Unveiling the Truth: Debunking Common Sleep Coaching Myths!

I’m here to clear the confusion around some common sleep coaching myths. You know, the ones that make you second-guess the effectiveness of gentle sleep methods. Today, I'm putting on “my myth-busting mindset”  to address a couple of these misconceptions.

Myth #1: The "Chair Method" means silent nights with no response whatsoever.

Ah, the Chair Method confusion! I hear it all the time – the idea that you sit there like a statue, offering no comfort or connection. Well, let me set the record straight. For over 25 years, The Sleep Lady Shuffle, has been a beacon of gentle, responsive sleep coaching. Yes, you sit in that chair, but it's not a vow of silence. The parent coach can Shush, coo, hum, and offer the warmth of  touch – it's all encouraged! This method is about gradual steps, moving the chair away over time while still offering both sound and touch as reassurance. It is very supportive because the parent does not have to “withhold” their love.

Myth #2: The Chair Method or the Shuffle is "basically crying-it-out while sitting next to your child".

No, no, no! It's not a solo act of crying-it-out while you awkwardly sit there. Picture it as a beautiful dance of support and gradual independence. We're right there, side by side, creating a comforting rhythm until your child  masters the art of settling and soothing to sleep without the need of a sleep crutch. It's not a sudden leap, but a graceful transition of sleep responsibility from you to your child. One gentle step at a time. Usually it takes about 2 weeks for the nigh-time sleeping to become beautiful, blissful sleep.

Myth #3: Gentle sleep training methods don't work; only crying-it-out is proven.

Hold the phone! This one is a classic mix-up. Gentle methods, like the parental fading technique, are likely more effective than the cry-it-out approach because a parent is in the room to witness all the learning and support their child through the sleep skills learning process. Parents start with lots of help and gradually loosen up as the child learns the skills of sleep. It's all about finding the right balance between assistance and independence. In fact, I find that many families try “cry-it-out” and it only works for a short period because the child never really learned sleep skills, they simply learned how to “crash out” at bedtime, instead of settling and soothing to sleep. 

Join me on a mission to debunk common misconceptions about sleep coaching and The Sleep Lady Shuffle, ensuring parents receive accurate information empowers them to make informed decisions for a restful night's sleep without compromising the vital parent-child bond. Let's spread the word together!

Click HERE to read the full article from Kim West herself 

Check out my Instagram, Facebook and Linked-in because over the next couple of months, I will be debunking the myths around sleep coaching.

And if you are curious about wanting help from a Gentle Sleep Coach, you can download this handy check-list that will overview when it is time to engage some expert sleep support.