Does this program include crying?
Listening to your child cry is never easy! I will provide you with two options when it comes to coaching methods, both of which will likely involve some crying. However, both will offer you specific step-by-step instructions on how to support your child, and mitigate tears as much as possible. I will also provide you with information and studies that have shown that there has been no evidence that short-term tears with consistent support and reassurance are harmful to a child in an otherwise happy, healthy household. If at any point you need more guidance and/or reassurance, additional support options are available and I can be right by your side through the whole process!
What if my baby still needs to eat overnight?
That’s okay! This plan will not ask you to reject overnight feeds. Instead, it will teach you how to understand the difference between what is truly hunger and what is comfort and how to respond appropriately. Most babies I have worked with end up naturally dropping overnight feeds between 4-8 months simply because they do not need them to help them back to sleep (they know how to do that all on their own now!) If you need to continue to feed your baby in the middle of the night, you can absolutely still teach them independent sleep.
What if the only way my baby will fall asleep is by (insert sleep association here)?
Trust me when I say that your baby does not need any of those things to help them to sleep. Rather, they don’t know HOW to fall asleep without them! They will continue to wake up looking for help from whatever put them to sleep in the first place (all night and day long). This is not said to make you feel guilty for however you are helping your baby to sleep now (heck, almost all come out with an affinity for being rocked, fed, etc to sleep). Rather, it’s to show you that all babies are capable of independent sleep. Independent sleep is a taught skill and your baby is ready to learn it, so let’s teach ‘em.