This blog post is for our therapy clinicians and specialists who work with families on sleep training. The key piece to supporting kids and families by helping them with sleep needs is finding clients, right? Here at Whole Child Guide, we strive to connect those dots and fill in the missing pieces between families and clinicians. Let’s specifically talk about sleep support and getting families struggling with this issue into your therapy business.
How Sleep Specialists Can Find the Right Families to Support
For sleep specialists and pediatric therapists, helping families transform bedtime struggles into peaceful routines is incredibly rewarding work. But even the most experienced professional can face a common challenge: how do I reach the right families who need my help most?
At Whole Child Guide, we believe that connecting families with trusted experts is essential to supporting the whole child. Here’s a guide for sleep specialists on how to thoughtfully attract clients, build trust, and ensure they’re working with families who are the right fit.
How to Grow a Pediatric Sleep Practice: A Guide for Sleep Specialists
If you’re a sleep consultant or pediatric therapist wondering how to grow my pediatric sleep practice, you’re not alone. While you’re trained to help families get the rest they need, marketing and business growth can feel overwhelming. The good news? With a clear strategy, you can steadily attract the right families, expand your reputation, and make a meaningful impact in your community.
Here’s how to get started.
1. Define Your Niche and Ideal Client
The first step to finding the right families is to get clear on who you help and how you help them. You want to be clear on who you serve and use the right language to get in front of your audience. That means knowing the struggles that they have and the problems that they are facing when it comes to sleep.
- Do you specialize in infants, toddlers, school-age children, or neurodivergent kids?
- Are you trained in gentle sleep coaching, behavioral methods, or trauma-informed care?
- Do you offer in-home, virtual, or hybrid services?
- Are you trained in supporting neurodivergent children or kids with sensory needs?
- Do you use gentle methods, behavioral strategies, or a combination?
When you clearly communicate your expertise and approach, you make it easier for families to recognize that you are the right fit for their needs. You can tailor your messaging to speak directly to the families who need you most.
2. Build Strong Referral Partnerships
Word-of-mouth is gold in pediatric services. Build relationships with:
- Pediatricians
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
- Child psychologists and counselors
- Parent coaches
- Daycares, preschools, and schools
These providers can become trusted referral sources when they know you deliver excellent, compassionate care.
3. Strengthen Your Online Presence
Families searching “sleep consultant near me” or “pediatric sleep specialist” often turn to the internet first. Make sure they can find you:
- Build a simple website with your bio, services, credentials, and contact info
- List yourself in trusted directories like Whole Child Guide
- Keep your Google Business Profile updated
- Collect reviews or testimonials (with client permission) to boost trust
4. Share Value on Social Media
You don’t have to become a full-time influencer, but sharing useful tips, relatable stories, and gentle encouragement on platforms like Instagram or Facebook can help families get to know you.
This positions you as a trusted expert and keeps you top of mind when families are ready to reach out.
5. Offer Free Workshops or Webinars
Host free or low-cost local workshops, virtual Q&As, or parenting webinars. These give you a chance to:
- Introduce your approach
- Show your expertise
- Build trust and familiarity before a family books 1:1 services
6. Focus on Fit, Not Just Volume
When families reach out, remember: you’re looking for the right fit. Ask thoughtful questions in discovery calls to understand their needs, values, and goals. This helps ensure better outcomes, happier families, and stronger word-of-mouth referrals.
7. Get Listed in a Specialty Directory
Families searching for help often feel overwhelmed. Being listed in a curated, trusted directory like Whole Child Guide helps you stand out and connect with families actively looking for experts like you.