Sleep Training in Los Angeles
Are you exhausted from endless bedtime battles and frequent night wakings? Sleep is a biological necessity, yet for so many families, it feels like an impossible dream. I want you to know that you are not alone, and you don’t have to “just survive” this phase.
At Child & Family STEPS, I provide customized sleep plans that are designed to help families create effective sleep routines and address a wide range of sleep challenges. I work with you to develop a plan that respects your parenting philosophy, while teaching your child the skills they need to become a great sleeper.
Why Choose Child & Family STEPS for Sleep Training?
- Expertise in Early Childhood Development: With extensive experience in infant and early childhood development, I understand the nuances of infant and toddler sleep. I work with you to create a sleep plan that is effective, follows your parenting philosophy, and respects your child’s temperament, nutritional needs, and attachment security, ensuring a holistic approach.
- Customized Plans: There is no one-size-fits-all solution to sleep. I tailor the sleep training process to fit your specific goals, parenting style, and your child’s developmental needs and temperament. This means that we will work together to create a detailed, step-by-step sleep plan that feels right for you, whether you are breastfeeding, room-sharing, or have a specific parenting philosophy you want to honor.
- Gentle and Responsive Methods: Many parents worry that sleep training means letting their child cry alone for hours. My approach is based on gentle, responsive strategies that build your child’s sleep confidence while ensuring they feel safe, loved, and supported throughout the process.
- Comprehensive Family Support: Sleep deprivation affects the entire family. I provide support not just for your child, but for you as parents. I help you get on the same page, manage your own anxiety, and provide the consistent coaching you need to feel confident and successful.
What to Expect in Our Sleep Training Sessions
1. Sleep Assessment & Goal Setting: We begin with an interview where I learn about your child’s sleep habits and history, temperament, daily & bedtime routines, sleep challenges and your family’s specific goals.
2. Developing Your Personalized Sleep Plan: Based on the assessment, we will create a customized sleep plan that details a clear, step-by-step approach to supporting your child’s sleep goals. The plan will include bedtime routines and clear, responsive strategies for handling night wakings and nap challenges. With toddlers or older children, I often create a personalized social story, which is creative and tailored to your child’s interests to support their motivation and desire to engage in this next developmental challenge.
3. Implementation & Coaching: I will help guide you through the implementation of the sleep plan, helping you troubleshoot any challenges and make adjustments to the plan as needed. Together, we will introduce the sleep plan to your child in a way that fosters excitement for practicing towards their sleep goals.
4. Fine-Tuning & Future Planning: As your child’s sleep improves and you feel confident in your ability to maintain healthy sleep habits, we will fine-tune the plan as needed. I will equip you with the knowledge to handle future challenges like nap transitions, travel, illness, and developmental regressions, empowering you to be your family’s sleep expert long after our work is done.
FAQs about Sleep Training
What is Sleep Training?
Sleep Training is the process of helping your child learn to fall asleep independently and self-soothe back to sleep when they wake up during the night. It involves a consistent bedtime routine and implementing clear, predictable responses to your child’s night wakings. There are many different sleep training methods. At Child & Family STEPS, I work with you to choose a method that you are comfortable with and that is a good fit for your child.
Is Sleep Training for us?
Frequent night wakings that are disruptive to your family’s sleep
Difficulty getting your child to fall asleep at bedtime
Bedtime battles, tantrums, or crying
A desire to support your child with sleeping in their own bed/room
Short or inconsistent naps
A reliance on rocking, feeding, or holding your child to sleep
Parental exhaustion and stress due to lack of sleep
Is this a "Cry It Out" method?
No. While learning any new skill can lead to some protest tears, my approach is not based on leaving a child to cry alone for prolonged periods. I will provide you with a range of responsive strategies to comfort and support your child as they learn the skill of independent sleep. We will choose a method you are 100% comfortable with.
What are the benefits of Sleep Training?
- Improved sleep for the whole family: The most immediate benefit is more consolidated night-time sleep for both you and your child, leading to more restorative rest for the entire family.
- Enhanced child well-being: Well-rested children are generally happier, more resilient, and have better regulated moods.
- Healthy sleep habits: Sleep training teaches your child a valuable life skill and establishes a foundation for healthy sleep for years to come.
- Increased parental confidence: This process empowers you with the skills and confidence to lovingly and effectively guide your child’s sleep.
- More “you” time: With a predictable sleep schedule, you will have more time for yourself and to connect with your partner.