FAQs - Infant Sleep Education & Coaching
You likely have a lot of questions about how this all works. From payment to logistics, we've got the answers for you here. We support your family with whatever choices feel right for you. 0% judgement. 100% commitment.
Logistics
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All sleep support sessions take place virtually. We will send you a secure link prior to our session.
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The length of your session will depend on the package you choose, but generally the time ranges between 1 hour to 2 hours of on screen discussion and sleep coaching. You will have between 2 weeks to 2 months of follow up support included, depending on the package that you choose to move forward with.
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Once you’ve chosen a package and submitted your first payment, we’ll ask you to complete e-intake and consent forms.
You’ll then select the dates for your first visits, which will be offered to you by your sleep educator.
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Sleep Coaching and Education sessions are catered to your needs. We always include a check in chat, which includes a wellness assessment, and a check in on sleep hygiene, and baby’s sleep habits.
We can also offer practical help such as:
Offering tips and answering questions on infant care, breastfeeding and feeding, babywearing, and infant sleep.
Offering tips and answering non-medical questions regarding your own health, healing and well being.
Watching your baby while you take a nap.
Offering some breathing and light movement options for helping you to feel better and more connected to your body again.
We do not:
Provide any medical care or medical advice.
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Yes! However you are choosing to feed your baby, it will be interrelated to their sleep.
We can offer you input on your feeding methods and schedules. However, if you needed further support around infant feeding (nipple or breast pain and damage, low milk supply, introducing solids, weaning etc) please book a session with Kate, who is an IBCLC.
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Kate will be your initial contact and she will set you up with your sleep coach. Your coach will take care of payment, all other paperwork and scheduling, on their end.
Once you are set up coach communication will primarily be through them.
Kate is always available for any questions and she always welcomes feedback.
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Absolutely! We love working with twins - Kate is a mom of twins herself and our sleep coach team have loads of experience supporting families with multiples.
We do charge a slightly higher fee for multiples - please ask your coach about their twins and multiples rate.
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Once you sign on with us, we’ll further discuss the booking process and offer you a range of potential dates for your sleep coaching session. For pre and post session questions, we’re available between the hours of 9am and 5pm every day for phone, text and email support.
If your baby is yet to be born, we will chat through the scheduling process. Essentially, you’ll let us know as soon as your baby is born and then we’ll get your nights scheduled!
Payments
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50% of your package price is payable upon signing – unless you’d prefer to pay for the entire package at once, which is fine too. From the start of your sessions, we require payment weekly or after every 4 shifts, whichever comes first.
Payment by e-transfer is preferable but we can also accept payment via credit card upon request.
We do require arrangements for parking to be made, on your end. If you do not have parking available (driveway or visitor parking) we will bill for any parking fees.
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Unless there are extenuating circumstances (ie: a loss or Covid-19 restrictions), we are not able to offer refunds. Covid-19 has increased our ability to be flexible. In the past 18 months we have had to rejig support offerings, for some families. Luckily, because nighttime support is considered childcare, we have been able to offer relatively consistent services through the pandemic.
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We know life can be unpredictable (especially with a baby). However, we do require 24 hours notice for any changes to appointments. A $50 fee will be applied if 24 hours notice is not provided.
Approach
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The bottom line is that we are here to support your family unit. We know that when changes are happening, it makes all the difference when both parents feel confident in the process.
We are here to answer your partner's questions and concerns too - getting more sleep is important for everyone in the household.
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We have worked with 100s and 100s of families, each with their own unique story. Chances are, we’ve supported a family in a similar situation to you, facing similar challenges.
While each story is unique, you can rest assured that we have the experience to support your journey fully.
Here are some family and infant sleep experiences that we've supported:
Twins and triplets.
Besharing and continuing to bedshare.
Bedsharing and transitioning to a crib.
Understanding nap schedules and transitioning between the number of naps.
Extending nap lengths.
False start bedtimes.
Sleep regressions.
Time changes and baby sleep.
Travelling, changing time zones and infant sleep.
Using and weaning from sleep aids, tools or loveys.
Creating and modifying bedtime routines.
Dream feeds.
Bedsharing and weaning.
Increase in night wake ups.
Floor beds, cribs and other sleep surfaces.
Transitioning to daycare.
Toddler sleep.
and much more.
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We do not offer sleeping training but we do support your baby’s (and your family’s) unique sleep needs. Newborns and young babies are very in tune with their bodies and wake for a reason. We trust babies to tell us what they need.
For babies between the ages of 0-6 months, our holistic sleep coaching will focus on Sleep Education, Sleep Hygiene and Sleep Shaping. Our Holistic Sleep Coaching, focused on making changes, is available for babies 6 months plus, following current infant mental health practices.
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Whether the plan we come up with will work, depends on a few factors.
It's important to set realistic and achievable goals, based on your unique needs and not based on anyone else's.
Part of our approach is ensuring you understand normal baby and toddler development. We will not make a plan that is counter productive to the stage your child is currently in.
Most sleep plans take effort - sometimes physically, emotionally and psychologically. We are there to support you as you implement your changes and modify the plan as needed - flexibility is a key factor to success too!
Additional Support & Follow Up Visits
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Yes! We offer private pre- or post-natal yoga and pilates (by request), private childbirth education, birth support, infant sleep education, babywearing education, breastfeeding education and lactation consultancy, in addition to night doula support.
That said, we do share a lot of knowledge related to these areas as part of our doula support packages.
For example, we always discuss – and provide practical strategies related to infant sleep at postnatal appointments, and breast/feeding support and baby care education is always available to existing clients, postpartum.
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Absolutely! Depending on your sleep coach's availability, you can discuss adding on more support hours.
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That's not a problem! We can support you with whatever additional needs you are looking to be met.
All of our doulas have a broad range of skills - including supporting breastfeeding, bottle feeding and pumping. However, there are many times when families need a different type of support or support beyond the skillset of the doula.
For lactation and infant feeding support, Kate is the on team Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
For external support, such as Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, Perinatal Mental Health Support etc. we have a list of trusted practitioners, who we refer to, across the city of Toronto.
We’d love to hear from you!