Go read the Disclaimer again. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Seriously.
Sometimes a family has a problem member -- someone is drinking, drugging, rude, abusive, whatever, and everyone else thinks that person should just shape up. Sometimes a family makes this person get therapy or counseling. Sometimes, the person sent in for therapy isn't the problem, or at least, isn't the only problem. They are the symptom. The whole family needs to adjust to better live together and help each other meet their needs.
In much the same way, we have pathologized infant sleep. Infants do what they do and they always have. We have to adapt to them. Attempting to coerce infants usually either doesn't work, or is bad for them. It's best to avoid that as much as possible.
But other members of a family needs to get enough rest to function: to go to work, to get food, to maintain a safe household. How to do this?
A General Discussion of Why Our Expectations About Infant Sleep Are Dangerously Wrong
Sleeping With or Near Your Baby
Flexible Solutions to Getting Everyone Enough Sleep
Our Experience with Our First Son's Sleep
You May Get Your Period Back When You Do Sleep Through the Night
Copyright 2006 by Rebecca Allen.
Created February 5, 2006 Updated February 5, 2006