Hi, I'm Morgan!
Welcome to Briar & banks!
I am an infant and child sleep consultant and newborn care specialist located in Jacksonville, FL with my husband, daughter, and our two fur babies.
I have a passion for snuggling babies and helping parents enjoy parenting, even in the hard times! I have a B.S. in Family and Child Development as well as 12+ years of experience working directly with infants and toddlers. My goal is to take the knowledge I’ve gained and use it to empower you to be a happy, healthy parent with a happy, healthy child!
I chose to become a Gentle Sleep Coach under the training of Kim West (“The Sleep Lady”), so I can offer you a variety of sleep training options!
I truly understand the conflict you feel as a parent in making the decision to sleep train. Instead of allowing your child to “cry-it-out”, my goal is to work with you and your child to find the best method for your family, and get you sleeping through the night as soon as possible!
Basic Training
The Gentle Sleep Coach Program
The GSC Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coach training and certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes 2 medical doctors, a psychologist, an attorney, lactation counselor, postpartum doulas, and a family therapist.
Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case mentorship with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 20 years. Clinical mentorship and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach.
Training topics, including:
Basic counseling and child development
Sleep science and behavioral modification techniques to help parents of children age 0 to 6 years old.
Secure attachment theory
Support for the breastfeeding mother
Lectures from top specialists, including:
Postpartum Depression from Dr. Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression
Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children led by Dr. Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center
GERD and Sleep led by Dr. Anthony Loizides, pediatric gastroenterologist
Specialized Training
0-5 Mo. Program Certified
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age. This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
Some of the curriculum training topics included:
Specialized instruction on how to evaluate families in the first six months.
Guidance on how to assess when the baby is ready for sleep coaching based on current research and evidence-based strategies.
Review of gentle sleep solutions and strategies that are developmentally appropriate, breastfeeding and attachment friendly and promote a solid foundation for sleep learning and long-term healthy sleep patterns.
In-depth knowledge of the importance of attachment and infant mental health.
The sleep science behind the first six months of life.
What special considerations need to be taken when working with and supporting families during this delicate period.
Newborn Care Specialist Certified
Newborn Care Specialists focus on all aspects of infant care in the first 3-4 months, offering physical care to newborns, advice on newborn development, establishing daily routines, implementing healthy sleep habits, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, and multiples/ preemie care.
Some of the curriculum training topics included:
Newborn care, stages of prematurity, preemie issues and concerns, and special care for preemies
All things twins and risk factors for multiples, triplets, and more.
The abc’s of feeding, breastfeeding, and common feeding issues
Newborn sleep and sleep development
Postpartum complications and caring for mom
