Live chat Q&A with sleep consultant for babies

Amanda Hudye, owner of SleepWell Baby, specializes in helping parents put their children to sleep. 

Hudye joined online host Matt Kruchak in a live chat and took questions from the audience. (The interview has been edited).

Matt Kruchak: What does a sleep consultant do?

Amanda Hudye: At SleepWell Baby, we work with families to come up with a customized plan to get the whole family sleeping and resting easy.

Kruchak: What does the customized plan entail?

Hudye: We meet with you, learn about your current sleep situation, and then from there, create a customized plan which includes a daytime nap schedule, nap and bedtime routine, and the methods we will use for both daytime and night-time sleep. But most of all, we are there helping you and encouraging you every step of the way.

Reader comment from Nicole: Amanda, my almost three-year-old daughter is refusing her nap most afternoons. Is it possible that she really is ready to stop napping?

Hudye: Yes, between the age of two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half toddlers will drop naps. If you move bedtime earlier for four to six weeks, her body will adjust.

Reader comment from Amy: No medical body in North America recommends sleep training infants under the age of one year, for the simple reason that the practice is known to be dangerous. What are your thoughts on this?

Hudye: There are so many studies for and against this — at SleepWell Baby we use very gentle methods. We work closely with the medical community, doctors and pediatricians, many of whom have actually hired us for their own families. Our sleep training is not limited to babies and we work with children up to the age of eight.

Kruchak: How long have you been running the business and how did you get into it?

Hudye: SleepWell Baby was born out of a passion for sleep. I myself, had a daughter that did not sleep through the night. I founded the company over a year ago and have since grown the team and added six certified sleep consultants to get more families sleeping.

Reader comment from Lisa: My son sleeps in a crib in our room. He wakes several times a night. Do you believe infants will sleep better if in their own room?

Hudye: It really depends on how old your baby is. If he is just a newborn, you may want him in your room until he is a bit older. I believe everyone will sleep better when everyone has their own sleep environment.

Reader comment from Lisa: He is five months old.

Hudye: If you are ready for him to move into his own room, then go for it. I encourage a dark room for naps and bedtime.

Kruchak: What do you tell people who are skeptical of hiring a sleep consultant for a baby?

Hudye: At SleepWell Baby, we offer free 15-minute phone consults to chat with families who are not sure if this will work for them. We listen to their sleep challenges and together determine if we would be a good fit for their family.

Kruchak: What type of parents are using your services?

Hudye: We work with all types of parents. Families who want all the benefits of having a well slept family. I work with doctors, lawyers, stay-at-home moms, accountants, executives, the list goes on and on. We work with parents all over the world.

Reader comment From Liz: How soon do you recommend to start your program for a baby? Do you work with babies that are breastfeeding?

Hudye: We don't start working one-on-one with babies until at least 14 weeks. Yes, I am a big fan of nursing and you can have a baby who exclusively breast feeds and sleeps well.

Reader comment from Carey: Do your methods work with people who consider themselves to be "attachment parents?"

Hudye: Great question. We do work with attachment parents. Our approach is very customized and the parents are very much involved in the whole process

Reader comment from Amber: I have a nine-month-old daughter. She currently sleeps in a crib in our large room. She will soon be sharing a room with her two-year-old brother. Any suggestions for a smooth transition? He loves her so much and I worry that any peep out of her, he will be up bothering her and they will never sleep.

Hudye: I suggest putting your baby down for nighttime sleep and then get your son to sleep. I also recommend doing the bedtime routine as a family. That way your son can be part of helping to read his sister a story and give her a bedtime kiss and hug.

Reader comment From Lori: Any sleep tips for a six-week-old?

Hudye: Newborns need lots of feeds and lots of sleep. Keep your newborn well rested, they can only withstand about 45 to 60 minutes of awake time before they have to nap again. Try to rest when your baby is sleeping.

Reader comment From Amber: My nine-month-old daughter is a nighthawk. Her bedtime is usually between 10 p.m. and midnight. She sometimes wakes up throughout the night. Most times she will settle herself but sometimes I will get up and settle her. We have managed to get through most nights without me nursing her during the night anymore. And she only has one nap around 2 to 3 p.m. for two to three hours. Is she going to turn back her bedtime herself eventually? Or should I be doing something now?

Hudye: I suggest bumping bedtime earlier, to around 7 p.m. I also suggest implementing a morning nap around 9 a.m. and moving her afternoon nap a bit earlier. Sleep encourages sleep, so the better rested she is during the day, the better her nighttime sleep will be.

Reader comment from Andrea: What approach do you recommend taking with a toddler that struggles with bedtime?

Hudye: Toddlers are one of my favourite age ranges to work with. I suggest implementing a fun, bedtime routine that they can take part in. After they complete a step — say bath — then they place a sticker on the chart. Bedtime routine should be light and fun. I also like to implement rewards for cooperating.

Reader comment from Elsie: How many hours at night straight do you recommend a baby should be sleeping?

Hudye: It really depends on the baby, but in general 11 to 12 hours of consolidated, organized sleep. Again, it depends if the baby will need night feeds or is capable of going straight through the night.

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