FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW CAN I START WORKING WITH YOU?
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the home page with some information or drop me an email and I will get back to you as soon as possible to arrange a 15 minute discovery call to see if we will be a good match. We can then discuss 1:1 package options suitable to your family's needs. An invoice for the agreed package purchased will be forwarded via email and service will commence after payment is received in full or payment plan set up.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY INITIAL CONSULTATION?
Just be yourself and try to be as honest about the sleep situation and how it is impacting. Remember there is no judgement and all information is dealt with in confidence. *unless immediate risk of harm to yourself, child or other individual is identified. Often families get in touch when their current situation becomes unsustainable and they are at their wits end!
Think about what your current areas of concern are and expectations of what you would like to see your child's sleep look like and the difference that would make to your child and to you as a family.
WHAT FOLLOW UP SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER?
Purchase of a comprehensive sleep package includes daily support for 2 weeks via Whatsapp/ Email to support you as you and your family work through your chosen action plan.
Purchase of a newborn package includes one week Email/Whatsapp support and one further email of support to use before your child turns 6 months.
Additional support via Whatsapp/ Email can then be added at a cost of £50 per week.
Telephone Consultations: £50 for 45 mins (or £25 if accompanying a 1:1 support package)
IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR YOU TO VISIT MY HOME?
Mileage for home visits within 10 miles of Limavady is included in all packages. Mileage will be charged at 50p per mile thereafter.
If you would like to add an additional home visit to your package this will be priced at £50 per visit (plus mileage if applicable)
* Please note all home visits are fully covid compliant.
DO YOU USE 'CRY IT OUT' METHOD?
No! This is not something I am comfortable with and would not encourage parents to leave children to cry it out for long periods of time without intervention.
The methods I offer are holistic, evidence based, researched and encourage in-room support throughout the transition to independent and healthy sleep habits taking into account your little one’s age and cognitive development.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS?
Typically we see improvements in the first 3-5 days of starting a new settling technique. You are teaching your little one a brand new skill and this takes time.
It can take anywhere up to 14 days to make long-term changes for night sleep and around 2-3 weeks for day time sleep to balance out depending on the settling technique chosen and your babies ability to wean off their external support. Each family is individual, as are their goals and the pace which they choose to work on the plan. There is no 'set in stone' time frame to achieve sleep.
WILL I NEED TO STOP BREASTFEEDING?
Definitely not! I am a big supporter of breastfeeding, having breastfed both my girls. (I'm still breastfeeding and my baby sleeps through the night) I will always support you on your journey to better sleep regardless of how you choose to feed your little one. I do not believe that breastfed babies vs formula babies sleep has any real discrepancy in achieving better sleep. The research and long-term studies support this stance.
WILL MY BABY CRY DURING THE CHANGES?
Crying is a babies way of communication, and as parents and caregivers, we need to understand WHY our little one is crying, rather than just trying to make it stop as quickly as possible.
Babies will cry. They cry to let us know they are hungry, cold, hot, tired, hurt or just emotional. When we first make changes to their routine, you can expect that they will want to protest. However, when we work with you to have baby on a more predictable routine, they learn to settle and link their sleep cycles independently, then this helps us to understand and work out why your little one is crying, and how we can best help them moving forward.
Let's get started
Tell me about your sleep situation and what you would like to change. You can contact me via email stephanied@outforthecount.co.uk, fill in the contact form or alternatively book a FREE initial consultation where we will be able to suggest a plan that will work for your circumstances.
Out for the Count is based in Limavady, Co.Derry/ Londonderry and covers all of Northern Ireland for home consultations.