Essential Sleep Support

“Now it's time to say good night, Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light, Good night, sleep tight” - The Beatles

What is holistic sleep support?

Holistic sleep support is a family-centered, attachment focused method of helping families and their children find peaceful sleep. There are no one-size-fits-all sleeping charts here! Not only do we spend time looking at your family’s current sleep situation, but we also review all aspects of your child’s life and how they experience the world. Holistic sleep supporters like me help you find solutions that fit in with your family’s needs rather than going off of a prescriptive list of things you must do for “good” sleep.

*Please note that these gentle sleep support methods take time and are not considered sleep training.

Using science and a deep understanding of child development, bonding, and attachment I help you meet your goals for more peaceful sleep.

My sleep story:

In 2015 when I had my first child, I thought I was prepared for everything! Boy did that little person turn my world upside-down. Lap-naps? Crying when put down in a crib? Not sleeping more than 30 minute stretches during the day? I experienced it all. Believe it or not, these are all normal newborn behaviors. I thought I was doing it wrong, especially when I went to our pediatrician appointments and was asked if they slept alone in their own bed at night…Spoiler alert-they DID NOT. I tried leaving them to cry and this didn’t feel right to me, plus they cried until they threw up 😭.

I’ve been there! I ended up finding my own way by struggling through the vast internet heap of sleep information. I was lucky enough to have been given Dr. McKenna’s website HERE and after much trial and error, guilt, and finally gaining confidence in my parenting choices, I was able to safely cosleep with both of my children.

It doesn’t have to be as hard or as isolating for you as it was for me.

Curious about my current professional development and continuing education? I keep an updated list on my ABOUT page. I love learning and at the same time I don’t know everything, so if you’re curious about my approach please reach out and ask.

You don’t have to navigate sleep alone!

After supporting many families in my role as an IBCLC, I came to the realization that most are desperately searching for guidance about their baby’s sleep just like I was. I felt that my sleep knowledge was lacking and although I had wonderful resources to share, I wanted to provide more for my clients. In 2024, I completed the OCN Level 6 Holistic Sleep Coaching program through Baby Em with ongoing continuing education so I can stay up to date with the latest sleep research and learning.

I can say with full confidence that there is no one right sleep solution that works for every child. Instead, I guide you through the many gentle, family-centered methods and support you and your child to reach a peaceful sleep solution that fits your family.

Wrap nap with my first baby-we're figuring it out!

Wrap nap with my first baby-we're figuring it out!

Lap nap with my second baby 😅 (I was not surprised by this situation as you can see..)

Lap nap with my second baby 😅 (I was not surprised by this situation as you can see..)

Common reasons to seek support from a holistic sleep coach:

  • Unsure of normal sleep patterns and need guidance

  • You want to learn more about safe cosleeping and keep finding conflicting information on social media

  • You are struggling balancing nursing and/or bottle feeding and sleep with your infant

  • Nap concerns or difficulty putting baby down for a nap

  • You’ve heard of the 4 month sleep regression and don’t know how to handle it

  • Everything seems ok, but still have a lot of questions about sleep and your baby’s development

  • Struggling with the decision to use methods like “cry-it-out” or “controlled crying”

  • Confused about sleep training and unsure how or even if it fits in with your family’s needs and looking for other options

  • Frequent night waking after 6 months and beyond

  • Needing help with transitioning child from the parent bed to a toddler bed or their own room

  • Teething, growth spurts, or other disruptions to sleep patterns

  • Prenatally, to learn about infant sleep and how to set your family up for success

  • Preparing to bring home a new baby and wanting to figure out sleep with your older child first

  • Getting ready for your child to go to daycare and unsure of how to plan for naps and bedtime

  • And so much more!

Sleep Support Services

The Prenatal Essential Sleep Package - $100

This package is right for you if want to meet prenatally to set your family up for sleep success once your baby arrives.

We can meet at any time in the prenatal period. We can discuss all of your sleep questions and we will have time to talk about some of the science behind infant sleep in the 4th trimester. You will leave this meeting with practical solutions to common sleep concerns in the first 3 months of your baby’s life!

You will receive:

  • one face-to-face* meeting with time for questions and answers

  • A downloadable handout covering what we discussed and FAQs

  • A discount code for the Essential Sleep Package if you need more support after your baby is here (use within one year after our visit)

Note: This package does not include message follow up

Schedule

The Mini Essential Sleep Package - $125

This package is great for families on a budget. If you are looking for basic guidance on sleep and help with realistic goal setting. This is also a great option for families with infants under 6 months old. We will spend time discussing sleep as it relates to your child’s current developmental level.

You will receive:

  • One face-to-face* meeting

  • Minimal prep for you! No need to fill out sleep diaries unless you want to

  • Sleep method options aligning with your child’s needs

  • We’ll talk about your child's sleep situation and the science behind why each method may help

  • A downloadable, personalized care plan at the end of our meeting so you can look back at our discussion any time

  • Add-on messaging available for continued communication

Note: This package does not include message follow up

Schedule

The Essential Sleep Package - $275

This package is for families that need comprehensive sleep support. Are you feeling like things are out of hand and you don’t know where to go from here? Maybe you want to hear ALL of the options for holistic sleep for you child. Or maybe you’ve tried other sleep methods or even met with another sleep coach and things didn’t work how you expected. If any of these sound like you, then this is your package! If your baby is 6 months or younger, the Mini Essential package is most likely right for you (see above).

You will receive:

  • One face-to-face* meeting about your current sleep situation, why the science behind each method may work for you, and plenty of time for questions and answers

  • Individualized, thorough assessment of your child’s sleep with actionable methods to help your family achieve peaceful sleep

  • A downloadable, personalized care plan at the end of our meeting so you can look back at our discussion any time

  • 6 weeks of unlimited messaging follow up after our visit

Schedule

The Essential Sleep Package + 4 Hours of Hands-on Guidance - $500

All of the above from the Essential Sleep Package AND 4 hours of in home support with Heron from Onward Love Care Collective to help you get started on your care plan.

This collaborative approach is designed to help families who may benefit from even more in person care and support. Read more about Heron and their commitment to local families HERE.

The Ultimate Essential Sleep Package - $400

This package is for two, face-to-face coaching sessions. This includes everything from the Essential Sleep Package plus a follow up meeting with me.

This may be the right package for a family that has multiple children that need sleep coaching support. If you or your child has special circumstances like chronic illness, sensory disorders, or other specific areas of concern. Or if you are someone who likes a lot of visual feedback and discussion, this is the right option for you!

You will receive:

  • Two face-to-face* meetings about your current sleep situation, why the science behind each method may work for you, and plenty of time for questions and answers

  • We meet twice! (use within one year of purchase) This allows us to dive into your situation in greater detail.

  • Individualized, thorough assessment of your child’s sleep with actionable methods to help your family achieve peaceful sleep

  • A downloadable, personalized care plan at the end of our meeting so you can look back at our discussion any time

  • 6 weeks of unlimited messaging follow up after each visit - yes after both visits!

  • Save $50 on your additional visit by purchasing this package (separately booked follow up visits are $175)

Note: Recommended time frame between visits is between 3-6 weeks or you can wait to schedule your second visit later

Schedule

*All holistic sleep support visits are conducted in person at the Bellingham Towers office location or virtually through my secure telehealth platform.

Not sure which package is right for your situation? Schedule a free discovery phone call with me to learn more.

You can always reach out by text or email and let’s connect! I’d be happy to help you find the right plan and get your family on the way to peaceful sleep.

Schedule

FAQs

  • Holistic sleep support or coaching is evidenced based, gentle, considers child development, and is individually designed sleep support.

    Each family is unique and no two sleep support visits are the same.

    Together, we will look at your child and family’s current sleep situation, daily life, feeding/eating, schedules, and overall wellbeing.

    Sleep care plans are created collaboratively during our visit and you will have the option to have follow up messaging with me to support you through the process.

    Holistic sleep support is NOT fast. Most methods and changes we make will take many weeks. However, there are always things we can start right away to support your family. Since this process takes time, I provide 6 weeks of unlimited messaging support for most packages.

    Science unfortunately just does not support “sleep training” methods that promise babies will be sleeping “through the night” in a set period of time or that babies can learn to “self sooth” at a young age. Developmentally, newborns need a caregiver near them most if not all of the time.

    “Sleep Training” is various methods that promise sleeping through the night and often use techniques called “cry it out” or “controlled crying” or similar methods which have you leave your baby unresponded to for various lengths of time in the night.

    I would never tell a family that they must do something a certain way and if ultimately you read through all of this info and choose a traditional sleep training method for your family, that’s absolutely ok, you know your family best!

  • This is THE question isn’t it?

    Babies still need night support and often are waking at least once a night through 18 months (and often longer). This is because babies are not able to meet their own comfort needs yet.

    Parenting is a 24 hour job. That’s not to say it isn’t hard! Being on call 24/7 is nearly impossible, so a lot of the time what families need most is support! Let’s talk more about this together.

  • This is a pretty important part. Often it will feel like no changes are happening at first and it may feel easier to go back to what was working before.

    First, you have to ask yourself if you are ready to make changes to your current situation. Then if yes, it’s helpful to know that sometimes things will feel harder before they get better.

    That said, we create these plans together. So if we discuss something you know won’t work for you, we won’t include it.

    In practice, these plans are flexible and meet your family where you’re at currently. Need flexible nap locations? Do you have caregivers with differing levels of physical abilities helping with your child’s sleep? Multiple children needing sleep support? No problem! We can work on sleep within all of those scenarios.

    Having realistic expectations for sleep for your child and family is so helpful. We will spend some time discussing what is normal and what is not and how to find a balance.

    You’re never alone during this process and you can always reach out to discuss what is working and what is not!

  • Schedule a discovery call with me!

    These calls are a great way to get to know me and my support style. You will get a chance to voice some of your current concerns and ask questions about my visits and different packages available.

    This isn’t a sales pitch and there is no requirement for you to schedule with me after our call.

    It’s so important that you feel like we’re a good fit before working together!

    Schedule a call HERE

Hear from Sara’s clients

  • "Sara has helped us with lactation support and, most recently, with sleep for our baby! Her expertise got us through the first few days of feeding our newborn, where we had several challenges like poor latch, tongue tie, and weight loss. She helped support me in making decisions with how to feed him that helped his weight gain and made it less painful for me to nurse. I owe alot to that early help for us as we’re still nursing today. Then, at around 10 months old, we were struggling with something else—sleep! Our baby was waking 3-5 times a night often from 1-5am and waking very early for the day. She helped us adjust his daytime and bedtime schedules so that he is now sleeping until 6-630am every morning and rarely waking at night! She gave us many things to try and always made it feel like our goals were at the center of the conversation. Sara is an amazing support for both lactation and sleep!"

    RR

  • "Sara helped our family with both sleep and lactation! She is super knowledgeable, understanding, and a joy to work with!"

    HS

  • "Sara has been so wonderful to work with. She had some really essential insights that created a shift in our thinking about our child's sleep and sensory needs. She is caring, validating, supportive, thoughtful, and thorough. We've loved working with her and recommend her very highly!"

    DG