Get Your Baby to Sleep: Interview with Sleep Consultant Danielle Greene

What do you do when your baby suddenly stops sleeping the way he used to? When you and your husband are increasingly sleep deprived and desperate for help?

If you said, “Run away from home,” you might want to try something different. “Google ‘get my baby to sleep’ ?’’ Well, that might be better, but you’re probably pretty bleary-eyed right now – just like all the other moms and dads who have searched this topic. It turns out that there are dozens of search variations for how to get an infant to sleep.

If you said, “Hire a sleep consultant to help me get my baby to sleep,” you might be on the right track.

Why? 

Because sleep consultants offer exhausted parents proven techniques to help babies learn to fall asleep – and back to sleep – on their own. And sleep is very important for babies, especially in their first year of life.

But more importantly, sleep consultants offer support as parents work through this process. And, for moms and dads who aren't getting enough sleep themselves because their baby isn't sleeping, support from someone whose brain isn’t foggy can feel like a lifeline to sanity. 

From Client to Consultant

What if your life changed when you hired a sleep consultant? And if knowing how to help your baby get to sleep carried over to your second child? What if you were so happy with this that you decided to become a sleep consultant yourself?

That’s just what mom of two, Danielle Greene, did. After hiring Jayne Havens of Snooze Fest, she learned that Jayne had also created her own sleep consultant certification course, the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management (CPSM). Psst – you can read more about Jayne, Snooze Fest, and CPSM in my interview with her.

Meet Danielle Greene

Danielle loved helping people as a teacher. But she’d begun to focus more on her own family since she had her son during the COVID pandemic. And when he started waking unpredictably, she used a sleep consultant to help her get her baby to sleep.

The idea of becoming a sleep consultant who helped families navigate their baby’s sleep spoke to Danielle. She’d been there not so long ago and understood what these parents were going through. 

She also wanted to be home and available for her children without losing her income. 

She enrolled in CPSM – and it has changed her life. Now she is the owner of Danielle Greene Sleep Consulting.

I chatted with Danielle about how she became a successful certified sleep consultant. We also talked about how the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management is still helping her to live a happy life. She can be present for her family and still get lunch with friends. And all while she has a deeply satisfying career she can do anywhere.

Hi, Danielle!

I read on your site that you hired a sleep consultant yourself when your first child was sleeping and waking unpredictably. Can you walk me through how trying to get your own baby to sleep led you to this career?

Even before becoming a sleep consultant, my entire career had been dedicated to helping others. My background is in social-emotional development and learning, and while I have always loved working with children, I have become increasingly passionate about supporting parents and helping them to make sense of where their children are developmentally and how to best meet their current needs. 

After giving birth to my first child, I became frustrated when I realized that I didn’t have all of the answers and that I couldn’t support myself in the way I knew I was able to support so many other families with young children. 

My son was born in the height of the pandemic, and because I had nothing else to do, I became obsessed with learning about all things baby, especially sleep. I read books, I followed sleep “experts” on social media, and I even bought courses from said “experts.” 

My son did well during the first few months, but then the dreaded four-month sleep regression hi,t and all hell broke loose. All of the work I had put into understanding and meeting his sleep needs seemed to no longer matter, and I needed help. 

My husband and I ultimately decided to hire a sleep consultant who would offer some hand-holding and take the guesswork out of everything for us. 

Once you decided to explore becoming a sleep consultant, how did you learn about the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management? What made you want to find out more?

Unbeknownst to me, the sleep consultant we had hired in 2020, Jayne Havens, was the founder and owner of CPSM. I knew how beneficial her support was to us back then, so to be honest, I wasn’t really interested in learning about other programs. What she had done with us worked and had stuck, so why fix what isn’t broken?! 

When my daughter was born in 2023, I was able to implement what I had learned from Jayne from the get-go. Not only did it come naturally to me, but the process of establishing healthy and independent sleep habits for my daughter brought me so much joy and satisfaction. Not only was she happy and well-rested, but my husband and I were, too. 

One night while sitting on the couch, I turned to my husband and jokingly asked if I should become a sleep consultant, to which he very seriously responded that I should. I scheduled a meeting with Jayne for the following day.

How did you come to the decision to enroll? Was there anything that made you nervous about taking this step? If so, how did you move forward through that nervousness?

It didn’t take much convincing. I love supporting families and helping them to realize their full potential. When I enrolled, I was still teaching full-time, but I knew that I wanted to soon close that chapter of my life. 

I had always dreamt of working for myself while still being able to make an impact on others’ lives. And I knew that becoming a sleep consultant would allow me to do just that. 

Because I was still able to rely on being paid my teaching salary, I didn’t feel nervous when I first enrolled. The nerves really kicked in when I quit my job and went full-time with sleep consulting! 

Did you have clear goals when you enrolled? Can you share whether the course lived up to them? 

When I first enrolled, my biggest goal was to finish the course and build enough of a client base that would allow me to quit my full-time job as soon as possible. 

That happened within 6 months. So I’d say that yes, the course lived up to my expectations and continues to allow me to reach my goals.

Life can throw surprises our way. Was there anything about the course or setting up your own sleep consultant business that didn’t go according to plan? 

So far, no. That’s not to say that launching your own business doesn’t come with challenges and curveballs. It absolutely does. 

What has been your favorite part of moving through the course and starting your own business

Of the many benefits of taking Jayne’s course, there are two that quickly come to mind. 

The first is the level of preparedness that I felt upon launching my own business. There are several sleep consultant certification courses available to take. But to my knowledge, CPSM is one of the only ones – if not the only one – that has an entire module dedicated to launching and growing a business. 

Was I scared to launch my business? Of course I was. 

Was I prepared to launch my business? Absolutely, and that’s thanks to the course and Jayne’s commitment to setting her students up for success. 

My other favorite part of moving through the course was all of the connecting I was able to make with fellow CPSM students and grads. I am always blown away by their talent, and it has been such an honor to grow alongside other dedicated sleep consultants!

What’s your least favorite part?

Probably any sort of admin work. My least favorite part used to be creating social media content, but I’ve helped and met so many incredible moms through Instagram that I’ve actually come to love it!

How long did it take you to complete the course and earn your certification? How long after that did you sign your first client?

It took me about three months to complete the course. But it could easily be completed in less time than that. 

I signed on my first pro bono client a few weeks before passing the course. And I signed my first paying client exactly a week after completing it.

How long did it take you to earn back the cost of the course? If you had financial goals when you started, are you meeting them? If so, how long did that take?

I earned the cost of the course back after being in business for one full month. My first financial goal was to match my monthly teaching income, which also happened in my first full month of being in business. 

My second financial goal was to have a $10k month. That happened for the first time this past October, about 10 months after launching my business.  

How has your new career changed life (for better, or not so much) for you? For your family?

This new career has been the greatest gift to me and to my family. I’ve always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I have also always wanted to have my own business.

Since launching my business, I have been able to prioritize my family in ways that I have always wanted, but couldn’t do due to my previous job. Every part of my day is so much less rushed, and my kids feel that. 

I’m able to take them to school, I’m able to pick them up, and I even get to play with them after school! 

I was never able to do any of that prior to doing sleep consulting full-time. Moments that used to feel stressful and mundane have become some of the most cherished parts of my day. Anyone who has or has had young children understands how fleeting the early years are. I am so glad that I no longer need to feel like I’m missing out on experiencing them. 

I know a big part of what the CPSM course offers is support via their Facebook group. Can you tell me how helpful that’s been to you personally as you’ve grown your business?

The Facebook group has been invaluable to me as I continue to grow as a sleep consultant. Whenever I have a question or need clarification on something, the Facebook group is always the first place I go. I know that there will always be someone ready to jump in and help. And, of course, whenever I notice another sleep consultant who is also in need of some assistance, I never hesitate to offer support or advice. 

The group is also a place where CPSM students and grads come together to troubleshoot tough cases, lift each other up, and celebrate successes. For example, every Wednesday we have the opportunity to share a “win” – no matter how big or small – with the larger CPSM community. It feels so great to be surrounded by so many hardworking and supportive women, albeit virtually. At the end of the day, our community is very much a place of both giving and receiving.

What does a typical day in your business look like now? How well does that mesh with your family life?

Before I wake up my kids each morning, I check in with my clients via text message to see how their night went. After I drop my oldest child off at school, I head to a coffee shop, where I continue to be in communication with clients, take phone calls, network, write sleep plans, and work on creating content for Instagram. 

I often try to get all of my desk work done in the morning, so that I can focus on other things in the afternoon, like taking a walk, preparing dinner, and being with my kids. 

The beauty of this work is that much of it can be done from anywhere. I often can’t believe that I can be talking to clients while picking up an order at Target!

Can you explain how you help people get their babies to sleep independently, and why it’s important for children’s development to be able to do this?

Before I say anything else, it’s important to recognize that “cry it out” is NOT the only effective sleep training method and that there are several other options. 

Every child and every family is unique. So the sleep training method that works well for one family may not work for another. I always present families with two to three age-appropriate sleep training methods and allow them to choose to implement the one that most aligns with their parenting style. 

In the customized sleep plans I create for clients, I provide explicit instructions for how to implement the methods. Then I help them to implement in real-time over the course of two weeks. 

Mastering the skill of independent sleep, like any other skill, takes time. Practicing, struggling, and practicing some more until we finally master something builds resilience and grit, which is essential for everyone, especially children. 

When we give our children space to learn a particular skill, we learn to trust them and believe that they can do hard things. 

Consequently, our children learn to trust us in return. It goes without saying that empowering babies and children with independent sleep habits leads to happy, well-rested children who are able to thrive physically, socially, and emotionally. 

How can working with a sleep coach or consultant help people to get their babies and children to sleep? What support do you provide for your clients?

When a family decides to hire a sleep coach, they are not just hiring a sleep expert. Parents who choose to work with a sleep coach do so because they’re looking for someone to hold them accountable, cheer them on, and support them in real time. 

You can’t get any of that from a book or online course. 

I support families in a variety of ways. My most popular support package is a two-week virtual consultation. This includes a completely customized written sleep plan, two 30-minute phone calls, and two weeks of text message support. 

For families with already-independent sleepers and who need just a bit of troubleshooting support, I offer a 30-minute Ask Me Anything call. 

I also do in-person consultations, which include three overnight stays in a family’s home, followed by a 10-day virtual consultation. I do just one in-person consultation each month for local NJ/NY families.

I'd love to hear a few interesting things about you as a person. Can you share a bit about yourself and your family, if you're comfortable?

My family and I live in New Jersey. I am very East Coast (think New York City in human form: fast-paced and always busy). My husband is from LA, and he’s been gracious enough to share some of his more calm and relaxed West Coast energy with me and my kids. We live for a cozy and lazy Sunday. We love to start our morning off with cuddles in bed (no, cuddles are not off limits when working with a sleep consultant!), head downstairs for waffles, and eventually make our way to the farmers market and the inevitable birthday party.

Last question: Do you have 3-5 tips to help parents decide if a sleep consultant career might be right for them?

A career in sleep consulting might be right for you if:

1. You have dreams of staying home with your kids while also making money
2. You are the mom who is constantly helping your friends with their kids’ sleep
3. You are looking for ways to bring in extra income in addition to your full-time salary
4. You feel most fulfilled when making a positive impact on the lives of others

Thank you, Danielle!

Bonus: What Does It Take To Be A Great Sleep Consultant?

Here’s the top question  CPSM creator Jayne Havens gets from prospective sleep consultants:

“Okay, I finish the course… then what?”

Jayne says this is the right question to ask, because learning is what separates good consultants from great ones.

She adds:

“As the owner and founder of Center for Pediatric Sleep Management, I take responsibility for producing the best sleep consultants in the field.

Our graduates are a reflection of me and the program.

That's why continuing education isn't an afterthought. It's built into the CPSM experience.

If you enroll in CPSM, you get to continue your education for as long as you want, at no additional charge.” – Jayne Havens, owner and founder of Center for Pediatric Sleep Management

For example, CPSM graduate Aurielle Martin, MSPAS, PA-C, recently updated the Evidence Review section of the course.

This update includes:

•  A review of studies already covered.
• Further research 
• A wider discussion around what evidence-based practice means
• How to read the full-text articles 
• Commonly misquoted or mis-cited studies and some of the most frequently debated sleep-training- related topics 

So, when you enroll in CPSM, you get access to a live curriculum – and you join a community of professionals committed to lifelong learning and helping one another grow.

Because certification really is just the beginning.

Conclusion: Are You Someone’s Sleep Solution?

Are you a parent who’s been through too many nights with a baby who couldn't sleep? Did you wish you had a magic “get my baby to sleep” wand back then? What would it have meant to you to have dedicated support? Someone backing you up who knew how to help babies fall asleep and get back to sleep on their own?

While sleep consulting isn’t magic, it may feel that way to the families you help. After all, it’s no small thing to get the sleep you need, at any age. And as Danielle proves, clients can make great consultants.

You could be the “magic wand” for parents who are struggling to get the rest they need. You could help them be the moms and dads they want to be. 

Want to learn more? Click the button for a free e-book!

Or visit the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management Homepage to learn more about the course.

Maybe soon, a frazzled and sleep-deprived parent will search several different versions of  “get my baby to sleep.” And then they will find their answers in your sleep consultant business!