It's been more than a year since we worked with Ciara, and we still talk about how grateful we are for her almost daily. Our son is an absolute champ sleeper: he sleeps through the night (and has since he was 5 months old - and that's a bit remedial by Ciara's standards!) and puts himself to sleep after his bedtime / naptime routine. When we talk to other parents of kids our age, we just have to nod politely when they talk about how rough the nights or the bedtimes are - we've been sleeping soundly for over a year. Ciara once told us that the babies she works with don't have sleep regressions, and I'm not sure I totally believed her at the time... but she was right! We are forever grateful for Ciara and honestly can't imagine doing it without her. Being first time parents is overwhelming, and Ciara's warmth and confidence made a huge difference to us in those early weeks. We can't recommend her strongly enough! read more

We had the best experience with Ciara. Our son had been sleeping 8+ hour stretches, but once the 4 month regression hit, he was suddenly waking every 1-2 hours and we were completely exhausted and unsure what to do. Ciara came to our home and immediately put us at ease. Even though she was the one doing the hands-on work, she walked us through every step, explained the "why" behind everything, and set clear expectations so nothing ever felt confusing or overwhelming. She created a thoughtful plan for both naps and nighttime, and I was honestly shocked that after just one night our son was sleeping through the night again. But what really sets Ciara apart is that her support didn't stop there. She has been incredibly responsive and helpful with every question I've had along the way, even well after our initial work together. Beyond her expertise, she's just genuinely enjoyable to be around. She is so personable, calm, and reassuring. The entire experience felt supportive and empowering, and she truly helped put my mind at ease during a really tough phase. I can't recommend her enough. read more

We started working with Ciara when our baby was six weeks old and only sleeping 1-2 hours at a time at night. We were completely exhausted and didn't know what else to try. Within just a few days of following her guidance, our newborn started giving us consistent 5-hour stretches -- something we honestly didn't think was possible this early. Ciara was warm, reassuring, and incredibly knowledgeable. She explained everything in simple steps, checked in regularly, and made us feel supported the entire time. The difference in our baby's sleep (and our sanity!) has been unbelievable. We are so grateful for her help. If you're a new parent struggling with sleepless nights, I can't recommend Ciara highly enough. It was truly life-changing for our family. read more

If you're looking for an incredible Postpartum Night Doula, look no further--Ciara is the one! She worked with us and our third baby for 10 weeks, and by the time she left, our daughter was sleeping through the night! Ciara brought such a calming, reassuring presence into our home each evening. Her knowledge about babies is outstanding. I thought I'd be a pro by the time my third arrived, but I still learned so much from her about newborn development in those early months. I truly looked forward to every night she came, knowing our baby was in the best hands and that I could actually get some rest. She really set us up for success far and beyond those 10 weeks. Beyond her expertise, Ciara is simply a joy to be around. She's warm, thoughtful, and someone I genuinely enjoyed talking to. I cannot recommend her highly enough, she is truly wonderful! read more

We worked with Ciara for the first 10 weeks of our baby's life, starting just a few days after we got home from the hospital. I truly can't imagine those early months without her. She was everything we needed: calm, kind, funny, deeply experienced, and a true baby whisperer. She helped our daughter transition from those unpredictable newborn nights to sleeping through the night beautifully, and guided us in setting up age-appropriate daytime routines in a way that felt gentle, supportive, and paced for our baby. Beyond sleep, Ciara was an incredible resource for all things baby -- from feeding questions to quirky behaviors -- and even connected us with a stellar lactation consultant. I looked forward to seeing her each evening, not just because I knew I'd get some rest, but because she was such a grounding, reassuring presence. Our baby loved her. Our dog loved her. We loved her. We trusted her completely in our home and with our newborn, and feel so lucky to have found her. I would recommend her 10000/10 to any new parent. read more

It's been almost a year since we worked with Ciara, and Im so grateful for her help. She helped with our twin preemies who came home with bottle aversions and one with low weight. As a first time mom, it was so helpful having Ciara there and her years of experience. She not only helped us get some much needed sleep to survive the first few months, but also helped us, as first time parents, what were potential issues vs normal infant behavior. That peace of mind was very valuable. read more

For yelp: Ciara brought support and structure to our family after we experienced scary birth complications. From caring for our daughter at night, to helping us build a sleep schedule, to recommending lactation consultants, Ciara's kind and thoughtful support enabled us to navigate a very challenging time for our family. We are incredibly grateful! read more

If you need help getting your baby to sleep through the night then Ciara is the right person for you. She is knowledgeable and compassionate. I always felt like she was listening to us and hearing our anxiety but she would be calm and caring and have a plan ready for us to follow. And the best part... it worked! We came to Ciara at a terrible time, a few days before Christmas. She could have pushed us off until after the holidays but she got us on the phone quickly and got us a plan. We were still swaddling our four month old baby and sleeping in a bassinet in our bedroom and it was barely giving us any rest overnight. Some nights baby would wake every hour and the naps during the day were only 30 minutes. We had no idea what to do. We had books about baby sleep but they had so many different solutions and we didn't know which way to go. Ciara got us a plan and gave us so much compassionate encouragement that we were able to follow through and turn things around. We got a daytime nap schedule and that was a game changer. Then she quickly got the baby out of our room and into her own nursery for overnight sleeps. Over a few days our baby's overnight sleeps between feeds got longer and longer. Eventually we were down to 2 feeds per night. Great! Then down to 1 feed. Awesome! And with a bit more careful planning I'm proud to say our baby is sleeping through the night. I couldn't imagine saying that 6 weeks ago. Ciara had the right plan for us and got us much-needed rest. If you're at all hesitant, take it from me, just do it! Follow the plan and you'll get the rest you sorely need. read more

Ciara Doherty - Postpartum Night Doula - This is the per-day total sleep our baby is getting after working with Ciara. Look at that well-rested baby! - Doulas Near Me - Vallejo , California

We just finished (a few months ago) working with Ciara for the THIRD time as we welcomed our third child into the world -- and gosh, we continue to be blown away by Ciara's gift with babies (and exhausted, postpartum parents!). Ciara was our first call when we found out we were pregnant with baby 3 because we know first hand the comfort and calm (and results) her support and sleep coaching brings to our household. As a result of working with (and listening to) Ciara, all three of our kids were sleeping through the night by 6 weeks old. We cannot stress enough what an enormous impact this has had on all of our lives. Life and work and parenting all feels so much more possible when you're well rested. Ciara has given us this gift (3 times over) during an acutely crazy stage of life, and we are forever grateful. She is one of the best investments you will ever make in your baby's wellbeing and your own! read more

Do you want your baby to be sleeping through the night by 3 months (or earlier!)? Then hire Ciara ASAP! This our 2nd time working with Ciara for night time doula care and we are so lucky to have her. 2 years later, our daughter is still a perfect sleeper with no regressions. All thanks to the early support and guidance from Ciara. This time around, with our son, he is fully sleeping through the night, 7pm to 6:30am, without ever having to do aggressive sleep training with "crying it out"! This level of sleep success was reached even while navigating multiple sicknesses (thanks to his big sis!) and some challenging medical road bumps as my son was born with a Clubfoot and hip dysplasia. She has a wealth of knowledge, will push you and your baby to achieve sleep success, while simultaneously being the warmest kindest person. We love you Ciara! Thank you for everything. read more

Ciara Doherty - Postpartum Night Doula - Ciara with our son at our daughters 2nd birthday - Doulas Near Me - Vallejo , California

I found Ciara through Bay Area Night Doulas and hired her for 10 weeks of postpartum support after my second child was born. Best decision ever! Ciara is wonderful and so experienced not only with establishing good sleep habits, but also supporting the whole family. I loved her gentle reassuring nature and her sense of humor. She is also a wealth of knowledge with all things baby care. She suggested baby products that worked well for us, helped me find an excellent lactation consultant when I needed a referral, and provided guidance on effective feeding and sleep patterns that got us off to a great start. And of course, she took wonderful care of my little guy on the nights she was here, including meticulous notes and suggestions on how to tweak his schedule the next day. If you have the opportunity to work with Ciara, don't hesitate. read more

We cannot say enough positive things about our experience working with Ciara! If you are thinking about working with her, don't hesitate, just do it. Ciara guided us over the phone with our daughter from 5 weeks to 10 weeks and by the end of the time period our daughter was not only sleeping through the night, but was a much calmer and happier baby. Ciara not only helped us with her sleep, but she was also able to coach us through many other aspects of her growth, from feeding to swaddling, and everything in between. We as parents felt much more empowered and equipped with tools of our own to continue to grow and progress with her, all thanks to Ciara's style of compassion combined with clear and decisive direction. We are so thankful for all of her time and effort and would certainly recommend her to anyone. read more

Ciara Doherty has been an absolute game-changer for our family. Her expertise as a sleep coach has not only transformed my son Avinash's sleep habits but has also empowered me as a parent. Ciara's approach to working with us, both virtually and in person, was incredibly effective. She made herself readily available through virtual consultations and check-ins, ensuring I never felt alone. What sets Ciara apart is her personalized guidance and attention to detail. From the moment we started working together, she made herself readily available, ensuring that I never felt alone in this process and that it was completely tailored to the needs our family & child. She meticulously walked me through each step of the sleep training process, making sure I understood the reasoning behind every decision we made for Avinash. Ciara's use of technology (Baby Connect app and Nanit) she was able to monitor Avinash's sleep patterns and provide tailored recommendations based on real-time data. This level of precision allowed us to make informed adjustments to his routine, leading to remarkable progress. Avinash went from waking up 4-5 times per night (and having to be held from 4am-7am) to sleeping through the night in just 3 nights! I am serious!!! Ciara Doherty is true sleep whisperer and a trusted ally for parents embarking on the journey of getting their baby sleeping! If you're looking for expert support, personalized care, and tangible results, I wholeheartedly recommend Ciara without hesitation. She is a lifesaver--I'm so grateful we were able to work with her, I only wish we had done it sooner!!! THANK YOU CIARA! read more

We have a little sleep champion because of Ciara. My partner and I had specific sleep goals because he was taking the bar three months after our baby's arrival. We met every goal early, and our baby was sleeping 7pm to 7 am by 12 weeks, and probably could have done so earlier if mom had been able to give up the 10 pm dream feed. With Ciara, I was first time mom who was, and remains, fairly allergic to mom blogs and groups, so Ciara's experience was invaluable as I navigated newborn care for the first time. Beyond her expertise, Ciara is a delight to be around and extremely professional. We couldn't have managed without her, and are glad she came into our lives. read more

We worked with Ciara as first time parents and it was the best decision we made. Not only was having the extra sleep during the newborn trenches a game changer, what was even more beneficial was her wealth of knowledge. We learned so much on how to care of a newborn, set a bed time routine early and how to set ourselves up for success beyond our time with her. We would absolutely work with her again and recommend her to any first time parents looking for that extra help. read more

Ciara is an absolute life saver and the best money we have ever spent. Because of her our daughter was sleeping through the night at 7 weeks old and now sleeps 12+ hours a night. This was our second child and even though we had gone through the sleepless nights once before it was a lot harder with our second who wasn't a naturally great night time sleeper like our first had been. We implemented Ciara's advice and saw an immediate, and dramatic, change. She was also always available to gut check in real time when we weren't sure how to handle a specific situation or apply her advice in a nuanced circumstance. She is also a joy to work with. We can't overstate how grateful we are for her help! read more

When we hired Ciara, we were unsure on how to best help our baby sleep and eat better. We were overwhelmed by all the information out there. It took our son one nap to become a great sleeper! Ciara coached us through the entire process and was there for us when we had questions. Our son is now a so much happier and at 6 months sleeps through the night and the best sleeper at day care. Without Ciara, I would not feel as confident about leaving my boy at daycare and going back to work. read more

From day 1, Ciara was a supportive calming presence for our family. My baby came a month early and she helped me find a temporary doula until she could start with us. I had so many concerns about feeding and sleep and Ciara was just amazing helping me through it all. She is warm, kind and a pro with all things baby. I could relax and sleep because I knew my baby was in good hands with Ciara. She would look at the data for feeding and sleep in my baby tracking app and make recommendations on changes each day. Because we did this early on, we practiced good sleep habits and my baby was sleeping through the night by 12 weeks. I could not recommend her enough! read more

Ciara has been an angel. I contacted her because my 2 month old was sleeping poorly through the night and taking short naps. She was able to give me some tips on how my baby could sleep better at night and take longer naps. Within a week my baby was sleeping longer stretches at night and naps like a champ! I couldn't believe it. Ciara is knowledgeable, encouraging, and a great communicator. She is truly amazing at what she does and her experience and expertise shines through. I am grateful for Ciara. I would highly recommend her to any parents who are sleep deprived or thinks their baby isn't a good sleeper. Ciara can help you! read more

If you are becoming a parent, you NEED Ciara in your life. As a first time mom, she helped me with every little detail. Ciara always took the time to answer any question I had, no matter how big or small. She understands new mom anxiety and didn't take any of my concerns lightly. With her expertise, I was able to navigate from breastfeeding to pumping to formula with the guidance, support, and knowledge necessary for me to make the right decisions for myself and my family. Ciara has a calmness about her that helps the nervousness and fear that comes along with having a little human to take care of. There's so much information out there, but Ciara provides you with only important and vital information, which helps make you feel less overwhelmed. Because of Ciara, my 2 month old baby sleeps 10-12 hours a night. Whatever advice she gave, I took it and it WORKED! Her positive outlook and amazing way to put you at ease will make you feel like the most confident parent on the planet! She is a baby whisperer and is essential for any new mom and dad! read more

Ciara is such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to babies and sleep! My baby girl was having waking constantly throughout the night and Ciara provided me with a variety of tips and tricks to help extend my baby's sleep. She was really encouraging and supportive to me as a new mom and was great about checking in to see how things were going. I so appreciated her help and would definitely recommend her services to others. read more

I can't say enough great things about our experience with Ciara. She had our daughter, Samantha, sleeping through the night consistently by 8 weeks, and she was so fantastic that she was one of the first calls I made when I found out I was pregnant with my son, Mason (now three months). Mason was a more challenging sleeper than my daughter, and Ciara was invaluable. She guided me through how to troubleshoot various strategies for getting Mason into a solid sleeping pattern, and sure enough, despite his fits and starts along the way, he is now sleeping through the night consistently at 12 weeks. I absolutely couldn't have done it without Ciara! Ciara was also a fountain of useful information for all things baby-related. Like many new moms, I felt totally clueless when our daughter was born, and Ciara was truly a lifesaver for me. She is so warm and nurturing - I instantly trusted her with my children. She's also a true baby whisperer - she could calm Sam and Mason down and get them to sleep so soundly from day one, I couldn't believe it! Thanks to Ciara I got some much-needed sleep, and both our children have developed excellent sleeping habits. Ciara also took a genuine interest in our whole family - she would always proactively check in to see how we were doing in between the nights that she was with us, and she was so responsive to my texts and calls anytime I had a question. I relied on her heavily for advice about ANYTHING - whether it was how to get Sam and Mason onto nap schedules, how long I could store breast milk, or how to alleviate the 6-week fusses. She made me feel so comfortable and made the overwhelming experience of being a new mom so much more manageable. She also somehow managed to make me feel like she cared as much about our kids as we do!! Ciara is the perfect blend of very knowledgeable and not afraid to tell you what she thinks, while also having tremendous patience and a light touch that makes you feel good about yourself at a time when you really need it. If you're looking for someone who can get a baby into a great sleeping routine quickly, but is also flexible, compassionate and nurturing, I would HIGHLY recommend Ciara. I don't know how I would have gotten through the craziness of caring for newborns without her, and I wish we could have kept her with us forever! read more

3 reasons you should stop what you're doing and call Ciara right now (seriously - she books a year+ in advance!) 1. You and your baby will almost certainly be sleeping peacefully through the night by 10-12 weeks, and your child will receive the gift of healthy sleep habits for years to come. 2. You'll be getting so much more than night support - Ciara is an expert on all things baby, from schedules and feeding to products and breastfeeding (to name a few) and makes a point to be available for her clients around the clock for guidance and questions. 3. Ciara is ON IT - a perfect match for the "type A" mamas among us :) Prompt communication, clear instructions for the parents, and no question too small (trust me, I had many!). From a listening ear, to honest advice, to words of comfort and everything in between, you will have a trusted partner by your side. If you follow her plan, you and your family will be thriving through the newborn stage. We initially contracted 8 weeks @ 4 nights a week, and dialed it up to 10 weeks @ 6-7 nights (luckily Ciara was able to support this extra time). We "graduated" around week 10 when our son was consistently sleeping 12 hours through the night! read more

Let me begin by saying that today, six months after Ciara (and our baby girl!) entered our lives, she remains one of the most influential sources of confidence and comfort for my husband and me as parents. In no uncertain terms, Ciara is part expert, part therapist, part baby whisperer, and a friend through it all. She sat with me through those long nights, coaching me through the ups and downs of nursing and engorgement (painful!), through our baby's witching hour(s), helping us learn and understand our baby's signals and preferences, and getting our baby on a schedule that would ultimately result in her eating like a champ (boob + bottle) and sleeping through the night by eight weeks. I smile thinking of the laughter and stories we shared in the wee hours of the night in those early weeks. There seems to be a spectrum of doulas (and parents) from non-imposing and parent-led, to opinion-driven and doula-led. Ciara definitely has a point of view (based on years of experience and success with good sleepers/eaters) but was never imposing with them. Her wealth of knowledge and expertise was what drew us to Ciara in the first place, why we followed each of her recommendations to a T, and why we continue to turn to her for advice today. I needed a coach, someone to teach me this whole parenting thing, and I got that and so much more from Ciara. I am so grateful for Ciara and will likely plan my pregnancy with #2 based on her availability on the other side. And I don't even think I'm joking. read more

As first time parents with no nearby family, my husband and I were so grateful to have the support of Ciara as our night-nurse for our baby daughter. Ciara gave us the calming support, instruction, guidance, and patience we needed to re-adjust to our new lives and help our baby stay safe and loved at home. We learned so much from Ciara - especially swaddling-skills! We loved Ciara's warm presence and so did our daughter, and we all appreciated the extra sleep in those first few weeks! We love Ciara and will call her as soon as baby 2 is on the way :) read more

First off, if you're looking for a night doula, Ciara is the best! Hire her. My husband and I were looking for a doula and we met with a handful of candidates and fell in love with Ciara the first day we met her in person. Probably even more importantly, our daughter LOVES Ciara and would light up every time she saw her. I consider myself to have a bit (read very) type A personality and Ciara has a very calming personality that is very confident in her experience and wisdom. This was exactly what we needed. All of our family lives in another state, so it was important to us that we have someone that could answer our questions and really help coach us on becoming parents for the first time. Ciara and I would talk or text practically every day-even on days that she wasn't working with us. She would answer my questions or just let me vent about my nerves and worries. We would discuss my daughter's eating and sleeping habits and worked as a team to build a solid foundation for her that has been amazing! Additionally, while I as in the pumping/feeding at night stages, it meant so much to have Ciara there because I could talk to her about anything - and she's hilarious. Between being smitten with my daughter and Ciara, I actually loved my late night sessions and looked forward to every evening that she came over! Our daughter is now nearly 5 months old and we still miss having her around. We still text with Ciara and she'll check in on Chloe. My husband and I both attribute so much of our confidence as parents to Ciara and cannot recommend her enough as a night doula and just fabulous human being in general! read more

My husband and I were searching for a new night doula for our 3 month old son after our contract with our night doula ended. We were connected to Ciara through the Bay Area Night Doula association and explained to her how our son was struggling with short naps during the day and sleeping in ~2.5-3 hour stretches at night. It was exhausting for the both of us and also for our son, and we were desperate to find a way to get him to sleep better. While we weren't able to hire Ciara as our night doula because of timing, she went above and beyond to work with us on the side to implement what she called a "sleep-training light" regimen that would help our son sleep better. Ciara was confident based on our son's sleep habits that putting him on a consistent day schedule would get him sleeping through the night pretty quickly, making it so that we didn't need to hire a night doula. We were skeptical at first, but after reading her stellar yelp reviews where her clients praised her ability to get their babies to sleep better, we decided to go for it. Ciara spent two afternoons and one evening getting to know our son and observing how we took care of him. She was very hands on and helped us make changes to his sleeping situation that made an immediate difference. Our son was sleeping in a Snoo swaddled but wasn't doing that well in it. She had us transition him out of the swaddle and into the crib for his naps. She also taught us how to get him to fall asleep independently and how to put himself back to sleep when he woke up from a short nap. Within three days, we were able to get our son to nap more than 25 minutes during the day without me having to hold him or wear him. We were also able to put our son down for bedtime where he slept for 9 hours before needing to feed. Within a week of following her suggested day schedule, our son was consistently sleeping through the night (12 hours). Throughout this time, Ciara was proactive in her communication - constantly checking in with us on how our son was doing and answering our many questions. We felt that she was genuinely committed to helping us achieve success. As she says, happy parents equals happy baby and happy family! We still are in contact with Ciara and will continue to work with her on sleep as our son goes through different developmental milestones. We are so grateful for her help. She has truly changed our lives in such a short period, given us the opportunity to get much needed rest and allowed us to be present and enjoy precious time with our son. read more

We are just beginning the journey to better sleep and trying to navigate all the disparate information on the internet, identifying what will work best for our family. Ciara took the time to talk with us, was so reassuring and validating, and was able to give us some sold, grounding information to help us figure out our starting point. We were so grateful for her generosity of time and for her giving spirit. Thank you, Ciara! read more

Ciara is amazing and I cannot recommend her more highly. As new parents, we didn't know what kind of help we would need, and the best decision we made was hiring Ciara. From the very first night Ciara made us feel so much more relaxed and confident. Within a few weeks, Ciara had our daughter sleeping through the night! Because of Ciara's guidance, we didn't have to sleep train at 4 months because our daughter was able to put herself to sleep. Our daughter is 7 months old now and is still an amazing sleeper because of the good habits Ciara started from the day she was brought home. Ciara is so knowledgeable about every question we had and every stage our baby went through. She helped us with feeding and the daytime routine which made our lives as parents so much easier. She cares about the development of our child and her honesty and advice shaped us as parents in the best way. We have recommended her to our friends and we will be so fortunate if she is available to help us raise another child in the future. read more

I cannot say enough about Ciara. I'd give her more stars if i could bc you can't put a value on good sleep! She is the baby whisperer. Ciara has been a wonderful resource for us as we navigate bringing home a baby and the fourth trimester. She is a fountain of knowledge and always available to talk when I have questions or just need an ear. Hiring Ciara was the best decision we have made for our family and really, she has become like family to us. Highly recommend!!!!! read more

Ciara is a miracle worker. She is a magician and a baby whisperer. We were having SUCH a hard time when our little one hit the 4 month sleep regression. We tried everything we could think of and nothing was working. Luckily Bay Area Night Doulas refereed us to Ciara and we made an appointment right away. Ciara came to our house which was incredibly helpful and gave us some hands on training and also did an assessment of the nursery and came up with several ways to help our baby sleep better. She walked us through everything and helped us come up with a tailored plan. Just from seeing our son and watching him go to sleep once she said she knew he was ready to be able to sleep through the night. And guess what, she was right! After three nights of sleep training (Ciara was there every night via text to help us when we had questions or concerns) our baby was sleeping 11-12 hour stretches. It was amazing. Being able to get consistent sleep changed my life and changed my relationship with my baby because I now had more time and energy to dedicate to him. Then a few weeks later Ciara helped us get him on a nap schedule, and now he is napping great too. Ciara is am amazing person. She is a born nurturer and baby whisperer. She is experienced and knows what she is doing. She is kind and caring and is a joy to work with. I would recommend her to everyone I know that has a newborn. If I have another child, I intend to have Ciara help me with my second. She is the best! read more

We were incredibly lucky to work with Ciara, but not as lucky as our baby. Ciara was both a calming presence for us to mimic (after seeing how our baby responded) and a source of knowledge that we believe will impact our baby's life forever. Even with just a few of her tips and advice, we were able to make adjustments to our tactics, approach, and philosophies that set us off in the right direction. Our baby will have a happier home with her parents making better decisions with confidence because of our time with Ciara. Any parent and baby working with Ciara will assuredly have a better life for their interaction. I'm happy to answer any specific questions about Ciara or our experience in working with her, so feel free to reach out to her for my contact information or contact me through Yelp. read more

There are simply not enough words to describe Ciara's amazingness! She was our night doula (through Bay Area doulas) and immediately brought a sense of calm, comfort and care to our family. She is extremely knowledgeable about all things babies - especially sleep. Ciara spent a great deal of time helping us establish a comfortable routine that set our son - and our family - up for sleep and eating success. She offers a great deal of compassion and experience from her own kids and the many babies that she has watched over the years. Our son is now 6 months old and Ciara has continued to provide excellent advice through phone calls and text messages. Ciara cared for our son like her own, and we are so grateful for her help. read more

If you are a new mom looking for a night doula, I'd highly recommend Ciara Doherty! My husband and I were anxious first time parents and interviewed a number of candidates as a night doula. We were so fortunate to have found Ciara and knew the moment that we met her that she was the best option to care for us and our little girl during those trying first few weeks of parenthood. Ciara is warm, nurturing, and genuinely loves being around babies. A mother of two young children herself, she taught us so much about caring for our newborn, giving us loads of tips and tricks for sleeping, breastfeeding, bathing, etc. Ciara was also so supportive of my husband and I, especially me, as I battled baby blues and the constant insecurities that go along with being a new mom. Thankfully (and thanks in part to Ciara!), we had a good sleeper in our little girl and no longer need night help, but Ciara has continued to stay in touch and is a trusted resource for us as we tackle the new challenges that seem to arise each week. We wouldn't have survived the last 4 months without her! read more

Ciara was truly a lifesaver! She started with us the night we brought our newborn home from the hospital after he arrived nearly a month early. Ciara was such a knowledgable, comforting presence the first couple of weeks. She helped us to adjust to life with our little guy by resolving some early nursing issues and allowing me to get as much rest as possible. She continues to check in on us and answer any questions that arise and has become a wonderful friend to our family. I can't say enough positive things about Ciara! read more

For starters, I should point out that the glowing reviews below are 100% accurate. We met Ciara by chance and a grand stroke of luck, though it didn't necessarily feel like it at the time. Our son was born four weeks early, so we were even less prepared than we expected to be when he arrived. Then we had a textbook "oh sh*t" moment in the hospital, just 24 hours before we were set to be discharged. We were new parents and it dawned on us that despite completing the requisite reading and cross-examining of friends with kids, we still had no real idea how to take care of a baby. After being there for three days, the thought of leaving the hospital and nursing staff sounded almost more terrifying than liberating. A close friend referred us to Bay Area Night Doulas and we miraculously found Ciara. She met us at home the first night we arrived, and in our nervous but excited state of panic we subjected her to firing squad style questioning about parenting. Topics ranged from nap schedules, to breast pump equipment, swaddling techniques, and diaper changing - you name it. She handled our nonstop inquiries gracefully and proceeded to give us steady guidance for 8 weeks until she had to move on to her next clients. In that time we gradually gained a feel for our new labor of love that would have been very difficult to attain on our own or with a less experienced doula. There is a real comfort in speaking honestly with someone who has been around babies and new parents. We slept better at night knowing she was here and, perhaps more importantly, so did our baby, who is himself a champion sleeper in no small part thanks to Ciara's methods. read more

Ciara has been a lifesaver! This is my third baby and I feel like I just forgot what to do and needed some advice on how to get back on track - feeding, burping, sleeping etc. Ciara was unable to come and spend the night with us right away (she was still working with another family), but has gone out of her way to be available. She has called, texted, checked in regularly and has readily offered amazing tips to help get our 3 week old into a better sleep/eat pattern. She even found me another doula that was available during the night, filled her completely in on my situation and sent her to my house that day! She is beyond amazing! Thank you Ciara for all your help and advice - truly a life line in my time of desperation! read more

I was very lucky to have worked with Ciara in SF before she moved to DC. The moment I met her I felt as if we were old, good friends. Her warmth and friendliness made it so easy for my husband and I to instantly feel comfortable with her. She was so sweet to our baby girl, I never had a worry while she was in her care and was able to get much needed sleep. She was also a wealth of knowledge for me. Every night when she would come over I would have a list of questions prepared to ask her - from breastfeeding to pumping to storage to sleep schedules - Ciara was able to give me really insightful answers based on her own experience in raising two children. She really helped me navigate caring for my newborn and gain confidence as a new mother. I highly, highly recommend her! read more

Ciara is absolutely spectacular at what she does! A baby whisperer for sure. Ciara worked with us 3 nights per week for 8 weeks after my daughter was born. I looked forward to those nights like it was Christmas. It was wonderful to know that my daughter was in such good hands and my husband and I could get some rest, but it was also amazing to know that she was going to answer all of my crazy first time parent questions (everything from sleep schedules to breastfeeding to the perfect swaddle and everything in between) - she always put my mind at ease. Ciara has a wealth of knowledge and continues to answer my questions over text even now. I feel so fortunate that we were able to work with her and if we have another kid she will be my first call! Clearly I can't say enough about how much we love her! read more

Its taken me a while to get writing this review but I've finally made it! Ciara has been so amazing through this process after having my daughter a little over a good ago! We were incredibly lucky to have found and worked with Ciara. She came highly recommended from a friend. We were new parents and needed some guidance and Ciara was a life saver! She gave us so much useful advice and pointers on some methods we were trying that made such an impact. Her knowledge and experience were very impressive, with raising two kids of her own she was able to give us a lot. She was so sweet to our baby girl and we felt very comfortable after just meeting her, I never had any concern or worry and my husband and I were able to catch up on some much needed sleep. She even kept the room organized and cleaned, with stocking diaper, wipes etc.. We have still kept in touch after all this time and she just attended my daughters first birthday! I would highly recommend Ciara, she really helped my husband and I navigate caring for a new born and helped me gain confidence as a new mum. She really was the baby whisperer !! Thank you Ciara for everything! read more