When to Ditch the Cry-It-Out Method
Feb 12, 2024
I fear we have normalized the cry-it-out sleep training method. When parents are told to let their baby cry and figure it out, many parents don’t question it.
With my oldest, we summoned up the courage and picked a week where we were on vacation (in case we were up all night). We were staying with my in-laws who graciously welcomed the chance to relive their own sleep training days with their 2 boys.
As I remember it, there were some long bouts of crying, but mostly on and off when my husband and I would “stay strong” and not comfort and settle our son. My in-laws remember it as, “He cried ALLLLL night.”
Looking back, I wish I had known about Gentle Sleep Coaching. Even with GSC and the Sleep Lady Shuffle, I could have gently helped him learn to fall asleep in less than 2 weeks – without that traumatic experience!
IDEA
Choosing a sleep training approach that feels good to you will lead to a more successful outcome.
It’s tempting to choose the quick path, or the one that worked for our friends. And it’s frustrating when our plans don’t go the way we expected.
We might feel judged, or we might judge our baby! With my first – a champion sleeper – I remember thinking other parents were sleep training all wrong. What worked for me should worked for everyone else right??? WRONG!
There are way too many variables for a one size fits all sleep training method.
RESOURCE
Here’s a post on when it’s time to try an alternative to cry-it-out. 
TIP
Check out this blog post on Sleep Shaping. There are ways to gradually and gently shape your baby’s sleep, a helpful approach for infants 6 months and younger.