#3: Comfort Your Baby.

I don't apply the "start as you mean to go on" rule of thumb to sleep training. Babies are babies, and they sleep like babies... waking up often to nurse and cuddle. This is called comfort. And it's important. Very, very, very important. Read up on what happens to babies who don't get the appropriate comfort. It's incredibly sad. Babies are helplessly dependent on their mama. They need your comfort as much as they need your milk.

I intend to be there for my children as they grow. Not always to be nursed and cuddled... they will outgrow that without me having to push them into it... but I intend for them to know that their needs matter, and that I will be there for them. So although I have always chosen to nurse and rock my babies to sleep, and that is something I don't intend to do forever (and now don't, with my three oldest, obviously), I am "starting as I mean to go on" in that I am showing them compassion and love through being there for them.

I have heard many new mamas express concern that rocking and nursing babies to sleep, or cuddling them, or that sort of thing, will make them unable to ever sleep independently. Nope! It doesn't. My older three have transitioned into sleeping on their own and through the night just when it was the right time for them, but without the trauma of crying themselves to sleep. Trust me. Trust your baby. Your little baby won't be spoiled if you rock him and cuddle him and nurse him to sleep. He will be comforted, and made more secure in your love for him.