Methods to put the baby to sleep 2026

As with almost everything in this life, the debate is open and there are all kinds of opinions regarding the appropriate method to put to sleep a baby who has ''problems'' falling asleep on his or her own. Neither parents nor experts agree on the perfect method to put a baby to sleep. There is no magic wand. Each child and each family is a world.

There are theories such as pro-attachment parenting experts who advocate that you should not let the child cry. At the other extreme, there are theories from sleep specialists who argue that the baby must learn to sleep alone. In between we have the rest of the theories. We are going to make a compilation of all the theories and methods to put the baby to sleep. The most important thing? Use common sense.

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The Penelope Leach Method

This London psychologist proposes an intermediate position between letting him cry and not letting him cry, although she stated that "letting your baby cry will cause brain damage." It proposes as an essential element establishing a routine and guidelines before going to bed, such as singing a soft lullaby or telling a bedtime story. The basis of the Leach method: if we can avoid it, the baby should not cry too much, as he will feel alone, disappointed and abandoned by his parents and this can cause lifelong consequences. Criticism came in from the scientific community for 'lack of rigour'. Leach refers to a study that indicates that children who have not been cared for will be unstable adults.

The Ina May Gaskin Method

Ina May Gaskin dubbed 'the true mother of midwifery'. This American is one of the pioneers in defending natural births at home. Her book 'Spiritual Midwifery', has not been translated into Spanish, it is the bible of the padreshippies. Gaskin defends parenting with attachment between parents and children, breastfeeding, births without epidurals and one of the main lessons of his philosophy is co-sleeping, so the baby can breastfeed as many times as he wants even if the mother is asleep. The pillars of their philosophy or type of parenting are affection, caresses, attachment...

In fact, there is a technique to reduce shoulder dystocia in childbirth that bears his name, it is the Gaskin maneuver, also called four-legged childbirth. Gaskin introduced it to the United States in 1976.

Since the early 1980s she has become an internationally renowned speaker on motherhood-related topics, lecturing around the world. She remains an eminence for the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), .

The method to not let him cry from Williams Sears

Pediatrician and author of 'Your child will sleep... and so will you: how to help your baby sleep peacefully through the night' (the original title is The Baby Sleep Book).

Based on Gaskin's teachings, this Californian doctor established the definitive method for parents who do not want their baby to cry. Sears says that children should sleep with their parents as long as necessary, even years, until they have learned to sleep alone. The couple can sleep separately, take turns accompanying the child, but the child never has to be alone. In Spain, its equivalent is the book 'Bésame mucho' by Carlos González or 'Sleeping without tears: letting him cry is not the solution' by Rosa Jové. Sears emphasizes a child-centered way of teaching sleep and warns parents to be careful with sleep teaching methods that are advertised as valid for all children. Recommends helping your baby with patience. that learns to sleep at its own pace and encourages parents to sleep with their babies, rock and breastfeed them until the baby falls asleep, as well as other forms of close contact to create positive bedtime associations and healthy habits later.

The Tracy Hogg Method

Nurse Tracy Hogg, co-author of the book 'A Practical Guide to Having Calm and Happy Babies', (original title 'Secrets of the Baby Whisperer') can be considered halfway between attachment parenting and the rigid discipline of letting the baby cry.

Hogg agrees with William Sears in associating going to sleep with positive attitudes but advises against his techniques, such as breast-feeding or rocking him to sleep. His proposal is that the child sleeps in the crib, covered with a blanket, with the mother nearby, whispering reassuring words.

What if he wakes up in the middle of the night? Hogg suggests that every time he wakes up, you should hug him, say nice things to him, and put him back in the crib even if he cries. Introduce the pacifier as a calming element (and replace the mother's breast).

The Richard Ferber Method

30 years ago he published the book 'Solve your child's sleep problems' and revolutionized the nighttime outlook of many parents. In Spain, we could say that Dr. Estivill used his theories for his book 'Duermete Niño'.

Ferber and Estivill share that letting the baby cry after rituals that are repeated day after day, will teach him to sleep and if not, he will get tired. The theory is that babies already know how to manipulate from birth and limits should be imposed on them. Among the rituals, you must take into account dim light, use affectionate words and always do it in the crib. Parents can come in to see him and say something affectionate, at increasingly spaced intervals in time, but never take him out of the crib. Most children stop crying after a few days.

There is no magic method!

From Ser Padres we encourage you to use your own method. We believe that it is good to know the different theories about the sleep of babies and children, but each person decides how to sleep. There is no single formula and if they tell you, the Oompa Loompaque method revolutionized the internet!

No one should choose for you the method, form or ritual to catch sleep. Sometimes trying one method or another improves the quality of life of parents and children. PATIENCE and sweet dreams!