At some point in most new parent's lives, sleep becomes one of their most discussed topics. The lack of sleep that can result from an infant's choppy sleeping patterns can make the entire family irritable. While the goal of some sleep training methodologies is to teach your infant how to self-soothe and sleep longer stretches of time, others focus on helping him build a healthy attitude towards sleep. By looking at your individual situation and parenting philosophy, you can choose the sleep training method that works best for your family.
Significance
While the details vary according to the expert whose specific advice you choose to follow, most infant sleep training methods break down into two different philosophies. The "cry it out" camp includes Richard Ferber, the author of "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems;" Marc Weissbluth, who authored "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child;" and Jodi Mindell, who wrote "Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep." Among the advocates of the "no tears" methods are pediatrician Dr. William Sears and Elizabeth Pantley, the author of "The No-Cry Sleep Solution."
Cry It Out
While crying is not an essential component of any of the "cry it out" methods, it is often an inevitable side effect of this type of sleep training. Ferber and his cohorts view sleep as a skill that children can learn to do successfully if parents give the children the space and opportunity to develop the skill independently. The end goal of most of these methods is for infants to fall asleep on their own and in their own beds. Most "cry it out" experts recommend that parents place children in their beds awake so that they can learn to put themselves to sleep.
No Tears
The "no tears" experts often focus more on healthy attitudes and sleep associations than on teaching a baby to self-soothe and sleep independently. Sears, for example, is a long-term advocate of the family bed, in which the mom and dad sleep with the baby. Pantley offers suggestions for teaching your infant to sleep in her own bed, but all of the "no tears" experts caution parents against leaving their babies to cry and fuss alone at bedtime. Their "no tears" methods involve rocking, patting or nursing your baby to sleep and responding promptly to night-waking and crying.
Considerations
Whether you choose a "cry it out" or a "no tears" method, all sleep experts recommend a consistent bedtime routine. A bedtime routine, often involving a bath, story, songs and cuddles, builds healthy sleep associations and helps set the stage for peaceful sleep.
Misconceptions
While some people assume that Richard Ferber's "cry it out" method entails placing infants in their cribs and allowing them to cry for hours---this is not the case. "Ferberizing" a baby involves a progressive waiting system in which you place your baby in his bed drowsy but awake and return at regular intervals to check on him and comfort him if he cries. Over the course of several evenings, you gradually lengthen the intervals between check-ins.
