Second of two parts

They've advised late-night comedian Conan O'Brien, actor Ben Stiller and actress Jennifer Beals on how to get their babies to sleep.

Now, the consultants from Los Angeles-based Sleepy Planet are sharing their secrets with KCRA 3.

"The reason we started Sleepy Planet in the first place is because so many parents that we were meeting were walking around like zombies, exhausted and struggling," co-founder Jennifer Waldburger said.

Waldburger introduced KCRA 3 to her newest clients, David and Elizabeth Winkler of Los Angeles, parents of 4-month-old Elijah.

"I didn't realize that they had baby sleep coaches, but it didn't surprise me," David Winkler said.

Elijah wakes up constantly during the night. Both parents were spent and frazzled from sleep deprivation.

"I am so tired. Exhausted. I never thought that I could actually live life this tired, and it's just one night after the next of little or no sleep," Elizabeth Winkler said.

Waldburger teaches parents her key principle: that sleeping through the night is a learned behavior. She said barring anything medical, there is no child who cannot learn how to be a good sleeper very quickly.

She taught the Winklers her top three tips, which spell out "bed":

• "B" is for bedtime routine, having a consistent pre-sleep ritual night after night.
• "E" is for early to bed. Most children need 11 hours of sleep each night. Infants and toddlers need even more.
• "D" is for down awake. Children older than 4 months should be put to bed awake, as they have the ability to soothe themselves into sleep. For this reason, Waldburger advises against letting the baby fall asleep while feeding.

"Sleep is absolutely essential. There has been a lot of research in the last couple of years that very strongly correlates poor sleep in infancy and early childhood with all kinds of problems down the road: learning disorders, ADHD, obesity, emotional and behavioral problems," Waldburger said.

The Winklers tried the Sleepy Planet method, and within days, Elizabeth Winkler reported that Elijah is sleeping so soundly at night, it's "shocking."

She said he wakes up only when it's time for his feedings, and either she or David is rousing him from his sleep.

She said Elijah cries for less than a minute before going back to sleep. During the day, she said he naps with regularity. She also reports that, as a result, she and her husband are sleeping much better.

A consultation at the Sleepy Planet's Wilshire Boulevard office costs $395.

"It's so worth it. I mean, I would spend a lot more," Elizabeth Winkler added.