Absolutely not - and that's the whole point. Sleep training - even “gentle” methods  - typically ask you to put distance between you and your baby, often through extinction or timed-check methods in service of “independent sleep” or eliminating night waking or crying/signaling for a caregiver. These behavior modifications go against normal infant physiology (research shows an infant’s primary means of communication is through crying). I believe in working with and supporting normal infant and mother dyadic physiology and work instead to discover and support root causes of WHY an infant is waking or signaling for a caregiver. Instead of encouraging separation from your infant - prematurely severing the mother-infant bond - I’ll encourage you to lean into your instincts and observe deeply so you become the expert on their sleep. I’ll help you understand what's physiologically normal for your baby's age, unique body and nervous system, look deeply and holistically at what might be getting in the way of better sleep, and support you in responding in line with your values — not stepping back from them. You will never be encouraged to let your baby cry it out.

“Sleep training” often centers around schedules, “independent” sleep, and reducing night wakings as the primary goal  - altering physiologically normal infant behavior. My support centers around your baby's nervous system, physiology, developmental needs, and your family's values - supporting normal infant sleep. Sleep improvements come as a byproduct of addressing the full picture, not just their sleep. We’ll look at the "why" behind sleep struggles rather than just managing symptoms or eliminating signals. I want you and your child to truly thrive, not just survive. 

Yes. This is probably the question closest to my heart because I’ve been there and it’s what inspired me to become a certified Integrative Infant Sleep Practitioner and start Rooted Infant Sleep. You don't have to choose between responding to your baby and getting rest. We'll look at the whole picture: feeding; environment; daytime rhythms; your baby's unique temperament, needs, and biology; nutritional needs and possible gaps; and your own bandwidth and nervous system status to find sustainable shifts that bring you real relief without asking you to override your instincts.

I work with infants from birth - 3 years (“infant-hood” is neurologically defined as 0-3). If your baby is younger than 4 months, their sleep patterns are still establishing and I'm happy to offer guidance on what's normal or could point to an underlying issue or red flag, but know that their sleep will rapidly change in the entire first year of life.

Possibly. Frequent* night waking, open-mouth breathing, noisy or “click-y” nursing, and restless sleep can sometimes point to underlying issues like tethered oral tissues (tongue or lip ties), airway restriction, body tension from birth, nutritional deficiencies, and other possible root or underlying causes. I'm trained to recognize these signals and patterns and, when appropriate, will refer you to trusted specialists like: pediatric airway dentists, IBCLCs, bodyworkers, feeding therapists, etc …  so you can get the full support you and your baby deserve and the rest you need.

*Frequent night waking is also biologically and developmentally “normal” for many infants (0-3) as their sleep gradually consolidates to more closely resemble adult sleep. To determine if night wakings are biologically normal or driven by one or more underlying root causes, we’ll talk about the details of the waking and things that could be affecting them like: how the child is being fed (breastfeeding, formula, combo), where the child sleeps (bed-sharing, room-sharing, separate room), daytime routines, etc …

Yes and yes! Bed-sharing is a personal and cultural norm for so many families (statistically, many of your friends and family members are likely bed-sharing at least on occasion — even if they don’t talk about it). We'll go through the Safe Sleep Seven and talk through your specific setup — your mattress, bedding, who's in the bed, feeding status, any health issues for baby and anyone else in the bed, and more — so you can make informed and safe choices that fit your family's needs and values and enable you all to get more rest. Planned, safely prepared bed-sharing is always safer than accidentally falling asleep in a dangerous sleep space or situation (on a soft mattress, in a glider or chair, on a sofa, and other spots that even the most well-meaning parents can accidentally doze off in). Even if you don’t plan to bed-share, knowing how to safely prepare a shared sleep surface can put your mind at ease for “just-in-case” situations where it may be necessary or desired. 

My support is always rooted in what infants bodies and brains are capable of and based on neuroscience and attuned, responsive support from caregivers. This philosophy can be used by both bed-sharing parents and parents whose infants sleep in a separate space (sidecar sleeper, bassinet, crib, floor bed, etc …) or a separate room. In accordance with current health recommendations, I do recommend that infants sleep in the same room as parents for at least the first 6 months (ideally the first 8), after which the risk of SIDS dramatically drops.

Yes - Infants that have been in the NICU or born prematurely are often some of the babies that most need and benefit from holistic, responsive and attuned integrative infant sleep support. Especially for babies born prematurely, their brains and nervous systems can be even more immature than full-term babies (who are already born with immature nervous systems and only 25% of their brains developed) and can benefit greatly from the most supportive care and sleep possible. Infant brains form millions of neurons per second and those neurons and how they’re wired (for stress or for calm) is directly shaped by their default nervous system state - which is hugely impacted and shaped during sleep and how they are responded to.

Yes, enthusiastically! Breastfeeding (especially overnight or while bed-sharing) is biologically normal and helps you and your baby achieve more restful sleep. Studies have also shown that any amount of breastfeeding more than halves the risk of SIDS, and exclusively breastfeeding further decreases that risk. I will never push families toward breastfeeding as this is an individualized decision based on you and your baby, but have knowledge and referral support if needed that can make your sleep and breastfeeding journey easier if you choose to do so. With that said, I also understand that some families may choose not to or be unable to breastfeed due to personal decisions or health situations. However you feed your child, you will be supported with the same integrative, caring, 1:1 sleep education, support and advice. 

Each call or package differs in what it includes. Some offer a straight forward informational style call meant to educate and introduce you to the concept of integrative infant sleep, while others offer an in-depth intake and assessment, a personalized plan built around your baby and family, and defined support windows with scheduled check-in calls. You'll have direct access to me throughout specified package support windows to ask questions, troubleshoot, and adjust plans as things shift — because they will. Please see individual call and package descriptions for more info. 

Every child and every family is different. Some families could see changes within the first week or two; others - especially when there are one or more underlying factors at play - may take a bit longer as we work through your unique situation, possible root causes and referrals. What I can promise is steady, attentive support the whole way through, never a one-size-fits-all script or plan.

Feel free to send me an email or dm so we can talk through what's going on and figure out what kind of support could help. If that’s not me, I’m happy to send you referrals to other trusted professionals.

diane@rootedinfantsleep.com or @rootedinfantsleep