If you learned about sleep training years ago, it is time for a fresh look. The field has shifted dramatically, and what was once a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach has grown into something far more nuanced, compassionate, and family-centered. Today, infant and maternal sleep support is one of the most in-demand skills a doula can offer.

At Doula School, we have been watching this evolution closely. That is exactly why we are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new Infant and Maternal Sleep Consultant certification training, with doors opening May 1st.

Sleep training used to be synonymous with leaving a baby alone to cry until they fell asleep. For many families, that image still creates anxiety and resistance, and understandably so. But the landscape has changed completely.

Modern infant sleep support is rooted in developmental science, attachment theory, and a deep respect for each family’s unique values. Current approaches recognize that:

• Every baby is biologically different, with varying sleep needs and nervous system maturity
• Parental sleep deprivation is a real postpartum health concern that affects mental health, relationships, and recovery
• Cultural practices around sleep vary widely and deserve to be honored, not overridden
• Responsive, graduated, and parent-led approaches can all be valid tools when applied with knowledge and care

The goal is no longer about training a baby to comply. It is about supporting the whole family system so that everyone can rest, recover, and thrive.

Doulas are already in the room during some of the most vulnerable moments of a family’s life. You build trust. You understand the postpartum body, the emotional landscape of early parenthood, and the way sleep deprivation can quietly unravel everything. That positions you perfectly to offer sleep support.

Adding an Infant and Maternal Sleep Consultant certification to your practice means you can:

• Extend your support beyond the fourth trimester with a service families are actively searching for
• Offer a standalone service that generates income between birth and postpartum contracts
• Position yourself as a comprehensive perinatal professional rather than a single-service provider
• Address maternal sleep as part of postpartum recovery, an often-overlooked but critical piece of the picture

The demand for qualified, compassionate sleep consultants is enormous. Families are no longer just Googling generic sleep schedules. They want someone who knows their story, respects their choices, and can guide them with nuance. That is a doula with sleep training credentials.

We have poured everything into making this program exceptional. It is thoughtfully designed, evidence-informed, and built specifically with doulas in mind. You will not just learn sleep techniques. You will learn how to hold the full context of a family’s wellbeing as you support them.

This training covers:

• Infant sleep science and developmental stages
• Maternal sleep and postpartum health connections
• Multiple evidence-based sleep support methods
• Trauma-informed, culturally responsive consultation skills
• How to build and price sleep consulting as a business service

This is the kind of training that changes what is possible in your practice. We are beyond excited to share it with the DSC community.

Enrollment is now open, space is limited. Whether you are a birth doula looking to expand your scope, a postpartum doula wanting to deepen your impact, or a perinatal professional ready to add a sought-after specialty, this program was made for you.

Families are already looking for someone like you. This certification helps you become exactly that.

Get on the waitlist here and be the first to know when enrollment opens.

By: Julia Forest, Co-director of Doula School, Yoga Teacher & Birth Doula

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Julia Forest

Julia is a doula, childbirth educator, and advocate with over 20 years of experience in yoga, doula work, and perinatal wellness. She is co-founder and co-Director of Doula School Canada and co-creator of the Sacred Birth Yoga & Doula Training, which blends yoga’s transformative potential with trauma-informed birth support. Her heart-led, evidence-based approach helps families navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence, presence, and trust in the body’s innate wisdom.