Sleep Training FAQ
At Doulas of Long Beach, we know you love your baby and we know you want the best for your entire family. We also know you may have anxieties, misconceptions or fears about sleep training, what it means, what it entails, and what your baby will experience. These feelings are 100% valid and normal. With so much contradictory information at your fingertips, of course you have concerns! We’re here to listen to you, to help you get clear on what you want and to figure out if our program is right for your family.
WHEN CAN I START SLEEP TRAINING MY BABY?
We believe 16 weeks is a great time to start training your baby to sleep. That said, it’s never too early or too late to start implementing good sleep habits! If your baby is younger than 12 weeks we have some questions to determine if it's an appropriate time to start our program. You can also talk to your pediatrician about the optimal time based on your baby's developmental leaps & progress.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CRY IT OUT?
This is a common misconception about sleep training - that all methods are "cry it out" methods. That is not how are program works. But to be completely transparent, there is always the possibility of tears. One of our main goals is to minimize them! You and your Sleep Coach are actively involved with making decisions based on what you are observing rather than passively letting your baby cry behind a closed door. If your baby has distinct needs, that you as a parent, need or want to address, then we strongly encourage that!
WHAT SLEEP RESOURCES DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Since we don’t know you or your baby yet, we can't confidently recommend any books or resources. Sleep training isn't a one-size-fits-all solution and often that's what books provide. Instead, we believe you & your baby deserve personalized support! Once our initial sleep assessment is complete, we'd be happy to provide some recommendation on resources if we feel they will be beneficial to you.
IT REALLY ONLY TAKES 72 HOURS?
As long as your baby is healthy, not teething, and we’re supporting you with one of our in-home packages we guarantee your baby will be sleeping better in 72 hours or less. We do encourage you to plan to be at home (not traveling) for the first 1-2 weeks after your in-home training so your baby has space and time to can practice his/her new skills and get into a great routine. We also offer overnight support for toddlers or a family program that includes 5 days and nights of live-in support which is a great option for families with multiples or children of different ages.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE SUCCESS?
Here’s our promise: It will work. We will not let you fail. We interview each prospective client carefully to ensure that we can guarantee success. If we don’t sense that we can help you, we’ll tell you so. We won’t take your money and give you hope that your baby can sleep through the night if we’re not 100% confident that we can help you achieve your goals, and make them stick. Why? Because that wouldn’t serve you, and it wouldn’t serve us. We’re committed to our 100% success rate. Our promise is that our support won't conclude until you feel 100% confident that you don’t need us anymore. Even though our program is designed to support you over a four-week period, if your baby gets sick or you have any big setbacks, we’ll stick with you until you get to the other side and feel confident managing on your own. Even if that goes over the four-week program. That’s how we ensure your success!
WHAT IF MY BABY IS THE ONE BABY THIS DOESN’T WORK FOR?
We know this is a huge financial and emotional investment and you may be wondering “What if it doesn't work?" In truth, we don’t work with every family because we can't guarantee success for every family. During your complimentary sleep assessment, we will help you determine if this is right for you and if it is, it will work! And we stick with you until it does. You have our word.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK?
We only take a limited number of clients each month to ensure the success of each program. Our desire is to be fully present with you and your family and we cannot do that if we're working with 20+ families at one time. Booking in advance ensures our availability AND gives you the peace of mind that more sleep is on the way! Last minute availability, while hard to come by, is sometimes available, so don't hesitate to reach out! We’ll do our best to help you even on short notice.
HOW MUCH DOES THE LIVE-IN PROGRAM COST?
Live-in sleep training ranges from $4,075 to $10,195 depending on the program you choose. This includes in-person, live-in support, coaching calls, plus a full month of unlimited follow up care.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
We are unable to bill insurance for sleep training services. However, FSA/HSA funds may be available for reimbursement for sleep training. Contact your administrator to confirm.
WHAT IF I'M NOT IN LONG BEACH?
Our sleep coaches serve all of Southern California including Orange County, Ranchos Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and the Inland Empire. Our sister agency is located in Metro Detroit and serves all of Michigan and surrounding states. We are available for long distance and international travel for an additional fee.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
First, fill out our inquiry form. Once received we will let you know if we can confidently support you. If we believe without a doubt that our program will work, we will send you an email to schedule a call to more thoroughly discuss working together and recommend a package that fits your families needs. If we all feel this is a good match, we will select a start date and you'll be closer to getting the sleep you desire & deserve!
WHAT IF MY BABY ISN'T READY YET?
If it isn't quite time or you aren't emotionally ready for this process, there are still ways we can help. First, we can schedule your sleep training program for a future date when you and your baby are 100% ready. Second, we can support you in getting more sleep by having one of our postpartum doulas provide overnight care.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
We’re here to help! Fill out our inquiry form to schedule your complimentary sleep assessment. We'll answer all of your questions over the phone as well as give you information on next steps. Due to the high demand for sleep training, we do not take phone call inquiries.