What Does it Take to Earn Your Infant Sleep Consultant Certification?
Anytime you’re trying something new, there’s always that fear of determining if you’re good enough or if you have the skills to make it happen. Becoming an infant sleep consultant is no different. If you’ve been thinking of getting your infant sleep consultant certification, you may be wondering if you have what it takes to do the job and be successful. Whether you’re thinking of adding infant sleep consultant to your title as a side hustle or as a full-time gig from home, here are some things to consider to determine if you’re up to the job.
While there’s no magic formula for what it takes to become a sleep consultant, there are some characteristics that come in handy and that will make the job easier to settle into. Don’t be scared away if you can’t nail each one right now! Everything is a work in progress!
Knowledge of Sleep Science
Just like any other job, you need to have knowledge about what you’re doing. To get your infant sleep consultant certification, you have to be knowledgeable on the subject. You need to know the science behind the advice you’re giving. Educate yourself about sleep biology and development. This will help you to develop effective plans that are scientifically proven to work. Your clients will thank you for this when they are finally getting a good night’s rest! Plus, it makes you more credible when you actually know the background of what you’re talking about. The certification program at the Institute of Pediatric Sleep & Parenting teaches you important information about sleep cycles, the states of sleep, and how sleep affects healthy child development. For example, did you know that there are four sleep stages? There’s a lot going on while you’re off and dreaming! Knowing what these are and informing your clients can help them better understand how they can get the sleep they’re missing.
Compassion for Your Clients
If you can’t throw your clients an empathy bone, then maybe becoming a sleep consultant is not for you. You are going to be dealing with sleep-deprived parents who are depending on you to help them get a better night’s rest. Show them compassion because they are definitely exhausted and most likely stressed out. When you show your clients compassion, they will learn to trust you and your advice. If you are successful in helping them and being empathetic to their needs, they are more likely to recommend you to other people who are also having sleep struggles. Trust me, one sleepy family most likely knows another!
Business Skills
When you become an infant sleep consultant, you are going to have to manage your own business. This means scheduling appointments, keeping track of contact info, and marketing your business, among other tasks. As you’re first starting out, there’s going to be some trial and error. Having some business management skills will help you to have a better handle on how to schedule your clients and plan financially. You may make some mistakes along the way, so it’s never a bad idea to ask for help if you have to.
At the Insitute of Pediatric Sleep & Parenting, we know that you may not have a business degree and may not have even taking a business 101 course. That’s why our certification course includes many business do’s and don’ts including info on marketing, liability, and more. To be successful as a pediatric sleep consultant, you need to have all the tools in the box to get the job done, especially those that help you run a business.
Have a General Desire to Help Others
While you’re becoming a sleep consultant to earn money, you need to have a general desire to help others. If you don’t, people will see right through you and won’t be excited to work with you. You need to be genuine and show people you are the real deal when it comes to wanting to help families learn how to develop better sleeping habits. I can tell you from experience, that helping others in this field is truly rewarding and people will relate to you better if they know you really want to help, not just get paid.
Know How to Talk to Others
Knowing how to talk to others can get you very far in life and the business of sleep consulting. Besides knowing your stuff, you need to be able to communicate with families. Speaking to them in a way they can understand is going to be huge. This will allow them to follow your advice easily and feel comfortable asking you questions if there’s something they just don’t understand.
You also have to turn the sensitivity level up a notch or two. Sleep coaching requires a delicate balance of being sensitive at times, but also assertive to get your point across. If you’re not the best at this, don’t worry. It gets easier with time as you become more comfortable in your new role and abilities.
Have a Growth Mindset
The learning isn’t over once you’ve earned your infant sleep consultant certification. The science is constantly evolving, and you have to evolve with it. Having a growth mindset means you are always open to learning something new that will help your clients. Without this, you’re going to plateau which means you won’t build your client list and you won’t build your knowledge as a sleep consultant.
At the Institue of Pediatric Sleep & Sleep we’re all about having a growth mindset and encouraging all of our graduates to do the same. That’s why you receive lifetime access to the course, including education and free trainings. We want to see you succeed and grow to develop a booming business!
Be Flexible
There is no one-size-fits-all approach for helping families develop better sleep habits. Be flexible and realize that you’re going to have to present different options to different clients. You can’t be attached to one technique and get frustrated if it doesn’t work for all of your families. Your job is to determine each family’s unique needs and develop a plan you believe will work for them. If it doesn’t work at first, you try something else until you find something that does.
When you look for a certification course, you want to be sure the one you choose is not a one-trick pony. It should include multiple sleep training techniques and offer ways on how you can adapt them to different parenting styles. At the Institute of Pediatric Sleep & Parenting, we understand how important this is, which is why we include it in all of our certification classes.
Also, be aware that families have likely tried many approaches before contacting you. They are looking for a fresh perspective and are probably willing to try just about anything. So, if you’re unsure that an idea will work, try it! You never know what will unlock a child’s door to a peaceful sleep.
Enroll in a Quality Program for Your Infant Sleep Consultant Certification
If you’re thinking of becoming a sleep consultant, you need to enroll in a quality program. There are so many programs out there that promise to be the real deal. But, they’re cheap, don’t have qualified instructors, and probably don’t have the most up-to-date curriculum either. Did you know that the Institute of Pediatric Sleep & Parenting is the only program taught by a registered nurse and endorsed by pediatricians? That’s one of the ways you know that you’re getting a quality program. Enrolling in a quality program will give you the information you need and allow you to have a certification from a reputable program. This will give you the solid start you need to rock your new role as a sleep consultant.
What if I Don’t Have What it Takes?
If you’ve read through this list and are worried you don’t have what it takes, don’t run off! If earning your infant sleep consultant certification is something you’re truly passionate about and want to make happen, you can find ways to make it work. Believe in yourself and work on the areas where you think you may fall behind. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish!
To learn more about earning your infant sleep consultant certification, check out our program which will help get you on your way.
