We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariana Gonzalez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariana below.

Ariana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to provide culturally sensitive support to BIPOC families, seeking the help of a non-traditional cookie cutter Pediatric Sleep Consultant. The industry I work in has been primarily made up of white woman. In fact when my doctor recommended I work with a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, the only one she could refer me to was white. I honestly was hesitant, as I felt she was going to judge my decision to bed-share for 6 months, was not going to understand how hard hearing my son cry was for me (latinos do not let babies cry, let alone sleep train) and how foreign sleep training was to me. For a whole day I searched the web looking for a colored Pediatric Sleep Consultant with no success. After working with a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, getting educated on how to support my child’s sleep challenges and after finally getting the sleep I needed, I turned to my husband and said “I want to do this, I want to help parents that look like me.”

I have been in business for 2 years going on my 3rd year now and have helped over 100 families, 80% of those being BIPOC, bed-sharing, nursing families and nothing makes me prouder then that!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Ariana Gonzalez, proud Latina originally from LA, currently living in Colorado. I am a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Certified Lactation Counselor, Conscious Discipline Certified & bilingual mama of 2, including 1 sensitive little sleeper.

When I first found out I was pregnant with my 1st child, I was an overly-confident parent to be. I’d had 17 years of auntie duties (3 nieces and 2 nephews), had fostered my 3-year-old niece & was going to have my mom by my side. When I was 7 months pregnant, my mother suddenly passed away & I was hit with an immense depression. I survived by concentrating on the arrival of my son.

After my son was born, I realized he was a challenging little sleeper. I compulsively read & researched all things baby sleep, but nothing helped. I endured 8 months of sleepless nights & finally hit rock bottom. It was 2am, my son was on his 3rd wake up of the night, I went into his room, held him, & cried along his side. The next day, at my last minute Doctor’s appointment my Doctor recommended I hire a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, to help with my sons sleep. She recommended working with one, instead of getting on PPD & PPA medication. I quickly hired one, and by day 3 my son was actually napping/sleeping through the night & I was finally able to gain the clarity I needed as a new parent!

Getting educated on how to best support my sons challenging sleep needs inspired me to, become a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, & help other parents like me! Upon helping families with sleep, I quickly realized I needed to expand my knowledge with chest-feedings and decided to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. I am currently a postpartum doula in training, as I wish to give a full wrap around approach to my newly post-partum families.

What keeps me going is hearing parents say how as a result of my support, they are now truly enjoying parenthood. Because I truly believe parenthood is something that should be enjoyed.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Loosing my mother while I was 7 months pregnant, having a traumatic birth that lead to PPD & PPA, changing my careers in my 30’s, confronting and healing from my birth trauma, starting my own business and surviving the first years of parenthood, is what I like to think of as a true testament to my resilience.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Staying true to who I am! At the very beginning I felt pressured to fit into this cookie cutter sleep consultant image, all of my social media post where curated to fit the industry I was in. After 1 month of this I felt suffocated, and decided that I was going to start sharing culturally driven parenting themes and how they relate to sleep, some. I realized that in order to best serve my clients and their families; I had to be my authentic self.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stepbystepbabyconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepbystepbabyconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepbystepbabyconsulting
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stepbystepbaby

Image Credits
Savannah Conley