Exhausted parents learn how to get babies to sleep through the night thanks to this virtual class
Photo by Snapwire.
Dr. Todd Wolynn is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience, a trusted lactation consultant and the CEO of Kids Plus Pediatrics, but he isn’t resting on his laurels.
In his spare time, Dr. Wolynn teaches The Quiet Night Sleep Class, a literal “crash” course that helps parents whisk their little one off to dreamland.
The monthly workshop, which will be held virtually from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 18, focuses on children between the ages of 6 months and 2-and-a-half, who won’t hit the sack without a fight or who wake repeatedly through the night.
Because he’s dealing with a lot of worn-out moms and dads, Dr. Wolynn infuses a lot of humor into the class, which includes a full, interactive Q&A session at the end.
Dr. Wolynn, who has three kids of his own, including twin boys, assures tired caregivers that their babies will learn to self-soothe within five to seven days of instituting his techniques. Some do it in less time.
Some folks are born ready for bed, while, for others, it’s a lifelong struggle. Since everybody’s different, there’s not one guaranteed method to achieving a full night’s rest. However, the doctor says there’s a small window of opportunity to teach little ones how to be their own Sandman. A big part of that is getting mom and dad to back off.
When hearing their baby cry, a parent’s first instinct is to run into the nursery and rock them, feed them or bring them into their own bed. That’s not the best idea.
“I’ve seen kids who were 7 and 12 years old — even a 15-year-old — who have to sleep at the foot of their parents’ bed,” Dr. Wolynn says. “I’m here to tell you I know a way that works, but after age 3, it isn’t a great method and requires a lot more than I can offer. When I see kids beyond 3 who are having issues, I recommend bringing in an early childhood development expert.”
He took an interest in pediatric sleep disorders in 1997. He met his wife, Jacqui, the former lead sleep technician at Mercy Hospital’s sleep lab. She encouraged him to attend an intensive course at The School of Sleep Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif., which is associated with Stanford University.
After completing the training in 1999, Dr. Wolynn helped to open the Mercy Hospital Pediatric Sleep Disorder Program, where he served as medical director until 2007, when the hospital was acquired by UPMC. He lectures nationally on infant sleep and other pediatrics subjects such as breastfeeding and immunization.
Dr. Wolynn began offering The Quiet Night Sleep Class a decade ago, helping thousands of kids (and parents) catch a few ZZZs without counting a lot of sheep. Registration is $50.
