Meet Ricia, a dedicated baby sleep and parenting coach who empowers overwhelmed parents to reclaim rest and rhythm in their homes. Inspired by her own struggles with her firstborn’s sleep challenges, Ricia turned her personal experience—and success with her second child—into a passion for helping others navigate sleepless nights with confidence and clarity.
Through customised routines, age-appropriate sleep strategies, and gentle coaching techniques, Ricia has supported countless families in building healthy sleep habits. Her approach is practical, empathetic, and rooted in real-world parenting—not rigid rules. With Ricia by their side, parents learn not just how to help their babies sleep better, but how to thrive as a family.
What inspired you to become a sleep and parenting coach, and how did you discover this calling?
My kids were my inspiration—they were my biggest motivators—and it was my mummy community that gave me the push to become a parenting coach. My husband and I were quite traumatised by the sleep struggles with our firstborn before we eventually decided to start sleep training.
When our second child came along, I resolved to start early, and it truly saved both our sanity and theirs. I began helping mothers within several online communities, and the results were clear.
People even started asking if I was a certified sleep coach—back then, I wasn’t. That’s when I seriously considered making it official, and that’s how I started my journey as a Sleep and Parenting Coach.
What are the most common sleep challenges that parents face with their babies and toddlers?
The two most common issues are poor scheduling and frequent night wakings. When it comes to toddlers—typically between one to five years old—many parents struggle with bedtime resistance.
How do sleep needs change between newborns, infants, and toddlers? And why is it important for parents to understand these differences?
Newborns have very unpredictable sleep needs that vary widely. While guidelines suggest 14–17 hours of sleep, some babies do well with 15 hours, while others may need up to 20 hours.
As they enter the infant stage, they typically need 12–15 hours, and toddlers generally require 11–14 hours, gradually decreasing as they grow.
It’s essential for parents to understand these evolving needs—especially beyond the newborn stage—because sleep is no longer “on demand.” Too much or too little daytime sleep can affect nighttime rest.
Many parents assume it’s fine to let babies nap endlessly, but that can actually disrupt the development of their natural body clock.
A common misconception is that sleep coaching equals “cry it out.” Many parents resist sleep training because they fear it will involve letting their baby cry endlessly. In reality, there are numerous gentle and customised approaches, especially for younger babies. It’s rarely about simply leaving a baby to cry.
What role do routines, sleep environments, and parenting styles play in creating successful sleep habits?
Naptime and bedtime routines act as signals that it’s time to sleep. The more consistent and obvious these cues are, the easier it is for babies to respond and settle without a fuss. Sleep environment is a debated topic—some parents think babies should learn to sleep in bright and noisy places, especially with older siblings around.
However, not all babies can cope. Even if they appear to be sleeping well, they may be relying on aids like the yaolan, bouncers, or contact napping. The best approach is to tailor the sleep environment to each baby’s needs—adjusting temperature, noise levels, and light accordingly.
Rather than calling it a “parenting style,” I see it as parenting choices. For example, some parents want their infant to sleep at the same time as adults. But babies aren’t adults—they have their whole lives to adjust to late bedtimes.
Their natural circadian rhythm begins to form around four months, and the last thing we want is to disrupt it prematurely.
How can parents manage their expectations and stress when sleep training doesn’t go according to plan?
It’s the sleep coach’s responsibility to set realistic expectations from the start. This includes how much crying may be involved and how long results might take. Crying can be distressing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the process is failing.
The key is to adapt the plan to meet the needs of both the parents and the baby as the training progresses.
What are some misconceptions about sleep coaching that you would like to debunk?
A common misconception is that sleep coaching equals “cry it out.” Many parents resist sleep training because they fear it will involve letting their baby cry endlessly.
In reality, there are numerous gentle and customised approaches, especially for younger babies. It’s rarely about simply leaving a baby to cry.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
My vision for Singaporean parents over the next five years is to help them better understand baby sleep—what it really is and why it matters. This means moving away from a “free-for-all” approach with no structure, which often results in disrupted sleep.
The goal is to encourage more parents to establish schedules and routines once their babies are ready, so that both baby and parent can thrive.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
I’d want the ability to understand exactly what babies are trying to say when they cry. I think that’s the dream superpower for all parents—especially during sleep training. It would be amazing if I could translate their cries into clear, understandable words.
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