Where to begin hiring a sleep consultant when you’re at your wit’s end
When you go to hire a sleep consultant, you’ll find a lot of options! Many claim to be sleep consultants but, be sure to do a little research to make sure that the person you are hiring is truly the right fit for you and your family to reclaim your sleep.
Top Tips for Hiring a Sleep Consultant
These top tips for hiring a sleep consultant are an easy place to start. Remember, every child’s sleep challenges are unique as they are! The right sleep consultant will align their strategy to overcome these challenges with your parenting beliefs and values.
1) Ask about education and training
Some people claim to be sleep consultants after reading a few books. Some may claim to be sleep consultants after raising a challenging sleeper. Other sleep consultants who have taken an online course but have had no interaction with real educators or real families.
But, did you know there are less than a handful of four-to-six month programs that lead to sleep consultant certification? These programs are live, interactive, and intensive, and require you to work with real families struggling with infant, toddler or preschool sleep issues prior to obtaining certification. In addition to a sleep consultant certification, ask your prospective consultant about other professional credentials.
2) Be sure you can choose an approach that is right for your family
There are many ways to resolve sleep issues but some consultants that have only been educated about one approach. What’s right for one family is not necessarily right for another family. Look for a consultant who can offer you several approaches and one that encourages your input to determine an approach that’s a good fit for your child and your family.
3) Get a personalized, tailor-made sleep plan
Some consultants have one sleep plan for each age group and that’s it- regardless of your unique issues. Your child isn’t a copy & paste, so their sleep solution should be either! Make sure that you’re getting a sleep plan that’s personalized for your child and family.
4) Find out what sort of follow-up support is offered
A quick and inexpensive sleep plan is great- but without follow-up support you may not have success. Be cautious about purchasing a plan that does not offer follow-up. Your consultant is your sleep solutions coach. Ongoing motivation, support and follow up are critical to your success.
5) Look for websites, online reviews, or social media sites
A website with client testimonials offers insight into your sleep consultant’s business and shows that they have built relationships with clients willing to back up their stated experience.
6) Be sure goals and time frames seem realistic
Star sleepers exist, but they’re often the exception rather than the norm. Make sure that your consultant conveys realistic outcomes and time frames for your child’s situation.
7) Learn if there is a network of support
There are some sleep issues that are easily and quickly resolved, but some situations are extremely challenging. It’s best to find a consultant with a network of sleep colleagues to collectively solve unique challenges.