They all vary a little, but they set routines, tell you when to feed and put your baby to sleep, and tell you to leave them to cry for increasing periods of time until they sleep. Or as the latest research on cortisol (sterss hormone) tells us, cortisol floods their brain, shuts down and learns to give up. Of course, this goes against your instincts as a mother - you hear your baby's cries and you want to go in there and comfort them and you can't. Most mums have a big emotional outburst at some time during it, usually at first, due to the exhaustion, sadness, frustration... but it doesnt have to be that way!

No offence on anyone's parenting choices here, but this is what happens.

Have a go at reading Pinky's new book, 'Sleeping Like a Baby' as a first step, then see how you go. You can read about it at the link in my sig - it's now available to buy. If you can prevent the need for your baby to cry to sleep, then it's a bonus I just think bedtimes should be associated with gentle, warm, fun time not a stressful one or you come to not like it.