There is no one right way to parent, but there is a right way for you - and we'll help you find it, just as we have for thousands of parents over the last 20+ years.
Our Story
We co-founded Sleepy Planet Parenting in 1999 with the mission to support families from “360 degrees” - providing guidance in parenting groups, for children’s sleep, and in private sessions. Over the last two-plus decades, we’ve been incredibly proud to watch Sleepy Planet Parenting bloom into an internationally recognized resource, helping moms and dads everywhere to navigate parenthood with more confidence, authenticity and joy. We’ve come a long way since we met as college roommates!
As creators of the field of private consults for behavioral pediatric sleep, coauthors of the award-winning book The Sleepeasy Solution, and esteemed parenting experts, we’ve been featured in a wide variety of media, including Good Morning America, the Today show, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, People, and Parents. We were also consultants for the hit TV show "The Pajanimals," a joint production with the Jim Henson Company and PBS Sprout, as well as for a series based on the beloved children’s book The Kissing Hand.
Jill Spivack
Co-Founder, LCSW
Parent Group Leader, Sleep Consultant, Parent Educator
I’m a mom of two children and a licensed clinical social worker who developed an expertise in parenting while working as a psychotherapist at Cedars-Sinai Early Childhood Department. I combine my training and experience with an authentic, relatable and supportive style to provide valued guidance from the early stages of parenthood through the high school years. I’ve developed a holistic approach from a diverse host of disciplines and my mission is to support moms and dads in navigating parenthood with consciousness and clarity while also remaining focused on their own well-being.
Jennifer Waldburger
Co-Founder, MSW
Parent Group Leader, Sleep Consultant, Parent Educator
I earned my master's degree in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I also contributed to research with the Mayo Clinic. My work with parents and children integrates both my background in psychotherapy and my postgraduate trainings in mindfulness, neuroscience, trauma healing, self-regulation and holistic wellness practices. Coauthor of Calm Mama, Happy Baby and co-creator of Mindfulness and wellness programs at several schools, my greatest passion is helping adults and kids to cultivate authentic connection with themselves first – and then others.
Halie Lieberman
Parent Group Leader, M.Ed
I earned my master’s degree at Bank Street Graduate School of Education in Infant & Family Development and Early Childhood Education. Having worked as a teacher at schools including Cassidy Preschool and The Portable Classroom, my approach incorporates both my background in child development and my love of teaching, as well as my passion for wholeheartedly supporting families of young children during this significant and momentous time in their lives. I am a native to Los Angeles, where I live with my husband and young son, a graduate himself of Sleepy Planet Parenting groups!
Diane Farkas
Sleep Consultant and Potty Consultant, RN
After earning my undergraduate degree in Sociology at UC Santa Cruz, I worked as an RN in a Level III NICU for over 25 years. I am a certified sleep and potty coach, and also a certified breastfeeding counselor. I love helping families sort through their natural confusion and questions about how to help their child sleep well, and guiding them with a plan customized to their parenting philosophy, lifestyle and child’s developmental stage so the whole family can get the rest they need. I had the great pleasure and honor of sleep coaching both of my granddaughters, helping them become amazing sleepers.
Bahar Khakshouri
Parent Group Leader, MA, OTD, OTR/L
I earned my master’s and doctoral degrees in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California and have worked with children in a variety of pediatric settings. With an emphasis on sensory play, I have helped children and families navigate all aspects of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development throughout the span of childhood. My passion for supporting parents has only grown since I experienced the community and support that Sleepy Planet offered me in my new chapter of motherhood as a group member. I enjoy filling my own cup by spending time outdoors in nature with my family.
Charlotte Galbreath
Group Coordinator
I graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in theater and a minor in film. Prior to joining Sleepy Planet, I worked for a production company in both development and administrative roles. While I don’t have little ones of my own, I love to babysit and am overjoyed to be supporting the work that Sleepy Planet does with moms and dads at every stage of the parenthood journey.