What is sleep training?

Sleep training is a process that aims to guide parents in helping their baby achieve quality sleep by using various sleep techniques. It covers a broad range of areas: good sleep practices for newborns, application of sleep training techniques, sleep disorders in toddlers and preschool children. I’m equally happy to work with babies who are not keen to sleep through the night as well as little ones who tend to journey from their own beds to mummy and daddy by morning. I aim to get to the bottom of any specific sleep issues of your baby and work out a sleep plan that works for you and your family. I want to give parents practical tips and knowledge so the whole family can feel well-rested.

Why should we come for a sleep consultation?

Sleep training might not be the right solution for your family which is why it’s best to book in an initial chat with a specialist. I believe every child is different and so are the needs and expectations of each and every family. I will always aim to work out the best personalised plan for you and your baby, there is no one size fits all solution. As a general rule, you should definitely get in touch for an initial consultation if your child wakes up regularly every night after the age of 9 months and if you feel this affects your own quality of life as well as your child’s. Research has found sleep school to be useful for babies but I also know from experience that it can be a life-changing process for parents.

How does sleep training work?

At our first meeting in the Sinu Arst clinic in Tallinn, your home or via a video call we will thoroughly go through every aspect of your baby or child’s life - their day plan, nap times, feeds, health, activities and of course their night sleep routine. I will then suggest one or two sleep training techniques which I feel might work for your family. I will answer all of your questions, deal with any concerns and will support you for as long as you need. I also offer night consultations which are especially useful for parents who feel they have been trying to sleep train for a while but for some reason have not succeeded yet.

How fast can I see results?

It depends on many things but mainly on how consistently parents follow the sleep plan. My experience is that the first three nights are the hardest, and typically a healthy child will learn to sleep well in one week.

When to start sleep training?

You can start with healthy sleep habits as soon as your baby is born. For the first three months your baby’s sleep will be very irregular and the sensible thing to do is to roll with it. But you can absolutely lay the foundation for good quality sleep later on by following some simple steps from the start. Best time to come for a consultation is at six months. If your child starts to have sleep problems later on that’s absolutely fine, I work with kids until the age of 7.

Will my baby be crying himself to sleep?

Definitely not. I can help you find the best sleep training technique that works best for your child as well as fits into your expectations. I also give night consultations which can offer a lot of extra support in how to react in certain situations. I can confirm that sleep school will not harm your baby in any way. A lot of research (more recently, for example, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia; Temple University, Philadelphia, USA) has shown that correct application of sleep training methods does not increase baby’s stress hormone levels and is beneficial for both parents and children.

My baby is a bit unwell. Can we come for a consultation?

You can absolutely come for a consultation any time, but it’s not a good idea to start sleep training when your baby has a temperature, nasal congestion, or has just started teething.

How does a night visit / consultation work?

Night consultations are particularly beneficial for parents who are extremely exhausted and feel that following the sleep plan is challenging for them. I can support your family as little or as much as you like. I can oversee you sleep training your baby in the night. As your baby might need attention tens of times in the first night or two, this can be emotionally challenging for any parent. Night consultations are also useful as I can witness your baby’s bedtime routine and suggest alternatives if needed. I record everything throughout the night so the next morning we can have a discussion and amend the plan as required.

Can I come to consultation with more than one child?

Absolutely. Parents often contact me when they’ve had a new baby and this coincides with the older child also developing sleep problems. I work with children until the age of 10.

My child has nightmares / night terrors / disturbed sleep. Can you help?

You can absolutely contact me for a consultation. You are not alone in this and there is so much we can do to get to the bottom of these problems. Nightmares; kids who just do not stay in their beds in the evening; older kids who end up in parents’ bed come morning - I can help with all of these problems.

Can you guarantee results?

Naturally, I cannot give any guarantees, however, it’s the same as with any school - if you work hard I promise you will definitely see results. Sleep training is not an easy process and requires a lot of consistent work from parents, but if you commit to the process I promise your child’s sleep will improve immensely.