Today we’d like to introduce you to Liza Kaplan Montanino

Hi Liza, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I never set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, it wasn’t something I ever considered until spring 2021, after 15 years in the corporate world, when I began to feel burnt out and desperate for work that would help me feel connected to others and help those who were struggling. I had struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety, and was obsessed with my kids’ sleep since my first was born (10 years ago!). So when I discovered that it was possible to teach parents how to improve their children’s sleep, and the positive impact that better sleep had on my own mental health when I was a newly postpartum mom, I was very intrigued. I began researching sleep consulting certification programs, and by July 2021, I was a certified pediatric sleep consultant.

It started as a side gig, working on weekends, evenings, and stolen moments between my day-job. In October 2021 I started working with clients 1:1, and spent a year juggling my side passion and full-time career. In October 2022, I took the leap and left the corporate world to work full-time as a sleep consultant. I’ve spent the last 2 years building my business, networking with other postpartum professionals, writing and publishing sleep e-guides, leading sleep workshops, and teaching classes. I’ve added a second certification to my profile–certified special needs sleep consultant–and organized a wellness expo for moms with 90+, speakers, and panelists connecting them with the resources and supports they need to thrive postpartum.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Building a business has been a steep learning curve as it’s challenged me to be more than a sleep consultant, but also a marketer, salesperson, website creator, networker, business strategist, bookkeeper, and more. Some of the biggest struggles have been knowing when/what to outsource, and what to spend time learning to do on my own. Leaning in to my strengths–such as connecting with people and networking with other birth and perinatal professionals–instead of focusing on social media to grow my business has really helped me work in a way that feels authentic to me, focusing on building connections and relationships to grow and expand, and help more families.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Liza specializes in coaching and support families with children from birth to age 12 on their journey to healthy, independent sleep. A special needs mom of 2, she works with neurotypical and special needs children (particularly those with autism, ADHD, and anxiety) find the confidence and skills to fall asleep and stay asleep independently by implementing an inside-out approach (with toddlers and older children)–personalized to meet a child’s emotional, nutritional, and sensory needs and regulate their nervous system so they are better set up for sleep success overnight.

She also leads workshops, webinars, and group seminars on the importance of sleep quality and how to improve sleep struggles, presenting to parents, clinicians, schools, and postpartum support networks nationwide, including Postpartum Support International, The Motherhood Center, Queens Hospital, Westchester Psychological Association, Midwives of New Jersey, and others.

Liza is passionate about working to disrupt the narrative that equates parenthood with sleep deprivation by educating parents on the important connection between sleep and maternal mental health, and proudly supports neurotypical and special needs families on their journey toward continuous, more restorative sleep so that both children and their parents are better positioned to thrive. She firmly believes that sleep is not a luxury or self-care, and that we owe it to ourselves AND our families to prioritize sleep across the household because only when parents are protecting their own mental health is the entire family set up to flourish.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?

As long as we continue to bring new children into the world, there will always be a need for sleep consultants and postpartum support!

I think and hope that hiring sleep consultants will continue to become a more mainstream approach when dealing with sleep struggles just as hiring a lactation consultant is seen as a logical next step when infant feeding is a struggle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rockabyebabysleep.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liza_rockabyebabysleep/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/829186698364558
• Other: https://www.rockabyebabysleep.com/book-appt