lc11

I think all parents like to hear what they are doing well. Undoubtedly, your son and DIL are working harder than they ever have to create the best family possible. For me, I would feel pretty discouraged if a family member said “I see you struggling,” when I was doing my very best! Instead, if they showed empathy (ie. “Raising a young family and working full time is such a challenge and I see how you are really rising to the occasion and giving all your effort to raise a wonderful child.”), I’d be much more likely to feel comfortable accepting advice.

Sleep training is really a personal decision. It was definitely not for me. If your son/DIL have searched online for baby sleep advice at all, I’m sure they have already come across sleep training…and it sounds like they prefer to support their baby to sleep.

While you may think sleep training is the best way to improve things, perhaps you could offer support in other ways, such as bringing meals or groceries over, babysitting, helping with cleaning, picking up baby from daycare etc. This would help give mom and dad a break. As a tired parent, I am so grateful for less to do vs. advice on more things I can do (sleep training). It may be hard, but I’d probably skip advice on sleep training altogether and just support them in other ways.

(Side note: I read Moms on Call and cried just thinking about what they suggested, so I don’t recommend it! 🙁 Hey Sleepy Baby and The Nurture Revolution book are much more aligned with my own views. There is not just one right way to sleep and every baby/family is different.)