Finding Your Footing in Motherhood: Navigating Change, Connection, and Confidence
Postpartum Sleep Support
We are so excited to welcome Laura Van Zandt, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Certified Sleep Consultant, of Nurtured Night Sleep to the Chicago Mama Physical Therapy blog!
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Laura brings a wealth of knowledge in pediatric occupational therapy and sleep consulting, offering support and strategies for each child’s unique needs.
Read on to learn more about postpartum sleep support.
Finding Your Footing in Motherhood: Navigating Change, Connection, and Confidence
Becoming a mother is one of the most transformative experiences a woman can have — emotionally, mentally, and physically. Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, pregnancy and postpartum bring waves of change that touch every aspect of life.
As a pediatric occupational therapist, sleep consultant, and mom of two energetic boys, I’ve had the honor of walking alongside many families through this tender, messy, and beautiful season of early parenthood. I’ve seen firsthand how much mothers carry — not just babies, but expectations, shifting identities, evolving relationships, and an overwhelming flood of advice. I’ve also lived it myself: the sleepless nights, the middle-of-the-night doubts, and the emotional highs and lows that make the days blur together as you just try to make it to bedtime — for both you and your baby. It was through my own experiences, both personal and professional, that I felt called to become a sleep consultant — to help parents navigate this season with more clarity, rest, and confidence.
When Sleep Shifts, Everything Shifts
One of the first — and most disruptive — changes in early motherhood is sleep. That’s why understanding postpartum sleep support is essential for every family. Newborns wake frequently, feed around the clock, and their sleep patterns evolve unpredictably. While this is biologically normal, the ripple effect of sleep deprivation is often underestimated.
Sleep — or the lack of it — impacts everything: your mood, memory, relationships, work performance, patience, and even your confidence. When you’re exhausted, everyday decisions feel heavier. Small challenges can seem monumental. The fog that comes with broken sleep can chip away at your sense of self and your ability to connect — not just with your baby, but with your partner and even yourself.
Tensions may rise, communication can falter, and one parent may feel overstretched or unseen. Emotional regulation becomes harder, and feelings like worry, irritability, or loneliness can intensify — even when you’re surrounded by love. This isn’t a sign that you’re doing anything wrong; it’s a reflection of just how foundational rest is to our well-being.
Naming this struggle, normalizing it, and beginning to find small moments of rest can shift the entire dynamic. Sometimes what a couple needs most isn't more information — it’s a shared plan for rest and the reminder that they’re on the same team.
Rebuilding Confidence — One Rested Night at a Time
As both a professional and a mom, I know how emotional the process of improving sleep can be. Often, the hardest part isn’t the method we choose to sleep train our loved ones or weeding through all the information — it’s managing our emotions and reframing our mindset. Motherhood asks a lot. But within those demands lies a powerful opportunity: to reconnect with your strength, your intuition, and your community. Crying, for instance, isn’t always a signal of distress; it can also be frustration with change. Even gentle methods can involve some tears because growth is inherently hard. But crying doesn’t mean you’re harming your child — it often means they’re learning.
Ultimately, part of my role as an occupational therapist and sleep consultant is helping parents tune out the noise and tune into themselves and their baby. Evidence-based guidance matters, but so does your intuition. You are the expert on your child. And when you combine that inner wisdom with thoughtful, responsive support, you're not just surviving parenthood — you're growing through it.
So where do you start?
Creating a Sleep Plan That Works for Your Family
Here are four essential areas I consider when approaching sleep support:
1. Start with Your Family’s Goals and Dynamics
Before you dive into any method, take a moment to reflect on your family’s specific needs:
Are you hoping for fewer night wakings, smoother bedtimes, or longer naps?
How much time and consistency can you realistically commit right now?
Are both caregivers aligned in their approach and expectations?
When both parents are on the same page, progress tends to come faster and with less stress. And if you're not there yet, that's okay. Start with open conversations and build a shared plan — it’s worth it.
2. Consider Your Baby’s Temperament and Development
As an occupational therapist, I always view babies through a regulation lens — meaning, how they handle transitions, sensory input, and change.
Highly sensitive or strong-willed babies may find extinction-based methods too overwhelming and may benefit more from gradual, parent-present strategies.
Babies with strong sleep associations, like rocking or feeding to sleep, usually need gentle, step-by-step support to build confidence in falling asleep on their own.
And for younger babies (under 4–5 months), formal sleep training often isn’t appropriate. Instead, shaping routines and reading cues is more developmentally supportive.
There’s no “wrong” temperament — just different approaches that fit different needs.
3. Understand the Spectrum of Sleep Methods
There’s a wide range of sleep strategies available:
Gentle/gradual methods (like pick-up/put-down or parental fading) support co-regulation and typically involve minimal crying — but require more time and patience.
Moderate approaches (like Ferber/check-in) aim to balance comfort with independence.
Extinction methods (cry-it-out) may work faster but can feel emotionally challenging and may not fit every family’s values or situation.
Remember, the method itself matters less than how mindfully and consistently it’s applied.
4. When a Method Isn’t Working
If you’ve tried something and it’s not working, it’s rarely because you did something “wrong.” More often, it’s due to factors like:
Your baby’s developmental readiness
Inconsistency in responses
A mismatch between the approach and your baby’s temperament
Unmet needs, such as hunger, reflux, or sensory sensitivities
This is where flexibility matters. Tailoring the plan to your unique child and circumstances can make all the difference.
The Power of Community: You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
If you're in the thick of it — sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and unsure what comes next — please know: you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too — sitting in the dark, bouncing a baby who just wouldn’t sleep, wondering where help was going to come from. But here’s the truth: with the right support, rest is possible.
That support doesn’t have to come from doing more research or trying every method out there. Sometimes it looks like having a tribe — a circle of trusted people who remind you that you’re not alone in this. In today’s hyper-connected world, parenting can feel more isolating than ever, thanks to the endless (and often conflicting) opinions online. That’s why finding your people — those who see you as a whole person, not just a caregiver — is essential.
Whether through friends, family, or professional postpartum sleep support (like me), the right support can provide clarity, encouragement, and practical tools that truly help.
As a pediatric sleep consultant, I often remind parents: this isn’t about failure — it’s biology. Babies are learning how to regulate sleep, and parents are learning to navigate a brand-new rhythm. You’re both learning together.
Partnering with a professional who understands postpartum sleep support can make a lasting difference for both you and your baby.
To learn more or connect with Laura Van Zandt from Nurtured Night Sleep, visit nurturednightsleep.com.
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