When talking to parents about the sleep training process, the elephant in the room is always crying. Parents understandably want to know how much crying there will be, how long it’s ok to let their baby cry, if it’s possible to sleep train without crying, and a whole host of other questions all about crying.

When most parents hear the term "sleep training," one of the first things that come to mind is the "cry it out" method. It's a term that brings up images of babies left to cry alone all night, feeling abandoned and upset, while parents watch helplessly. This misconception often leads to guilt, anxiety, and hesitation when it comes to sleep training.

At Detroit Dreams Tonight, we understand these concerns and want to clarify that sleep training does not have to involve long, distressing periods of crying. While there may be some crying as part of the learning process, our focus is on creating a consistent, structured plan that helps your baby learn to sleep independently as quickly as possible, while minimizing unnecessary crying. When working with families we are constantly observing and making recommendations to reduce crying and even if crying occurs we’re there to assist your baby in making the sleep connections with as few of tears as possible.

Getting my daughter to bed by 7pm isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s definitely worth it. Between family dinners, homework, late meetings, and plain old defiance, it can be a battle some nights. But here’s the thing: parents who prioritize that early bedtime are doing what’s best for their child and their family, no matter how hard it gets.

So, no shame here. My kid goes to bed early, and here’s why: