We take sleep seriously. Ourselves? Not so much.
We’re Marli and Rachel. Two moms, two sleep consultants, and two women who believe you can love your children more than anything and still desperately want them to go to bed.
With a combined 16 years of sleep consulting experience and 6,000+ families helped, we know a thing or two about getting babies and toddlers sleeping better.
We believe in responsive sleep training, realistic expectations, and actual solutions. Not cookie-cutter plans, no-cry promises, or another list of things to Google.
We’re really freaking good at what we do. And we’re not afraid to say it.
Turns out, I was meant to do this.
After 13 years in the corporate world, I became a mom and quickly realized that all my experience, organization, and ability to figure shit out meant absolutely nothing when I had a baby who wouldn’t sleep.
I read the books, Googled everything, and eventually figured it out. But somewhere along the way, I became completely obsessed with baby sleep. Why did some things work and others didn’t? Why was the advice so conflicting? And why were exhausted parents expected to figure all of this out on their own?
In 2021, I became a pediatric sleep consultant and started my own business. And for the first time in my professional life, I knew I’d found exactly what I was meant to do.
Then, in 2023, I had the opportunity to take over The Cradle Coach and The Cradle Coach Academy from founder Melissa Perry. It was a no-brainer.
Today, I spend most of my time mentoring and supporting aspiring sleep consultants through the Academy, helping them build careers doing work that genuinely matters.
I went from being obsessed with figuring out my own baby’s sleep to helping other people build entire careers doing the same. And I freaking love it.
Meet the women behind your better nights.
Marli Klaus
Owner of The Cradle Coach & The Cradle Coach Academy
Former corporate girl turned completely sleep-obsessed entrepreneur.
Marli leads the vision behind The Cradle Coach and spends most of her days mentoring and supporting future sleep consultants through The Cradle Coach Academy.
She’s passionate about making sleep education more practical, more human, and a whole lot less intimidating. She’s also a mom of three who believes motherhood is wonderful, exhausting, hilarious, and occasionally completely unhinged.
She’s seen it all. And she’s not even a little bit rattled.
Baby waking every 45 minutes? Toddler treating bedtime like a hostage negotiation? You’ve tried three different sleep training methods and somehow things are getting worse?
Rachel’s not panicking.
With nearly 12 years at The Cradle Coach and more than 5,000 families personally supported, there aren’t many sleep situations she hasn’t encountered. And that’s exactly why you want her in your corner.
She’s calm. She’s confident. And she knows her stuff.
Rachel doesn’t get overwhelmed by complicated sleep histories or thrown off when things don’t go according to plan. She knows what questions to ask, what details to look for, and how to help parents make sense of what’s actually happening.
She’s also a mom of two girls and an avid reader who somehow manages to get through multiple books a week. Which, honestly, is the kind of post-bedtime lifestyle we’re trying to help more moms achieve.
But what makes Rachel so good at this isn’t just how much she knows.
It’s how confident she makes YOU feel.
When you’re second-guessing everything, she’s steady. When you’ve convinced yourself your child is the one baby on earth who will never sleep, she’s seen it before. And when something needs adjusting, she knows how to help you figure out the next step.
No drama. No judgment. No making you feel like you’ve somehow screwed up your child’s sleep. Just an incredibly experienced consultant who genuinely knows what she’s doing.
If you’re working with The Cradle Coach one-on-one, Rachel is your person. And you’re in very good hands.
Parents have some pretty nice things to say about Rachel.
worth every single penny
“This was our second time using The Cradle Coach! I was more nervous this time with our son but reassured we would be able to accomplish our goals, and I would be able to sleep again. Having him on the schedule has helped not only me—but my entire household—and I know it is what’s best for him to finally get the sleep he needs. Worth every single penny.”
— Alexia Haas
I finally feel confident
“I really loved how positive Rachel was during this process, especially on the nights when we wanted to give up! Starting this process, I came in saying to Rachel that I am drowning in exhaustion, and I do not know how to manage bedtime or nap times with two children. Now, in just a week’s time, I finally feel more confident as a mom and that I can do this! There are truly not enough thanks in the entire world!”
— Katey Lew
We’re responsive sleep consultants. Not no-cry sleep consultants.
And yes, there’s a difference.
We believe children deserve to feel safe, supported, and cared for while they’re learning new sleep skills. We also believe parents deserve sleep, boundaries, and the ability to enjoy their evenings without feeling guilty about it.
Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter sleep plans.
Your child is a human being, not a sleep schedule with legs. We consider their age, development, temperament, feeding, routines, environment, current habits, and your family’s needs before recommending an approach.
We believe in responding to your child.
Responsive sleep training means making sure your child’s needs are met, offering appropriate reassurance and comfort, and paying attention to what they’re communicating as you make changes. We don’t ask parents to leave their children alone to cry without support.
We don’t promise zero tears.
Because we can’t. Sometimes children cry because they’re uncomfortable, hungry, overwhelmed, or need something from us. And we take that seriously. Sometimes they cry because a familiar routine is changing and they’re frustrated about it. Our job is to help you recognize the difference, respond appropriately, and support your child through the process.
Responsive parenting doesn’t mean your child will never be upset.
And anyone promising you a completely tear-free experience with every child is making a promise they can’t guarantee.
We believe parents matter, too.
You are allowed to want your evenings back. You’re allowed to want to sleep next to your partner without a toddler’s foot in your face. You’re allowed to want to read a book, watch trash TV, eat a snack in peace, or simply exist as a human being after bedtime.
You don’t have to be miserable to be a good mom.
We believe in telling parents the truth.
We’re not going to tell you every sleep problem has a quick fix. We’re not going to guarantee your baby will sleep 12 hours straight. And we’re not going to tell you what you want to hear just to make a sale. We’re going to give you experienced guidance, realistic expectations, and an approach that respects both your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
That’s what The Cradle Coach is about.
Pick the kind of help that works for you.
DIY Sleep Guides
For the parent who just wants someone to tell them what to do.
Straightforward, practical guidance you can read and put into action on your own schedule.
Sleep Courses
For the parent who wants to learn the process and do it themselves.
Step-by-step video lessons taught by Rachel, with practical strategies for newborns through age five.
Custom Sleep Plans
For the parent who’s done enough guessing.
Personalized sleep guidance from Rachel, built around your child, with hands-on support to help you implement the plan.
You’ve tried figuring it out yourself. Let us take a look.
Whether you’re looking for a course you can follow on your own or someone to help you navigate your child’s specific sleep challenges, we’ve got options. No guilt. No magic tricks. No one-size-fits-all nonsense.
Just real help from people who genuinely know what they’re doing.
Have questions? We’re happy to help you figure out where to start.