Frequently Asked Questions

We are all certified sleep trainers of the Sleep Sense method. This means that we have studied and undertaken intensive residential and distance training with Dana Obleman, the founder of the US-based Sleep Sense™ programme.

Continuing education is very important to us and we stay up to date on everything from reflux and infant digestion to safe sleeping practices and of course newborn, baby sleep & toddler sleep.

We practice the The Sleep Sense™ method with families throughout the UAE and globally.  This sleep training was created out of a strong belief that healthy sleep habits make for healthy children and as testament to this, to-date, more than 57,000 children and their families have benefited from this approach worldwide.

There are various other sleep training approaches, but the reason that the Sleep Sense™ method is so effective and resonated with us and our clients so much is that it lets you develop a sleep training plan that you feel comfortable with based on what you know about your child. 

We create customised child-centric, parent-led sleep plans for each family that we work with. In essence, it’s a schedule for 14 days and nights of when your baby or child should eat and sleep. The sleep plan varies depending on the age and needs of each child, and the wider family's habits and schedule.

Our sleep coaching process is initiated with a no-obligation virtual consultation to understand your family’s situation and explore whether the Sleep Sense method could work for you. If we all feel it can, then the process begins. 

We will discuss optimal sleep environments and the steps you need to take as parents to ensure that you are fully prepared to follow the schedule that is created. We will go through the plan together in a virtual meeting, and once you begin the implement the plan we are  on hand to support you as they need it via virtual meetings, telephone calls and Whatsapp messages.

ABSOLUTELY! 

We are huge supporters of breastfeeding and believe that it is such a great bonding experience for you both, not to mention the health benefits! But it’s your choice, always.

As we work on your bespoke sleep coaching plan, we do not focus on how you feed your child, just that they are getting enough to eat and at the right times of day while you’re teaching them to sleep.

In a word, no. Co-sleeping should stop when it’s not working for everyone (you, your partner and your baby). That’s where we come in. 

Our role is to help you transition your baby or toddler into their own bed in their own room. This said, if putting your little one in their own room is just too hard or simply not an option due to space, then we can definitely work with room sharing, just not bed sharing.

No! We couldn’t do that with our children, and we would never ask another parent to do something we haven’t done ourselves!

This said, unfortunately, there will be some crying during the sleep training process. If there was a magic wand to make it a cry free experience, you would be the first to know! Babies are just too young to use words and tell you they preferred falling asleep with their bottle for comfort, or on you, or in your bed, or by being rocked, etc. They can’t verbalise this in any other way than a little cry of protest.    

We are able to coach you through handling your little one’s protests as gently as possible. As Sleep Sense consultants, we will work together to create a bespoke sleep plan for your little one, and we can explore the best method for your child to minimise the protests as much as possible within all of your comfort zones.

Using our gentle sleep training plans, you’ll be in the room comforting and teaching them how to sleep on their own – you won’t be putting them in bed and simply shutting the door. Our plans are tailored to you all, and we listen carefully to your wishes on how you want to handle many different scenarios that could arise so you have the tools to confidently draw on when it’s bedtime. 

Also, please remember that once babies learn how to fall asleep on their own – which can happen pretty quickly – the crying goes away!

Together we will create a sleep coaching plan bespoke to you, your child and your daily routine to make it work. If you have a nanny / helper supporting you home, it is advised to include them in the sleep training process so that they can implement the plan as well.    

We also give you tips on working with your childcare provider, including how to prep your nanny and / or nursery so they follow your wishes and remain consistent with our plan.

Our services are so personalised, we find that three clients a week works best for all.   It gives us the time we need to create the bespoke sleep programme tailored to each family’s lifestyle and the challenges you face, as well as ensuring we are always available to give timely and effective coaching through the implementation stages over the two weeks that follow.

We have waiting lists, so please get in touch to start the process. And if you feel you really can’t wait then let’s talk and together we’ll figure out a plan!

Sleep coaching can be controversial, but this is due to the common misconception that sleep training simply means that your child will be left alone to cry alone in their room until they eventually fall asleep exhausted, under the so-called ’cry it out’ method. 

This is not the only method of sleep coaching – we offer a gentle programme which is a child-centric, parent-led method that helps families all get a good night’s sleep. It’s based on a gradual withdrawal approach and does not involve excessive crying or causing your child, or you, emotional discomfort.

As parent, you will feel confident as you are present during the sleeping time but you start to reduce their contact over a course of 10 days. Your child acquires the skills of self-soothing and self-reliance, giving them the confidence in their own abilities to fall asleep at bedtime and to go back to sleep if they wake up in the night. 

Sleep coaching can be a bit of rollercoaster ride in the initial stages – like all stages of parenting, it is a process that takes both time and patience. Ultimately, consistency is the key to success. It is crucial in helping children sleep through the night and take good naps on their own. 

In the initial stages, your little one may have a good night, then a not so good night, then a few good nights and so on. We are always on hand to reassure you that this is all part of the process and with time it will become more and more consistent. 

As a sleep trainer, we thrive on the times when parents like you reach out to us because they are finding things tough. It’s at this point we can remind them of the amazing progress that they are making in improving their child’s sleep habits and bring their awareness to all of the changes and improvements that have been achieved in such a short space of time. Just that little extra reassurance is all that is needed to support and empower the parents to push on.

Our services can start from even before a child is born! Sometimes, we have expectant parents reach out to us as they prepare for their baby’s birth and want to ensure as ideal an environment as possible. 

In terms of an optimal age to begin sleep coaching for a child, we have found that babies aged 5-7 months respond the quickest. This is due to their stage of development and maturity – they’re young enough to not really notice the changes, but old enough to tolerate structure and routine. 

I (Claudine) have helped over 550 families successfully coach their child to sleep soundly.  A few parents have told me that their child is un-coachable, but that’s never been the case and usually any issues take just a day or two of gentle coaching to overcome before we begin to make solid progress. 

Parents who use our sleep training methods with their children can expect to have no regression when teething or through other developmental stages. 

We always tell our former clients to reach out any time an issue arises. A house move, birth of a sibling or travel overseas can upset a child's sleep, but we will always support parents through any changes which may occur.

Our expertise lies in fully preparing and providing the right level of support for parents as we help them to coach their child to better sleep. Our aim is to ensure that you always feel empowered in managing your child’s bedtime independently of us.    

We do currently offer a home visit service where we can be present at bedtime and overnight if you require this, however the purpose of this is for a trainer to be on hand to support you  and encourage techniques to enable you to feel confident in handling your child’s bedtime and own the sleep coaching process yourselves.