alone. And know that this is a completely valid question.
I mean, after all, your mother managed to get you to sleep at some point. And your best friend has four kids who are all champion sleepers. And your neighbor’s 6-month-old has been sleeping through the night since he was 3 months. So, between your mom and your friends, they should be able to provide you with some answers, right?
Well, sure! At least they might…but then again, they might not!
I’ll be the first to say, if you have someone who can help you with this situation, I’m not in the least bit offended if you want to ask them for help instead of calling a Sleep Consultant. In this economy, we are all trying to save money where we can. So, if you can remedy the problem without paying for it, I’m all for it!
But sometimes, your sleep struggles are a little bigger than what a quick Google search or a phone call to mom can fix. Maybe you’ve tried everything you can think of, and then some, and your little one still isn’t sleeping through the night.
There are a lot of reasons why this might happen.
1. Every Baby is Unique
Some babies can only fall asleep if they’re nursing or if you’re rocking them to sleep. Others can’t sleep in a room that’s too warm. Some may not be getting enough daytime sleep, and others might be overtired. There are honestly dozens of reasons why your child is struggling to sleep.
And guess what? It may not be one single reason. It could be any combination of all of the above. Or it could be that there are a couple of core issues that are creating a domino effect.
2. Most Solutions Are Not an Overnight Fix
It can be hard to know what’s working, and sometimes parents try a solution that may in fact help a baby start sleeping through the night, but give up before it has time to take effect due to some heavy protesting on the baby’s part.
3. There is a Lot of Misinformation Out There
Believe me, not all advice is good advice. I’ve seen countless articles that not only offer bad advice, but some of the tips they offer could do a lot more harm than good. If you’re following the advice in some of these articles, you could make your sleep struggles even worse. And if you’re already tired and frustrated, I’m sure you don’t want to spend the time combing through articles to make sure they’re coming from a reliable source and based on proven studies.
4. Sleep is a Complicated Issue
There is no shame
in calling in a professional when your family just can’t take any more sleepless nights.
A professional sleep consultant has the experience and training to recognize which problems result in specific symptoms and can work with you to develop a personalized plan for your child that addresses those individual issues. They can also provide some much-needed support when things don’t seem to be working, and give you the encouragement and support you need to follow through on that plan until it starts to work.
If you wanted to lose weight, why hire a personal trainer? You could just go buy some dumbbells and follow along with some YouTube workout videos in order to get in shape. What’s the point of paying someone?
Well, when you hire a professional, they are able to give you solid advice based on education and experience. They help to keep you motivated. They know how to respond to the problems that may arise when it comes to your specific situations.
So, when it comes to your baby’s sleep, I hope everyone finds success on their own, and with as few problems as possible. But if that doesn’t happen for you, a professional consultant has the answers and support you need.
Ready to take the next step and learn what sleep training could do for your family? Book your FREE Sleep Evaluation, where we’ll chat about your family’s individual sleep needs and how sleep training could help your family get the sleep you need.
Meanwhile, be sure to join my Formerly Tired Moms Club on Facebook. I share tons of great sleep advice and offer weekly training on some of my most-requested sleep topics, all completely free for members of this Sleep Community!