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Which Baby Sleep Method is Right for You?

A sleep method or baby sleep training gives you guidance to help your baby sleep. Ferber method, No Cry Sleep Solution, Dr. Sears, Baby Whisperer, controlled crying, cold turkey crying it out ... which one could be right for you and your baby?

Depending on the method, it suggests specific help in specific situations, or a general philosophy and approach to sleep.

Each and every baby sleep training method is based on the same basic sleep principles: be consistent and predictable, use a sleep schedule and a bedtime routine, promote self soothing and take a positive attitude towards sleep. These are all you need.

The sleep methods on the market, each take their own approach Mother reads sleep method book

to apply the basic principles and instruct parents how to apply them. Key differences among the methods are in letting baby cry or not, help her with soothing or not, co-sleeping or not, ....

Since we are all different, no single method works for all babies. The overview with the main methods below is to help you find out what works for you and for your baby.

Not sure which sleep method to choose? Ask here!

Baby Sleep Method Overview

YOUR Method

You may not think about your way as a sleep method but it actually is. And it's most probably the best there is.

You may be overwhelmed and confused sometimes by the many baby sleep articles and books on the market. Unfortunately there are many, sometimes conflicting and sometimes bluntly incorrect sources.

Your best bet is to go with your instincts, observe your baby and do not let others talk you into something that does not feel right for you. Do be careful with paid click-here-to-order solutions that guarantee to help your baby sleeping through the night (yes even at an age where it is physically impossible or even unhealthy).

The No Cry Sleep Solution

This sleep method, originally proposed in the book The No-Cry Sleep Solution, is the work of Elizabeth Pantley, the well-known parent educator. The approach is also much in line with my personal advice throughout this site.

As the no cry sleep name suggests, Elizabeth Pantley promotes gentle guidance to help baby sleep without the need to let her cry. She sets parents to work with keeping logs on nap and night time sleep and wakings.

Attachment Parenting Approach

Known for its child-centered nurturing approach, attachment parenting advocates gentle guidance towards good sleep at baby's pace.

Crying is not part of the attachment parenting approach, but baby wearing, co-sleeping and breastfeeding are key features.

Dr. Sears describes this in his well known book The Baby Sleep Book. Even if you are not completely into attachment parenting, this is a good resource if you are looking for support to guide your baby in a loving child-centered way.

My interview with Annie of PhDInParenting.com on attachment parenting and baby sleep gives a very interesting introduction to attachment parenting and its approach to sleep guidance.

The Baby Whisperer

In her book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Tracy Hogg suggests a sleep method that is in the middle between no cry sleep methods as above and the crying it out ones below.

Tracy Hogg specialised in tuning in to baby to help understand what she needs, and helped parents observe and listen to their children.

When teaching baby to sleep alone, rather than holding, nursing and rocking, the Baby Whisperer suggests comforting by picking baby up, and putting down as often as needed until she sleeps (pu/pd method).

The Ferber Method

Through his book Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems, Richard Ferber, M.D. advises all parents to use his sleep training method that became known as ferberizing. Many people identify crying it out with this Ferber sleep method, although it is not the only one where baby is left to cry.

The Ferber method does involve letting baby cry, in the so-called progressive waiting approach. Contrary to common belief, this is not a cold turkey cry it out method.

Crying It Out

Crying it out is the general term used when baby is left to cry as a method to teach her how to settle for sleep, or to make her sleep.

Crying it out is sometimes part of an established method (for example Ferber method) or some parents simply have their babies cry when they feel it is necessary or helpful.

Usually we do not count letting baby fuss or even cry for a couple of minutes. On the other side is cold turkey crying it out. that is when you put baby down in the crib, leave the room, close the door and do not go back in before baby has slept the night.

There are infamous pro's and con's of crying it out as well as situations where it should be out of the question or when cry it out can work.

Finding a baby sleep method or sleep train method that works for your baby may not be easy. You may not need an official, established, paid method by a book author at all. Going by your own instincts and using all free tips and tricks from fellow parents mostly works well.

But many of the established method books offer a good read, and may help you tackle the specific problems you may encounter or simply support you in your own approach.

Whichever your choice, what provides both you and your baby with the best sleep, hopefully in the long run, is what you need. Do not hesitate to Ask A Question! if you are unsure.

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