I’ll warn you in advance that you’re either going to be in total agreement with what I’m about to say, or you’re going to be vehemently against it.
But – I’m here to say that just because your paediatrician says it, doesn’t mean it’s true.
I have a great deal of respect for all types of doctors, especially in today’s world. That being said though, doctors are trained in medicine – not necessarily in child development (unless, of course, that is their specialty). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I raise this because in the last few weeks, I have had followers and clients tell me stories about how their doctors have not only advocated for – but pressured them into – sleep training.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ve learned of one paediatric practice in Toronto, where I am, that hands out pamphlets to its patients at the 4 month well baby checkup on how to use CIO. And another paediatrician who told a patient that if she stopped doing CIO and didn’t give it at least two weeks, “it would confuse the baby”. We also experienced this pressure from our paediatrician, and it was one of the deciding factors that led us to sleep train our oldest (needless to say, we switched paediatricians before the birth of our son).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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While it goes without saying that I am a staunch advocate against sleep training, if you’ve made that choice for your family, and it felt right to you, I support you in your decision to do what was best for your family.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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However, I feel very strongly that it is outside the scope of practice for any doctor to be making parenting recommendations to families, especially when it comes to as sensitive a topic as sleep. If your doctor has made these suggestions to you, I am here to remind you that 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. Paediatricians who advise patients on sleep are speaking only on their personal opinion, and not from a place of medical knowledge. Do what feels right to you ❤️
