HOUSTON – Getting your kid to sleep can be a battle, one that can last all night long.
Have you ever considered a sleep coach? KHOU 11 News sent one to a staffer's home to try it out.
Oh, the gymnastics of bed time rituals, pitting child against parent. "I am afraid of sleeping by myself," Laxmi Badlani, 3, said.
She has some friends to help out, an Elmo and a blanket, but her best friend at sleep time – Daddy.
Father and Dr. Neil Badlani laughs saying, "I guess it's all my fault."
His true confession?
"It's partly because she's incredibly cute, and because I'm tired and am taking the easy way out," he said.
Like so many parents, Neil and KHOU 11 News Anchor Rekha Muddaraj Badlani often let their child end up in their bed. That means they end up sleep deprived.
So, who you gonna call? How about the Baby Whisperer.
Kathy Monroe, mother of five, has worked for a decade at the Motherhood Center.
Her package for one child is $395. She starts by visiting her clients in their home for an hour and half. She interviews them, learning about sleep and wake patterns, bedtime rituals, potential medical issues and more.
"It's cause you're going to bed with her actually that's the problem," Monroe tells the Badlanis. "It's important they (children) wake up the same way they went to bed."
Monroe then sets up a customized sleep plan telling parents to follow it rigorously and, "Don't talk. You just ignore her. She's not going to like it."
She explains a consistent bedtime routine, with firmly established rules, is key and encourages parents to have the child repeat the rules back.
Dad does just that. At bedtime, Laxmi obediently recites, "We stay in bed. We close our eyes."
Mom or Dad sits in a bedside chair, does not get into bed with the child and the child stays in her bed. When the lights go out, the crying starts.
Night one and two are hard. Mom says there was very little sleep.
Monroe promises though, "She'll be in her bed in two weeks, probably before then."
During those two weeks, parents can also text or call in their questions to Monroe for help.
It is a battle of wills. There was more crying on third night and an attempt by Laxmi to crawl into her parent's bed at 6 a.m.
Monroe says do not let her do it. She predicts Laxmi will be in her own bed all night soon, as long as the parents follow her instructions.
The Badlanis stand firm. The fourth night? Laxmi sleeps through the night in her own bed.
Rekha jokes, "I woke up and thought, did I just sleep eight hours?" She calls the result, "life changing."
