When it comes to sleep training, there’s no shortage of advice and opinions. Despite great evidence, many myths and misconceptions still surround sleep training, leaving parents confused or hesitant. As a certified pediatric sleep consultant, I’m here to put these myths to rest and explain the truth behind sleep training. By addressing these misconceptions, I hope to empower you with the right knowledge, alleviate your concerns & open your minds to start seeing sleep training as empowerment, not punishment.
Myth #1: Sleep Training Means Letting Your Baby “Cry-It-Out”
Perhaps the most recurring myth surrounding sleep training is that for majority of parents it equals letting your baby cry it out (CIO), which many parents have strong, negative feelings about.
While the CIO method is one approach and it may work for some, it’s FAR from the responsive approach I practice & advocate. It’s certainly not the only method known and used by pediatric sleep consultants.
TRUTH: There Are Many Methods, Some Of Which Allow Comforting Your Baby!
Sleep training is a broad term that refers to helping your child to sleep well.
There are numerous methods to choose from, depending on child’s temperament and parents’ parenting style. Methods like gradual sleep training, also known as the “fading” technique, involve slowly reducing your involvement in helping your baby fall asleep over time. There’s also the “pick-up, put-down” method, which allows you to soothe your baby while giving them the space to learn how to self-soothe.
Sleep training doesn’t have to be, and it shouldn’t one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about crafting a plan that matches your baby’s age & temperament, while teaching your baby how to fall asleep independently in a way that aligns with your values and comfort level.✨
Myth #2: Sleep Training Is Harmful to Babies
Some people believe that sleep training is harmful to a baby’s emotional or psychological wellness, suggesting that teaching a child to self-soothe means abandoning them to cope with stress alone.
I believe this misconceptions are based on a misunderstanding of both sleep training and infant development.
Truth: Sleep Training Encourages Independence & Contributes To Baby’s Health
Research indicates that babies who learn to self-soothe and sleep independently are not emotionally harmed. In fact, sleep training can help foster independence and confidence in your child by allowing them to develop healthy sleep habits. Babies who can sleep through the night without relying on external aids, like feeding or rocking, tend to be more well-rested, which is crucial for their physical, cognitive & emotional development.
Myth #3: Sleep Training Should Start As Soon As Possible
Many new parents feel pressure to start sleep training their baby as early as possible, worried that delaying it could make the process more difficult later on. This leads some to believe that starting sleep training in the newborn stage is essential.
Truth: You cannot sleep train a newborn.
Establishing healthy sleep habits early on is important but I do not recommend formal sleep training until a baby is around 3 to 4 months old. This is because, in the early months, babies are still developing their circadian rhythms, sleep stages and need to eat frequently at night. Attempting something babies are developmentally ready for may lead to tears & unnecessarily drain both baby & parents.
Myth #4: Sleep training will ruin the attachment between baby & parents
Attachment is also mentioned a lot around sleep training. The way I see it is that something which has grown, has been nurtured since, basically, the moment you found out you were expecting, isn’t this fragile that a few nights of fussying will ruin it.
TRUTH: Responsive sleep training strengthens the bond & solidifies trust between parents and their baby
A securely attached child is confident his parents are there for him because they have been repeatedly and appropriately responsive to his cues since day 1. Moreover, the methods I teach allow parents to tend to and comfort their babies while teaching them independent sleep, which I think may only strengthen this special bond.
Myth #5: Once you start sleep training, you can’t stop
While consistency is key to sleep training success, there are situations where it is completely acceptable, if not advisable, to pause sleep training.
TRUTH: There are moments when it is necessary to stop sleep training.
For example, illness: If your baby is sick with a fever, cold, or other illness, it’s best to pause sleep training until they recover. What is important when your little one under the weather is comfort & love from parents. Even though I practice responsive sleep training, sickness is not the time to introduce changes.
CONCLUSION
Sleep training doesn’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming, and it certainly isn’t about leaving your baby alone to cry endlessly. By disproving these common myths, I hope you can begin to start seeing sleep training as empowerment, with confidence and realistic expectations. With the right methods tailored to your baby’s needs and a consistent approach, sleep training can help your baby develop healthy sleep habits, ensuring they get the rest they need for their growth and development.
Sleep training is a journey, not a quick fix. As a pediatric sleep consultant, I’m here to guide you through that process, find the best approach for your family while providing your baby with the tools they need for a lifetime of good sleep.
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