What is controlled comforting?
Controlled comforting is a behaviour management strategy for dealing with persistent settling and waking problems in young children.
Controlled comforting involves quickly checking and reassuring your baby while he’s learning to settle.
The idea behind controlled comforting is to help children learn how to settle themselves to sleep, rather than you feeding, patting or cuddling them to sleep.
Is controlled comforting safe?
Controlled comforting has been found to be safe and effective. Babies whose parents have used controlled comforting are more likely to sleep better in the short term. In the long term they’re just as well-adjusted as other children their age in terms of behaviour and sleep.
Some parents worry that controlled comforting will hurt bonding and attachment, but when this settling strategy is used appropriately, there’s no evidence it harms babies or attachment. If you’re unsure or you’d like advice about your baby’s sleep, talk with your child and family health nurse or paediatrician.
Controlled comforting, controlled crying, crying it out: what’s the difference?
Controlled comforting is sometimes called controlled crying.
Controlled comforting or controlled crying is different from crying it out, where a baby is left to cry until she falls asleep. Crying it out isn’t recommended by child health professionals because it isn’t safe or effective in helping children learn to settle themselves to sleep.
Before you start with controlled comforting
Dealing with your baby’s sleep and settling problems can leave you very tired and stressed, especially if you’re losing sleep too. Controlled comforting is sometimes tried by parents who feel overwhelmed and unwell.
You should use controlled comforting only:
- with babies older than six months and less than two years
- as part of a total program for establishing healthy sleep patterns, which also includes a positive bedtime routine
- when you’re confident your baby is getting lots of attention, time and affection during the day.
Source: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/controlled_comforting.html
