Story Of the Sleep Lady

The Story Of the Sleep Lady..

Let me tell you about my mission to help a million tired parents transform their sleepless lives! It’s important that you know a little bit more about me, and why I created the Gentle Sleep Coach Training and Certification program.

Watch the Video Here

More of a visual learner? Watch my story. 

How I Became the Sleep Lady

My 25+ year journey started as an overworked, exhausted parent with a daughter who would not sleep! But, I wanted a gentler approach to the typical cry-it-out method. I went against the social norm and put her on a flexible, gentle eating and sleeping routine during the day. 

 

I put her down awake at bedtime and only fed her when she woke up at night – I wasn’t going to wake her up to feed her. I tweaked, and experimented, I still breastfed a lot, but I was following my heart. 

Soon enough, I started to help family and friends with their babies. Between this work and working as a therapist, I had my second girl. She had horrible reflux and was a very alert baby. She put me in my place and helped me become a better Sleep Lady.

 

After much encouragement from my family and friends, I added sleep help to my family therapy practice. At that time, there were no “Baby and Toddler Sleep Coaches” or “Parenting Coaches.” 

 

I soon discovered:

  • 1 in 4 babies has some sort of sleep problem
  • Pediatricians receive little training in sleep yet are asked for help by parents every day 
  • There is NO formal education or regulation for sleep coaches
  • Yet there are many entrepreneurs with no credentials or clinical experience teaching outdated methods of sleep training

 

With this knowledge, I felt compelled to step up to the plate and share my proven method with other parents. Soon, I gained international recognition as an expert on baby and child sleep. (The Sleep Lady® is actually a nickname bestowed by one of my grateful clients!) 

 

Dedicated to providing tired parents with excellent sleep advice and coaching, I knew I could not help everyone myself… 

 

So, I started the Gentle Sleep Coach® Training and Certification program in 2010–the first and most comprehensive training program in the world!

 

My gentle sleep method was the spark of a global industry- Baby and Child Sleep Consulting.

 I have ONE mission: To provide families with evidence-based, gentle alternatives so they can respectfully care for their children… and get a good night’s sleep! 

I hope you’ll join me on this mission – I’d love to have you!

Stay tuned – I’ll be in your inbox with more helpful information and education on our Gentle Sleep Coaching program!

LEARN MORE HERE

With love,

Kim West, AKA The Sleep Lady

Author: Kim West, MSW, Mom of 2, creator of The Sleep Lady Shuffle
My name is Kim West, and I’m the mother of two beautiful girls, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a practicing child and family therapist for more than 21 years, and the creator of the original gentle, proven method to get a good night’s sleep for you and your child. My sleep journey began when I started experimenting with gently shaping my daughter’s sleep by not following the conventional wisdom at the time. After having success (and then more success with my second daughter!), I began helping family and friends and my step-by-step method spread like wildfire, exactly like an excellent night of sleep for a tired parent should!

Related Posts

Sleep Training and Coaching
Kim West

Ferber: The Method. Schedule, Analysis & Alternatives

What is the Ferber Sleep Training Method While my philosophy focuses on gentle sleep coaching methods like the Sleep Lady Shuffle, I understand that many families consider the Ferber Method for sleep training. Below, I’ll outline the facts about the Ferber Method, its steps, and alternatives, while sharing my thoughts

Read Blog
Sleep Training and Coaching
Kim West

Why Sleep Training Is Bad:Controversies & Child Bonds

Why Extinction Sleep Training Gets a Bad Name—and How Better Methods Can Work Sleep training is one of the most polarizing topics in parenting. Approaches like unmodified extinction or “Cry It Out” (CIO)—where caregivers leave their child to cry without intervention—are widely criticized for their harshness and emotional toll. For

Read Blog