Are you passionate about helping families, empowering parents, and making a positive impact on the lives of children? If so, becoming a sleep consultant might be the perfect career path for you. Sleep consultants are dedicated professionals who work with families to develop gentle, responsive, and evidence-based strategies for improving sleep.
In a world where many parents struggle with sleep challenges and the importance of wellbeing is increasingly recognized, the demand for qualified sleep coaches who work in a responsive way is growing rapidly.
This article will guide you through the process of becoming a sleep coach, from understanding the role and its importance to choosing the right training program and building your business.
If you prefer a video format, click the video below.
Why Choose Sleep Coaching as a Career?
Sleep coaches are a relatively new profession, but they all share a common goal: to support families struggling with sleep issues. As a sleep coach, you’ll have the opportunity to utilize your compassion, practical problem-solving skills, and creativity to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Sleep coaches work in a variety of ways, as each family’s situation is unique. You’ll need to think outside the box and tailor your approach to meet the specific needs of your clients. The job requires a deep level of empathy and excellent listening skills, as you’ll be working closely with families who are often struggling and in need of a level of support that spans beyond just thinking about sleep strategies.
If you’re looking for a career that keeps you focused, interested and provides great job satisfaction, sleep coaching might be the perfect fit for you.
Demand for Sleep Coaches in 2024
The demand for sleep coaches has been steadily increasing over the past decade. As more and more families become aware of the importance of strong attachments alongside optimised sleep, they are turning to sleep coaches for guidance and support.
Sleep coaching is becoming increasingly normalized, much like seeking support in other areas of our lives. It’s not uncommon for entire antenatal or postnatal groups to share the contact information of a trusted sleep coach, passing it around like a valuable resource.
As the awareness of sleep coaching grows, so does the demand for qualified and experienced sleep coaches. This presents a fantastic opportunity for those looking to enter this rewarding profession.
Experience Required to Become a Sleep Coach
One of the unique aspects of the sleep coaching industry is that it is currently unregulated. This means there is no set requirement or specific qualifications needed to get started. While this presents an opportunity for many people to enter the field, it also comes with a significant responsibility to ensure you are providing high-quality, evidence-based support to families.
Many sleep coaches come from a background of personal experience, having navigated sleep challenges with their own children. Some have had positive experiences working with a sleep coach themselves and were so impressed that they decided to pursue the same training.
However, it’s important to note that personal experience alone is not enough to become a successful sleep coach. You’ll need to invest in comprehensive training to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support families.
What Kind of Training Do You Need to Become a Sleep Coach?
While personal experience can be a valuable foundation, it’s essential to seek out formal training to become a qualified sleep coach. There are various training programs available, each with its own approach and philosophy.
Some courses focus on traditional sleep training methods, while others promote a gentler, more responsive approach. It’s important to research and choose a program that aligns with your values and the type of support you want to offer families.
When evaluating training programs, consider factors such as:
- The course content and philosophy
- The qualifications and experience of the course leaders
- Whether the program offers business and marketing support
- If ongoing support and mentoring are provided after completing the course
- The type of certification or accreditation offered upon completion
Keep in mind that investing in a sleep coaching training program is a significant financial commitment, often costing several thousand pounds or dollars. Take the time to research and compare different options to ensure you choose a program that is right for you and will provide the knowledge and support you need to succeed in this field.
Setting Up and Growing Your Business
Once you’ve completed your training, the next step is to start taking on clients and building your business. This can be an exciting but also daunting prospect, especially if you don’t have prior experience in running a business. We explore in depth how to secure your first five clients in a way that feels natural and genuine here.
To set yourself up for success, it’s important to have a solid foundation of ongoing learning, mentorship, and support. Ideally, the training program you chose will offer these resources to help you navigate the early stages of your career.
Marketing is crucial for business growth. It’s important that potential clients can find you easily and understand the value you provide. To differentiate yourself, establishing a clear brand is essential. This often involves creating a website, engaging on social media, networking with fellow professionals, and developing a referral system.
As you begin working with clients, you’ll start to develop your unique approach and style as a sleep coach. Remember to stay true to your values and the principles you learned in your training, while also being responsive to the individual needs of each family.
The Role of a Holistic Sleep Coach
At the Holistic Sleep Coaching Program, we believe in a gentle, responsive, and evidence-based approach to sleep coaching. Our methodology focuses on supporting families in a way that aligns with their responsive values and instincts, while also providing practical strategies to improve sleep.
As a holistic sleep consultant, your role is to empower families with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their child’s sleep. You’ll work collaboratively with parents, taking into account their family dynamic, strengths and challenges, unique circumstances, parenting styles, and goals.
Our unique holistic approach recognizes that every child and family is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to sleep challenges. By taking a holistic view and considering factors such as health, development, temperament, unique sleep biology, mental health, attachment, and family dynamics, you’ll be able to provide personalized support that truly makes a difference.
The Holistic Sleep Coaching Program
If you’re considering becoming a sleep consultant and our approach resonates with you, we invite you to learn more about the Holistic Sleep Coaching Program. Our comprehensive training is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and support you need to become a successful sleep coach.
Our program is led by Dr. Lyndsey Hookway and Emma Dewey. Dr Hookway, is a pediatric nurse, health visitor, IBCLC, responsive sleep and parenting advocate, international speaker, author, and researcher with over 20 years of experience supporting families and students. As the co-founder and clinical director of the Holistic Sleep Coaching Program, she is passionate about mentoring and supporting sleep coaches worldwide.
Emma Dewey leads Babyem, a prestigious postnatal maternity training agency known globally. Each year, she trains thousands of health and childcare professionals worldwide. With a broad consultancy reach from Switzerland to China, Emma has assisted various organizations in expanding their programs. Additionally, she oversees a coaching program specifically designed to help sleep consultants enhance their businesses.
Our training covers a wide range of topics, including:
- The science of sleep
- Gentle and responsive sleep strategies
- Developmental stages and their impact on sleep
- Attachment theory and its role in sleep
- Supporting families with special circumstances (e.g., reflux, allergies, sensory processing disorders)
- Building and growing your business as a sleep coach, and gaining a consistent flow of clients.
You can see an extensive list of what we cover in our Holistic Sleep Coaching Road Map Here.
Ongoing support and mentoring
In addition to the core training (which consists of over 150+ hours of content), we offer ongoing support, mentorship, and opportunities for continuing education. Our community of sleep coaches is a valuable resource, providing a network of like-minded professionals to collaborate with and learn from.
Bi-weekly coaching calls
We also offer weekly mentoring through our bi-weekly coaching calls, designed to help you put theory into practice. What makes our program unique is the continuous coaching support throughout your business journey. We guide you through every stage of your business development, from handling client cases to navigating the challenges of running and growing your business. We understand how crucial it is to have guidance during these times.
Success Stories
We have trained over 600 graduates in over 47 countries, and many of our graduates have gone on to build thriving businesses as holistic sleep coaches. Take Karla Legg, for example. As a public health nurse, Karla saw firsthand the impact of poor sleep advice on families. She trained as a holistic sleep coach to align her work with her values and has since seen her business grow exponentially. Karla now runs a successful coaching program, supporting families across the world while also finding more balance and fulfillment in her own life.
Another success story is Lucy, who transitioned from the corporate world to becoming a passionate holistic sleep coach after the birth of her first child. Lucy’s personal experience with responsive sleep support ignited her desire to help other families, and she has built a thriving business doing just that.
And Claire – after several courses, it was our program that gave her the confidence to work with a range of clients, and grow a successful business…
These are just a few examples of the many sleep coaches who have found success and fulfillment through the Holistic Sleep Coaching Program.
You can visit our review channel to watch for more success stories and case studies with our graduates.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of families and build a rewarding career as a holistic sleep consultant, we invite you to take the next step and book a call with us. During this call, we’ll discuss your goals, answer any questions you have, and help you determine if the Holistic Sleep Coaching Program is the right fit for you.
Becoming a sleep consultant is an exciting journey that combines your passion for helping others with the opportunity to build a meaningful and successful business. With the right training, support, and mentorship, you can make a profound impact on the lives of families while also finding personal and professional fulfillment.
We look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on your path to becoming a holistic sleep consultant.