The Controversy Surrounding Sleep Training | Sarah Healy Baby Sleep Expert

The noise surrounding the topic of Sleep Training seems to be growing... and I have a lot to say.

Every day, I come across posts on Instagram about the dangers of sleep training. Many of these messages can be quite distressing, leading to confusion and sometimes panic among parents.

One of the top questions I get is, "Is Cry it Out Sleep Training safe for my baby?"

This is totally fair and very understandable!

We, as parents, want to protect the well being of our sweet little babes. 

And quite honestly, I love it when parents ask me that.

This very question gets to the heart of this very controversial topic and the bottom line is this:

Each family has the right to decide what is best for the entire family unit. 

Full stop. 

👉Being informed is essential.....which is different than reading an opinion based Instagram post. 

👉Taking into account your unique family's history and trajectory is essential.....rather than orienting from a strangers social media post.

Let me give you a live example:

A few months ago, I worked with a single Mama of a 6 month old who was the sole provider and was experiencing the start of postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. 

She had been trying a gentler sleep training method and it simply wasn't working despite all of her efforts. 

She called me in a very low and scary moment, she simply couldn't spend another long night bouncing her little babe, in the darkness of the nursery.  

So, we talked through the options.

It became clear that her baby was developmentally ready, her baby was healthy, her baby had a secure and safe attachment with her Mama. 

We determined that changes needed to happen fast for the sake of the whole family system, so this Mama decided to implement the Cry it Out Method. 

❤️We did it carefully.

❤️We did it compassionately.

✨And sure enough, baby was sleeping more deeply.

💛Mama was sleeping more deeply.

🫶She was able to come out of the darkness of postpartum depression and anxiety and actually enjoy Motherhood.

This is one of many scenarios where Cry it Out is an optimal solution for the health and well being of the entire family unit.

Is Cry it out for every family? No.

But does it belong as an option for all? Yes.

The bottom line is this: Parents get to decide.

Not Instagram and certainly not some stranger with no context for their lived experience.

With careful planning and compassion implementation, sleep is possible for the whole family.

Next week I will be exploring part two of this very important conversation.

I will cover exactly what sleep training is defined as and what the most current research tells us. 

Spoiler alert: It is safe.❤️