We’re looking forward to introducing you to Danielle Richards. Check out our conversation below.
Danielle, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
The most misunderstood concept about sleep consulting is that all the training we do with clients involves leaving a baby alone to cry for hours. The truth is that we offer customized strategies based on family preferences and needs. Every family is different, and we offer different methods – from gradual sleep coaching to more structured methods. Crying is involved, but it is significantly less than the crying most families encounter before working with us.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Danielle Richards. I live in Michigan with my husband, two daughters; Leighton (6) and Joey (3), as well as our dog Bo (Pitbull Mix). I’m a full-time High School Special Education Teacher who loves reading, running, lifting, baking, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. I am a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, and I work with Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting. Sleep consulting came into my life when I had my daughters.
Prior to having kids, I had no idea that infants and kids needed sleep routines, wake windows, and specific sleep environments. I found Sleep Shore while trying to navigate my own kids sleep needs. Sleep Shore has always represented hope and support to me. At some of my darkest, most sleep deprived and frustrated moments, Molly was there to guide me back and give me hope that things would get better. I truly believe in Sleep Shore and everything Molly has built. I feel honored to be apart of her team.
As a team, we focus on delivering customized, genuine, and unique sleep plans to families for their newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our approaches range from gentle to strict, but all of our methods are supportive. Sleep Shore families truly become a part of our community, and we provide guidance and support for our families for the long run.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think broken trust and lack of communication break bonds between people, and this concept directly relates to sleep consulting. It is so incredibly hard to trust someone fully, change routines and schedules, and practice strategies you’ve never implemented. Trusting your sleep consultant and communicating (clearly and often) creates a bond that won’t be broken and a foundation that you can continue to build on for years to come. Sleep Shore offers an empathetic, listening ear, while also providing consistent, respectful actions that can be implemented in real time.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something important was when I made the decision to pursuing my certification in Pediatric Sleep Consulting. Working a full-time teaching job, pursuing my master’s degree, and raising two children made me second guess my ability to handle and juggle all of these hats. Not only to juggle them, but to do them well. I’m so glad I made the choice to become certified in Pediatric Sleep Consulting. I believe in Sleep Shore with my whole heart, and I’m so thankful to help families side by side with our team.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
In the pediatric sleep consulting world, it can be tricky to separate trends or “fads” from real, evidence-based foundational shifts that will genuinely improve infant and family sleep. At Sleep Shore, we focus on looking for evidence and peer-reviewed research. We rely on the American Association of Pediatrics for guidance on safe and appropriate sleep. Another key concept of Sleep Shore’s philosophy is that we focus on long-term sleep, and not quick fixes. We don’t make a promise to fix sleep “overnight,” and we don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. When consulting with families, we consider developmental stages, flexibility in scheduling, and overall alignment to parent/caregiver well-being. Our methods are evidence-based, flexible, age-appropriate, and prioritize both the child and the family, to ensure we are making decisions based on evidence and not fads
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Although sleep consulting and teaching do not seem to have much in common…at the core…they really do. In both occupations, I am working to help kids and, in turn, help families. I love my students, and I love my clients. We work together to find a safe space for learning. In each occupation, I write plans to help my families achieve goals and find success. I truly believe both occupations are very thankless jobs, but they feel incredibly rewarding to me. Success often happens behind the scenes and my effort isn’t always visible or recognized. Emotionally, managing conflicts, struggles, and emotions, makes both teaching and consulting challenging. In both fields, mistakes or perceived failures are often more visible than successes. For me, the reward is often intrinsic or delayed, but it is worthwhile. Both of my roles as a teacher and a sleep consultant help shape lives in meaningful ways. The gratitude comes quietly, most of the time, but knowing that I can make a different, inside or outside of the classroom, is all I care about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sleepshore.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleep.shore/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepshore
Image Credits
Amanda Steffke Photography (Central Michigan)
Meadow & Lark Photography (Alma, Michigan)
Sara Colket Photography (Massachusetts)
