Sleep, like sex, is in short supply when you are a new parent. Adjusting to new expectations – a three hour snooze is refreshing! – can be a challenge.

I love working with new parents as a sleep doula; helping them to discover the secret to the best night sleep and bringing that much needed solution into their lives. It can be a complicated puzzle that we need to work out together – there are a variety of solutions and what works with some children doesn’t necessarily work with others.

As much of my work is done one-on-one with parents, occasions like the webinar series to talk to lots of people at once are really rewarding. I look forward to the opportunity to learn what strategies parents respond to; what strategies they have found helpful. Sleep deprivation is hard and it can be a very isolating experience, as people tend not to discuss this part of parenthood. The webinars are great for breaking this wide open and making parents understand that they are not alone. And that they don’t have to suffer silently!

Our first sleep webinar, for expectant parents, went very well and the second one will focus on the crucial period for sleep training – 4 months to the first year. This is an exciting time in most parents’ lives because getting a full night’s sleep is so close to being a reality. There are many key strategies, including odd tools for even the most challenging child, and I love sharing these with a hungry group. Plus a large group, even better than one-on-one, is a perfect audience for my sex analogies!

Tracey Ruiz is The Sleep Doula, committed to providing physical, emotional, and educational support to families with sleep problem solving. For more information on The Sleep Doula's services visit www.TheSleepDoula.com Tracey is the host of our upcoming webinar - The A, B, ZZZ's of Sleep Training Minus the Guilt. To register, click here.