As any parent knows, the challenges of getting a child to sleep can be both exhausting and frustrating. Sleepless nights not only impact the child's well-being but can also take a toll on parents' mental and physical health. In recent years, the use of sleep consultants has gained popularity as a potential solution to help families navigate the complexities of establishing healthy sleep habits for their children. So it's useful to explore the worth of using a sleep consultant and whether it's a viable option for parents seeking better sleep for their little ones.
Understanding Sleep Consultants
Sleep consultants are professionals who specialise in assessing and addressing sleep-related issues in children. They typically offer personalised advice, strategies, and support to parents to improve their child's sleep patterns. Sleep consultants should have undertaken professional training which normally requires a final thesis.
How do you choose a good Sleep Consultant? Some good questions to ask.
There are several important factors to think about when choosing which sleep consultant you'd like to work with;
Have they undertaken formal professional training? This should be evident from their website, but ask them if you can't easily find the information. OCN level training is the most common.
Do you relate to the sleep trainer? It could be that their life path has been similar to yours which can often mean that they'll easily understand your own personal situation. For example, transitioning from a successful career to temporarily or permanently being a full-time mother can be an overwhelming experience, especially when you're sleep-deprived, so seeking the help of a sleep consultant who has also been through that same journey can often prove to be beneficial.
What is their style of sleep consultancy? Some sleep consultants, such as myself, take a more 'holistic' approach - that simply means that we look at the whole picture to try and understand what could be affecting your child's sleep, and whilst there are often 'quick wins' that we can advise on, we don't just look at that aspect as they can often unravel and you're back where you started.
And one final question to ask yourself - are you willing and able to implement the changes? Your sleep consultant will work with you to advise on a plan for you and your family, and depending on what level of follow-on support you choose, they'll also be there for a period of time to support you. But at the end of the day you and your family need to make the changes to benefit you and your family.
What is an OCN Level Sleep Consultant?
A competent sleep consultant will have undertaken professional training which is often OCN accredited. OCN (Open College Network) is an oficially approvced awarding organisation that develops and award professional amd technical qualifications. The level of the OCN training indcates the depth of knowledge required by a learner to achieve the appropriate qualification. As an example, my own qualification is officially 'OCN Level 6 Holistic Sleep Coach'.
OCN Levels - Knowledge and learning level comparability
Source: ocnlondon.org.uk
Are sleep consultants worth it? Yes, absolutely. As with any other challenge in life, if we're struggling with a problem and don't know how to solve it, then seeking help from an expert is a great action to take. We seek training when we're struggling with work tasks and we seek help with medical problems. Parenthood is exactly the same, and raising children is one of the biggest challenges of our lives, so requesting the help of experts is absolutely normal and a responsible course of action.