Infant & Toddler Sleep Counseling with Marlee
“I'll never be more grateful to anyone for anything than I am to Marlee for the sleep plan that she helped us implement at about 3 months postpartum. When we were in the midst of that early sleep deprivation, almost all we could think about was when it would get better. It got better when we started Marlee's sleep plan. Hospitals should be required to send all new parents home with something like it.”
- Tracee
Sleep deprivation is one of the toughest parts of parenthood.
I’m here to help.
I love supporting parents in finding a rhythm that works for their family for daytime and nighttime sleep. Whether your little one is a newborn, under a year old, or in their toddler years, I’d love to help you create a customized sleep plan to help everyone in your household get more rest.
So many parents turn to online forums and social media accounts when struggling with sleep issues. If you’ve done the same, you’ve likely noticed that there is so much conflicting information out there… it’s maddening!
The thing is, none of those online sources know you, your baby, or your exact challenges - so their advice usually falls short. That’s where I come in.
During our time together, I love getting to know my clients and asking lots of questions to get a clear picture of exactly what’s going on. As we create and implement a customized sleep plan, I help my clients make small changes that can add up to a whole lot of change. And the best part is… these changes tend to be very gentle! No crying it out here.
I’ll hold your hand every step of the way. As you begin to implement the plan we create together, I’ll check in every day to see how things are going, answer your questions, and help you make adjustments so your family can get more rest!
If you’re struggling with some sleep-specific challenges, you don’t have to do this alone anymore!
“Marlee changed my life! We were getting so little sleep and she calmly guided us through some changes that felt small but made a HUGE difference. Now my baby sleeps about 6 hour stretches overnight and I finally feel like I can function again!”
- Heather
Virtual Sleep Counseling
Comprehensive Package (most popular): $1450
I’ll hold your hand through every step!
This package is especially wonderful for people who are first-time parents, and people who have any conflicting feelings about wanting to implement sleep changes. Think of this package as booking a “sleep doula”!
Planning Phase
Detailed intake appointment to understand your family’s situation (up to 1 hour)
Personalized sleep plan we will create together (PDF will be emailed to you)
1-2 hour planning session to review your custom sleep plan and prepare for implementation
1-2 hour emotional preparation visit to process any anxieties you’re experiencing about getting started with your plan
1-hour lifestyle planning visit to help you make practical arrangements for your implementation phase
Optional: 1-2 hour lactation/feeding check-in to ensure you and your little one are ready for this next step
Implementation Phase (1-2 weeks)
Daily text check-in, feedback, and support to answer your questions (up to 1 hour of messaging per day)
4 30-minute support sessions you can use as needed during this phase
1-hour wrap-up session at the end of your implementation phase
Let’s work through this together!
Basic Package: $850
Steady support as you move forward
This package offers basic support as you prepare for and implement changes to get more sleep. This package focuses on practical questions and logistics - there isn’t much time built in for emotional support.
Planning Phase
Detailed intake appointment to understand your family’s situation (up to 1 hour)
Personalized sleep plan we will create together (PDF will be emailed to you)
1-2 hour planning session to review your custom sleep plan and prepare for implementation
Implementation Phase (1-2 weeks)
Daily text check-in, feedback, and support to answer your questions (up to 20 minutes of messaging per day)
2 30-minute support sessions you can use as needed during this phase
1-hour wrap-up session at the end of your implementation phase
Ready to get more sleep?
DIY Package: $550
Support for creating your sleep plan
If you’re ready to make some sleep changes but you’d prefer to mostly go it alone with a little guidance to get you started, this is the option for you. This is a great path forward for parents who feel confident moving forward independently once they have a plan in hand.
Planning Phase
Detailed intake appointment to understand your family’s situation (up to 1 hour)
Personalized sleep plan we will create together (PDF will be emailed to you)
1-2 hour planning session to review your custom sleep plan and prepare for implementation
Implementation Phase (1-2 weeks)
2 30-minute support sessions you can use as needed during this phase
Get started today!
“Marlee was the voice of sanity I needed to hear during my son’s four month sleep regression. Thank you for helping us through that incredibly hard time!”
- Tessa
“Thanks a million for all your help! We learned so much from you, and now we feel so much more confident about how to help our newborn learn the difference between night and day in a gentle way.”
- Ace
How it works
Planning Phase:
Submit an inquiry to get the ball rolling
You’ll receive an email with more information, and a link to book your intake session
When you select a date and time for your intake session, you’ll fill out a quick form and pay your invoice
Intake session: we will meet to review your current situation and your goals in detail
I will reflect on what I learned in your intake session and create your personalized sleep plan
Planning session: I’ll show you the plan I created for you and we will get ready to begin putting it into practice. This session includes a lot of education to help you understand the reasoning behind each step in your plan!
If you booked the TLC package, we will meet for your emotional preparation session, lifestyle planning session, and lactation/feeding check-in prior to beginning your plan
We will decide together on a date for Day 1 of implementing your plan (usually within about a week of our planning session)
Implementation Phase:
Day 1: The big day! This is the first day of putting your personalized sleep plan into practice. Starting today, we will be in touch each morning to talk about how the previous day/night went, answer any questions you have, and make adjustments to the plan as needed
Throughout the 1-2 weeks after Day 1, we will be in touch almost daily by text and/or email
You can schedule your 30-minute support sessions anytime in the 1-2 weeks after Day 1 so we can address more complex questions or concerns you may have
Continued text/email support through Day 14 of implementing your new plan (if needed) to ensure that you are comfortable and confident in the changes you are making, and that things are moving in the right direction for your family
We will meet for our wrap-up visit at the end of the 2-week implementation period. This will give us a chance to address any lingering questions and start planning ahead for next steps that may be helpful for you as your little one grows.
You're on the road to getting more sleep!
If you want to continue working together, my sleep clients often enjoy monthly visits with me as their little ones continue to grow.
What to expect when you work with me
Compassionate support
Sleep can be such a complicated, heavy subject to talk about. I strive to offer a safe, trauma-informed place for my clients to share honestly about their struggles and challenges so we can create a plan that will truly work for your family.
Attachment-based approach
My recommendations are informed by your little one’s age and stage, and are rooted in attachment theory. Together we will make changes that are developmentally appropriate and will help your child feel safe and cared for.
Individualized care
Sleep is such a unique and personal aspect of every person and every family’s life. The plan we come up with together won’t look like anyone else’s! Since every family’s needs are different, every sleep counseling relationship is different as well. My flexible approach to sleep support is not a one-size-fits-all model!
Education
One of my passions is helping parents understand the biological sleep needs their babies and toddlers have. I often find that helping parents understand their little ones’ biological needs regarding sleep can help them make more sense of their situation, and get a clearer view of what they can and want to adjust.
Compatibility with lactation (if that’s how you’re feeding your baby)
As a lactation professional, my approach to sleep is first and foremost supportive of breastfeeding / chestfeeding. Many other sleep consultants, trainers, and educators out there are not specialists in lactation (yes, this includes certain prominent Instagram sleep consultants…), and it can be very easy to disrupt milk production by changing routines to get more sleep. I always work with my clients to find a balance between sleep needs and how they feed their little ones.
Awareness of mental and emotional well-being
Of course, sleep plays such a central role in mental wellness, and it’s very important to me to make sure that mental health needs are being met in this regard. I love helping parents find a balance between mental health, sleep, and maintaining the nursing relationship (if applicable). This gentle approach to sleep support for little ones is often much easier on parents than methods that use “cry it out” techniques.
Safety is always a priority
Whether your little one is sleeping in your bed, on their own sleeping surface, or in some other sleeping configuration, I can help walk you through safety considerations to keep in mind. There is SO MUCH misinformation and conflicting information out there about sleep safety, and we can do a lot of myth busting during our time together! My goal is for you to feel comfortable with your options so you don’t have lingering worries about whether something is safe or not.
If sleep is a struggle in your home, let’s work together!
“Wow, things are already going so much better! Naptimes are like night and day now (haha). Thank you so much for all your patience and support!”
- Jimmy
Signs that sleep counseling could be a game-changer for your family:
You’ve come to dread bedtime
Naps are a struggle
You feel like you never know what each night will bring
You consistently get less than 6 hours of sleep each day
You’ve been bedsharing and it’s time to transition your little one to their own bed, but you aren’t sure how to best make that happen
You’ve tried setting boundaries about where your toddler will sleep, but you find yourself going back on them in the middle of the night
You’ve tried to create more of a routine in the past (even working with some kind of sleep consultant or sleep trainer), but the changes didn’t stick
You used to have a great sleep routine but your new challenges have interrupted the good pattern you were in
Sound familiar?
Topics we can cover together:
Guiding your little one toward falling asleep more independently
Strategies for handling nighttime wake-ups
Interpreting sleep cues
Setting up your baby’s sleep environment for naps and overnight sleep
How to help your newborn learn the difference between day and night
Nap timing
Navigating naps during the toddler years
Developmental progress that can affect sleep (“sleep regressions”)
Creating a safe bedsharing environment
…and so much more!
If you’re struggling with any of these issues, I’d love to support you!
“So many of my friends told me horror stories about not getting any sleep for years, so I reached out to Marlee when my baby was only 2 weeks old. She helped me understand what to expect and what I could do to start helping my daughter become an independent sleeper. So far my daughter is sleeping great, and I’m so glad I met with Marlee so early on!”
- Dana
FAQs
Is this a “cry it out” approach?
Definitely not! I have trained through Moorea Malatt’s Sleep Savvy program for postpartum professionals. This approach is based on the science of both sleep learning and lactation, with a lot of flexibility to accommodate for the unique needs of each little one, parent, and family.
Most of my clients want to avoid “extinction” or “cry it out” methods, and I can fully support you in doing just that. Does that mean there will never be any tears as you implement some changes? No, of course not! Babies and toddlers often react to changes or new experiences with tears, and that’s a healthy developmental behavior. Whether you are bed-sharing, room-sharing, using a crib, using a co-sleeper, or some other sleeping configuration, we will work together to find developmentally-appropriate adjustments to help everyone get more sleep.
Can you help if we’re bedsharing?
Yes! Supporting families who are cosleeping and/or bedsharing is one of my specialties. We can work together to make sure your set-up is safe according to the available research, which is often a big concern for parents who choose this sleep configuration. We can also work together to help your little one transition to their own sleeping surface if you’re ready, whether in your room or in their own room.
What does “sleep counseling” mean exactly?
I love the word “counseling” to describe my work! Making changes to the way you handle your little one’s sleep can be emotionally challenging, and I’m here to help you work through each step. As a gentle sleep educator and consultant since 2018, I help families assess their current situation with regards to daytime and nighttime sleep, where they want to be, and provide developmentally-appropriate strategies to bridge that gap.
As an experienced lactation counselor and postpartum doula, adding sleep counseling to my work was a very natural transition. I love helping parents understand the biology behind infant and toddler sleep needs (in plain English without the lingo!) and help them figure out ways to help everyone get more sleep that feel like a good fit for their family. I don’t use any one-size-fits-all method… just biology, and ways to make it work for you instead of against you!
In general, I don’t recommend taking extreme or drastic measures to force babies to sleep through the night in just a few days. That kind of process is usually a pretty harsh adjustment, and while I understand that some families need that kind of rigid routine to make their lives work, my clients tend to prefer a gentler approach. If you’re looking for someone to help you get your baby to sleep through the night in a period of a few days, I’m probably not the right sleep consultant for you.
I work with my clients to create a customized sleep plan with developmentally-sensitive changes to help facilitate better sleep for babies and parents alike. My approach is based on the idea that babies need some guidance from their parents to learn healthy sleep habits, and I love helping parents feel confident in providing that support to their little ones!
What ages do you work with?
I work with families of newborns and toddlers (from brand new babies up to around age 3).
With newborns under 10 weeks old, I usually focus on helping you understand your baby’s sleep needs. This is especially important for families who are nursing. Helping parents to have a good foundation in sleep cues and the biological needs of their baby is so helpful as they grow. You’ll be able to encourage good sleep habits right from the beginning!
10 weeks is the earliest that I recommend implementing changes to help your little one start learning sleep skills. This age is usually a good time developmentally to begin a more formal “sleep plan”.
As babies get older, we might be working together to navigate a sleep regression, trying to help a little one get better naps during the day, developing strategies to help babies need a little less involvement from parents overnight, or any number of other questions that come up.
If you have a toddler who is struggling with sleep, I can help you learn what might be going on developmentally. Then we can use that knowledge to make some gentle adjustments to help your little one (and YOU!) more sleep.
And regardless of how old your little one is, I can help you create a safer sleep environment for them, one of the top reasons parents contact me as a Pittsburgh sleep consultant.
What if I can’t afford your services?
Sleep is so important for parents and little ones alike. If you need personalized sleep support but are having trouble meeting your basic needs financially, reach out and let’s talk. I can often provide services on a sliding scale for those who qualify for Medicaid, SNAP benefits, WIC, or TANF. Please reach out!