Meet Teresa Stewart, MS, MPH:
Teresa holds a MS in Child Development from Wheelock College and a MPH in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University School of Public Health. She is an Infant-Child Sleep Consultant, trained as a childbirth educator, and is certified through the American Heart Association as a CPR Instructor. She recently earned a post-grad certificate in Postpartum Depression: Assessment, Treatment, and Clinical Practice through The Postpartum Stress Center. She is also in the process of completing a post-graduate program in Birth Psychology through The Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health.
In addition to her solo practice, Teresa is the Director of Parenting Education for the International Maternity and Parenting Institute, and the Continuing Education Director for the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants. She is also a Board Member of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children.
She has been working with expecting parents, parents of young children (ages birth through eight), grandparents, and childcare providers for more than 17 years in various roles. In addition to being an educator and consultant, Teresa has experience managing safety, wellness, and sleep programs; training and mentoring other educators; writing curriculum; and presenting at national conferences.
She is a member of Safe Kids Boston, MassPinn (Massachusetts Prevents Injuries Now Network), the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Partners for Empowering Young Parents Consortium.
Teresa believes in giving back and collaborates with a number of non-profits to provide education and support to more families in the community. She teaches parent workshops throughout the Greater Boston, North Shore, and South Shore areas at various locations. See the upcoming events for a list of where she is teaching next! She also travels nationally to deliver professional development workshops for medical professionals, childcare providers, doulas, and others who support parents.
If you are interested in having Teresa come teach at your location, please contact us.
Photo credit: http://sarahmurrayphotography.com/
I don’t prescribe to any one type of sleep “training” method. Rather, we will look at a number of different factors: the schedule, environment, the biological aspect of sleep, nutrition, your child’s development and temperament, and your parenting style. We’ll create a plan together that fits the needs of your family and that feels comfortable to you. We will review the different types of cries babies have. We will talk about how the quality of awake time can impact the quality of sleep time. We will discuss emotional regulation.
You are contacting me for sleep help; but “my baby is not sleeping” is just the tip of the iceberg. It is never just about sleep. I look forward to helping your entire family sleep better with my integrated approach that will also help support your child’s health and development, and your entire family’s emotional wellness.
- A series of workshops for the Department of Public Health in Vermont on “Car Seats and Infant Sleep: the Basics”, May 2014.
- A workshop for Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s STEPS Summit on “Infant and Toddler Sleep and Safety” to teen parents, June 2014.
- A Poster Presentation on “Building the Bridge: Supporting a Family’s Sleep and Breastfeeding Goals” at the National Breastfeeding Coalition Conference in Virginia, August 2014.
- Presentation on “Infant and Child Sleep Strategies” for the Keys to Degrees Program at Endicott College, MA, October 2014.
- A Poster Presentation on “Engage Families and Improve Outcomes: Expand the Safe to Sleep Message with Better to Sleep Tips” at the Zero to Three’s National Training Institute, December 2014.
- Presentation at the Lifesavers National Conference on “Infant Sleep and Car Seats: Science, Safety, and Soothing”, Chicago, March 2015.
- Presentation at Vermont’s Worksite Wellness Conference on “It’s All Inter-Connected: Stress, Sleep, and Work Productivity”, March 2015.
- Presentation at the MassAEYC (Association for the Education of Young Children) Conference on “Strengthening the Partnership Between Parents and Childcare Providers: Let’s Improve Child Sleep Together”, March 2015.
- Presentations at National Nanny Training Day on “Naps: Why They Matter and How You Can Help”, and on “Childhood Safety: at Home, in the Car, and on the Playground”, April 2015.
- Presentation at Maines’s Annual Birth and Breastfeeding Conference on “Supporting Family Sleep in an Integrated Way”, September 2015.
- And more!
This photo was taken two hours after Teresa’s son was born. He was crying and his big sister wanted to cuddle with him. When she went over and gave him a hug, he immediately stopped crying and closed his eyes. Big sister then closed her eyes and smiled. This photo captures the essence of why Teresa has chosen to educate and support families and professionals: to help you keep your family safe and sleeping well so you can enjoy the beautiful moments of parenting.
As the mother of two young children, Teresa recognizes and appreciates the joys and the challenges of parenting.
Her nine-year-old daughter attempts to creatively resist bedtime at least a few nights a week; is still riding safely in a booster seat; and loves babies as much as her mother does.
Her four-year-old son loves to sleep; is still riding forward-facing in his 5-point harness car seat; and in true preschooler fashion, is exploring the fine art of negotiation.
You will likely read about them in some of her blogs and posts on Facebook, because on a regular basis they fuel Teresa’s devotion to child health, safety, sleep, and wellness.
