Gentle Sleep Coaching

The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coach training and certification program available. I have completed an extensive training program, which involves over 80 hours of training and successfully passed my exams and case supervision with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 17 years. Clinical supervision and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach.

 Some of my training topics included:

• Basic counselling and child developmen
• Sleep science and behavioural modification techniques.
• Secure attachment theory
• Support for the breastfeeding mother
• In depth knowledge of the delicate nature of babies aged 4-5 months and how to consider all elements of their well-being and determine if the child is ready for sleep coaching.

The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:

• Postpartum Depression from Dr. Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression
• Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children led by Dr. Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center
• Effects Reflux and GURD can have on sleep – Dr. Anthony Loizides, MD- GURD and Sleep

The GSC approach is a gentler alternative for families who emotionally or philosophically resist letting their babies cry it out: for families who tried controlled crying and it didn’t work, and for families who let their baby cry-it-out earlier but now find it doesn’t help. It is also for families who believe in co-sleeping but find that their children aren’t really sleeping all that well, even nestled snugly with their parents. Or for families who did co-sleep for a few months to a few years and now want the family bed to revert back to the marital one.

Can you guarantee “no crying” you might ask? No, no one really can. For example, if you, as the parent, have taught your child that the way to fall asleep is to be held to sleep for all naps, bedtime and wakings and you decide that you want to change this; your child will naturally protest or resist this change. After all, they don’t know why you have changed your approach. If your child is pre-verbal then they will cry. My goal is to have as little crying as possible. I encourage parents to be loving and responsive but to allow the child the room to learn this vital life skill of putting themselves to sleep. The parent responds and stays with their child and offers physical and verbal reassurance without putting the child to sleep. This supports the development of a secure attachment between parent and child.

I will work with you to create an individualised, step-by-step sleep plan that will factor in your parenting philosophy, your child’s age, health and temperament, mother’s well-being and the related family dynamics. And most importantly I will support and coach you through the process from beginning to end- for night sleep and naps!​

If you have any questions about the Gentle Sleep philosophy, please don’t hesitate to ask.