“Nothing is more important in the world today than the nurturing that children receive in the first three years of life, for it is in these earliest years that the capacities for trust, empathy, and affection originate.”- Dr. Elliott Barker, Director, Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The Peaceful/Friendly Method

In this information age, dozens of sleep books are available to help families teach their children to sleep on their own. While sleep books share some similarities, they also offer contradictory viewpoints.

Because of these contradictions, families are often confused as to which methods are reasonable, compassionate, and actually effective. All of these sleep books contain both valid information and some degree of misinformation. The inconsistencies leave families to learn by trial and error—not a desirable approach where children are concerned!

There are key differences between other sleep advice and the Self-soothing Sleep Method.

The major difference is that I have actually used my sleep method. I have taught this method thousands of times, using it with children of all ages in my childcare facility and as a nanny and baby nurse. I have had a long, loving relationship with each child and was always sensitive to his or her needs and abilities while using this sleep teaching technique. The Self-soothing Sleep Method is a respectful and compassionate approach that gives children what they need: healthy self- soothing sleep habits.

But many sleep authors have gained their expertise primarily through reading other peoples’ research, clinical studies, and questionnaires. They haven’t spent years teaching sleep directly to children. They didn’t live with the results of their approach day after day. The sad truth is that some of the sleep methods being taught totally disregard children’s emotional needs.

There is one piece of advice that all the book authors and I agree on: the importance of consistency. Consistency allows children to anticipate what will happen next. Being able to predict what will happen to them gives children a greater sense of understanding and comfort. The Self-soothing Sleep Method provides step-by-step instructions that are both consistent and easy to use.