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
Many of my clients have been covered by FSA and HSA. Contact me to learn more!
Many of my clients have been covered by FSA and HSA. Contact me to learn more!
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 Navigating the Waters ~ 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 two decades. Let me help you, so that you can be a well-rested, happier new parent!
With a background in Mental Health and Women's Studies, two decades of Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum Doula support, and new parent group facilitation, I mentor new parents around normal infant sleep, wellbeing, and the many layers of new parenthood.
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 sacred 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 perhaps expect that our tiny humans might act like adults and be okay in their own sleep space all the time. I’m here to share with you how to navigate the waters. There will be harder days and weeks. And at 6mo and older, things do turn a corner, and this is when I gladly teach self soothing and so, so many other skills to babies. Yet 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 for coaching closer to 6mo.
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! Our main focus during this young and tender time is not independent sleep (independent meaning: self-soothing) unless your baby is clearly ready for this really big skill closer to 5mo. Every baby is different. Also remember that some babies just need more contact in the day for naps. We can work on our "sleeping in the crib for nap" goals day by day, but we have to understand too what baby is communicating to us about their needs. Babies are so dependent on us for so many levels of caring. This is 100000% normal. So what do we work on then during the 1-5mo mark? 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 schedule for your baby
This consult is for you if all of the info here resonates with you and you are tired of hearing from others what you should do with your baby- and instead you are more interested in unearthing your voice and your goals and your unique style of parenting your baby.
My intention for this consult to educate you, support you, ease your expectations, and give you expert tips through this bumpy time. My job is give you respectful, science based info, so that you understand the infancy stage a whole lot better than you did before we spoke, and so you can feel more comfortable BEING in this tender phase, that will not last forever. I promise!
I’ve not only been in your shoes- I've helped countless families in the infancy stage for two decades. Let me help you, so that you can be a well-rested, happier new parent!
With a background in Mental Health and Women's Studies, two decades of Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum Doula support, and new parent group facilitation, I mentor new parents around normal infant sleep, wellbeing, and the many layers of new parenthood.
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 sacred 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 perhaps expect that our tiny humans might act like adults and be okay in their own sleep space all the time. I’m here to share with you how to navigate the waters. There will be harder days and weeks. And at 6mo and older, things do turn a corner, and this is when I gladly teach self soothing and so, so many other skills to babies. Yet 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 for coaching closer to 6mo.
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! Our main focus during this young and tender time is not independent sleep (independent meaning: self-soothing) unless your baby is clearly ready for this really big skill closer to 5mo. Every baby is different. Also remember that some babies just need more contact in the day for naps. We can work on our "sleeping in the crib for nap" goals day by day, but we have to understand too what baby is communicating to us about their needs. Babies are so dependent on us for so many levels of caring. This is 100000% normal. So what do we work on then during the 1-5mo mark? 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 thorough intake process so that I can thoughtfully prepare for our consult and YOUR family's needs
- one 90min consult
- 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 DbA for your baby under 6mo (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 schedule for your baby
This consult is for you if all of the info here resonates with you and you are tired of hearing from others what you should do with your baby- and instead you are more interested in unearthing your voice and your goals and your unique style of parenting your baby.
My intention for this consult to educate you, support you, ease your expectations, and give you expert tips through this bumpy time. My job is give you respectful, science based info, so that you understand the infancy stage a whole lot better than you did before we spoke, and so you can feel more comfortable BEING in this tender phase, that will not last forever. I promise!
Part 2: Gentle Sleep Coaching for children 6 months and older
“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
Welcome to Gentle Sleep Coaching for children 6mo+
This unique offering will take you from where you are, to where you need to go, and more. You can help your child learn new and independent sleep skills, at their pace.
To get started, I consult with you and cover all the Baby Steps needed before you would begin the independent sleep process. This process might take 3 days or 3 weeks! It all depends on where you are starting. If you are bed sharing and feeding 7x a night, your Baby Steps will take longer for example.
Once your Baby Steps are complete, I support you with follow-up calls as needed during the 3-4 week independent sleep coaching process. Two follow-up calls per week is typical. I arm you with all you need to know on each and every call to keep you moving forward with your progress! You'll also have written materials to guide you.
First things first: good day sleep! (the right amount and the right time of day!), and we'll also design your bedtime routine, then we'll work on bedtime sleep independence. Once that's going well, we'll go into nighttime sleep independence, tackle early rising if that's happening, and ALSO cover daytime sleep independence! ALL of these require the time they need, and my job is to help you achieve what you want, step by step.
You'll receive:
This is a gentle fading-out sleep coaching approach. This is not a cry-it-out approach. You will be in the room with your child to start! Please read more about my training here.
This unique offering will take you from where you are, to where you need to go, and more. You can help your child learn new and independent sleep skills, at their pace.
To get started, I consult with you and cover all the Baby Steps needed before you would begin the independent sleep process. This process might take 3 days or 3 weeks! It all depends on where you are starting. If you are bed sharing and feeding 7x a night, your Baby Steps will take longer for example.
Once your Baby Steps are complete, I support you with follow-up calls as needed during the 3-4 week independent sleep coaching process. Two follow-up calls per week is typical. I arm you with all you need to know on each and every call to keep you moving forward with your progress! You'll also have written materials to guide you.
First things first: good day sleep! (the right amount and the right time of day!), and we'll also design your bedtime routine, then we'll work on bedtime sleep independence. Once that's going well, we'll go into nighttime sleep independence, tackle early rising if that's happening, and ALSO cover daytime sleep independence! ALL of these require the time they need, and my job is to help you achieve what you want, step by step.
You'll receive:
- an individualized look at your goals, so I can meet you where you are in your sleep journey
- a 90 minute initial consult to kick-off our work together and create an initial plan for your family (typically Baby Steps to start!)
- two options for follow-up care: in-depth week by week support (for families who are starting sleep coaching) OR check-ins when you need them (for families with just 1-2 goals)
- a no-cry-it-out bedtime coaching method that helps your child finally learn how to sleep on their own
- help to omitting night wakings & early rising
- support with nap coaching
- support in maintaining the nursing relationship and breast milk supply if applicable
- support in weaning the feeds of your choosing
- a review of your child's temperament as it pertains to healthy sleep habits and sleep space review
- a compassionate gentle sleep coach to keep you moving forward, day by day
This is a gentle fading-out sleep coaching approach. This is not a cry-it-out approach. You will be in the room with your child to start! Please read more about my training here.
featured on AfterThird: Read Erica’s personal story Thriving as a Single Parent
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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