9 Things I Learned When I Sent My Baby to Sleep School

This was the most stressful part of sleep school for me. I have always felt very anxious listening to my babies cry, and while the idea of controlled crying wasn't new to me, I wasn't sure how much of it I could take. But sleep school doesn't promote controlled crying. It's about learning the difference between crying vs. whining.

The key takeaway for me was to listen for pauses. A pause is a sign my baby girl is listening for me to come in and see her, not that she is actually upset. A nonstop cry is a sign she needs me to go to her, to reassure her I'm there for her, and to try to settle her with the techniques I was taught. Babies are far smarter than we think; understanding their cues is the key.