010: Rebecca Mendoza helps us better understand sleep training

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Are you a parent struggling with your child's sleep patterns and wondering how sleep training could help? Rebecca Mendoza, a certified child sleep consultant, shares her wisdom on the journey to better sleep for your little ones in this week’s episode. 

Timing is crucial when it comes to sleep training. Most sleep consultants recommend starting no earlier than four months, with many preferring to begin at five or six months. Babies should be developmentally ready to understand the connection between their actions and responses, which typically occurs around five months. Premature babies may require adjusted timing based on their development.

Parents need to consider their comfort levels and involvement. More involved methods, where parents stay in the room, can be gentler but tougher. Less involved methods, such as the Ferber method or sleep wave method, involve checking at intervals but not soothing the baby back to sleep immediately. Remember, consistency is key. By allowing your baby to practice self-soothing with decreasing parental intervention, they will eventually learn to fall back asleep on their own.

Having seen, first-hand, with her own children, the enormous benefits that come from making sleep a priority, the seed of Rebecca's career in sleep consulting was planted. As she transitioned out of a 25-year dance career, Rebecca dove into the formal study of sleep science, studying Sleep Physiology with Dr. Richard Horner at the University of Toronto. She continued her studies with The Family Sleep Institute and became a certified child sleep consultant. As a knowledgeable and compassionate consultant, Rebecca gives families the tools and confidence to succeed.

By following a consistent method, understanding your child's cues, and being patient, you can successfully navigate sleep training and help your child—and yourself—enjoy better, more restful nights.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Intro
• 04:20 Rebecca's Personal Journey with Sleep Training
• 09:33 The Importance of Timing in Sleep Training
• 14:12 Creating the Right Sleep Environment
• 19:26 Methods and Approaches to Sleep Training
• 24:48 Helping Babies Self-Soothe, Consistency in Sleep Training
• 26:49 Parental Intuition and Decision Making
• 27:57 Challenges and Emotional Struggles
• 29:05 Expected Sleep Training Timeline
• 34:09 Feeding During Sleep Training
• 40:08 Final Tips and Encouragement

Connect with Rebecca

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RebeccaMendozaSleep 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccamendozasleep/
• www.rebeccamendozasleep.com 

Connect with me

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholebundle/
• https://thewholebundle.com/