Why I Became A Sleep Coach (Even Though I Didn’t Plan To)
A few years ago, if you had told me I’d become a baby sleep coach, I probably would’ve snorted into my coffee and gone back to Googling why won’t my baby sleep more than 45 minutes at a time?
Because for most of my life, sleep was just… sleep. You’re tired, you go to bed, you wake up, repeat. End of story. I never gave it much thought beyond the occasional bad night.
And then I had kids.
Not in the casual, “Wow, parenting is exhausting” way—I mean in that I truly did not understand the depths of human exhaustion until I lived it kind of way.
I went from blissfully unaware to obsessively tracking wake windows and analyzing nap lengths like I was running a lab experiment.
This is about the time that I learned that sleep deprivation isn’t just an inconvenience but it fundamentally changes how you function. Your mood, ability to think clearly, patience, and health—everything is impacted. Studies show that chronic sleep loss in parents is linked to increased stress, cognitive decline, and a higher risk of postpartum depression (Eckerberg, 1986).
The Internet Was No Help (Shocking, I Know)
Like any modern parent desperate for solutions, I turned to the internet.
The sheer volume of advice is overwhelming. One camp tells you to sleep train starting as soon as your baby is born, another swears you’ll emotionally damage your child if you let them fuss for more than 30 seconds. You get conflicting opinions on wake windows, bedtime routines, “bad habits,” and whether white noise will somehow ruin your child forever.
It’s a mess.
And when you’re running on fumes, the last thing you want to do is piece together a sleep strategy from contradicting information.
Eventually, I stopped trying to DIY my way to a good night’s sleep and took a step back, which helped me realize something– infant sleep isn’t random but there is actually a science behind it. Some babies don’t “just get” it while others don’t. It’s a skill that can be learned, and the way we approach it matters.
There’s real research behind why babies struggle with sleep, what actually helps, and why so many parents feel like nothing is working. This was really fascinating to me, so I decided to dive in and learn it all. Over the past few months I’ve completed a certification process to be an infant sleep consultant, but decided to take it a step further based on my own experience and operate as a sleep coach.
What is a Sleep Coach?
If you’re wondering what a Sleep Coach is, it’s helpful to understand the difference between a sleep consultant and a sleep coach.
A sleep consultant is like a strategic advisor for baby sleep—think of them as the McKinsey of sleep training (minus the PowerPoints). They analyze your baby’s sleep patterns, develop a plan, and give you the tools to implement it on your own.
What a Sleep Consultant Typically Offers:
A deep dive into your baby’s current sleep habits
A sleep plan based on the information you provided them
Education on sleep cycles, regressions, and age-appropriate schedules
Troubleshooting advice for common sleep struggles
You get all the information, but the actual execution is up to you.
Best for: Parents who want expert guidance but feel confident handling the day-to-day implementation solo.
On the other hand, a sleep coach is the personal trainer of baby sleep. They don’t just give you a plan—they guide you through it in real time.
What a Sleep Coach Typically Offers:
A personalized sleep plan tailored to your baby’s temperament
Real-time support via phone, text, or video calls (aka, “Help! She just woke up again, what do I do?”)
Adjustments based on how your baby responds
Emotional support and reassurance (because sleep training can feel like an extreme sport)
A sleep coach is hands-on—if a sleep consultant gives you a map, a sleep coach sits in the passenger seat with Waze open, helping you reroute when you hit a roadblock.
Best for: Parents who are exhausted, overwhelmed, or just want someone to tell them exactly what to do and when to do it.
So, Which One Do You Need?
It depends on how much support you want.
Choose a Sleep Consultant if…
You want expert advice but feel confident executing it on your own.
You prefer multiple sleep training options to choose from.
You’re okay troubleshooting independently when things don’t go as planned.
You like the idea of a one-time consultation rather than ongoing guidance.
Choose a Sleep Coach if…
You want real-time, step-by-step support as you implement changes.
You want a direct, “do this now” approach with less guesswork.
You need someone to answer “What do I do now?” in the moment.
You want a hands-on partner throughout the sleep training process.
Both options work—research shows that structured sleep interventions improve infant sleep duration and parental well-being (Mindell et al., 2006). It’s just a matter of how much hands-on guidance you want.
Why This Matters to Me
I didn’t start this career because I love sleep (though I do, deeply). I started it because I know what it’s like to be drowning in exhaustion with no clear answers.
I know what it’s like to second-guess every decision at 2 a.m.
I know what it’s like to feel like you’re failing because nothing is working.
I know what it’s like to hear, “Sleep when the baby sleeps” and want to throw something.
And I also know that sleep deprivation doesn’t have to be a permanent state of being.
People love to tell expectant parents to get ready to never sleep again, and that’s bullsh*t.
It’s 2025—we have AI bots answering emails, drones delivering packages, and any food or drink you could imagine arriving at our doorsteps 24/7. It’s time to rethink outdated ideas about baby sleep.
So here I am—helping parents get their babies to sleep with science-backed strategies and real-time, hands-on support.
I am personally a much better mom, wife, and employee when I’m well-rested, but I know that sleep training isn’t for everyone and that’s fine! However if you’re exhausted (like, truly exhausted) and want someone to help you figure this out, I’ve got you.
Because parenting is hard enough without running on fumes.
