DEVELOPING SOUND SLEEPERS FOR LIFE

Working with families for over 20 years, Desiree knows how stressful sleep and conventional sleep training can be. With a science based background and deep understanding of Attachment Parenting, her methods and strategies are truly one of a kind. She is here to support your family though this emotional journey with manageable steps that won’t overwhelm you, but will build and maintain healthy, secure attachment and life long sleep habits.

PHILOSOPHY

Desiree’s approach is hands on, parent-present, and Attachment-Centred. She does not believe in, or practice, Cry It Out, Ferber, Controlled Crying, or the Chair Method. Desiree has utilized her education in Neuro Science, Hypnotherapy, Psychology and strong intuition, to create multifaceted strategies that are unique to every family she works with. Stress responses, and anxious behaviours are not something you will experience with Desiree’s methods. Her focus and number one priority is maintaining secure attachment and a co-regulated environment. Responsive, Attachment-Centred Parenting is the foundation of Desiree’s beliefs and why her clients love working with her.

“I knew immediately that I liked her style of no CIO and attachment-based techniques. She listened to my concerns and asked me TONS of questions about my daughter and her personality. She really tailored her tips specifically to what worked for our family.”

~ Shannon Mom of 2

ABOUT DESIREE

Hi I’m Desiree, I’m so glad you’re here! You might remember me as the owner of Rockababy, “the baby guru”, well known for getting your little ones to sleep. Not to worry, I’m still your “Sleep Expert” but 12 years later, I have evolved and so has my beloved brand; it’s time to move into a more personal direction. I have to tell you something really important, and I hope you stick around to read more, because it’s why you’ll chose to work with me, or maybe look elsewhere as we might not be the right fit. I’m not a “Sleep Trainer”! I was once upon a time in the very beginning. I practiced old school methods like controlled crying and modified forms of CIO, and I know the stressful impact these methods have on babies and families. They might be right for some, but research shows (my own studies included) these practices are one dimensional, stress inducing and dated.

10 years ago when I turned my focus to Attcahment-Centred Parenting, I felt very alone but I dove in head first and have continued to deepen my practice. The path that lead me here today was certainly not smooth, professionally or personally, but here I am, more aligned and in tune than ever before. Who am I now if not a Sleep Trainer? I resonate with “Attachment-Centred Parenting Coach” and “Intuitive Parenting Coach”, this represents the principles and values I operate from with my clients. I want to educate and support you around heathy secure attachment, encourage you to trust your “gut feelings” aka your intuition, and listen to that built in system only you have between you and your baby. This is the foundation of what I teach, from my deepest core belief systems.

I have a very unique background and education in Neuro Science, Hypno Therapy and Life Coaching and over 20 years of hands on experience with children and families. I’ve used my education and experience to develop my unique, Intuitive & Attachment-Centred practice, and it feels really good! Having worked with families for so many years, specializing in the Attachment-Parenting Philosophy for the last 10, I can confidently say I’m an expert when it comes to supporting the specific needs of your family no matter what stage you’re at. If it’s sleep, behaviour, and even potty support you need, I can help! I support and welcome families of all shapes and sizes where ever they are in their parenting journey. If you’ve read this far it’s probably time to send me an email to set up a 15 minute comp call to see if we’re a good fit, I’d love to chat!

I’m currently living in Vancouver’s beautiful West Side with my family. When I’m not helping families with sleep or behavioural needs, you’ll find me at the barn with my horse Sidney, in my garden talking to birds and offering tired bees sugar water, sailing with my love, and walking our beautiful Boxer Lincoln. In other words, doing things that really fill my soul, ground me and connect me with nature. This is how I maintain my healthy longterm attachment to myself, which turns out is SO important! Thanks again for being here, I can’t wait to connect!

“Desiree is exceedingly kind, exceptionally talented in the methods she uses and incredibly empowering to parents who feel like they're at their wits end. Not once did I feel like I had to sacrifice my relationship with either of my daughters or ignore their needs as a result of using her methods (unlike the CIO style methods that we had used previously). If anything, we all feel more tuned into eachother and have a deeper much richer relationship as a result, with better sleep as the cherry on top!”

~ Michelle

Testimonials

We called Desiree when our third baby was about a year old, we were so scared that if we sleep trained our baby she would wake up her toddler siblings! Desiree came over and totally organized our sleep schedule, turns out our little one was tired - she took to the new plan like a dream! She has slept 12 hours every single night without crying or conventional sleep training since Desiree visited us....we like our sleep!

~ Tamara Taggart
Mom of 3

Desiree is exceedingly kind, exceptionally talented in the methods she uses and incredibly empowering to parents who feel like they're at their wits end. Not once did I feel like I had to sacrifice my relationship with either of my daughters or ignore their needs as a result of using her methods (unlike the CIO style methods that we had used previously). If anything, we all feel more tuned into eachother and have a deeper much richer relationship as a result, with better sleep as the cherry on top! 

~ Michelle

Mom of 2

Sometimes as a new parent you’re afraid of your own instincts and there’s an overabundance of advice and information that may not pertain to your situation. Desiree has the ability to observe each situation for its uniqueness and create a solution that is comfortable for everyone involved. She’s able to see things commonly missed to the untrained eye and to articulate exactly what your child is trying to communicate. Desiree’s common sense, and educated approach to sleep and raising a toddler is exactly what a new parent needs to hear and probably the only reason my wife and I get 8 hours of sleep a night.

Des, thanks for keeping me happily married and rested!

G.G.

Dad of 2

Desiree helped us achieve our goal of having Hannah sleep through the night in her crib. She broke everything down into small, manageable steps that we could feel confident executing. Desiree was there for us along the way to answer questions, adjust our strategy based on how Hannah was responding and explain the reasoning of those reactions to us.

Desiree, you are a life saver and you make me a better mother. Thank you for helping me understand my baby, teaching me how to help her in a loving, gentle way and most importantly, for getting me SLEEP!!

~ Cora

Mom of 2

A godsend! My husband and I recently adopted a baby boy, though we have endless love, our structure for baby needed work haha. Des is professional, extremely knowledgable and makes you feel that you can accomplish anything as parents! The support and structure she gave us allowed us to get through those first few difficult months. We are both working professionals so creating a balanced system for my partner and I was key. Desiree focused on our specific needs, that align with family and baby, it was incredible. We spoke with a few other local consultants who gave us cookie cutter info, that we knew wouldn't work for us. My husband and I needed a personal, professional touch with someone who was a pro, that's Des!

We are now 8 months old, and sleeping through the night, and our little one is so happy. Can't say enough about how valuable Des is to a new family... she really is the baby whisperer!

B & D

Dads of 1

Desiree helped our family go from a random nap schedule with nursing to sleep for naps and at bedtime, to having a variety of family members and childcare providers able to do bedtime and naps.  
The best advice we got from Desiree was to start getting our baby out of the house every morning and to move to one nap.  This was not what I had read anywhere else but after meeting our baby Desiree was sure this was the right thing to do.  I was skeptical but tried it and the first day it was obvious it was a huge improvement.  It took a while for our baby to adjust to one nap but it was 100% the right thing to do for us.  
We had a serious set back at one point, and when Desiree understood that we were confused and desperate, she made herself available at short notice to make sure we were getting the support we needed.
Desiree's methods were gentle and allowed us a lot of freedom to interpret them the way that they worked best for us.  I really recommend this as an option for parents who don't want to leave their babies to cry.              

M.L

Mom of 2

TWINS!!! Wow. We called Desiree when we realized we had developed some not so great sleep habits with our twins. In the early months we were in survival mode with two babies and a five year old! I distinctly remember sitting on the couch with our older daughter watching the WorldCup while the twins were sound asleep swinging in the swings, which we quickly came to rely heavily on.

To be honest, SO much of the early days are now a blur, but something that truly sticks out was the help and support that Desiree gave us throughout the first 2 years. Right from the get go we knew it was going to require our commitment and effort - there were two of them afterall! Each step, each transition, each shift, the kneeling down double handed tap - she helped us truly understand why we were doing what we were doing, and how what we were doing would be contributing to sound sleep habits these monkeys would have as they grow.

Something I can't emphasize enough is how calm, thoughtful and compassionate Desiree was with us both. There were times where things were going so well, then all of a sudden they weren't. A new development stage hit and it felt like we had gone off the rails. But as we may have been exhausted, ever so empatheticly and calmly Desiree reminded us that our girls were in fact just growing and changing, we discussed an adjusted plan, and that it would indeed be ok. And it was. We stuck to the plan, each and every time, and each and every time things continued to go well. Desiree was always available and full of sound advice.

We would not have sanely survived these past three years without Desiree's help, and for that we are immensely grateful. Thank You!!   

~ Ray

Dad of 3

Des is a genius. She not only provides amazing step by step guidelines and a plan, she asks the perfect questions to understand where your baby is at. Developmental stages, his mood, his current challenges, and she offers SUCH a compassionate approach to people that are struggling with no sleep! If you listen, and follow, it all pays off. Des has such a unique approach, I was not ready to let sam cry, and probably never would be. Her methods and techniques supported me and our goals. SAM now sleeps through the night and it has not even been a month since our first call. Would HIGHLY recommend.

~ Katherine Evans

Mom of 1

When my friend referred us to Desiree, we were skeptical especially my husband. We also live in Montreal and didn't know if Desiree could help us over the phone but we were desperate. The outcome? My husband came to me a few weeks later and said, "Desiree could have charged us $7000 and it would have been worth it.

~ Laureen & Benjamin

Parents of 1

I was having the worst time trying to get one of my twin boys to get toilet trained. We were fast approaching the boys 4th birthday, and I decided that I needed outside help. Desiree is known as the baby guru, and friends of mine had sworn by her service.  I talked to her about Nicholas, his temperament, personality and my own concerns.  Desiree put together a program that was specifically tailored to us.  She said it would be difficult and frustrating but to hang in there...that in 3-4 days there would be a breakthrough.  3 days went by and nothing...no interest from Nicholas, and I was ready to give up.  I would email Desiree to tell her the progress (or rather, lack of it) and she kept my spirits up telling me to hang in there and also giving me more tips on how to handle it. I was so impressed by how available she made herself to me that I couldn't give up.  I would do everything she told me to do. 

On day 4 - Desiree was right, there was a breakthrough, he asked to make a pee on the toilet, and he did it!  And since then he has been using the toilet regularly.  And I achieved my goal to have both my boys fully trained by their 4th birthday.  Hiring Rockababy was worth every penny!  Now if only I had known about Rockababy when I was trying to sleep train them as babies...

K.K

Mom of twins       

Everyone tells us how lucky we are that we have sleepers...both of our babes were sleeping 12 hours per night by 3 months. We are lucky, but we have Desiree to credit! We have learned that to have good sleepers is to have good and consistent routines. Without following Desiree's plan and philosophies, we would not have babes that sleep and self soothe as well as they do. She has been a continued resource for us through the newborn to toddler and now to child phases of development. She has helped us tweak our parenting when needed to better deal with the challenges that come with each age. We are very lucky to have her on our family support team!

Kleo

Mom of 2

When I first met Desiree and discovered how easy it was to have her help our family I did not want to let the secret out. Why would I spend hours (that I don’t have) reading a book on how-to anything in regards to parenting, when I could just ask Desiree. I learned quickly of how valuable Desiree’s help was when she helped our family give my 10 month old the rest that she was crying for. I didn’t even realize that the reason she was crying was because my husband and I were interrupting her sleep cycle. I was depriving my baby of sleep, and I also was not rested enough to be able to drive my car (or my stroller!) without nodding off midday.

As we have transitioned from sleeping through the night, picky eating, and tantrums, I have kept Desiree on speed dial the whole way through.  My trust in her common mommy sense has alleviated my stress and increased my ability to provide not only my child, but my whole family with the care that we need.   

Rita 

Mom. of 2