Comprehensive sleep consultant certification, real client experience, business training, and lifetime access designed to help you confidently support families and build your next chapter.
Become a Certified Sleep Consultant & Build a Business You're Proud Of.
Lifetime Access | Real Client Experience |
Business Accelerator
Approved By:
That's where most students get stuck.
They finish the coursework, receive their certificate, and still don't feel ready to support families, create sleep plans, or charge for their services.
We built The Cradle Coach Academy differently.
Our students don't just learn the science—they apply it, receive feedback, and work with five real families before graduation.
Most sleep consultant certification programs teach the material.
Then they leave students to figure out the real-life part on their own.
- Multidisciplinary instruction: sleep, pediatrics, lactation, nursing, development, behavior
- Ongoing mentorship + plan review: support that turns learning into skill
- Continuing education culture: expert workshops that keep you current and confident
That’s why our training is led by experienced sleep consultants and supported by a multidisciplinary pediatric faculty—so you’re learning an evidence-informed approach, practicing it with feedback, and developing real-world confidence before you work with paying families.
TCCA was built to solve the biggest problem in sleep consulting education: people finish “certified” but don’t feel ready.
Led by Marli Klaus, Owner & Lead Mentor, with a structured mentorship team to ensure consistent support and feedback from training through launch.
Learn the core foundations of sleep consulting through evidence-based coursework, feedback, and support. Students build a strong understanding of sleep methods, schedules, nutrition, and the “why” behind the work.
Learn the Science. Practice the Work. Build the Business.
This is how students move from evidence-based education to real client application before graduation.
02. Theory to Real-World Bridge
01. Applied Sleep Science Framework
Apply what you’re learning to real-life scenarios, submit coursework, and get feedback to refine your approach before working with families independently.
03. Client Confidence Accelerator
Work with 5 pro bono families before graduation and apply the full consulting process with mentorship throughout, so you leave with real experience behind you.
04. Build the Business
Learn how to market your services, attract clients, and begin building a business that supports your life and goals.
Meet the Team Behind Your Certification
When you join The Cradle Coach Academy, you're not navigating certification alone.
Throughout your journey, you'll be supported by a dedicated mentorship team with expertise across pediatric sleep, child development, and business building.
Owner, Triple-Certified Sleep Consultant & Business Mentor
Marli Klaus
Marli is a triple-certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant with a degree in Biology and a minor in Psychology. As owner of The Cradle Coach Academy since 2023, she leads weekly office hours, business mentorship calls, and helps aspiring sleep consultants build meaningful businesses that fit their lives.
Pediatric Sleep Consultant & Practicum Mentor
Rachel Fiorello
Rachel has spent more than 11 years supporting families and has worked with over 5,000 clients throughout her career. She mentors students through the infant practicum, leads bi-weekly Q&A sessions, and helps ensure every graduate feels confident supporting families independently.
Toddler & Preschool Sleep Specialist
Karen Winter
Karen specializes in toddler and preschool sleep and brings more than 20 years of experience working with children. She serves as a practicum mentor, helping students confidently navigate the unique challenges of supporting older children and their families.
Student Success & Assignment Mentor
Lindsey Heybroek
Certified through The Cradle Coach Academy in 2024, Lindsey now supports students inside the certification community through assignment review, feedback, and ongoing encouragement. Her recent experience moving through the program gives her a unique perspective on what students need most as they progress through certification.
Together, our mentorship team combines expertise in pediatric sleep, child development, psychology, biology, and business mentorship to support students from their first module through their first clients.
Plus, students receive lifetime access to specialized trainings and continuing education from experts across medicine, lactation, child development, and pediatric sleep.
- Clarify your niche and ideal client.
- Learn how to position your services.
- Begin building your business foundation.
Business building is built into the program from day one
Most certification programs stop at the certificate.
We help students build their business while they're still inside the training.
- Transition into our 90-Day Business Accelerator.
- Begin supporting paying clients.
- Build referral relationships and confidence.
- Access ongoing business support through Momentum.
- Refine your messaging, marketing, and offers.
- Build a business that supports your life.
Most programs stop at the certificate. We help students build their business while they’re still inside the training.
What graduates do next
This program is built to help students leave with more than a certificate. These are the kinds of results graduates build after training.
Earned back her investment in one month
Built a waitlist fast, doubled her PTA salary in her first full year, and left her PTA job shortly after certification.
Built a full-time income in part-time hours
Paid back her full investment in 6 weeks while still working full time in corporate, then prepared to leave her job before summer.
Made $6,600 in her first 109 days
Came in already certified elsewhere but stuck. Went through our client practice and launch support, then paid off both certifications in 109 days.
Built a six-figure sleep consulting business
Earned back her investment in one month and went on to build a six-figure business with expanded services.
Worked with 100+ families in year one
Earned back her investment in one month and built a thriving business while still working full time and raising three kids.
Served 74 clients in her first 5 months
Earned back her investment in month two and grew so fast she hired a second sleep consultant just four months after graduating.
Most certification programs provide information.
We provide mentorship.
Support You Won't Find Anywhere Else
In fact, mentorship is woven into every stage of the student experience.
Throughout your certification journey, you'll receive direct access to our team through weekly office hours, faculty Q&As, community support, individualized assignment feedback, and personalized mentorship during your client practicum.
When it's time to work with your first five families, you're not left wondering if you're doing it right.
Every sleep plan is reviewed by our mentors, who work alongside you until you're confident and ready to support your clients.
By the time you graduate, you'll have completed 18 assignments, supported five real families, and received extensive feedback every step of the way.
Because becoming a sleep consultant shouldn't feel like a solo journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this just a certification program?
What makes this program different from other sleep consultant certifications?
- Weekly office hours
- Ongoing community support
- Personalized assignment feedback
- Two practicum mentors
- Five real client cases
- Business training and launch support
- Lifetime access to the program
Is this just a certification program?
No. You'll earn your certification, but that's only the beginning.
Students receive evidence-based education, personalized assignment feedback, mentorship, real client experience with five volunteer families, business training, and lifetime access to the program and community.
The goal isn't simply to help you become certified—it's to help you feel confident supporting families and building a business after graduation.
Most programs teach the material and leave students to figure out the real-life part on their own.
At TCCA, you'll receive:
Is this just a certification program?
Do I Really Work With Real Families Before Graduation?
Will I Receive Feedback Throughout The Program?
Yes. Students submit 18 assignments throughout the program and receive detailed feedback from our team.
During practicum, every sleep plan is reviewed by a mentor and refined as many times as necessary before it's shared with a family.
You'll never be left wondering if you're "doing it right."
Yes.
Every student completes five volunteer family cases before graduating. This allows you to apply what you've learned with mentor support and graduate with real-world experience already behind you.
Is this just a certification program?
Is Business Training Included?
How Much Support Will I Receive?
- Weekly office hours with Marli
- Bi-weekly Q&A calls with Rachel
- Monthly business mentorship sessions
- Community support Monday-Friday
- Two dedicated practicum mentors
- Quarterly continuing education
- Lifetime graduate community access
Support doesn't end at graduation—it continues throughout your career.
Yes.
Business support is built into the program from day one.
Students learn how to position their services, work with clients, build referral relationships, and begin signing paying families. Graduates also move into our 90-Day Launch Sprint and Business Accelerator resources.
Is this just a certification program?
Do I Really Work With Real Families Before Graduation?
Will I Receive Feedback Throughout The Program?
Yes. Students submit 18 assignments throughout the program and receive detailed feedback from our team.
During practicum, every sleep plan is reviewed by a mentor and refined as many times as necessary before it's shared with a family.
You'll never be left wondering if you're "doing it right."
Yes.
Every student completes five volunteer family cases before graduating. This allows you to apply what you've learned with mentor support and graduate with real-world experience already behind you.
Is this just a certification program?
Do I Really Work With Real Families Before Graduation?
Will I Receive Feedback Throughout The Program?
Is this just a certification program?
How Quickly are graduates earning an income?
Do I Need A Medical Background To Become A Sleep Consultant?
That's why our program focuses on evidence-based sleep education, child development, scope of practice, and real-world application.
Students also learn from a multidisciplinary network of professionals and guest educators, including pediatric sleep consultants, physicians, lactation consultants, and child development specialists.
You don't need to be a nurse, physician, or therapist to become an exceptional sleep consultant—you need excellent training, strong critical thinking skills, and a commitment to supporting families ethically and responsibly.
Every business grows differently, but many graduates begin working with paying families within weeks or months of completing the program.
Some students earn back their investment quickly, while others choose to build part-time alongside existing careers.
Our goal is to help students build sustainable businesses that fit their lives.
What Happens After I Graduate?
Graduation isn't the end of the relationship.
Graduates receive lifetime access to the curriculum, ongoing continuing education, community support, and mentorship opportunities.
When you join The Cradle Coach Academy, you're joining a community you'll be able to lean on throughout your career.