When it comes to sleep issues in the first year of baby’s life, I am a firm believer in doing whatever allows you and your family to sleep best (and ignoring the supposed solutions of sometimes narrow-minded physicians). For example, there are no hard and fast rules about baby’s sleep locale so feel free to experiment to see what’s right for you and your family. Crib? Bassinet? Co-sleeper? Family bed? Mattress on the floor? As long as you are following safety guidelines, there’s no reason you have to adhere to one specific philosophy.
That said, sleep is an ever-present topic for new parents (who are always looking for ways to get their baby to sleep longer and more peacefully) and there is something to be said for trying out methods that others have used successfully.
The “sleep experts” (Dr. Sears, Elizabeth Pantley, Marc Weissbluth, Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack, Dr. Harvey Karp, and Tracy Hogg) can give you some initial guidance if you’re at a loss.
