Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Can you stay with me?
If you live in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Brantford, Ayr and area we can stay in-home with you. We have three ways to support you with in-home sleep training: staying with you until your baby falls asleep, until midnight or all night long. This is a great option for parents who could benefit from extra support. Virtual support also available. 

 

What are your qualifications?
Better Bedtime Founder, Bridget Jensen, is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. Bridget is the Canadian Director of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants. She has successfully completed several certifications including Sleep for Health & Wellness and Interventions for Sleep Issues & Disorders at McMaster University, Sleep Consulting Certification in Sarasota, Florida with a world-renowned sleep specialist, Infant Mental Health Course at SickKids Hospital, and Integrative Adult Sleep Certification. She has worked directly with families for over 11 years both in-person and virtually. Bridget stays in-home to support families through sleep training. Bridget partners with local practitioners to support her clients beyond sleep, for challenges related to breastfeeding, nutrition, counselling, and overall health. Bridget is a sleep advocate in organizations that are looking to make it an addition to their professional development.

We have been providing community education since 2015 at Early Years Centres, non-profit Life-With-A-Baby, and various clinics and organizations. We work one-on-one with families all over Ontario and beyond to guide their families to better sleep. We consider the whole family’s schedule when going through sleep training.

Bridget Jensen, Heidi Elliott,  Nicole Mitten and Alexia Giroux each bring unique expertise to the Better Bedtime team. You can read bio’s for the whole team here. They each have a passion for sleep education and helping families with their little one’s sleep.

 

     

 

Will my sleep plan be customized?
Our sleep strategy is proven to be effective. We adjust our plans based on age, family routine, daytime particulars, etc. to respond to family needs. The true customization is done during our consultation + ongoing expert support.

What strategy do you use?
We are 100% transparent in our approach to sleep training. Our strategy depends on the child. A number of factors are considered, including age, parenting style, and developmental milestones.  If you can’t stand the thought of your baby crying for a moment, this likely isn’t the solution for you. While it’s true you can stay with your baby, pick baby up, etc., it is very likely your baby will cry. We do our best to minimize crying by following babies‘ tired cues, having a strategic routine, and responding in an effective way. When you are finished sleep training, your baby should be going down to sleep without crying. Please contact us with any specific questions.

For toddlers, we build a foundation of trust and encourage a healthy relationship with sleep. Parents are asked to stay present with toddlers/preschool-aged children with a gradual shift out of the bedroom.

 

Is this service covered under benefits?
Yes, likely. Check with your benefits provider for any stipulations on who provides your sleep consultation. For example, if you require a RSW/Social Worker.

 

What is the difference between a Social Worker/RSW and a Sleep Consultant?
We are all Sleep Consultants, along with having degrees with different backgrounds. Some of us are also RSW/Social Workers. Having this designation can mean that benefit providers will cover the cost of your sleep consulting services. You can see our full bios here.

Does your plan include naps?
Yes. Better Bedtime uses a whole approach where we tackle daytime and nighttime sleep all at the same time. You don’t need to stay home for all naps. 

Can I still feed my baby at night?
Yes. We will include night feedings until you and your caregiver are comfortable going all night without feedings. You can certainly have a baby who sleeps well while still feeding them in the night. We will show you how.

Will my sleep plan be customized?
Our sleep strategy is proven to be effective. We adjust our plans based on age, family routine, daytime particulars, etc. to respond to family needs. The true customization is done during our consultation + ongoing expert support.

Will my baby cry?
Probably. We minimize crying by following ideal timing, an effective routine and calm parental response. After connecting with your child throughout the bedtime routine, you can stay alongside them or do interval check-ins.  The reason this method is so effective is that it lets us develop a plan you feel comfortable with, based on your own child. We promote fostering a secure attachment while still encouraging independent sleep skills. Optimizing your child’s schedule, responding in a way that is helpful and much more comes into play to minimize crying as much as possible. For babies and young toddlers, crying is a way of protesting change. As we will be making changes to your child’s sleep habits, they will likely protest on at least some level.

I’ve already tried everything, how will this be different?
Most families we work with have already tried different approaches. What makes this different is the combination of our extensive expertise and a plan aligned specifically to your baby and your parenting style.

How old do you get started? Do I need to wait until my baby is over 6 months?
Using our sleep method, it’s safe to sleep train at 14 weeks and up. For all ages, we recommend staying crib-side or doing leave-and-check. This consistent response meets the need for security in attachment. We do not recommend full extinction, especially under 6 months.

What’s the best age to sleep train?Every age has its share of benefits/challenges. Younger babies will likely continue to need a night feeding and will potentially roll onto their tummy. Older babies will stand up and have more stamina. The best time to sleep train is when bedtime/night wakings/naps are not going smoothly. Also, when you have 10-14 nights in a row of overnight sleep at home.

Can I room-share?
Absolutely! We recommend separate beds, but you can certainly share a room.

What if I have multiple kids?
Then it’s even more important to establish a manageable bedtime with excellent sleep hygiene for all children. We specialize in streamlining bedtime routines for multiple kids.

What if I have upcoming travel?
We need 10-14 nights of overnight sleep at home to settle into

What if my child has an underlying health condition?
We recommend speaking with your caregiver/specialist about your plans to sleep train.

What if it doesn’t work?
Confidently follow through on your plan to see better sleep results. If you’re noticing the changes aren’t helping, we will recommend adjustments to timing, routine, response or environment.

Do you offer in-home support?
Yes! We offer in-home support in 4 ways:

1 hour consultation: (your full game plan + bedroom review, setting you up with a solid plan for you to implement

Bedtime: All of the above + your sleep consultant staying with you until your baby is sleeping deeply.

Midnight: All of the above + in-home support until midnight

All-nighter: All the above + in-home support until the following morning

**All packages including 3 weeks of support (via phone, email and sleep tracking)**

Do you offer text support?
We offer regular office hours including frequent check-in calls, quick email responses. We accommodate same-day appointments to ensure you are supported throughout any challenges that come your way. We do not offer text support.

How can I start?
Our clients have already read all the things, used chatGPT, followed social media advice, etc. Find us on google to see recent reviews from real families.

How long does it take?
You will likely notice results within a couple of days, but it typically takes a baby 10-14 days to be consistently sleeping well. Sometimes it can be much sooner. Toddlers often take 2-3 weeks to be sleeping well consistently. 

What happens if it doesn’t work?
You will have decisions to make regarding the strategy we choose. During our consultation, we will clearly outline the plan so that you know exactly what to do at all times. As long as you follow the plan and participate in our scheduled phone calls – this strategy will work. If you decide to veer away from the plan, we make no guarantees.

What ages do you work with?
14 weeks and older.

Do you have more questions? Send us a message!