For sleep expert Andrea Elovson, starting her company Sleepy Bug was a simple solution to a growing problem for many new moms and expanding families. After the birth of Andrea’s first child, the most challenging aspect of motherhood was the sleep deprivation and the constant worry that her child wasn’t getting enough sleep, a common fear among most parents. She was soon to realize there was little support to treat sleeping issues, and most importantly, any resources that were out there took a “one size fits all approach”, which isn’t beneficial to a lot of parents.

After doing web research and talking to professional sleep doctors, Andrea realized it was much easier to understand information from a professional who personalized the situation, rather than reading cookie-cutter approaches in a book. Taking a cue from her discovery, Sleepy Bug was born in 2009.

As the only certified pediatric sleep coach in Pennsylvania, Andrea’s mission through Sleepy Bug is to educate and coach parents on how babies really sleep, and any issues they face don’t reflect your parenting! She stresses that a baby’s sleep pattern changes with a growth spurt, learning motor skills (rolling over, crawling, sitting up, walking), cognitive changes (such as when their brain learns something new – it becomes preoccupied and they may not sleep), and she urges parents to not blame themselves for their child’s lack of sleep – simply get help!

For Baby Be Hip customers, Andrea offers some of her sleep expertise to new moms and families – don’t feel ashamed or overwhelmed if you’re baby is having trouble sleeping! It’s important to reach out and get help, and realize that your baby’s sleep changes all the time. Don’t let the baby get too overtired – most parents think that by keeping babies up during the day makes them tired at night, but Andrea dismisses that theory – it’s actually better for them to sleep during the day. Lastly, Andrea urges mothers to not feel guilty about calling a babysitter during naptime so you can get some sleep too, or just even relax! When both baby and mom are well rested, everyone is happy.

Not only are a child’s sleep troubles worrisome, but sleep deprivation in parents can also be a serious problem, says Andrea. Both mothers and fathers are going long stretches of time without sleep in order for their little one to sleep – which Andrea says can cause some serious problems such as depression, anxiety, and additional stress in the long run, and it’s important for both partners to be involved in nightly feeding and bedtime.

Through Sleepy Bug, Andrea has helped clients as far ranging in Mexico and Australia, and as close as New York and Washington D.C. She offers both home visits and phone consultation, where she talks with parents about sleep issues and education, and at the end of an appointment parents have a sleep plan they can feel confident following. You can reach Andrea through her website www.sleepy-bug.com or at 267-432-1020, if you want to schedule an appointment to help you and your little one sleep soundly!