Welcome to Sleeping Willow!

Meet the mother, educator, and sleep consultant behind the name.

By Samantha Dinser August 2026

With an MA in Human Development, specializing in Early Childhood Education, over 12 years of experience working in preschool and PreK classrooms, and over 20 years total experience working with young children, I have built a strong foundation for a well-rounded and child-centered sleep consulting practice. I have a passion for supporting and educating families in the work that I do with their youngest members.

Child development, particularly in the first 3 years of life, happens at such a fast pace with significant and dynamic changes occurring over a short period of time. Babies are constantly growing and changing, which means that so are their needs. And in this first phase of life, the baby’s needs dictate their schedule and affect behavior in big ways. They are learning about life, their environments, their bodies, their family and those around them, and feeling feelings and emotions that they do not yet understand. It is so much at one time, that it just makes sense that it would be overwhelming for not only the baby, but their family as well.

I have always loved this stage of early childhood. Seeing babies and young children grow and change on a daily basis is exciting and fulfilling to be a part of. Now that I have two littles of my own, this has only been confirmed for me. Getting to stay home with them during this phase of life was not necessarily the plan, however, I do see it as a blessing.

With my background experience, now combined with my experience as a mother, I can definitively say that it is not easy, especially with your own. You can plan, and prep, and educate yourself, but each baby is a unique person with individual needs, preferences, and personalities. From first-hand experience I can also say that you can try and make decisions or plans for how things “should” go, but all of that can change based on your baby. Being able to adjust, adapt, and learn is a major part of the early stage of parenthood.

Through Sleeping Willow, I hope to be able to support other parents in navigating these shifts, changes, and unexpected situations that they may find themselves in. As a parent you know your child best, however, when you’re in the thick of it, it can be helpful to have outside support in tailoring general information to your specific needs. There is so much information out there, and I would love to help you sort through it all and find what truly applies to you and your family.

If you’re interested in learning more about my philosophy, approach, and how I might be able to support your family, check out the Sleeping Willow website to schedule a free discovery call with me.

Thanks for reading, and I hope we can connect!

Samantha Dinser

Founder, Sleeping Willow

Pediatric Sleep Consulting