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#14 in popularitySince 2005No-cry; opposes sleep training

Attachment Parenting

Opposes sleep training Listed as an alternative for families who'd rather not sleep train.

William & Martha Sears, The Baby Sleep Book

Respond to every waking and share nighttime care; independent sleep comes with time.

Visit askdrsears.com
Starts
BirthNo formal training phase
Results in
No set timeline
Crying
No training
Evidence
Weak

Check with your pediatrician. Bed-sharing conflicts with AAP safe-sleep guidance, which recommends room-sharing on a separate sleep surface.

Overview

Pediatrician William Sears and nurse Martha Sears popularized attachment parenting, and The Baby Sleep Book applies it to nights. The approach opposes sleep training. Parents room-share or sleep-share, nurse or comfort baby to sleep as needed, respond promptly to night waking, and split nighttime parenting between partners. Independent sleep is expected to develop as the child matures.

It maximizes closeness and supports breastfeeding, but parents may stay sleep-deprived for a long time. The Searses' support for bed-sharing conflicts with AAP safe-sleep guidance, which recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing.

How it works

  1. Room-share or 'sleep share'.
  2. Nurse or comfort to sleep as needed.
  3. Respond promptly to night waking.
  4. Share nighttime parenting between partners.
  5. Let independent sleep develop over time.

Pros

  • Maximizes responsiveness and closeness
  • Supports breastfeeding

Cons

  • Bed-sharing conflicts with AAP safe-sleep guidance
  • Parents may stay sleep-deprived for a long time

Evidence

Weak. Weak for the sleep approach; rooted in attachment theory.

Details

Popularity
#14 of 39 · Moderate (estimated)
Since
2005 (21 years) · The Baby Sleep Book, 2005
When to start
From birth
Day structure
Baby-led (no set structure)
Format
Book, website
Good fit for
Parents who put closeness and responsiveness ahead of a quick change in sleep.

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