As a postpartum professional, you’ve likely encountered parents who are struggling with sleep deprivation yet feel hesitant to use conventional sleep training methods. Whether it's because they have concerns about leaving their baby to cry, they have different cultural beliefs about infant sleep, or they want a more gradual approach, many parents seek gentle sleep solutions. Your role in supporting these exhausted families is invaluable, as you can offer guidance, reassurance, and effective strategies that align with their desire for a nurturing approach.

When it comes to sleep, there’s a pervasive belief that a full night’s rest means sleeping straight through from bedtime until morning without interruption. This idea is often held up as the gold standard of healthy sleep, particularly for infants and young children. However, the truth is that humans don’t naturally sleep through the night in a single, uninterrupted block of time. This expectation is more a social construct than a biological norm, and understanding this can help shift perspectives on sleep, especially when working with new parents.