The benefits of a virtual sleep consultation for you and your baby.
As new parents, sleep is often elusive. Whether it's difficulty getting your baby to fall asleep, frequently waking up in the night or trouble with napping, caring for an infant can be an exhausting experience.
Unfortunately, when left unaddressed, sleep issues can lead to troubles for you and your baby. A study published by BMC Psychology found an association between sleep habits and behavioral problems across all developmental stages. Sleep also plays a significant role in a child’s physical and mental development, and is so crucial in those early years of development.
To this end, a virtual sleep consultation can be a valuable resource for busy new parents looking to address sleep issues. Here are just a few of the benefits of a virtual sleep consultation for you and your baby:
Increased access to expertise
One of the biggest advantages of a virtual sleep consultation is the ease of access to expert sleep consultants. There are over 2,500 sleep centers in the USA with consultants such as doctors and nurse practitioners accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which can be accessed remotely. For instance, certified pediatric and maternity sleep consultants in Massachusetts have the necessary training to design unique sleep plans to help both you and your baby get the rest you need. One-on-one coaching sessions can support you through any upcoming change related to nap transition, DST, and travel.
Of course, it can take a village to overcome parenting challenges relating to sleep. But thankfully, a 2022 HCP Live article on sleep management shares that professionals like remote nurse practitioners can provide parents with the necessary assistance apart from virtu. Case in point, remote nurse practitioners in Washington are certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to offer a wide range of healthcare services. This can include consultations to monitor your baby's sleep. They can observe your sleep environment through telehealth consultations and adjust your sleep plan accordingly.
With virtual consultations, you can get the support you need to optimize your slumber wherever you are without worrying about sacrificing the quality of care you receive.
Customized sleep plans
During a virtual sleep consultation, the consultant will work with you to develop a customized sleep plan tailored to you and your baby's specific needs. Our post "Is it Worth it to Hire a Sleep Consultant?" highlights how a personalized approach can be more effective than generic sleep advice found online. In particular, a sleep consultant will consider your baby's age, development, and any underlying medical conditions, as well as your family's lifestyle and parenting preferences.
By doing so, the consultant can suggest strategies to decrease sleep-related issues such as sleep regression and inconsistent sleep schedules. With a customized plan, you'll have a clear, actionable strategy for enhancing your baby's sleeping patterns.
Observation of the child’s patterns
Babies require attention and care as their brains and bodies develop. This is why it is crucial to observe your child’s patterns. Fortunately, with My Sweet Sleeper, you can understand valuable information about your child’s sleep environment. Specifically, expert sleep consultants can point out correlations and associations that you may not be aware of. This is because they’ve developed a method that’s founded on three distinct sleep profiles: the adaptable sleeper, the attached sleeper, and the sensitive sleeper.
By identifying which profile your child falls under, sleep consultations can help you recognize your baby’s unique traits and categories. These evaluations can likewise motivate you to adapt sleep solutions that your baby will positively respond to.
Convenience and safety
A virtual sleep consultation is incredibly convenient, as it can be scheduled at a time that works best for you. Regardless of where you live, whether in a small state like Wyoming or a big city like New York, a virtual sleep consultation allows you to access the expertise of a sleep consultant from the comfort of your home. This can be especially beneficial for parents who have busy schedules or multiple children to care for.
They also offer a safer option when in-person interactions may be risky. For example, in light of the spike in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases in California, a virtual sleep consultation can be a safer option for parents as it eliminates the risk of exposing your baby to RSV or the flu. With virtual consultations, you can take the necessary precautions to minimize your risk while still receiving the support and guidance you need to elevate your sleep quality.
Virtual sleep consultations provide a wealth of benefits for new parents experiencing sleep issues with their babies. Whether you're a new parent struggling to get your baby to sleep or an experienced parent dealing with sleep regression, a virtual sleep consultation can help you and your baby to get the rest you need.
On the other hand, if you want to gain more confidence in implementing essential practices that can enhance your child’s sleep, My Sweet Sleeper offers comprehensive sleep guides that provide step-by-step instructions on how to tackle nights & naps based on your baby’s age.