Disadvantages of Not Sleep Training

To be fair, I thought I would also discuss the disadvantages of not sleep training your baby. Although I prefer the Pantley method (The No-Cry Sleep Solution, by Elizabeth Pantley), it does have its drawbacks (though I think the benefits far outweigh them).

Note: These are general statements and do not apply to everyone.

1. Your baby may take longer to learn how to fall asleep on his or her own. Letting your baby cry it out, while not the best way, is definitely the fastest, I hear. So if you do not want to sleep train your baby, you need to have a lot of patience and realistic expectations of progress.

2. It requires more effort and work. Leaving your baby to cry it out in the crib is easier. You do nothing or very little, such as checking in once in a while. It can be emotionally and physically taxing still, because no one enjoys a bawling baby. However, not sleep training is even more so. Nevertheless, I think it stretches you in a good way, helping you develop and refine maternal qualities: love, patience, compromise, kindness, dedication, perseverance, etc.

3. You may get more negative outside feedback. Unless you have friends and family who support your approach to babies and sleep, you will most likely get a lot of crap from people, because not sleep training is not the social norm. Some people may be outright judgmental of your methods, others well meaning but discouraging. You must remember that what you choose for your baby is best, no matter what other people say (same goes for mothers who sleep train). Ignore the negativity and remain firm in your decision to help your baby fall asleep without crying it out.

If you decide to try the Pantley method, be aware it is not always easy and it takes time. But it is definitely worth it.