Your Baby Isn’t Broken — A Gentle, Developmentally Aligned Approach to Newborn & Baby Sleep
If your newborn only sleeps when held, wakes the moment you put them down, or struggles with naps and nights, you’re not doing anything wrong.
And your baby isn’t broken.
As a newborn and baby sleep coach, I work with parents every day who feel confused by conflicting advice and exhausted by approaches that don’t align with their values. Most have already tried wake windows, routines, sound machines, and well-meaning advice — and still feel stuck.
The problem isn’t effort.
The problem is how infant sleep is often misunderstood.
Why Newborn and Baby Sleep Is So Often Misunderstood
Newborn and infant sleep is not a behavior to correct or a skill to train. It is a biological process shaped by nervous system development, feeding needs, emotional safety, and maturity.
In the early months — and often well into the first year — it is normal for babies to:
Wake frequently at night
Need support to fall asleep
Seek closeness and regulation
Struggle with transitions between sleep cycles
This is not a sign that something is wrong.
It’s a sign that your baby is developing normally.
Many sleep programs treat these behaviors as habits that must be fixed quickly. That mindset often creates more anxiety — for both parents and babies — and can actually make sleep harder.
What Gentle Sleep Coaching Really Means
Gentle sleep coaching does not mean doing nothing.
It means doing the right things at the right developmental stage.
A developmentally aligned approach to newborn and baby sleep focuses on:
Understanding why your baby wakes
Supporting regulation before expecting longer stretches
Creating rhythms that feel predictable but flexible
Designing a sleep environment that supports rest
Helping parents feel confident instead of overwhelmed
Sleep improves when babies feel safe, supported, and developmentally ready — not when they are forced into independence.
This is the foundation of the Eden Sleep Method, the approach I use in my newborn sleep coaching and baby sleep support work.
Why One-Size-Fits-All Sleep Plans Don’t Work
Every baby is different.
Temperament, feeding method, sensory sensitivity, and household dynamics all influence sleep. Two babies the same age may need completely different types of support.
This is why rigid schedules and generic sleep plans often fail — and leave parents feeling like they are the problem.
Effective sleep coaching should be:
Personalized
Rooted in infant development
Adaptable to real life
Supportive of attachment and connection
Not another checklist that creates guilt.
Can Gentle Sleep Support Actually Improve Sleep?
Yes — when it’s done correctly.
Families who receive thoughtful newborn and baby sleep coaching often notice:
Longer stretches of sleep without cry-it-out
Easier bedtimes and nap transitions
Less anxiety around sleep decisions
Greater confidence reading their baby’s cues
More rest without sacrificing connection
The goal is not “perfect sleep.”
The goal is sustainable, supportive sleep for the whole family.
How to Get Support Without Overwhelm
If you’re navigating newborn sleep and want clarity without pressure, a focused consultation can be incredibly grounding.
If you’re dealing with ongoing baby sleep challenges, a more comprehensive coaching plan may be the right fit.
And if you prefer learning at your own pace, having a gentle, developmentally informed framework can bring relief without adding decision fatigue.
However you choose to move forward, remember:
You don’t need to ignore your instincts.
You don’t need to harden yourself.
You don’t need to force independence before your baby is ready.
You just need support that makes sense.
Gentle Newborn & Baby Sleep Coaching with Eden & Embrace
I offer calm, developmentally aligned sleep support for families who want guidance without pressure:
Newborn Starter Session — fourth-trimester guidance for 0–4 months
Eden Sleep Transformation — high-touch, personalized baby sleep coaching
Inside the Nursery: Gentle Sleep Rhythms — a self-paced course for babies 5–24 months
👉 https://www.theolivebranchdoulas.com/newborn-care-gentle-sleep-support