Sleep is probably the topic of most debate within parenting circles. Opinions range dramatically about how parents should get their babies to learn to sleep through the night, with Dr. William Sears on one end of the spectrum and Dr. Richard Ferber on the other. No expert can tell you exactly what's right for your baby, but it's worthwhile to read the opinions of specific experts to determine which solution might work best for you. Here are three leading opinions about how to get your baby to sleep through the night.
Dr. Sears: Let your baby snuggle and nurse as much as she needs.
This is the camp that I personally fall into, but I acknowledge that many other moms have different solutions. Sears, the leading expert in attachment parenting, suggests allowing your baby to sleep in your bed. There, he can nurse and cuddle to his heart's content, and you won't have to get out of bed (or even fully wake up) to attend to his needs. The emphasis isn't on getting him to sleep all night, but making sure that everyone gets the most rest possible. The downside is that children who co-sleep can become quite dependent upon it, and many parents don't want their babies sleeping in their beds.
Dr. Spock: Gradually introduce a low-contact bedtime routine.
Robert Spock was the leading author-pediatrician for decades. Since his passing, Dr. Benjamin Needlman has updated and revised Spock's books with our modern understanding of infant development. While acknowledging that cosleeping works well for some families, Dr. Spock recommends that parents end cosleeping after a few months. Then the baby should be put to sleep by himself in his own room, without being rocked or cuddled. Spock believes that the baby will learn to sleep independently if he is put to bed with an affectionate routine that doesn't involve hours of rocking, nursing or cuddling. This is probably the most moderate and widely accepted idea about getting babies to sleep all night.
Dr. Ferber: Teach him to self-soothe.
Richard Ferber's methods for teaching a baby to sleep through the night are extremely controversial, but-- if your end goal is to get your baby to sleep-- there's no question that it works. Ferber's method is fairly complicated and involves a loving, affectionate bedtime routine, followed by putting the baby to sleep. After laying the baby in his crib, parents are not to come back to him, hold him, or nurse until morning. The baby eventually loses the habit of crying for his parents' attention at night. While I personally disagree with this method, I know many loving parents who have used it and I acknowledge that it is a valid option presented by an educated professional.
The bottom line is that many experts have dedicated their entire lives to studying the art and science of parenting a babies and getting them to sleep all night. No one knows how to raise your baby better than you do, so it's up to you to decide whose advice you wish to follow. As long as your choices are pediatrician-approved, safe, and filtered through your love for your child, you can use any technique necessary to ensure that you and your baby get enough sleep.
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