GET TO KNOW ME
hey, I'm Athena!
ABOUT ME
a stay-at-home mom + wife, who is obsessed with Grey's Anatomy and never shuts up about baby sleep 🤪
Hi, I’m Athena! I’m a certified infant and toddler sleep specialist and the founder of WellRestedBaby, which I launched in 2022 after becoming a mom in 2021.
When my son was born, I found myself navigating life as an anxious new mom with a restless, fussy baby who was waking up hourly. We were really going through it. Despite my best efforts to find solutions, nothing felt right to me, and nothing answered my biggest question: why?
Yes, I know my baby probably shouldn't be waking up 12 times a night… but why is he?
Everything I found online made it seem like it was somehow my fault.
He’s waking up because I breastfeed, he’s waking up because I rock him, he’s waking up because we don't follow a 7pm-7am schedule, etc.
None of it made sense. All I was doing was responding to his needs— how could that possibly be wrong? So, I kept searching for answers. Eventually, I discovered that my son was highly sensitive, had oral ties, enlarged tonsils, and multiple food allergies.
No wonder he was waking up so often and needing sooo much comfort from me!
If I had followed the mainstream sleep-training advice pushed on me, I would have never figured out any of these underlying issues. While sleep training might work for some families, it often focuses on surface-level solutions without addressing what’s really going on— and it doesn’t work for every baby (but we'll get to that later).
Once I understood what was causing my son’s disrupted sleep, I was able to gently make changes that fit my parenting values and, most importantly, let go of the pressure to “fix” him. Yes, there were real issues that needed attention, but the focus shifted from trying to solve his sleep to addressing the root causes.
This experience sparked something in me. Learning that sleep-training wasn’t the only path to better sleep changed everything, and I knew I couldn’t keep it to myself. That’s why I became certified through The Baby-Led Sleep Certification program. I wanted to learn as much as I could and become the resource I had so desperately needed during those long, exhausting nights.
If you’re over the same cookie-cutter (and honestly, intimidating) sleep advice, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s uncover what’s really going on and create a plan that works for your family— no controlled crying, no sleep training, no judgment, no pressure.
MY QUALIFICATIONS + APPROACH
certifications / education
In 2022, after coming out on the other side of the trenches of infant sleep with my own family, I knew I wanted to help other parents navigate those exhausting (and sometimes overwhelming) early years. I became a certified Sleep and Well-Being Specialist through The Baby-Led Sleep Certification program, combining my passion for evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of childhood development.
Let's ditch the pressure for “perfect” sleep. Babies waking up at night, needing closeness, and seeking comfort? Totally normal. There’s so much noise out there telling parents they need to “fix” their baby’s sleep, but I’m here to tell you: your baby isn’t broken.
In my work, I focus on creating a safe and supportive space where parents can explore what’s really going on with their little one’s sleep—without judgment or quick fixes.
No sleep training, no controlled crying, and definitely no 'one-size-fits-all' solutions. I work with families to find gentle, personalized strategies that align with their values and their child’s unique needs.
This year, I am excited to continue my education by becoming double-certified and diving into additional training in feeding and lactation education.
My goal is to offer parents a fresh perspective and a much-needed reminder: YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
