How the process usually unfolds
- Intake. A call or questionnaire about your baby’s age (plus corrected age if they arrived early), how they fall asleep, what happens each time they wake, feeding, naps, the sleep space, health history and everything you have tried so far.
- Assessment. The consultant hunts for what is driving the problem: a sleep association, a schedule that does not fit, a baby who is overtired or undertired, early morning light, or something that calls for a doctor rather than a plan.
- The plan. A written document setting out the routine, the schedule, how to respond to wakings, how night feeds are handled (with input from your pediatrician), and how naps will be tackled.
- Support as you carry it out. Consultants vary most at this stage, and this is where results are made or lost.
- Adjustment. Babies seldom stick to the script. The consultant reviews your notes and tweaks timing or responses where needed.
- Wrap-up. Guidance on what lies ahead: nap transitions, illness, travel, a new sibling.
Every one of these steps is handled personally by Dr. Sam at Actually Sleeping. Your baby’s plan is written from scratch, you receive bootcamp-style coaching ahead of night one, and daily 1:1 check-ins carry on until nights and naps are solid.
What you get from a consultant that a book cannot give you
Pattern recognition. A person who has worked with lots of babies can often hear a brief description and tell whether early waking is down to the schedule or the light, or whether a setback on night 4 is to be expected. The real value lies less in knowing a method and more in knowing which detail to adjust for your baby, today.
What a consultant should never do
- Diagnose. Snoring, pauses in breathing, poor weight gain, reflux symptoms and possible allergies are matters for your pediatrician. Read sleep consultant vs pediatric sleep specialist.
- Suggest medication or supplements for sleep. Medicine questions should go to your pediatrician or pharmacist.
- Overrule your pediatrician on feeding. Whether your baby still needs to feed at night is a question about growth and health.
- Relax safe sleep rules. The AAP recommends a firm, flat surface with no incline, back sleeping, and no soft bedding, and says weighted swaddles and weighted objects on or near a baby are not safe. No plan should ever work around these.
What the experience is like for you
The nights are still yours. Consultants generally do not come to your home to put your baby down; you do that yourself, following the plan, and then report back. That is by design. Your baby is learning to fall asleep with you as the parent in the room, and you are learning how to handle it the next time sleep goes off course. A brief daily log is what allows a consultant to adjust the plan rather than guess.
Comparing formats
| Element | Lighter-touch formats | Higher-support formats |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | A template by age, with light edits | Written from scratch for your baby |
| First night | You figure it out along the way | Intensive coaching in advance, so you know exactly what to do |
| Follow-up | A single call or a handful of emails | Check-ins every day |
| Naps | General guidance | Coached until they are dependable |
| Outcome | Generally no written guarantee | A measurable result, with a written guarantee |
Plans most often wobble on the first night and in the days that follow. Support during that window is what turns a good plan into a baby who actually sleeps. Parents talk about what that support felt like on our video reviews page.
Where Actually Sleeping stands: Dr. Sam personally writes each plan from a detailed intake. You receive bootcamp-style coaching before night one, daily 1:1 check-ins, and naps coached until they are solid. It is neither cry it out nor wait it out. The outcome is guaranteed in writing: “We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan.” If it is not met, you get a full refund. Book a free consultation to find out what your baby’s plan would include.
Ready to have this fixed for your baby?
Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style coaching before night one, and we check in daily until it is working. We have coached 700+ families, received 129 video reviews, and offer a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.
Common questions
Will a sleep consultant visit my home?
Most work remotely, using video, phone and messaging. Whichever way it works, you are generally the person putting your baby down, since your baby needs to learn to sleep with you rather than with a visitor. Actually Sleeping is entirely remote, with bootcamp-style coaching ahead of night one.
Are sleep consultants and sleep coaches the same thing?
For practical purposes, yes. Neither is a licensed profession, and the titles are used interchangeably. Evaluate the person on their process, support, credentials and what they commit to in writing, rather than on the title.
Does a sleep consultant make you drop night feeds?
Not as a one-size rule. How night feeds are handled depends on your baby’s age and is set in your custom plan. Any concerns about health or growth should go to your pediatrician.
What should I prepare before working with a sleep consultant?
Have a few days of notes on bedtime, wakings, feeds and naps, your baby’s birth date and due date, any health history, and a list of what you have already tried and for how long. That lets the consultant see quickly where things are breaking down.