Navigating the Waters
A gentle sleep shaping & coaching program
"Before working with Erica, I would spend HOURS bouncing on the ball attempting to get my 5mo to sleep and sometimes it honestly just felt like I was making him more awake and agitated. After just days of support with Erica, he seems to finally be getting "quality" sleep and much more of it! Almost everyone that comes over to visit seems to notice how much happier and well-rested the little guy is! He is so peaceful during his nighttime routine now it’s almost as if he’s enjoying it and knows I’m helping him get the good sleep he needs. I realize that this will all fall into place with some coaching in a couple months when he’s ready. I feel infinitely better about his sleep (and mine) than I did when I first reached out. Erica is truly a sleep magician". Diana, month 5
featured on MAMA GLOW: Read Erica’s article on Demystifying Newborn Sleep
Part 1: Support & Sleep Shaping for Parents with babies 1-5mo
Welcome to Gentle Sleep Shaping for children 1-5mo.
I’ve not only been in your shoes- I've helped countless families in the infancy stage for over two decades. Let me help you, so that you can be a well-rested, happier new parent!
What is Sleep Shaping and why is it important for parents and babies under 6mo?
When your baby is this little, our goal is that they learn to enjoy sleep, and that we have a parent who is more confident and connected to their child. The 1-5mo mark is uncharted territory. It is not linear. There is SO much happening inside your baby’s brain and nervous system. You have a tiny new human and you too, are in the deep, deep beginnings of your parenthood journey. It’s a challenging (and incredible!) time, and we are not typically guided in this culture to go with the flow, to be in it, and to accept the unpredictably and the very notion of "parenting" at night. Instead we are sometimes guided by well-meaning people to expect that our tiny humans might act like older children and to be 100% okay in their own sleep space all the time. I’m here to share with you what is normal and how to navigate this phase. There will be harder days and weeks during this phase. And at 6mo and older, things do turn a corner, and that is when most babies are ready to learn more independent sleep (going into their crib awake and getting to sleep on their own). The 1-5mo Sleep Shaping program is about getting your baby’s needs met, and preparing them with all the ground work to set them up for success later on.
During our consult and in your abundant written materials, you'll learn what’s truly age appropriate for this time (specific to your child's month of age), and you will take with you many tools and tips for weeks and months to come. This knowledge is empowering, and catered to you and your unique baby. Our aim is to keep the baby calm and soothed, and to learn to sleep the amount they need!
So what do we work on then during the 1-5mo mark? I love working with parents during this time! There is SO much we can work on during this time to help your family thrive.
At this young stage, you will receive from me:
During 1-5mo sleep shaping, you will do your best to make small changes every single day. Remember, your baby’s unique developmental stage and normal infant behavior all play in a role in what’s occurring sleep wise at this young and tender time.
This consult is not for you if you expect:
- overnight results
- a fixed sleep schedule for your baby
We will work with your goals and your unique style of parenting your baby.
I’ve not only been in your shoes- I've helped countless families in the infancy stage for over two decades. Let me help you, so that you can be a well-rested, happier new parent!
What is Sleep Shaping and why is it important for parents and babies under 6mo?
When your baby is this little, our goal is that they learn to enjoy sleep, and that we have a parent who is more confident and connected to their child. The 1-5mo mark is uncharted territory. It is not linear. There is SO much happening inside your baby’s brain and nervous system. You have a tiny new human and you too, are in the deep, deep beginnings of your parenthood journey. It’s a challenging (and incredible!) time, and we are not typically guided in this culture to go with the flow, to be in it, and to accept the unpredictably and the very notion of "parenting" at night. Instead we are sometimes guided by well-meaning people to expect that our tiny humans might act like older children and to be 100% okay in their own sleep space all the time. I’m here to share with you what is normal and how to navigate this phase. There will be harder days and weeks during this phase. And at 6mo and older, things do turn a corner, and that is when most babies are ready to learn more independent sleep (going into their crib awake and getting to sleep on their own). The 1-5mo Sleep Shaping program is about getting your baby’s needs met, and preparing them with all the ground work to set them up for success later on.
During our consult and in your abundant written materials, you'll learn what’s truly age appropriate for this time (specific to your child's month of age), and you will take with you many tools and tips for weeks and months to come. This knowledge is empowering, and catered to you and your unique baby. Our aim is to keep the baby calm and soothed, and to learn to sleep the amount they need!
So what do we work on then during the 1-5mo mark? I love working with parents during this time! There is SO much we can work on during this time to help your family thrive.
At this young stage, you will receive from me:
- my extensive 1-5mo sleep guides that cover all-things sleep and well-being for young babies
- a thoughtful perspective on YOUR baby’s unique challenges and needs, and a ‘whole picture’ approach to working on your baby’s sleep shaping process
- tips to greatly optimize your baby's daytime sleep (appropriate cues & wake windows & other important factors)
- an understanding of why your baby's nighttime sleep is not yet organized and how to help baby back to sleep in the night with more ease and less stress when it is not feeding time.
- tips on how to cope with this challenging time, and how to make slow-paced changes that work for everyone involved
- help to lessen certain sleep associations (rocking, pilates ball, nursing/feeding, etc), according to your baby’s readiness
- support in moving from bed sharing to baby’s own bassinet/crib- and of course appropriate expectations around your baby’s ability to nap in their own space and how to start tackling this goal slowly.
- a nourishing, predictable and consistent bedtime routine that works for your family.
- newfound trust in your judgement and instincts instead of comparing your child to another parent's baby
- and of course: baby massage and bottle feeding tips, info on safe sleep; info on true signs of reflux; (transitioning out of) swaddling info; 4mo sleep progression info; sleep, culture, and lifestyle info; insight on sleep and temperament
- a modified version of "independent" sleep coaching for your baby (if baby seems ready for independent sleep practice);
- and much, much more!
During 1-5mo sleep shaping, you will do your best to make small changes every single day. Remember, your baby’s unique developmental stage and normal infant behavior all play in a role in what’s occurring sleep wise at this young and tender time.
This consult is not for you if you expect:
- overnight results
- a fixed sleep schedule for your baby
We will work with your goals and your unique style of parenting your baby.
Part 2: Gentle Sleep Coaching for children 6 months and older
At 6mo+ your child is now ready to learn independent sleep (going into their crib with full awareness). We know at this stage that babies' brains have developed enough to handle “self-regulation” with your help. We will start with a 60min consultation so that I can learn all about your child and what initial Baby Steps everyone needs to work on (Baby Steps are so important before you begin the coaching process). The sleep coaching process can start when your child is ready to go into their crib awake, calm but alert, at bedtime.
During our time together, you will receive:
Once your child is complete with Baby Steps, I will help you teach your child how to fall asleep all on their own, and go back to sleep on their own in the middle of the night. Teaching a child to fall asleep on their own at bedtime (and using the same coaching method at night wakings), helps to omit all night wakings (besides necessary feedings of course). Then once nights are going better, we will work on nap time independence. This course of action can take up to 3-4 weeks.
You will be using a gentle sleep method to teach your child how to fall asleep, finally, all on their own. I support you with a no-cry-it-out gentle sleep method that you will utilize first at bedtime, and then at night wakings. This does not mean that your child will not fuss or cry! This will be work for your child (and you!) Depending on their temperament and age, they may protest more than others. But I will never ever ask you to leave them alone to cry uncontrollably to sleep. Instead, I will offer guidance on how to balance your support with your guidance of teaching them a new skill of independence. Your child may not love the changes (they want to be rocked to sleep/or stay in the family bed etc ;-), but we can do our best with our presence and care to remind them that they are not alone, and that this new way of sleep is also safe and absolutely okay.
It is an honor to support parents in changing their lives for the better!
During our time together, you will receive:
- an understanding around all the rhythmic and emotional factors that affect your child’s sleep.
- support in assuring that your child can reach a more peaceful relationship to sleep.
- more understanding around your child’s need for daytime sleep and how to make naps happen at the right time of day, and with less stress for everyone.
- support in creating a predictable and consistent bedtime routine conducive to independent sleep later on.
- a gentle plan to omit current sleep associations at bedtime, and at naptime.
- support in helping your child acclimate to their own sleep space.
- support in creating a more consistent nighttime feed schedule (and working on soothing the child back to sleep when not feeding at night).
- support in weaning any night time feeds of your choosing, assuming the child is feeding well in the day.
- guidance on maintaining the nursing relationship and breast milk supply if applicable.
- top tips to help omit early rising.
- tips on travel with children, illness, and teething.
- and more!
Once your child is complete with Baby Steps, I will help you teach your child how to fall asleep all on their own, and go back to sleep on their own in the middle of the night. Teaching a child to fall asleep on their own at bedtime (and using the same coaching method at night wakings), helps to omit all night wakings (besides necessary feedings of course). Then once nights are going better, we will work on nap time independence. This course of action can take up to 3-4 weeks.
You will be using a gentle sleep method to teach your child how to fall asleep, finally, all on their own. I support you with a no-cry-it-out gentle sleep method that you will utilize first at bedtime, and then at night wakings. This does not mean that your child will not fuss or cry! This will be work for your child (and you!) Depending on their temperament and age, they may protest more than others. But I will never ever ask you to leave them alone to cry uncontrollably to sleep. Instead, I will offer guidance on how to balance your support with your guidance of teaching them a new skill of independence. Your child may not love the changes (they want to be rocked to sleep/or stay in the family bed etc ;-), but we can do our best with our presence and care to remind them that they are not alone, and that this new way of sleep is also safe and absolutely okay.
It is an honor to support parents in changing their lives for the better!
“Before returning to Erica for coaching support, my 6mo son was starting to wake up every 1-2 hours, only going back to sleep with more nursing. We were both exhausted and frustrated. I knew I did not want to try cry-it-out, but I was also of the mindset that, given his temperament, maybe he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep on his own and/or sleep through the night until he was much older. Working with Erica’s wonderful guidance and her tailored approach, my son learned to fall asleep independently in just a few nights. I was able to coach my son in a way that was comfortable for me and my son in order to get the sleep he and I both desperately needed, and I had Erica’s help each step of the way. She is one of a kind and I highly recommend her!” Diana, month 7
Before working with Erica, I had a lot of anxiety around my son’s sleep habits and schedule. We were looking to get our 2.5yr old son on a more consistent nap schedule and nighttime routine, and what we loved most about working with Erica was her flexible and low-stress approach. Erica was always really kind and encouraging, keeping our adjustments manageable and reminding us that sleep coaching tends not to be linear.” Jeannette
"Erica helped me navigate the emotional changes from leaving a co-sleeping relationship and helped us slowly integrate a new bedtime routine. Within a few weeks, we established a REAL nighttime routine for my youngest (not just lumping him in with the routine for my older two) and he was sleeping, through the night, in his own space." Jessica
“Our son wasn’t sleeping terribly but we knew it could be better. Gentle coaching is 100% the reason our son now puts himself to sleep and sleeps through the night. Erica’s kindness and calming guidance really helped us feel confident in what we were doing everyday. We can’t thank Erica enough.” Denise
"Erica is a thought leader for all things birth related. Her expertise goes back almost 2 decades. She not only helped my child get to bed...she helped me uncover the parent I wanted to be." Jill
"Erica helped me navigate the emotional changes from leaving a co-sleeping relationship and helped us slowly integrate a new bedtime routine. Within a few weeks, we established a REAL nighttime routine for my youngest (not just lumping him in with the routine for my older two) and he was sleeping, through the night, in his own space." Jessica
“Our son wasn’t sleeping terribly but we knew it could be better. Gentle coaching is 100% the reason our son now puts himself to sleep and sleeps through the night. Erica’s kindness and calming guidance really helped us feel confident in what we were doing everyday. We can’t thank Erica enough.” Denise
"Erica is a thought leader for all things birth related. Her expertise goes back almost 2 decades. She not only helped my child get to bed...she helped me uncover the parent I wanted to be." Jill
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