Evidence Based Sleep Studies to
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Frequently asked questions

I am interested in someone coming to my home.

Unfortunately we do not do in home consultations or sleep training for a few reasons.
1. We pride ourselves on teaching parents what to do to teach their children sleep habits. Once you have done a training with the Babeez team, you will be able to retrain your child should their sleep get off track due to an illness, milestone, travelling etc.or even to train future children should it be needed. Often when we come into your home, parents rely on us to do the training so parents don't learn the skills they need to retrain long term.
2. It can be very costly to have someone come into your home and we truly believe that you do not need a home visit to help your child learn healthy sleep habits. We would rather you save your money!
3. Often when we come into the home, your child is on their best behavior and many of the sleep and behavior issues they would normally display, they do not do while we are there. With the Babeez program, you have us at your finger tips, so when you need us, we are right there while its happening via phone and texting. With the amazing world of technology, parents will often send us pictures and videos for us to see what is going on for rare situations where a visual may be needed.

What is the difference between Babeez Consultants and Sleep Doulas?

Babeez Consultants are trained and educated in all aspects of parenting including: sleep, proper feeding practices, dealing with milestones, age appropriate schedules, nutrition,  proper development and so much more. This training along with over 13 years of experience working with babies, young children and various pediatric professionals it was sets the Babeez program apart from any other. The Sleepy Babeez program has been the number one choice for doctors, psychologists, nurses, teachers and other professionals which proves that this comprehensive program is like no other.

When hiring a Sleep Doula it is so important to inquire if they have had any specific training around sleep, milestones, child development and the other topics listed above. The name Sleep Doula was tag lined by a company and the name unfortunately snowballed into a career which many doulas began to use without authorization. Parents are sometimes led to believe that ALL Sleep Doulas have specific training with sleep but unfortunately at this time, none of the doula training organizations teach any sleep programs therefore it is very important to inquire about what specific training do they have that qualifies them to teach sleep programs.  

Its also important to ask about what the consultants end goal is and what are their philosophies around sleep and sleep training. Some sleep consultants will teach you how to co sleep BETTER. If your goal is to have your child sleeping in their own crib with minimal support from you, be sure your consultant is going to offer you this.

What is the basic difference between hiring Debbie vs Sabrina?

Debbie is the Advanced Sleep Consultant and the creator of the Sleepy Babeez Program. She is a  doula, sleep consultant and newborn care specialist among other certifications. She has worked with thousands of families around the world both as a doula and as a sleep consultant and has encountered many situations that may arise. She is also  a mother of twins and has extensive experience sleep training multiples. Sabrina is a doula and sleep consultant and has been trained by Debbie (hand over hand) using the Sleepy Babeez program. She has actually trained her own 3 children through Debbie and the Babeez program. She has been very successful in her role as a sleep consultant and although she has slightly less experience, Sabrina has a direct line to Debbie at all times for any unique situations that may arise. Debbie and Sabrina work closely together to ensure that every family using the Babeez program has the best experience possible.

What happens if after a week of using the Sleepy Babeez program, we are still having sleep challenges?

Learning the skill of sleep is a skill that you can't give up on. This is a skill that your child will need for the rest of their life. Just like if you were teaching your baby to walk or talk, and it was taking longer then you thought, you wouldn't give up on continuing to teach him. Although most of the babies we work with are often sleeping through the night within that first week, there are a select few that need a bit more time to adjust to the new ways of sleep. Keep in mind, your baby only knows what he has been doing for his whole life, so teaching a new skill will take time. On that note, what you should see is some sort of advancement. Either falling asleep faster or staying asleep longer are great steps in the right direction. So even though you may not be having PERFECT sleep, you will be headed up hill instead of downhill.

My child is stubborn/alert. How will I know that this is even going to work for him?

Every parent thinks their situation is the worst. We have worked with hundreds of children and the situations and personalities are very similar. Yes you may have a more alert or strong willed baby, but that will just mean you have to be just as strong willed as he is and that's why our support is so valuable.

What if by the consult day, my child is sleeping better or we have changed our minds and no longer want to do the program?

We are usually booking consults a couple of weeks in advance. This means that your date is being held and other clients are either having to wait longer or turned away completely. This is the ONLY reason we do not offer refunds. If you feel you are unsure or think you can sleep train your child on your own, attempt this before booking with us. Once you have booked a consult, enjoy your baby and just wait until we work together to correct the sleep issues.

Does my spouse/partner have to be involved in the training?

We do recommend that any primary caregiver should be a part of the process. This will make it easier for your child if everyone is on the same page and understands the program. You can most definitely have 1 lead person that does the majority of training, but it is a good idea to have the other parent or even grandparents join in the process if you expect them to be able to put your child to sleep in the future.

What about my other child? Will they be disrupted?

There is a good chance that your older child may be disrupted by the training process because there will be much more interaction and noise happening then usual. You can either introduce your older child to some classical music to help him not be disturbed, have a special sleep over at grandmas during the process or even a special camp out on a different floor of the house.  Make sure you explain to your older child what you are doing so they understand what is going on.

What about my weekly activities, will I still be able to attend them all?

During the first 3-5 days of training, we recommend that you stay close to home to allow your baby the most practice at sleeping in his bed. Practice makes perfect! If you are out and about every day, your child can't possibly learn how to sleep in his bed. You may also want to restrict company during sleep times over those first few days as this can also be a disruption. You can definitely have visitors during wake time and go for walks throughout the day but try and limit outings and classes for those crucial first days. Once training is done, you will be taught how and when to take your child out during nap and wake times allowing you to continue your classes and activities.

I don't want to let me child cry, will this work for me?

No one likes to hear a baby cry, including your trainer. However, the only way a child can learn to sleep without you is...without YOU. You will be given very specific instructions of when to go into your child's room, what to do when you are in his room and how long to stay in his room but ultimately we want him to fall asleep without you actually there. This means that during this process he will protest and be upset. We take every precaution to make sure his needs have been taken care of but with every approach whether its gradual extinction, pickup and put down or our method of controlled comforting, your baby will cry. You cannot teach your baby to sleep on his own with NO crying. If this is something you can't get past, then you should wait until you are ready.

I'd like to expand on this question as it is the biggest one we get. Children cry. This is how they communicate as baby's and sometimes as young children. They can cry for many reasons including being hungry, board, tired, over stimulated, in pain and the big one upset. During our plan we take precautions to ensure your baby is not hungry, in pain or overstimulated however being upset is a cry that we can not control. We realize that you have been bombarded with lots of information stating that crying hurts babies and in fact they are not correct. A recent 6 year study discovered that children who are sleep trained cry less in the first year then children who are not sleep trained. Furthermore, the children who were sleep trained had far more success socially, physically, psychologically and developmentally as they got older. This to me would be affirmation that teaching the skill of sleep is the first step to parenting your child in a positive direction. Keep in mind that if your baby wanted to play in the street, which you knew was not safe, you would not allow it even if he threw a temper tantrum, threw up and screamed till his throat hurt. Sleep training may be the first time you hear your baby upset but certainly not the last.

I don't like to live my life by a schedule, will I be home bound after this training?

Absolutely not! After your training week, we do encourage you to resume your lifestyle, however keeping in mind that the schedule be maintained as close as possible each day even when you are out and that baby has at least 1 nap in his crib. You can spend the day at the mall as long as baby is being fed on time and put to sleep in the stroller on time. The reason why this is important is that with our training we are setting your baby's Circadian clock. This is his 24 hour internal clock that teaches us when is daytime, night time, wake time, eat time etc. If you change the baby's schedule every day, you are not enforcing his internal clock and you will see a quick decline in his daily patterns.

I've been told that my baby shouldn't sleep in a dark room, why do you recommend it?

We are all about using what nature gave us to help teach your child to sleep. Humans release a hormone called Melatonin when we are in the dark.  This hormone is a natural sleep aid and helps us to become calm and sleepy. Babies are human too, although sometimes we may think they are little aliens that are nothing like us, they are in fact humans and the physiology is the same. They release melatonin as well when they are in the dark, this is why it is so important to have them sleep in the dark for both naps and overnight. MOst of uscan't sleep in a bright room, yet we expect our babies to. Through our consult we will teach you how to differentiate day and night sleep for your baby.

Can I still do the program but feed my child once through the night?

Once we go over your intake, if we feel that your child is not having enough food to sustain him through the night, we will give you steps for this before training. However, if we are confident that your baby does not need the feed overnight, then it will be eliminated. Rest assured this is why the schedule plays such an important role in this training process. We will also discuss how to encourage big feeds and how to recognize if baby is not getting enough food. We cannot train and still feed through the night because it is too confusing to your baby and will make the process much harder and longer.

Can I co-sleep and still do the program?

No, unfortunately co-sleeping and sleep training do not go hand in hand. In fact, they are complete opposites. Co-sleeping means that you have your baby with you and sleep training means that he will learn to sleep without you. If you are happy co-sleeping, continue this until you are ready to have baby in his own bed.

I don't want to move my child out of our room yet or we live in a one bedroom and don't have a room for baby, Can I still sleep training while the baby is in our room?

Although this will pose some challenges it is possible to train in your room? Baby will have to be sleeping in his own crib and your consultant will give you some specific instructions for this arrangement.

I am travelling soon after my training, do you recommend to wait till I return?

It is important that your child has a very consistent schedule and routine at least 2-4 weeks after the training for the new process to stick. If you are travelling within this time, it is best to wait. However, during our final call we will give you instructions on how to travel with your little one when you do.

Why is the wait to have a consult so long? I am desperate for sleep, why should I wait to train with the Babeez team?

The support that we offer, you will not find through any other sleep company! Depending on which package you choose, we offer 24/7 support. Because of this support we can only accommodate 3 trainings a week each. This is what we handle without causing stress on ourselves and our families. We also want to make sure we can offer you the attention you need during our time together. Because our support is unique and we are passionate and knowledgeable about what we do, our clients are willing to wait and have this process done correctly. There are many individuals popping up claiming to be sleep consultants yet have had little to no training. Be aware of these individuals that can book you within the week. That should tell you something about their support and how many clients they are supporting. Keep in mind that not only is Precious Moments Babeez the top in its industry but we are linked with many medical professionals who work closely with us. Debbie Fazio, the advanced sleep consultant,  has spoken to medical students at several of the biggest universities in the GTA teaching the new era of doctors about how parents can safely help teach these skills to their babies. She is also working very closely with the Safe Sleep Campaign.

I am thinking of weaning off the breast, should I do this before, during or after the training?

We suggest you wait until our initial consult. We will discuss the options for you and offer you better ways of weaning that won't cause concern for you and your baby. Please keep in mind that we have successfully sleep trained breastfeeding babies which intern encouraged moms to continue breast feeding. Instead of weaning off breast feeding, take this time to think about why you want to wean. If it is because you think baby will sleep better, you may be surprised! If you do want to wean off breastfeeding in the night a few days before your consult you will receive tips for how to do this in your Babeez Starter Kit.

What can I do while I am waiting for our appointment? Can I do anything to prepare?

We hesitate to give you any tips without knowing exactly what your baby does in a day. We have a lot of things we put in place to send very specific messages to your baby and sometimes, giving these to you in advance can create more issues and then when we try to implement them in our program they no longer work. We do encourage you to begin setting up your babies nursery with the specifics you will receive in the confirmation email after you book and just enjoying your baby. In the meantime, if you need to co-sleep, have baby sleep in the car or stroller and so on, then do so. Enjoy your time together and we will work very hard at quickly achieving successful sleep once we start. Please note that your Babeez Starter Tool Kit will go over several things you can implement and prepare for our training.

My baby does/doesn't use a pacifier. Will this be an issue?

Absolutely not! We can train with or without it!

I am very worried about sleep training my baby. I have heard that sleep training can be traumatic for the baby!

Many parents have this fear. Traumatic is a very harsh word. Your baby will definitely be upset and so will you, but that's why we are here for you. We will support and assure you every step of the way. The training we use is the fastest which in turn is the least upsetting. Your baby will not change personalities, will not hate you and in fact after a week won't even remember this process.

When you say there will be crying involved, just wondering to what extent? 

We do not believe in going in every 5 minutes nor to leave a baby indefinitely. We start with 5 minute increments and gradually increase from there. We want your baby to know you are still there but also allow them more time to soothe on their own.

 
Is there any additional support after the first week in the event that our baby needs more time or we need more support?

Yes, on the rare occasion it can take a child a bit longer to get things sorted out.  HOWEVER this is rare. Your child may still need some practice past a week but you should notice much improvement as well as be empowered with what you will need to do in each situation. Because we do not want ANY client to feel like once our time is up you are on your own, we have opened a special Facebook Babeez Clinic which will allow you to reach out to us weekly even with situations that may arise as your child grows and don't necessarily have anything to do with out initial consult.  We pride our self on our support and this is just another great way we show our commitment to you. This is a free group for 2 months and then if you decide to continue being a member this is a small fee.

Do I need to use a white noise machine for babies or the gro clock for toddlers?

Our sleep program is largely based on key messages. The use of these tools makes the training process easier and more successful. By not using these tools, we have no idea how well training will work. It's best to use them for our training, in the specific way we teach you and if you decide you want to eliminate it later on you can. Please note that your child will not become dependant on the noise to fall asleep but it does help them transition through sleep cycles in the middle of the night and naps. 

Is there a guarantee that the sleep training will work?
Our training program is very successful but highly depends on a few things. Most importantly, that parents are following our instructions very carefully. If parents choose not to follow our instructions exactly, we can not guarantee how well the program will work. Most often we have found that some children take more time then others. As a norm, most babies will have successful overnight sleep within 3-5 nights and successful napping within 1-2 weeks. However, some children who are more resilient may need a bit more time to achieve naps. Overnight seems to be much easier for most children, where as naps can take a few weeks to have consistency.

How long will it take for my child to sleep through the night? How many hours do you consider sleeping through the night?

Most children will achieve successful overnight sleep within 3-5 nights. Sleeping through the night meaning 10-11 hours overnight with wakes less then 20 minutes each where child will go back to sleep without help from the parent. These minor wakes are common and normal as they are sleep cycles that are a normal human behavior. Sleep training will not eliminate overnight wakes (humans wake overnight in their sleep cycles for their entire life), but instead teach your child to go back to sleep without any help from the parent.  Naps can often take much longer to achieve consistency. 

What are the chances that we will have to retrain based on starting daycare, sickness, traveling, teething etc.

There is always a chance that you will have to retrain your child through any of these situations however through our training we provide you with the tools to be able to train again if need be in the future. Not to mention you will receive a maintenance kit that will go over how to deal with these specific situations to not create sleep regressions as well as access to our private Facebook group so that you have access to the Babeez consultants on a regular basis to help you as you transition through different ages and stages.

Can the Babeez consultant answer questions that are not sleep related (for example, solids, feedings, jet lags etc.)?

The Babeez consultants are experienced in many different aspects of parenting. This allows us to answer questions and guide you through various situations as listed below. You can included any of these questions on your original intake to us or throughout your initial telephone consult.

Breast feeding: Increasing quantities and Understanding if baby is eating enough, etc
Bottle feeding: Quantities, reducing gas and colic, etc
Starting Solids
Milestones
Separation Anxiety & Behaviour
Starting Daycare
Introducing a new baby
And so much more!

Should we train him once he starts day care or before he starts day care?

It is usually recommended to start sleep training either at least 4 weeks before or 2 weeks after daycare. If your child is starting daycare, we request you obtain a copy of the daycare schedule so that we can keep it similar during our program.

Do you use just one general strategy for all babies, or differ the strategy based on each baby?

Our Babeez program is a very specific comprehensive program and that's why it works so well. We always start with a very specific regimen however throughout your training, if your consultants feels its in the best interest of you or your baby, she will make suggestions and adjustments as needed depending on the situations happening within your particular training. This is the advantage of having the one on one support from your consultant. As you get into the training program, she can guide you with exactly what you need to do for your baby at that exact time.

How soon will texts/phone calls be answered with the Sleepy Babeez package?

Texts/emails are generally answered within 20 minutes. Note that sometimes we may be able to answer quickly and other times may be longer. It may simply be that we are indisposed, driving, on the phone or temporarily busy with our own family. We always make the best effort to answer and respond asap. We do not keep normal business hours so we can offer support in our daily lives, (i.e. grocery shopping, making dinner, working or even sleeping). We are very scheduled people so we usually schedule our lives around our trainings to ensure we are available at the times when our clients are sleep training.

What if the baby falls sick during the training?

If your baby is sick a few days before training it's important to let your consultant know right away so you can reschedule. If your child is sick after the consultation but prior to training start you can hold off on a modified support (your trainer will offer you specific options as per their schedule and what they can offer). If your child gets sick after training starts, you may end up having to stop training and restart on your own once your child feels better. The  consultants are very good about offering you a day or so of supporting depending on how much support they have already offered you. Don't forget you will have access to the Facebook clinic as well.