Little Sleepers' SUCCESS STORIES:
San Francisco - Tess
Tess´s Story
1. How was Tess’s sleep before you found Little Sleepers?
HORRIFIC. She wasn’t a terrible newborn, but suddenly just stopped sleeping around 15-16 weeks, right when I was going back to work after maternity leave. And her naps were so random! One day she’d sleep for 10 minutes and another she’d sleep for 2 hours.
Usually, it would take us longer to rock or bounce her to sleep than the length of the actual nap. My husband and I would take turns holding or rocking her for hours at a time, and I thought I was going to either have to quit my job or give her up for adoption. Just kidding (kind of)!
2. What did you try before you hired Little Sleepers?
We tried everything! I read books, bought Taking Cara Babies’ online course and listened to every one of our friends’ advice. None were helpful!
3. How were your child’s sleep issues impacting your family before you worked with Annika and what made you look for a sleep consultant?
Luckily my husband was helpful when her sleep got really bad, but it was no fun. I have a demanding job in San Francisco and when I realized that I could not do my job during the day if I wasn’t sleeping at night, I decided I needed to get help.
My best friend and college roommate, Sam, hired Annika as a sleep consultant 8 or 9 years ago and still remembered how she saved her life/marriage! I called her asking if she knew anything about how the fire station drop-off worked if we decided having kids wasn’t for us and, maybe as a backup plan, whether I should just quit my job. Instead, she suggested we hire Annika to be our sleep coach.
4. What made you choose Little Sleepers?
I was so tired. I don’t even remember our first phone call. I may have fallen asleep during it. But I do recall we did the math that hiring four days of overnight help was about the same cost, and my friend said that it’s better to solve our sleep problems than get a bandaid (overnight help).
5. Did you have any concerns before working with Little Sleepers?
I was terrified to let our baby cry! However, Annika was so supportive and kind, while being tough and firm. She put my mind at ease and supported us every step of the way. She knows her stuff and her confidence brings comfort. Communication with Annika was always helpful, fun, entertaining, everything, life saving, amazing!
6. What is unique about raising a child in San Francisco? How did those factors play into your child’s sleep schedule or issues?
I work in finance in San Francisco, so I have East Coast hours on the West coast, which means getting up for work at 4:00 or 4:30 am. That’s tiring enough without a baby making it worse! But now it’s amazing because I get to spend my afternoons with her.
7. By the end of your four weeks of working with Annika, how was your family doing?
Tess was (and still is) a champion sleeper by the end of our four weeks working with Annika. She has slept through the night since, is on a schedule, and is SO much happier too! She is a super happy maniac with tons of energy and loves her strict sleep schedule! An even bigger win we had was finding joy in being a parent again. As a bonus, getting Tess to sleep enabled me to convince my husband to have a second, and we are due in four weeks! There is no way we would have had more children if we didn’t sleep.
8. What would you tell another parent who is thinking of working with Annika Brindley?
IT IS THE BEST MONEY YOU WILL EVER SPEND. Sleep is so important. And Annika is some sort of wizard/magician! Literally on the first night we knew we had made the right choice. After an initial adjustment, Tess then slept for 10 hours which she had never done in her life!
9. What do you like best about living in SF?
I love that we can be outside all year round and are driving distance to so many amazing places like skiing in Tahoe and wine country. San Francisco is a great place to raise a child provided that your child sleeps!