HealthySteps Impact Story: A Good Night’s Rest Is Essential to Healthy Development

Arely Garcia, LCSW, is the HealthySteps Specialist at KidsFirst Pediatrics in Lakewood, Colorado. In this role, Arely supports families with infants and toddlers, especially when there are behavioral concerns. She views her role as working as a teammate for families, and always reminds parents that they know their children best and are the experts in their children’s behavior. 

Arely Garcia, LCSW, HealthySteps Specialist at KidsFirst Pediatrics.

She supports families with everything from lactation and play to postpartum mental health and sleep routines. One family with a new baby shared that their baby was having trouble sleeping through the night. The baby was co-sleeping with both parents, and constant movement and snoring meant frequent wake-ups – for everyone. Still, the mother was nervous about moving the baby to her crib in  the other room.  

In her gentle way, Arely suggested that the couple let the baby sleep in her crib next to the parents’ bed, and gradually move the crib farther and farther away, until all three of them were comfortable with the baby sleeping in her own room. 

Together with Arely, the parents made plans for what to do when the baby cried for three minutes straight, five minutes straight, etc., so they had a plan of action instead of feeling helpless in the middle of the night. 

KidsFirst Pediatrics serves children and families in Lakewood, CO.

The next time the family came back in for a wellchild visit, Arely noted a sizable shift. Mom, dad, and baby were sleeping through the night, allowing them to be more emotionally present and focused with one another during the day. 

This is the power of HealthySteps — having a knowledgeable and supportive professional by their side can help parents’ build confidence in supporting their children’s early development. 

Learn more about HealthySteps and its impact in Colorado here.