Gentle Methods vs Crying it Out
People often ask or have an underlying concern that ‘sleep training’ in general, involves ‘crying it out’. What I share with my clients about crying; is, that for babies, it is one of the main forms of their communication and expression. This communication may include telling you they are hungry, tired, hot, cold, need a nappy change, have had too much stimulation, or they don’t want to be held anymore, just to name a few. Crying can also be your baby’s way of protesting change, and you can therefore expect that making changes to their sleep patterns will result in some level of protest, which may involve crying.
In my experience, it is not necessarily the crying that is the issue but rather how we support the crying and what understanding we bring to the baby or child during these times of change.
Gentle sleep methods are those that offer support to the baby or child while the changes are happening. As part of this, I would never ask you to leave your child to cry alone, nor will I ask you to ignore their cries. The reason that the methods I use are so effective is that it lets you develop a plan that you feel comfortable with and supported by, based on what you know about your baby/child.
Furthermore, I work with each parent to accommodate your parenting style because ultimately you, as a parent, need to be comfortable with your program in order for it to work for your child.
If you have any questions at all about the methods please don’t hesitate to ask! I can be reached by email at sacha@settleandflow.com.au or book a call here to chat more about this.
Sacha Rendoth
Certified Sleep Sense™ Consultant
Contact Sacha Today
I completed my certification under the The Sleep Sense™ Method, which was created by Dana Obleman in 2003, and has already helped thousands of parents just like you change their children’s sleep habits. I loved the simplicity of The Sleep Sense™ Method so much that it inspired me to become a professional sleep consultant.
The Sleep Sense™ Method was created from the foundation that a child who sleeps well, is well-rested and is curious, energetic, happy, playful, and eager to learn.
When parents entrust me as their child’s sleep guide, they are placing a great deal of trust in me, and I want you to know that I take this responsibility and with great earnest and honour.
My approach to supporting you to improving your child’s sleep is simple and personalised:
- We will talk about WHY sleep is so important for you and your child’s well-being. (I will look at your family’s specific situation.)
- I will lay out an easy-to-follow, step-by-step plan that lets you make some choices about what is the most supportive approach for your child. (All children are different, and nobody knows your child better than you do.)
- I’ll guide you with how to measure success and manage expectations. (I’ll help understand what you can expect along the way…)