Code of Ethics

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The Code of Ethics was created to address the specific criteria for the ethical practice of Child Sleep Consultants around the world. All members are required to comply with the Code of Ethics so they can ensure the wellbeing of the families they serve. The Code of Ethics is an essential element whose purpose is to help consultants provide child sleep consultations professionally and with integrity.

The purpose of the Code of Ethics is to set ethical standards for all Child Sleep Consultants, irrespective of their membership status. The code is intended to serve as a guide to:

• helping consultants in making appropriate ethical decisions;
• identifying ethical behaviors and best practices for consultants;
• raising awareness among members and the public of the ethical standards acceptable for child sleep consultants’ work.

1.1 Sleep consultants should practice ethically and professionally, adhering to industry best practices. Based on the needs of the family, the consultants provide support, information and other resources.

1.2 At all times, consultants must adhere to the highest professional standards.

1.3 Consultants must understand the limits of their expertise and the boundaries of their qualifications. They should provide services and employ methods for which they have proper training, knowledge and experience.

1.4 Child Sleep Consultants (who do not hold a medical degree) should not give any form of medical advice to their clients. They do not diagnose or treat the people they work with. They refer their clients to a medical professional or the child's pediatrician. They maintain practice boundaries consistent with their non-medical role.

1.5 Infants, children, parents and pregnant women work with the sleep consultant to build healthy sleep habits.

1.6 Consultants should present accurately their education, training, and experience, along with their licenses and certificates. When they advertise or promote their professional services, they only use truthful information.

1.7 Consultants understand the value of continuing education and therefore they stay open to innovative approaches and methods developed by subject-matter experts and outlined in the professional literature.

1.8 Consultants make the right effort to understand the cultural perspectives of the family they work with. The consultants are aware of how their own cultural, ethical and religious characteristics influence their own values and philosophy, and how those impact the consulting process.

1.9 Sleep consultants are required to report any unethical child sleep consulting activities to the appropriate person or authority.

2.1 Parents should have access to high-quality services delivered by caring, qualified, and capable professionals. They should always be treated with respect, dignity and consideration.

2.2 A parent could easily dismiss any recommended methods, strategies, or techniques and be informed of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. The consultant should be able to propose alternative solutions that fit parents' needs.

2.3. Parents have the right to confidentiality, according to applicable national legislation and best CCPA, CPRA, GDPR practices.

2.4 Parents should be given accurate information about the consultants' education, training, and practice limitations.

3.1 Consultants and parents collaborate to create an integrated and personalized sleep plan that is consistent with the parents' capabilities, social and cultural values.

3.2 The consultant should give the client enough information so that they can make an informed choice about which approach and method to use.

3.3 When it is apparent that the client no longer needs support (e.g. the problem is resolved), the consultant should offer to conclude the consulting service and close the case.

3.4 Consultants should collaborate with other professionals when referring clients to them.

4.1 The consultation environment should be accessible to all clients, including those with impairments, to the extent feasible.

4.2 Conversations should be held in a private, quiet and supportive environment.

5.1 All clients have the right to confidentiality.

5.2 Consultants have a responsibility to protect personal information gathered in the course of their practice, teaching, or research. Personal information is only shared with other people if the client gives their explicit consent, preferably in writing.

5.3 Case reports presented in seminars, professional meetings, or publications must be disguised in such a way that the client cannot be identified.

5.4 Consultants control access to confidential information when using a computer to store it. The information may be erased from the system in accordance with laws and regulations.

6.1 Consultants should respect their colleagues and other professionals. It is a shared responsibility to create a friendly, supportive and inclusive environment that fosters a professional exchange of ideas where everyone can grow their skills and knowledge.

6.2 Consultants should show integrity in their relationships with their colleagues. Professional discussion should be free of any attacks on a personal level. Consultants should value and respect all cultural differences.

6.3 Consultants should be able to recognise the benefits of working with other related professions (e.g. lactation consultants). They should use the help of those professionals in order to best serve their clients' needs.

7.1 No consultant should tolerate or practice discrimination based on ability status, race, age, gender, religion, culture, ethnicity, national origin, political opinions, sexual orientation, relationship status, or socioeconomic status.

7.2 Consultants should educate themselves about their own biases toward people of various races, identities, cultures, and physical and mental abilities, and then seek consultation, supervision, and/or counseling services to ensure that these biases do not interfere with their work.

Accusations of violations of this Code of Ethics made against any member in good standing should be submitted to the Ethics Committee in writing. The Ethics Committee will look into the allegations and determine how they will affect membership status, which could include revocation.

Membership will be revoked indefinitely for members who refuse to follow this Code of Ethics.

Contact us if you believe a consultant has not followed these guidelines and would like to file a formal complaint.