Sleeping Arrangements

What sleep arrangements work for your family? Do you have firm beliefs or are you in need of more information? Many parents find themselves in a crisis of conflicting advice from friends and family members and healthcare professionals. The sleep training industry profits from these parents, offering a one-size-fits-all approach that promises to restore your much-needed Zzz’s.

But what happens to the families that these programs don’t work for? Do the parents feel like they are failing? And what happens to the babies? There is a wealth of evidence-based information that shows that babies need to be responded to at night just as they do during the day. Responsive night parenting does not have to equal less sleep and carries with it the added benefit of protecting a breastfeeding mother’s milk supply and bond with her baby.

“Waking is a normal part of infant sleep, and varies based on several infant factors: (a) feeding method (breast or bottle), (b) age, (c) shifts in developmental levels, and (d) individual level of maturity. In light of these factors, every family must determine whether an infants’ waking is a problem for the family. Waking isn’t a problem just because it happens. To suggest waking defines “problematic sleep” does not accurately reflect current science.” - Kendall-Tackett & Middlemiss

I believe in encouraging parents to follow their heart and their instincts when it comes to sleep and nighttime parenting. A one-sized approach will not serve every family because every family is different and every baby is born with unique traits and needs.

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