July 11: New research by Jennie Rosier, associate professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University, is challenging one of the most widely accepted parenting practices in the U.S.: cry-it-out sleep training.
In “Dispelling Cry-It-Out Sleep Training Myths and What to Do Instead,” Rosier and a team of interdisciplinary scholars argue that infant night waking is not a behavioral problem to fix, but a normal and developmentally expected part of infancy. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and attachment research, the book questions whether popular sleep-training methods widely promoted by pediatricians, media and parenting influencers are as effective or benign as commonly believed.
The book takes a critical look at both extinction (“cry-it-out”) and controlled crying methods, highlighting:
- Evidence that infant night waking is biologically typical
- Concerns about how reduced caregiver responsiveness may affect stress regulation and attachment
- Methodological flaws in studies claiming sleep training success
- Practical, evidence-based alternatives that support sleep without leaving infants to cry alone
At a time when exhausted parents are often told independent sleep is essential, Rosier’s work reframes the conversation: What if the issue isn’t babies’ sleep but our expectations?
Why this matters now:
- Sleep training remains one of the most searched parenting topics online
- A growing cultural shift toward responsive parenting and attachment-based approaches
- Rising mental health concerns among new parents navigating conflicting advice
Rosier can discuss:
- Why sleep training became “authoritative” advice in Western culture
- What research says about infant sleep development
- Whether babies are capable of “self-soothing”
- Realistic sleep expectations for the first year
- Evidence-based alternatives to cry-it-out methods
“Parents have been told for decades that infants need to be trained to sleep independently, and that their nighttime waking is a problem to fix. But the evidence tells a different story. Waking at night is a normal, biologically expected part of infancy, not a behavioral flaw,” said Rosier.
“This new research challenges parents and practitioners to reconsider long-held assumptions about ‘cry-it-out’ methods and to recognize that responsiveness, not withdrawal, supports healthy development,” added Rosier.