I was sitting in my office chair with a 6-month old at home, staring off, exhausted, trying to focus on work and wanting to be the best mom and employee all at the same time — but all I wanted to do was cry.
I was exhausted and I knew when I got home that my “Bedtime Anxiety” would start. The spiraling thoughts of not knowing what the night would bring:
Will he be up every hour? every 3? Will we get a miracle and have at least 6 hours straight of sleep?
It was always unknown… and that’s when it hit me…
Something has to change.
Is It Cruel to Sleep Train?
by Stacey Mademann, Sleep Consultant
I wanted to sleep train but I questioned, “Was it cruel to the child?” The research began and that is when I discovered how beneficial sleep is for children. Not just sleep but to get solid uninterrupted sleep. I learned that sleep training a child is not cruel at all, but is actually one of the best skills you can teach your child. In fact, some studies actually show an improvement in security between parent and child following sleep training.
One study followed the harms and benefits in two groups of sleep trained and non-sleep trained children, and found that the group who received sleep training versus the group that didn’t experienced no significant differences in any outcomes — including emotional stability, conduct behavior, stress, parent-child closeness, conflict, or parent-child attachment. The study further concluded, “Behavioral sleep techniques have no marked long lasting effects.”
The more research I pursued, the more I realized that sleep training is not only beneficial for the child — but also for me.
Benefits of Sleep for Children
Some of the main reasons I realized that sleep training is not only *not cruel* but also something that was a *must* for my baby’s health are:
Benefits of Sleep for a Parent
Negative aspects of sleep not only affect the child but also the parent. While doing my research on the benefits of sleep training, I also noticed how a lack of sleep can impact me as a mother:
Teaching Your Child the Life Skill of Sleeping Well Is a Gift
Sleep training is the best gift that you can give your child. You are giving them the gift of learning how to fall asleep independently without any props — this is a life skill that many adults struggle with. Sleep training babies is beneficial for the whole family. In fact, it’s been known to improve parental mood, improves an infant’s sleep quality and increases the secure attachment between babies and their caregivers.
As long as your baby is old enough (at least 4 months old) and is in a safe environment, sleep training (no matter which method you choose) is perfectly safe and healthy. Sleep training is not only *NOT cruel* but actually beneficial for the child and the whole family.
If you need assistance teaching your child how to fall asleep and stay asleep independently, schedule a call with one of us! We would love to talk to you through the process and explain our method. That way, you can decide if we’re the right fit for you and your family.
Maybe you don’t need to work one-on-one, but you want a program you can follow at your own pace.
Check out our on-demand digital program → The Murray Method for Babies and sleep train your child on your own time.
All team members have completed training with Kelly and have learned the Murray Method. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with the families who trust in us. This way, all clients are able to experience the same amazing results (and lots and lots of sleep).
