Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD

Dr. Samantha Abrahamson is a Doctor of Pharmacy (Duquesne University, 2017), a Pennsylvania-licensed pharmacist (NPI 1730650979), and the founder of Actually Sleeping. She writes every client’s sleep plan and reviews every guide published here.

Her full profile, credentials and official links are on her personal site, samanthaabrahamson.com.

Guides reviewed by Dr. Sam

• How long does sleep training take?
• Why does my 6 month old wake every 2 hours, and how do I fix it?
• Can you sleep train a baby with reflux?
• How do I stop contact napping?
• Is it the 4 month sleep regression or a real sleep problem?
• Should I hire a baby sleep consultant?
• How do I break the feed-to-sleep association?
• Why is my 12 month old suddenly waking at night?
• Is melatonin safe for babies and toddlers?
• Does teething medicine help a baby sleep?
• Which over-the-counter medicines affect a baby’s sleep?
• Do reflux medications help a baby sleep?
• Does my caffeine affect my breastfed baby’s sleep?
• Which of my medications could affect my breastfed baby’s sleep?
• How do a baby’s sleep cycles and circadian rhythm develop?
• Is sleep training safe? What the AAP safe-sleep rules mean for a sleep plan
• Sleep consultant vs pediatric sleep specialist: which does my baby need?
• What is the best age to sleep train a baby?
• What are the right wake windows by age?
• When do babies drop naps, and how do I handle the 3-to-2 and 2-to-1 transitions?
• Why does my baby wake at 5 a.m., and how do I fix it?
• Why does my baby only nap for 30 minutes, and how do I lengthen naps?
• My toddler won’t stay in bed. How do I fix it?
• Why is my 8, 9 or 10 month old suddenly waking at night?
• Is the 18 month sleep regression real, and what do I do about it?
• How do you sleep train twins?
• How do I sleep train my baby? A step-by-step guide
• How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?
• What is the Ferber method, and does it work?
• What is cry it out (extinction), and is it safe?
• What is the chair method of sleep training?
• Does the pick-up-put-down method work?
• Which sleep training method is gentlest? Methods compared
• What is bedtime fading?
• Can I sleep train and keep breastfeeding?
• Can I sleep train while room-sharing?
• Does sleep training work? What the research says
• Sleep training isn’t working. What should I do?
• What is a realistic newborn sleep schedule (0–8 weeks)?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 2 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 3 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 4 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 5 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 6 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 7 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for an 8 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 9 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 10 or 11 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 12 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for an 18 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 2 year old?
• When and how do I night wean my baby?
• Does a dream feed help a baby sleep longer?
• Is the pacifier helping or hurting my baby’s sleep?
• When and how do I stop swaddling?
• Why does my baby wake 30–45 minutes after bedtime?
• Why is my baby awake for hours in the middle of the night?
• My baby will only sleep on me, not in the crib or bassinet. What do I do?
• Why does my overtired baby fight sleep?
• How do I handle daycare naps when sleep training?
• How do I keep my baby sleeping while traveling or changing time zones?
• How do I adjust my baby’s sleep for daylight saving time?
• My baby’s sleep fell apart after being sick. How do I get back on track?
• How do I handle separation anxiety at bedtime?
• When should I move my toddler from a crib to a bed?
• Can I sleep train a premature baby or NICU graduate?
• Is there a 2 year old sleep regression?
• Is a baby sleep consultant worth it?
• What does a baby sleep consultant actually do?
• How do I choose a baby sleep consultant? Questions to ask before you hire
• Sleep course vs app vs 1:1 sleep consultant: which is right for my family?
• What are the red flags when hiring a baby sleep consultant?
• Do sleep consultants use cry it out?
• When is the right time to hire a baby sleep consultant?
• Can a sleep consultant help with a toddler, or is it too late?
• What should a sleep-training guarantee actually say?
• Is online sleep coaching as effective as in-person?
• What credentials should a baby sleep consultant have?
• How long does it take to see results with a sleep consultant?
• Sleep consultant vs night nurse vs postpartum doula: what’s the difference?
• Does Benadryl (diphenhydramine) help a baby or toddler sleep, and is it safe?
• Is magnesium safe for toddler sleep, and does it work?
• Does gripe water help a baby sleep?
• Are natural or homeopathic baby sleep drops and teething tablets safe?
• Can low iron (ferritin) cause restless sleep in a toddler?
• Is it safe to give a baby or toddler melatonin for a flight or jet lag?
• Can I give cough and cold medicine at bedtime to a baby or toddler?
• Do vitamin D drops or probiotics affect a baby’s sleep?
• Do allergy medicines affect a toddler’s sleep?
• Are essential oils, lavender products or sleep sprays safe for babies?
• Can asthma or ADHD medicines affect a young child’s sleep?
• Newborn sleep in the first 4 weeks: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to call the pediatrician
• Sleep at 1 month: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to your pediatrician
• Sleep at 3 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 4 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 5 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to the pediatrician
• Sleep at 6 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 7 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 8 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to call the doctor
• Sleep at 9 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 10 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 11 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to your pediatrician
• Sleep at 12 months: what’s normal at the first birthday and when to get help
• Sleep at 15 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 18 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 21 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2 years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2½ years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 3 years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Baby and toddler sleep statistics: what the research actually shows
• Baby sleep glossary: 40 terms parents hear, in plain English
• Wake window and nap calculator by age
• What time should my baby or toddler go to bed? Bedtime calculator by age
• How long should my baby sleep in our room?
• Is bed-sharing with my baby safe?
• Are crib bumpers safe, including mesh bumpers?
• Are weighted sleep sacks and weighted swaddles safe for babies?
• Are baby loungers, inclined sleepers and sleep positioners safe for sleep?
• Do I need a baby monitor, and what does the AAP say about wearable oxygen monitors?
• My baby only sleeps in the car seat, swing or stroller. Is that okay?
• My baby rolls onto their tummy in their sleep. Should I flip them back?
• My baby stands up in the crib and can’t get back down. What do I do?
• Why is my baby’s sleep worse since they started crawling or walking?
• Is white noise safe for my baby, and how loud should it be?
• What should my baby wear to sleep, and what TOG sleep sack do I need?
• When can my baby sleep with a blanket, pillow or stuffed animal?
• Should I use a humidifier in my baby’s room?
• Does my baby need blackout curtains or a night light, and what colour?
• Do screens before bed affect my toddler’s sleep?
• What should a bedtime routine include, and when should I start one?
• My toddler stalls at bedtime with one more book, drink or hug. How do I stop it?
• My toddler says they’re scared of the dark. How do I help?
• Is my child having nightmares or night terrors, and what should I do?
• My toddler sleepwalks. Is it dangerous, and should I wake them?
• My toddler snores and breathes through their mouth at night. When should I see the pediatrician?
• Why does my baby bang their head or rock to fall asleep?
• Will starting solids help my baby sleep through the night?
• Is it normal for my baby to sleep more or be fussy after vaccines?
• My toddler is dropping their nap. What is quiet time and how do I set it up?
• How do I protect my toddler’s sleep when a new baby arrives?
• Can my baby and toddler share a room, and how do I make it work?
• How do I keep my baby or toddler sleeping well when we move house?
• How do I prepare my baby’s sleep for when I go back to work?
• Will Actually Sleeping work for my baby?
• We already tried sleep training. Will Actually Sleeping be any different?
• Is Actually Sleeping too good to be true?
• Is the free consultation just a sales pitch?
• Is Actually Sleeping worth it?
• My husband isn’t on board with sleep training. What do other families say?
• What if I cave and give in halfway through?
• My baby still needs to eat at night. Can Actually Sleeping still help?
• Do I have to stop nursing for Actually Sleeping to work?
• Is my baby too young for Actually Sleeping?
• Is my toddler too old for Actually Sleeping?
• My baby has reflux. Can Actually Sleeping still help?
• Won’t my baby just grow out of waking at night?
• Now isn’t a good time for sleep training. Should we wait?
• Does Actually Sleeping use cry it out?
• Will sleep training with Actually Sleeping hurt our bond?
• Am I a bad mom for needing help with my baby’s sleep?
• We co-sleep and don’t know how to stop. Can Actually Sleeping help?
• Why hire Actually Sleeping instead of figuring out sleep myself?
• My baby is just a bad sleeper. Can Actually Sleeping help?
• How long does Actually Sleeping take to work?
• Will Actually Sleeping results last?
• Does Actually Sleeping help with naps too?
• Will I be on my own with Actually Sleeping?
• I’m on my own at night. Can I do sleep training solo?
• Won’t sleep training wake the whole house?
• Will sleep training still work with daycare, babysitters or grandparents?
• Our schedule is too crazy. Can Actually Sleeping still work for us?
• I have more than one child. Can Actually Sleeping help our whole family sleep?
• We’re exhausted but surviving. Do families like us really use Actually Sleeping?
• How fast does sleep training work? What 129 families reported

Review standards are described in our editorial and review policy.