Now there is a question, from the Guardian, which is guaranteed to get parents talking. Read it here: Can sleep training help parents and children?
This is an interesting article but, of course there are critics. They believe the study is too small and the previous study it supports ‘lost touch with a third during the follow up’. However, there have been a number of recent studies which show that attachment between parents and children stays the same and that there are no long term (or really more than short term) effects on the babies.
Your view may also depend upon how you define ‘sleep training’. A lot of parents (and experts) seem to think there are only two options:
1. Leave your child to cry it out alone
2. Continue doing what you are doing and hope your children will grow out of it
I don’t agree with either. The Sleep Sense method places a lot of emphasis on accommodating different parenting styles. I strongly believe that you, as a parent and the person who knows your child best, need to be comfortable with any sleep plan in order for it to be successful.
With younger children especially, crying is their way of protesting change and changing their sleep habits is likely to result in some protest. What I won’t ask of you is to leave your child alone to cry .
Sleep is vital to a child’s wellbeing (not to mention a parent’s sanity) so if you feel you would like more information about the Sleep Sense method or a free 15 minute sleep evaluation or email me on [email protected].
