Hi @Tracey –
Thanks for sharing your heartfelt message with us! We agree completely that us parents need to support each other and that every baby is different! Thanks for sharing your approach and what’s working for you! We hope that things continue to go well!

Hi @Luke –
Thank you for sharing your experience with Babywise! We’re happy to hear that things went so well and that your baby is such an excellent sleeper! Thanks again for taking the time to write!

Correction *but I have now seen several people start Babywise and have those same results.

Hi @Cindi, thanks for writing to us. I’m sorry to hear your longer stretches have suddenly vanished, I know how discouraging that can feel. Hang in there, because it’s likely there’s not anything you are doing wrong, as there are a lot of changes that go on for a baby’s sleep around 3-4 months of age. Here is a link to an article that may help you determine what’s going on with her sleep: https://www.babysleepsite.com/how-we-sleep/4-month-old-sleep-regression/
If you find you need more help getting her back on track, let us know and we’d be happy to! We have an ebook all about newborn sleep that will go through the first year and will help give you different approaches to helping her sleep as many babies need different methods based on their temperaments. Here is a link to information about that: https://www.babysleepsite.com/essential-keys-to-your-newborns-sleep/
I hope this helps!

Hi @Priscilla – Thank you for sharing what worked for you! Being informed by reading and researching, while listening to your instinct and reading your daughter’s needs is a perfect combo! We appreciate your feedback on our article too, and definitely appreciate your perspective. Just about everyone can define “cry it out” in a variety of ways. In this article, “cry it out” means to put your baby down awake and not go back to them for an extended period of the time (if at all). We support helping babies learn to self-soothe as well, but do define leaving the baby to cry for 15 minutes without even a short check to be a form of “cry it out” as discussed in the Babywise book. There are many variations of course, but likely this is simply a difference of opinion in definition. We also find that in our work with thousands of families, that not all babies can follow the rhythms, or schedule guidelines at the specific ages too. We are so happy to hear that you found what worked for your family, and our only desire is to present this information in an unbiased way so that families can do what you did, and use resources such as this book, but also follow their own unique path to better sleep. Thanks again for commenting and sharing!

However, I don’t think it’s fair to paint the method as promoting the “cry it out” method – the book doesn’t really encourage that at all. Nor does it really enforce strict “schedules” (it actually suggests that might not be helpful) but more routines or “rhythms”

Just hoping folks have a fair portrayal of it before picking it up and considering whether to try it.

@Kat Hello and thank you for commenting! We have certainly read Babywise, but as it had been a long time, we reread the parts relating to your concerns. First, you are correct that the book does not say your baby will sleep through the night at 3-4 weeks. As I was talking about “extremes” in that section, I was merely exaggerating both ends of the spectrum. I have updated that section and appreciate the feedback. Second, many different parents define “cry it out” in a variety of ways. For us, “cry it out” means to put your baby down awake and not go back to them for an extended period of the time (if at all). We support helping babies learn to self-soothe as well, but do define leaving the baby to cry for 15 minutes without even a short check to be a form of “cry it out.” There are many variations. I believe this is simply a difference of opinion as far as what constitutes “cry it out.” 15 minutes isn’t too long for a 12-month old, perhaps, but for a 3-6 week old, this seems too long to NOT call it “cry it out” in my opinion. I definitely understand where you’re coming from and appreciate your perspective. Thanks again for commenting!