My three children must be some of the worst sleepers in the universe. I haven’t had a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep in years, my body has simply adjusted to being on call 24/7.
I think a lot of parents struggle with their sleep, and having children that wake up throughout the night. It’s one of those common topics of conversation that comes up with parents. Well meaning adults beyond the “little kids” stage will often ask “is your little one sleeping through the night?” I typically start getting this question once my babies hit six weeks, which is almost laughable.
I’m no expert in sleep training or infant sleep. In fact, I’m probably the opposite of expert on this topic. I consulted with Megan Reeve, a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and owner of ABZ Sleep Consulting, to get some helpful information on infant sleep.Megan and her husband Rob have lived in Guelph since 2012, and have a two-year-old daughter named Mya and a son on the way in mid-April.
Shortly after their daughter Mya was born Megan and Rob realized that they didn’t know much about infants and their sleep needs. They hired a sleep consultant and saw almost immediate relief, and a much happier baby.
“Within 72 hours of working with a consultant, our lives changed,” Megan shared.
Megan, who works in Marketing Communications, couldn’t stop thinking about the confidence that hiring a sleep consultant had given her as a parent.
Megan said, “I knew I needed to pursue this as a career. I knew I needed to help other families the same way we’d been helped.”
After completing her certification through the Sleep Sense Program run by Dana Obleman, Megan established her own consulting business, ABZ Sleep Consulting, in August 2017.
Megan shared that as a consultant she is committed to helping families understand the big picture.
“Sleeping through the night is of course a goal,. Helping parents understand what age appropriate sleep is, how sleep changes, and why children benefit from learning independent sleep skills are all top of mind when I work with families,” she said.
Megan shared that she does not offer a one-size-fits all approach when consulting with families and their children. Instead, she meets with the families to look at the big picture and offer a plan that will work with the individual families needs. She also explained that not all parents are comfortable with the same methods or practises, and she listens to and works with parents’ comfort level.
When asked about the importance of sleep for families, Megan said, “we are learning more and more every day about how important good quality sleep is for children and adults. I believe that teaching a child the skills she needs to become a good and independent sleeper is a vital gift for long-term health and happiness.”
Megan said that her main recommendations for good quality sleep is to understand what amount of sleep is age appropriate for your child, help your child to be independent and learn to fall asleep on their own, and and be consistent with your child.
“Children thrive on predictability, so having a routine and being consistent is very important,” she advised.
Megan said that some children can sleep longer stretches by three months old, and by six months most children can sleep through the night. However, she works with clients who have children ranging from 0 to 12 years.
You can find out more about Megan by visiting ABZ Sleep Consulting.
