Lera Deriy,

an attachment-based sleep consultant

Gentle, tailored infant sleep solutions for lasting comfort and peace

My approach

With over 200 parents of kids from 0 to 7 years old, I’ve learned that every family is unique. I use gentle sleep methods, ensuring your child is never left to cry alone, and emphasize parental involvement in establishing healthy sleep patterns.

My mission is to help parents understand and meet their child’s needs using modern scientific research and Gordon Neufeld’s attachment-based development theory, while respecting traditional family values and each family’s unique characteristics.

I aim to equip parents with the confidence and knowledge for long-lasting results, ready to handle any regressions or changes.
How I Help You
Back

Why me?

Cry-it-out and other extinction methods were introduced during the popularity of behavioristic theory, which has been disapproved by recent neuroscience findings. My goal is to offer an alternative to these abrupt sleep training methods and emphasize that sleep training is not a magic solution.
  • Rhythm of the Day and Bedtime Routines:

    More than half of common sleep issues in kids can be solved by implementing the appropriate schedule and maintaining sleep hygiene. I start by addressing your baby’s sleep needs, bedtime routines, and other conditions, proving that sleep training is not necessary to achieve comfort and predictability
    01
  • Gentle Sleep Methods Rooted in Bonding:

    I focus on gentle and gradual sleep methods that involve parents and avoid leaving children to cry alone. My approach is based on modern research in neuroscience and psychology, and Gordon Neufeld’s attachment-based development theory, while respecting traditional family values and individuality.
    02
  • Customized Sleep Solutions:

    I tailor my solutions to your unique circumstances, whether you have a sensitive child, live in a small space, share with grandparents, have older children, alternate bedtimes with a partner, have a child with special needs, or travel often. None of the existing sleep plans or mobile apps can do this for you.
    03
  • Human Intelligence vs AI

    Many mobile apps claim to analyze data for 'personalized' bedtime recommendations, but I oppose this as it diverts parents' attention from their child to their phone. My mission is to help parents understand their child’s needs and navigate changes naturally and flexibly, fostering strong attachment and deep understanding in the long term
    04
Why me?
Cry-it-out and other extinction methods were introduced during the popularity of behavioristic theory, which has been disapproved by recent neuroscience findings. My goal is to offer an alternative to these abrupt sleep training methods and emphasize that sleep training is not a magic solution.
  • Rhythm of the Day and Bedtime Routines:
    More than half of common sleep issues in kids can be solved by implementing the appropriate schedule and maintaining sleep hygiene. I start by addressing your baby’s sleep needs, bedtime routines, and other conditions, proving that sleep training is not necessary to achieve comfort and predictability.
  • Gentle Sleep Methods Rooted in Bonding:
    I focus on gentle and gradual sleep methods that involve parents and avoid leaving children to cry alone. My approach is based on modern research in neuroscience and psychology, and Gordon Neufeld’s attachment-based development theory, while respecting traditional family values and individuality.
  • Customized Sleep Solutions:
    I tailor my solutions to your unique circumstances, whether you have a sensitive child, live in a small space, share with grandparents, have older children, alternate bedtimes with a partner, have a child with special needs, or travel often. None of the existing sleep plans or mobile apps can do this for you.
  • Human Intelligence vs AI
    Many mobile apps claim to analyze data for 'personalized' bedtime recommendations, but I oppose this as it diverts parents' attention from their child to their phone. My mission is to help parents understand their child’s needs and navigate changes naturally and flexibly, fostering strong attachment and deep understanding in the long term.
Where to start?
questionnaire
Apply:
Fill out the questionnaire so I can understand your needs
The messenger
Choose Your Format:
I’ll propose the best option: a 1-hour consultation or 1 month of personalized support.
calendar
Book Your Session:
Pick a time for your consultation—either a one-time session or a 15-minute intro meeting
billing
Secure Your Plan:
I’ll share payment details and Terms of Use to get started.
Moon and stars
Begin Your Journey:
Work with me systematically to achieve your goals and celebrate early successes along the way.
resting mom
Achieve Lasting Results:
Your child will fall asleep faster and more easily. You’ll have a clear, actionable plan and confidence to maintain long-term success.
What to expect?
1-hour consulation
Unlike others who provide a work plan based solely on your sleep log, I take a more thorough approach:
Preliminary Analysis: I conduct a detailed preliminary analysis of the sleep diary
Interactive Consultation: During our meeting, I ask additional questions to understand your child's character, sensitivity, developmental stage, and other relevant factors
Customized Strategy: We discuss and develop an appropriate strategy together. After the meeting, I send a summary and follow-up recommendations tailored to your child's needs
1-month consultation and support
Initial Free Consultation: I offer a free 15-minute video consultation via WhatsApp, Telegram or Google Meet to assess your situation, explain my working method, and set realistic goals
Ongoing Supervision: My one-month consultation service includes several online meetings, regular feedback, recommendations, and strategy adjustments every three days. This support is ideal for resolving long-standing sleep issues that require gradual and consistent changes
We work as a team: I am here during the whole process: answering as many questions and concerns as you have, adjusting the strategy where needed, encouraging and supporting on each step.
This comprehensive and personalized approach ensures a higher likelihood of success and provides the support parents need to make effective changes.

About Me

Get to know me better

  • 5+ years of experience in children’s sleep consulting
  • 200+ clients through individual consultations
  • write articles on children’s sleep
  • one of the methodologists for an infant sleep online course
  • developed a sleep diary for real-time parent-consultant collaboration
  • record lessons for sleep consultants' certification course
  • conduct seminars on children’s sleep for various audiences
  • biophysicist, having previously conducted research on the mechanisms of memory
  • open to new collaborations, lectures, and seminar invitations
  • reside in Middlesex, Massachusetts
certificate
certificate
certificate

Who are the consultations for?

Exhausted parents

Those struggling with physical and emotional fatigue due to their children’s sleep issues
Support-Seeking Parents
Those needing comprehensive guidance to address sleep problems from the ground up
Concerned parents
Those who are seeking for alternatives to extinction self-soothing methods
Researching parents
Those who are self-studying sleep topics and need expert validation

Benefits for parents

Confidence and predictability
You will regain control on your rhythm of the day and reverse the bedtime routine to a pleasant moment
More sleep, less stress
This quality sleep will have a good effect on your family member’s health and mood
Reduced night feedings, sleep through the night
This will reduce the stress and strain associated with constant feedings and wakings
Sleeping baby
Naturally weaning breastfeeding
You will regain your usual lifestyle and time for yourself
Child sleeping in a separate bed/room
This will create a personal space for your child, yourself and your spouse
Better relations with your toddler, preschooler, and siblings
This will create happier atmosphere at home

What parents say?

Elena, Obninsk (Russia) / Son, 6 months old.
1-month consultation and support
Many thanks to our consultant Valeria Deriy.

Despite the time zone difference, which is 7 hours, I never felt abandoned for a day. I always received detailed answers, support, and next steps.

I had many requests, but we worked through everything, not a single question was left without an answer or explanation. It was easy and comfortable to work. Valeria was always in touch supporting and clarifying next steps.

A miser pays twice! It is better to contact a consultant right away, where you will not only get the solution, but, thanks to the new option, will be supported further for long-term result. And this played a decisive role in making the decision to work with Valeria.

10/22/2024

Ekaterina, Moscow (Russia) / Son, 3 years 8 months old
1-hour consultation
Individual approach! Everything is prepared with a minimum of general phrases. Everything is structured and discussed with Valeria Deriy down to the smallest detail. Everything is clear and, it seems, easy! I would never have thought that we could solve our problem in just one consultation. Thank you very much!

09/27/2024
Maria, Dissangis (France) / Daughter, 11 months old
1-hour consultation
Valeria Deriy is a very sensitive and attentive specialist. I was afraid to start teaching self-sleep and put it off for a long time. It seemed like it would be very difficult and unbearable. Valeria explained both the theoretical part of the issue and all the practical steps. She went through with me step by step how to act: take the baby in your arms, do this, then this, and if suddenly this happens, then do this. With a clear breakdown by time.

With my first child, I co-slept with him until he was almost 9 years old. With the second, I decided to try to make sure the baby slept in the crib so that everyone could get enough sleep. We started training at the age of 10 months. It took essentially one day for the acute phase, that is, when the child does not yet understand what is expected of him and why he now needs to sleep in the crib. It was hard for me to endure the tears and, as it seemed to me, the suffering, but with Lera's help, I realized that these tears were tears of getting used to.

The baby's dad or I were always next to the crib, comforting, helping, and not leaving. No one left the baby to cry, no. As a result, on the second night, the baby slept much better than he had in his entire life before. We are still in the process of learning, but I can definitely say: I have my own life. I can put the baby to bed and do my own things both during daytime naps and when I put her to bed at night.

Before, I literally could not go anywhere; there were no evenings because the baby woke up every 40 minutes. It seemed normal to me, and I thought I had to be patient... Now I understand that I shouldn't have, and I should have immediately asked for help.

Thanks to Valeria for her sensitive understanding and support!!!

09/27/2024
Marina, Las Vegas (USA) / Daughter, 5 months old
1-month support
I am absolutely delighted with the work of Valeria Deriy. In just a few days, I saw the first results in our difficult situation. It is very pleasant to deal with a real professional who accompanies you from the beginning to the victorious end! All the advice was helpful, and Valeria is always in touch to help and encourage! My family is sincerely grateful to Valeria for her work!

05/22/2024
Boris and Alina, Auckland (New Zealand) / Son, 1 year 1 month old

1-month support at 6 months, 2 weeks of support at 1 year 1 month

Valeria Deriy helped twice. Once with naps, the second time with weaning from drinking formula at night. My son woke up every two hours at night, now he sleeps all night.

05/31/2024
Elena, Zurich (Switzerland) / Daughter, 2 years 1 month old
1-month support
I am very pleased! I didn't even think that the results would be so fast. Of course, I still must work on the technique of putting to bed, but the principle of action is clear. All of Valeria's recommendations work!

05/10/2024
Valeria, Barcelona (Spain) / Daughter, 1 year 6 months old
1-month support
I was very glad to have Valeria as my consultant. I have a baby 18 months old, and she was waking up every 2 hours at night, 4–6 times. And she could fall asleep only with breastfeeding. I was very tired but didn't want to use hard methods like “crying out”.

So, Valeria helped me to correct the hours and activity. And gave me a lot of useful information about food, psychological behavior etc. She was really deep into my problem and always responded quickly and explaining everything in detail.

So for 1 month of our work, we improved a lot of our nights. My baby sleeps now first 5–6 hours in a row and wakes up 2 times per night. And she learned to fall asleep herself. And no tears at all during all changes! I highly recommend Valeria!

02/29/2024
Maria, Dissangis (France) / Daughter, 1 month old
1-hour consultation
Lera, hello! Thank you for your consultation and for convincing me to enroll in the online course*. With the help of the online course, many questions in my head began to resolve themselves, and the information that I received during the consultation with you has now settled on the shelves.

14/11/2023

* Subscribe to get updates about the online course’s next start day.

Tatyana Potapova, Moscow (Russia) / Son, 1 year 4 months old

1-month support
We taught our son to sleep under the sensitive guidance of Valeria Deriy. It was clear that she was worried along with us and really wanted to help improve his sleep. We tried all sorts of methods until finally it worked.

Now we turned to her again for a consultation because his sleep suddenly got out of whack. And lo and behold! The very next night after the consultation, my son slept well! Valeria gave us tips and advised us to pay attention to subtle moments that we simply don’t notice in the pace of life. We thank her with all our hearts! And we send greetings from Kirusha!

09/19/2023
Julia, Moscow (Russia) / Daughter, 8 months old
1-month support
Valeria Deriy helped our family a lot, thank you very much! She gave recommendations very softly, delicately, and tactfully, and supported our spirit. The result is excellent. Before, Kira woke up 6-12 times a night and slept no longer than 1.5 hours. Now, she wakes up 1-5 times and sometimes sleeps more than 7 hours continuously. Amazing! I am very impressed and glad that I decided to choose Valeria.

03/13/2023
Daria, Moscow (Russia) / Daughter, 3 months old
1-hour consultation
We turned to a specialist for a one-time consultation between one online course* (0-4 months) and another (4-18 months) to understand whether we were doing everything right, experiencing sleep regression at 4 months, and in general whether we were doing everything well and using the course material correctly.

I really liked Valeria’s approach to such a non-specific request. She found an approach specifically for us, explained everything very clearly, and gave advice on the best time to introduce the regime and self-sleep (at what age in our case it is best to start). She helped to outline our roadmap, so to speak.

01/14/2023

* Subscribe to get updates about the online course’s next start day.
Olga, Valencia (Spain) / Daughter, 1 year 4 months old
1-hour consultation
I have been reading various sources about infant sleep since my daughter was born, from 1 month I established her sleep in her crib in her own room without strong associations. But after switching to one nap and a lot of traveling, the quality of her night sleep worsened. I spent a long time looking for the reason, shifted the awake period, but did not see any noticeable effect.

Valeria Deriy helped me understand that my daughter’s schedule is fine, that she can safely keep the evening awake time of 6 hours, and she told me how to wean from the 2nd night feeding, which helped that same night. She also gave valuable advice on how to finish breastfeeding.

It was very pleasant to communicate with a professional for whom family, psychologically healthy atmosphere at home and quality of the sleep of both parents and a baby are important.

10/29/2022
Anna, Perth (Aurstralia) / Son, 9 months old
1-month support
I highly recommend Valeria Deriy as she has been very professional and helpful through all the time we worked together. My 9 months old son used to wake up 2-4 times at night and co-sleep half of the night with me. During the day he used to cat naps for 30 minutes. Also I couldn’t put my baby to sleep without bouncing him on the fit ball.

After practicing very gentle sleep method my son sleeps from 7pm to 7am in his cot with one wake up for feed at 5am. His day naps became longer and sleep schedule is more predictable now. Ethan have learned to self soothe and I no longer need to use fit ball. Except during teething or growth spurt I was going back to bad habits bouncing on the ball or co sleep. It’s not an easy work but it’s 100% worth it and it’s not stressful for the baby as sleeping method is very gentle.

Valeria is very sweet and kind person and has lots of knowledge about baby sleep, development and more. It was very easy to communicate with Valeria and she was always there for us. Valeria always responded with very detailed information. I am very grateful that I had a chance to work with Valeria.

04/21/2022
Daria, Ufa (Russia) / Daughter, 7 months old
1-month support
I am very grateful to Valeria Deriy for her support, patience, and calmness when I was already very worried. We have done a lot of work together, but there is even more work ahead. My child turned out to be not at all simple, although it seemed that there were no special problems. But Lera did not give up and guided me.

03/24/2022
Victoria, Baltimore (USA) / Daughter, 6 months old
1-hour consultation
Huge thanks to Valeria Deriy for the consultation! I have studied a lot on the topic of sleep and doubted for a long time whether to take a consultation, thinking "what new information will they tell me?" and "the child will cry anyway, and I don't want that, so there's no point." Valeria is gentle, warm, and understanding. She provided a lot of new information and built my further actions step by step according to my request. There was no pressure or judgment, and she answered all my questions, even those that hadn't yet arisen.

After the consultation, I felt a surge of strength, confidence, and hope that it would be possible to improve the baby's sleep, and we are already moving towards this. Before the consultation, the baby slept only in my arms, but now I can put her in the crib without waking her up. I highly recommend Lera as a sleep expert!

02/17/2022

Anastasia, Minsk (Belarus) / Son, 9 months
1-month support
Everything was very comfortable, as correct as possible. Valeria Deriy is very sensitive and cares about the client's success as if it were her own. She gave all the necessary information, was in touch. She did not press, gave the opportunity to move step by step. For me, this was important.

02/15/2022
Tatyana, Toronto (Canada) / Daughter, 9 months old
1-hour consultation
I really liked the consultation. Valeria Deriy not only has a huge amount of knowledge on any issue related to baby's sleep, but she can also calm and inspire you to take action.

01/13/2022
Aigerym, Denmark / Daughter, 1 year old
1-month support
Thank you very much for being there. Teaching a child to self-sooth independently is not easy, but it is possible, the main thing is not to give up and not to confuse the child! Special thanks to Valeria Deriy, she is very attentive and explains everything thoroughly!

01/10/2022
Anastasia, Nashville (USA) / Son, 2 months old
1-hour consultation
My first child is highly sensitive, and I read a lot of information about infant sleep both in Russian and in English-language Internet and had previously contacted BabySleep to improve sleep. The situation with the second child's sleep is simpler than with the first one, but there was (and still is) a problem with short daytime naps, which I could not cope with by myself.

In the format of a 1-hour consultation, based on the data from the sleep questionnaire of my youngest son, Valeria Deriy offered options for correcting the rhythm of the day, which I myself would not have dared to do, fearing oversleeping. She also answered a number of other questions about the sleep of the youngest child and gave recommendations for the eldest. Lera impressed me as a competent and attentive specialist, I am happy to share my review and recommend her!

12/22/2021
Daria, Andria (Italy) / Son, 7 months old
1-month support
Consultant Valeria Deriy is an excellent specialist with extensive knowledge in her field. She helped us improve the quality of our baby's sleep and adjust the sleep schedule. Working according to her method requires effort, but it is worth it. I am very grateful to Valeria for her work, patience, and support at every stage.

12/17/2021
Alina, Moscow (Russia) / Son, 1 year 7 months old
1-hour consultation
Valeria Deriy is a beautiful, pleasant, smart, knowledgeable, empathetic person.

11/21/2021
Alexandra, Virginia Beach (USA) / Daughter, 7 months old
Consultation with support
Valeria Deriy responded to my messages very quickly and gave detailed comments that helped to understand the situation with my daughter's sleep and improve it. Valeria was very interested in getting a positive result and although working on my daughter's sleep was difficult, Valeria never gave up. She was very supportive and tried to give me as much information as possible applicable to my situation and a little perspective on possible future changes / difficulties as the child grows.

06/28/2021
Alena, Jerusalem (Israel) / Son, 5 months old
1-month support
From the first minute, my husband and I felt that Valeria Deriy is a specialist in her field and knows how to lead us to the desired result. During the work, this feeling did not go away and supported us. Valeria knows how to listen and pays attention to nuances, sees them, this allows us, parents, to better understand the situation, make a decision. Valeria knows perfectly well how to support with words and deeds. An extremely empathetic and delicate person.

02/07/2021

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