Meet Dawn Braun, GSC
I’ve always been passionate about health and wellness and being well rested is a key component. I strongly believe that parents don't have to suffer through sleepless nights and that every child can learn to sleep independently. I hold a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and a Master's of Arts from Catholic University, but after giving birth to my first child, I became dedicated to sharing the gift of sleep with my own children and now I want to share it with yours.
I believe that the best parents are rested parents therefore I launched my practice in 2012 and have helped over 100 families teach their children the vital life skill of sleep. It is my belief that I can teach you the tools you need to be successful while still supporting your overall parenting philosophy and style. That's what's so special about the Gentle Sleep Coaching method and my training. I am the mother of two fun loving girls (8 & 7), who are both champion sleepers thanks to all the knowledge and tools I've learned. I also serve as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Contact me today and let me help you! dbraun@wellrestedfamily.com cell: 202-236-5344 |
Meet Meredith Kinney, GSC
I am the mother of two boys living in South Jersey. I graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland, and worked in magazine publishing in Philadelphia. When my children were born, I chose to leave my office job and stay home with them. As a stay-at-home mom, I was very involved in the day to day activities of my boys. I joined a moms group, became friends with the other neighborhood moms, and signed up for lots of mommy and me classes. When the boys were older, I was on the Board of Trustees at their preschool, and I was also became the President of that local moms group. Now that they are in elementary school, I volunteer with the PTO. I am around young children and moms all day. When the kids were younger, I would often hear how concerned everyone was about how much sleep their babies were getting. Everyone had a story about their baby sleeping in the car, or in a swing, or in the carseat in the bathroom with the fan on. When they were older, it was more stories of transitioning to big kid beds, bedtime wars, and climbing into mommy's bed in the middle of the night. It seemed no one was getting any sleep. Everyone had suggestions to help these moms, but no one had real solutions. The Gentle Sleep Coaching method is a real solution.
Since starting my practice in 2015, I have furthered my education by studying with the Wonder Weeks Academy, a research institute dedicated to the study of infant mental health and development. The knowledge behind these studies combined with the Gentle Sleep method will put you and your child on a path to being well rested. meredith@wellrestedfamily.com cell: 201-741-8142 |
Our training . . .
GSC Program Summary
The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coach training and certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes 2 medical doctors, a psychologist, an attorney, lactation counselor, postpartum doulas and a family therapist. Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case mentorship with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 20 years. Clinical mentorship 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 to help parents of children age 0 to 6 years old.
- 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
- GERD and Sleep led by Dr. Anthony Loizides, pediatric gastroenterologist
0-5-Month-Old Training Summary
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coach training and certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes 2 medical doctors, a psychologist, an attorney, lactation counselor, postpartum doulas and a family therapist. Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case mentorship with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 20 years. Clinical mentorship 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 to help parents of children age 0 to 6 years old.
- 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
- GERD and Sleep led by Dr. Anthony Loizides, pediatric gastroenterologist
0-5-Month-Old Training Summary
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
- In-depth knowledge of the importance of attachment and infant mental health
- The sleep science behind the first six months of life
- What special considerations need to be taken when working with and supporting families during this delicate period.
- Specialized instruction on how to evaluate families in the first six months
- Guidance on how to assess when the baby is ready for sleep coaching based on current research and evidence-based strategies
- Review of gentle sleep solutions and strategies that are developmentally appropriate, breastfeeding and attachment friendly and promote a solid foundation for sleep learning and long-term healthy sleep patterns.
This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
