About Stephanie
Hello. My name is Stephanie Baker. I am a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach®, the owner of Sweet Sleep Solutions, and a proud mother of three girls. Before I became a sleep coach, I worked in Information Security and Intel Analysis (very different from this job, I know). I have a Bachelor's Degree from Loyola College in MD and was in the process of obtaining my Master's Degree from Johns Hopkins University when I switched careers. Here is my story...
Before our oldest daughter, Jamie, was born, I believed that newborns slept all the time. I had peaceful visions of snuggling and holding my sweet sleeping baby. However, in the days/weeks/months following our return home from the hospital, Jamie was awake and fussy 9 hours straight almost daily! I went to the pediatrician and said, “Something is wrong with my baby. She won’t sleep during the day.” His response: “As long as she is eating and growing, then I don’t care if she is sleeping.” I went home in tears. Jamie slept a little bit at night, but my husband and I had to do a special dance combined with swinging and sh-sh-ing her in our arms. Once she fell asleep, we carefully put her down into the Pack-n-play next to our bed. If putting her down didn’t wake her up, she would wake up anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours later and we would have to do the whole process over again.
Jamie was very colicky. She wouldn’t go to anyone else without screaming, including my husband. I was sleep-deprived and I felt so isolated and trapped at home. I also felt horrible for Jamie who just seemed so unhappy. To add fuel to the fire, my husband had to travel for 3 months. I needed help. I decided to get educated on childhood sleep. I read 5 sleep books, some more than once. I knew I needed to give Jamie the gift of sleep, but starting the process was so intimidating that I kept putting it off. Finally, I got the courage to begin. I was able to get Jamie to nap in HER crib and in HER room that first day, which was probably the single most empowering moment of being a mother for me. Within a week, Jamie was sleeping through the night without any nursing, rocking, swinging, dancing, sh-sh-ing. I couldn’t believe it! Jamie became such a happier, well-rested baby and my life improved drastically. With our second and third daughters, I was determined not to create any bad habits. I used the sleep techniques I learned, and the girls have both been great sleepers since day one.
After teaching Jamie good sleep habits, I began using my favorite sleep book, “Good Night Sleep Tight” by Kim West to sleep coach many of my friend’s kids. I am passionate about it and I love helping and empowering other families. My friends joked that I should sleep coach for a living, but I never knew that this was possible. When I heard about Kim West’s certification program, which happens to be the most comprehensive sleep coaching program in the world, I jumped on it.
And here I am…
My Training
Prior to GSC Certification
Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, Maryland
Masters of Science (put on hold due to career change)
Mercyhurst College; Erie, Pennsylvania
Intelligence Analyst Certification
Loyola College; Baltimore, Maryland
Joseph A. Sellinger, S.J. School of Business and Management. (AACSB Accredited)
Bachelors of Business Administration
GSC Program Summary Including 4-5 Month Old Certification (2013 Graduate)
The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coaching certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training, an exam and participation in case supervision with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 17 years. Clinical supervision and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach. Some of my training topics included:
The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training series directly centered around how to gently work with babies 4 and 5 months of age. This program which I have also completed consists of over 40 hours of instruction and mentorship.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
This specialty training is designed to give coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources we need to successfully work with families of babies 4-6 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
Before our oldest daughter, Jamie, was born, I believed that newborns slept all the time. I had peaceful visions of snuggling and holding my sweet sleeping baby. However, in the days/weeks/months following our return home from the hospital, Jamie was awake and fussy 9 hours straight almost daily! I went to the pediatrician and said, “Something is wrong with my baby. She won’t sleep during the day.” His response: “As long as she is eating and growing, then I don’t care if she is sleeping.” I went home in tears. Jamie slept a little bit at night, but my husband and I had to do a special dance combined with swinging and sh-sh-ing her in our arms. Once she fell asleep, we carefully put her down into the Pack-n-play next to our bed. If putting her down didn’t wake her up, she would wake up anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours later and we would have to do the whole process over again.
Jamie was very colicky. She wouldn’t go to anyone else without screaming, including my husband. I was sleep-deprived and I felt so isolated and trapped at home. I also felt horrible for Jamie who just seemed so unhappy. To add fuel to the fire, my husband had to travel for 3 months. I needed help. I decided to get educated on childhood sleep. I read 5 sleep books, some more than once. I knew I needed to give Jamie the gift of sleep, but starting the process was so intimidating that I kept putting it off. Finally, I got the courage to begin. I was able to get Jamie to nap in HER crib and in HER room that first day, which was probably the single most empowering moment of being a mother for me. Within a week, Jamie was sleeping through the night without any nursing, rocking, swinging, dancing, sh-sh-ing. I couldn’t believe it! Jamie became such a happier, well-rested baby and my life improved drastically. With our second and third daughters, I was determined not to create any bad habits. I used the sleep techniques I learned, and the girls have both been great sleepers since day one.
After teaching Jamie good sleep habits, I began using my favorite sleep book, “Good Night Sleep Tight” by Kim West to sleep coach many of my friend’s kids. I am passionate about it and I love helping and empowering other families. My friends joked that I should sleep coach for a living, but I never knew that this was possible. When I heard about Kim West’s certification program, which happens to be the most comprehensive sleep coaching program in the world, I jumped on it.
And here I am…
My Training
Prior to GSC Certification
Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, Maryland
Masters of Science (put on hold due to career change)
Mercyhurst College; Erie, Pennsylvania
Intelligence Analyst Certification
Loyola College; Baltimore, Maryland
Joseph A. Sellinger, S.J. School of Business and Management. (AACSB Accredited)
Bachelors of Business Administration
GSC Program Summary Including 4-5 Month Old Certification (2013 Graduate)
The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coaching certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training, an exam and participation in case supervision with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 17 years. Clinical supervision and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach. Some of my training topics included:
- Basic counseling and child development
- Sleep science and behavioral modification techniques
- Secure attachment theory
- Support for the breastfeeding mother
The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:
- Postpartum Depression from Dr Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression
- Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children led by Dr Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center
- Sensory Processing Disorders and Sleep by Jodi Jennings, OTLR
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training series directly centered around how to gently work with babies 4 and 5 months of age. This program which I have also completed consists of over 40 hours of instruction and mentorship.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
- In depth knowledge of the delicate nature of infants under 6 months of age and how to consider all elements of their well-being.
- Current evidence based guidelines and instruction on how to evaluate the 4-6 month old child and family and determine if the child is ready for sleep coaching.
- Gentle sleep solutions and strategies that are effective and developmentally appropriate for the younger baby.
This specialty training is designed to give coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources we need to successfully work with families of babies 4-6 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
