How to Become a Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Jenna Clarke, experienced Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Are you curious about providing sleep support to families? I have been working as a professional pediatric sleep consultant since 2017, and have been helping friends and family with sleep issues since 2011. Baby sleep has been a keen interest for me since I was pregnant with our first daughter in 2010. Becoming a pediatric sleep consultant is a fulfilling career that allows you to make a significant difference in the lives of families. You’ll be providing solutions to common sleep problems in babies and young children. If you're passionate about helping families improve their sleep and overall well-being, here’s how you can become a pediatric sleep consultant.
What is a Pediatric Sleep Consultant?
A pediatric sleep consultant works with parents to develop personalized sleep strategies for babies and children, typically from infants (4 months) to age five. These professionals help families overcome common sleep challenges such as night waking, difficulty falling asleep, or poor napping habits, offering evidence-based solutions and emotional support.
One important thing to remember is that over the course of your career, you’re always adding tools to your toolbelt. From day one after your training or certification, you’re not going to have the same knowledge and experience as someone who has been doing this for ten years. While most sleep consultant trainings will give a robust overview of the various sleep strategies you can utilize with your clients, please recognize that you can’t learn everything from one source. Humans are so diverse, and children are no different. I recommend you plan to take a range of courses in the field of sleep science and pediatric sleep. You’ll be a better sleep consultant in the end.
Why Consider Becoming a Pediatric Sleep Consultant?
Growing Demand: As more parents seek expert help with sleep issues, demand for pediatric sleep consultants is increasing. I have definitely had an increase in colleagues or past clients asking me how they can become a sleep consultant too.
Flexibility: The job offers flexibility in working hours and the option to work from home. When I’m not working in-person with clients, most of the time I’m supporting virtual sleep consulting families across the country.
Rewarding: Helping families achieve better sleep can dramatically improve their quality of life, making this career highly fulfilling. It brings me SO MUCH joy when I get texts from clients that say how much better sleep they are getting.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Step 1: Gain Relevant Experience
While not completely necessary, having a background in childcare, doula work, nursing, or other related fields provides a strong foundation for pediatric sleep consulting. Experience working with children, whether as a nanny, teacher, or healthcare provider, is beneficial as it helps you understand child behavior and parental concerns. If you’re wanting to work with babies, a Newborn Care Specialist or Postpartum Doula is a complementary role with sleep coaching too. I started my second career as a Birth & Postpartum Doula in 2014. From there, working with families in their child bearing years lead me to formalize my sleep offerings as I expanded my career. If you’re a mother raising small children, you have lots of experience dealing with pediatric sleep in your own home.
Step 2: Enroll in a Pediatric Sleep Consultant Program
To become trained and certified, you must complete a pediatric sleep consulting training program. Look for reputable programs that are recognized by professional associations and provide thorough instruction on:
Infant and toddler sleep patterns
Sleep science and biology
Behavioral techniques for promoting sleep
How to create sleep plans and work with families
As mentioned earlier, you’re not going to take just one course and be done. Being a lifelong learner is important to be the best in your field of expertise. Take one course at a time. Find conferences, workshops, short training sessions to enhance your practice, and be in it for the long haul.
The programs I recommend include:
The Center for Pediatric Sleep Management - Jayne Havens started this program and it offers a thorough overview of all you need to know to become a sleep consultant and build a virtual business in the industry.
Sleep Wonders - Cortney Gibson is a good friend of mine and has over 20 years of experience in the newborn care industry. Her integrative approach to sleep is evidence-based and holistic. You will learn so much from each of her courses.
Summer’s Sleep Secrets - Summer Hartman has close to 20 years of experience in the sleep and newborn care industry. She offers several programs. Summer’s secret sauce is her ongoing mentoring and support for her students.
Sleep Solutions Birth - Six Months - Newborn Care Solutions is a leading provider of education and training for Newborn Care Specialists and Nannies across the country. This course is a great overview of infant sleep in the first six months of life.
Sleeposium - The Child Sleep Institute has a range of resources for sleep consultants. I enjoy attending their annual virtual Sleeposium conference.
Holistic Sleep Coaching - This training program is on my “to do” list of training that I hope to take in the near future. I’ve heard great things about it, and have attended information sessions outlining the course. Lynsday Hookway’s book is a great resource I recommend. I’ve taken a short course with them and enjoyed the information they presented.
Step 3: Build Your Knowledge on Sleep Training Methods
There are different methods of sleep training (e.g., The Ferber Method, The Chair Method, bedsharing, etc). Some sleep approaches are responsive (aka gentle) and some foster independent sleeper expectations. As a pediatric sleep consultant, it’s important to be familiar with a variety of approaches so you can tailor your guidance to each family's values and needs. It’s okay if you’re not comfortable with all methods at once. Build your knowledge on the approaches that resonate with you the most, and then add more to your repertoire as you take more trainings and expand your offerings.
One way to engage in continuing education and mentoring is to join a professional association. I am currently the only member in the state of Kentucky of the Association of Pediatric Sleep Consultants and the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. These associations provide opportunities for networking, education, and resources to build your knowledge in the field of pediatric sleep.
Step 4: Gain Practical Experience
Once you complete your program, you’re a trained sleep consultant and can start taking clients. You can gain experience by working with a mentor or shadowing an established pediatric sleep consultant. You could also offer free consultations to friends or family to get hands-on experience with real-life sleep challenges.
Step 5: Set Up Your Business
Once you feel confident in your skills, it’s time to start your own pediatric sleep consulting business. Here’s what to consider:
Business Registration: Register your business according to your local state laws.
Create a Website: Your website should include your services, qualifications, and contact information. Ensure it is SEO optimized to attract potential clients through search engines.
Pricing Structure: Determine whether you will charge per consultation, per hour, or offer packages.
Client Management: Set up systems for scheduling, invoicing, and client communications to stay organized.
Professional Liability Insurance: Westminster Group is one option for liability insurance.
Step 6: Market Yourself
To grow your client base, consider these strategies:
Social Media: Share tips, success stories, and sleep advice on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to connect with parents.
SEO and Blogging: Regularly write blog posts about common sleep problems and solutions to improve your search engine visibility.
Networking: Collaborate with pediatricians, midwives, doulas, and parenting groups to build a referral network.
Skills Required to Become a Successful Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Empathy and Patience: Working with tired parents and fussy children requires understanding and compassion.
Communication: The ability to explain sleep concepts clearly and guide families through the process is key.
Problem-Solving: Each family’s situation is unique, so you’ll need to customize sleep solutions and adapt to varying challenges.
FAQs About Becoming a Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Do I Need a Degree to Become a Pediatric Sleep Consultant?
No, a degree is not required, but relevant education or experience in child development, childcare, doula work, nursing, or other related field can be helpful. Pediatric sleep is an unregulated industry, so “certification” is not necessary to practice and is granted by the training organizations.
Can I Make a Full-Time Income as a Pediatric Sleep Consultant?
Yes, many consultants build successful full-time practices, though income can vary based on location, experience, and business strategy.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a pediatric sleep consultant offers a unique opportunity to blend your love for helping families with a flexible and rewarding career. By following these steps, you can build the skills and knowledge needed to support parents and their children in achieving restful sleep.
I hope this was helpful for you. Contact me if you have any questions!
