“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, Oh Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” -Psalm 4:8

When my daughter was born, that verse became my lifeline. I could not imagine “peace” and “sleep” ever being used in the same sentence again. In fact, I couldn’t imagine “peace” applying to anything involving parenting.

I was feeling exhausted, anxious, confused, and extremely alone. All of the love that I felt for my precious baby could not do away with the frustration that I felt over her endless tears and my inability to settle her to sleep. I was so desperate for help, but I felt like all of the advice that I was getting was driven by fear or guilt, which only compounded the anxiety that was already present in my mind. Mixed messages were all over the internet. It seemed as though I couldn’t make a single decision without someone confidently stating that it would, in fact, damage my child for the rest of her life. 

“It’s only a season” seemed to be the only advice that every sleep blog could agree on, but was this season supposed to last for only a few months, or a year, or a few years? In my desperation for a moment’s rest, I could not see beyond the next nap or sleepless night. I needed sleep IMMEDIATELY, not twenty years in the future. My lack of sleep, and the guilt-laden advice that I was getting from the internet affected so many areas of my life that I knew I needed to make a change, and fast. So I researched, and researched, and researched some more. 

I couldn’t possibly make my way through all of the advice and opinions online, but I could look at the facts. It turns out, I’m not the only one who loves sleep. It also turns out, I not only love it but I need it. You need it. Your baby needs it. We were created with a biological need to rest and be restored, and while we will be deprived of sleep for worthy reasons during certain seasons of life (hello, newbornhood), we have no biological reason to force decreased sleep upon ourselves. There is no medal for the parent that sleeps the least (all parents are superheroes!) but there absolutely is a benefit to getting a good night’s sleep, for both you and your baby.

I will be the first to say that reading through data does not typically boost my mood but this was different. In this case, the data gave me peace. It showed me that sleep can be expected and that I was not “weak” for needing it. I was human. It also showed me that I was not selfish for desiring it. The benefits of sleep for infants and toddlers are irrefutable. They are also human. They also need sleep. 

Armed with the data and grounded in God’s Word, I was able to confidently lay aside all of the voices that were fighting to condemn everyone who parented differently than them. Now, I just had to learn how to implement all of the information that I had absorbed.

The process was both joyful and anxiety-inducing. I wished that I had had someone to bounce ideas off of, a second pair of eyes to pick up on the cues that I was missing. Eventually, my daughter became an incredible sleeper. And then, two years later, I had my son. To this day, he still smiles widely whenever I ask if he is ready for bed. 

Equipped with knowledge and experience, I found the second time around to be much simpler and far less anxiety-inducing. “What is your magic secret?” was the question that I got most often. 

Everywhere I went, I met other parents who were as desperate as I was with my first child to just get some sleep. They were confused and frustrated. And I truly did begin to feel like I had a magic secret worth sharing. 

So, after much prayer and training, In Peace Sleep was born out of a desire to walk with new and seasoned parents alike through this lovely and challenging time of life. In a season where it is already all too easy to feel isolated, the voices online do their darndest to make a new mama feel even more alone, anxious, and condemned. I want to change that. 

Sleep is only one small piece to the grander puzzle of parenthood but it has the potential to greatly shape one’s experience in those early years. And one’s approach to sleep in infancy will lay the foundation for years to come. 

Unfortunately, there is no real magic secret getting your child to sleep flawlessly. No matter what you do, you will experience some sense of sleep deprivation, but there are time-tested and research backed approaches to baby sleep that, when implemented with grace for oneself and one’s child, patience, love and trust in the process, can have a huge impact on a baby’s ability to develop healthy sleep habits. Let me be the friend that is by your side throughout this foundational time of life! I will do all that I can to help you and your little one to sleep in peace.

What We believe:

1. You are the best caretaker for your child.

Whether you are the biological, step, foster or adoptive parent of the child in your care, we believe that there is no one better to care for your child than you. At In Peace Sleep, we do not want to take your place as the parent. Rather, we want to help equip you to provide your child with the sleep skills that they need in order to thrive. You are the parent. We are only here to help.

4. Parenting takes a village.

Ever feel like you don’t know what you’re doing as a parent? You’re in good company! None of us do! While some might feel that parenting comes more “natural” than it does for others, we all need the wisdom and knowledge of those who have gone before us. Sleep happens to be one of the most bewildering aspects of parenthood. Luckily for us, many seasoned parents and sleep researchers have done the hard work of discovering the basics of good sleep. It’s our job to apply that knowledge. Let’s do it together.

2. Your child is valuable beyond words.

Every child is a miracle. Yours included. Everything that we do is driven by this belief.

5. You can do this!

Some moments (or days) will feel overwhelming. Others will make you question if you’ve ever known what love was before having a baby. In every moment, we are rooting for you!

3. You, your child, and your whole family need sleep.

We all, babies and children included, have a biological need for sleep. Some might have you believe that real parents can walk on water and thrive on 4 hours of sleep. in the real world, both you and your child benefit when healthy habits are established.

FAQs

  • Sleep is foundational for your child’s development! Just as we feel the effects of sleep deprivation, babies do too. Good sleep aids in their physical and cognitive development, and is pivotal for emotional regulation.

    For more information on the positive affects of getting adequate sleep, check out my blog here.

  • Yes! Some babies seem to come out of the womb ready to snooze, while others find that they have more of an affinity for crying into the wee hours of the morning. If you are here, my guess is that yours did not come out with a sleep mask over their eyes. Don’t worry, I’ve been there. All babies have the capacity (and the need) to sleep a good amount. I trust that we can help your baby to become a good little sleeper, too.

  • Formal sleep training should not happen any earlier than 4 months of age but good sleep habits can be established from birth! The best time to start helping your child sleep well is now. If you establish healthy habits from the start, you may be able to avoid sleep training altogether!

  • Nope! There is so much fear-mongering around sleep training so I completely understand a parent’s hesitation. But evidence shows that sleep training is not only safe, but can be very beneficial for your child’s development. We all want what is best for our children, and I want what is best for yours.

  • Unfortunately, yes. You may have discovered by now that babies cry. At this point, it is their primary communication tool. Our job as parents is to learn how to respond to their cries appropriately. Although sleep training will likely elicit more tears in the moment, it will hopefully reduce the tears to come and will help you discern what your child is truly calling out for.