And why at HONEST I’ll never tell you to stop using them… unless you want to.
Have you been told your baby will get “too used to it”?
That if they fall asleep in your arms, they’ll never sleep alone?
That if you nurse them to sleep, they’ll never let go of the breast?
That sleep aids are “bad”?
Today I’m here to tell you something different:
Sleep aids aren’t just okay. They’re natural, functional, and beautiful… if they also work for you.
What are sleep aids?
They’re all those things we (often unconsciously) use to help our baby fall asleep—or fall back asleep:
- Sucking (breast, bottle, or pacifier)
- Rocking, holding, babywearing, stroller walks
- Singing, whispering, skin-to-skin contact
- Simply being present, co-sleeping, emotional support
They’re not a “bad habit.”
They’re emotional, biological, human tools.
They’re our way of telling them: “You’re safe. You can rest.”
Where do sleep aids come from?
From always. Long before clocks, cars, or sleep apps.
In prehistoric times, a baby who slept alone was a vulnerable baby.
Frequent night wakings and the need for closeness were survival mechanisms.
Today, even if we live in safe, walled homes, their brain is still wired the same way:
???? “If mom or dad is close, I’m safe. So I can sleep.”
Plus, a baby’s nervous system is immature.
They can’t “self-regulate.” They need co-regulation: your voice, your smell, your skin, your warmth.
In other words—they need support.
So why are sleep aids seen as “bad”?
Because we live in a culture that glorifies early independence.
We’re taught that a “good baby” is one that doesn’t “make a fuss.”
One that sleeps alone. Doesn’t ask for arms. Doesn’t cry.
But that’s not development. That’s disconnection.
Sleep aids are looked down on because we were taught that needing is weakness.
When in fact, connection is the foundation of emotional and neurological development.
“But my baby only falls asleep at the breast or in my arms…”
Then that’s what they need right now. That’s what they know how to do at this stage.
And if you are okay with it… that’s perfect.
Sleep aids only become unsustainable when:
– They wear you out physically or emotionally
– They no longer meet your baby’s needs
– You want to change them (not because you “should,” but because they no longer serve you)
And if you do want to change them, it can be done gently, gradually, and without tears.
You don’t have to choose between arms and rest
This is the biggest myth of all.
It’s not “either you breastfeed to sleep or they’ll never sleep well.”
It’s “how can I support them now… without forgetting about myself?”
At HONEST, you won’t find a war against sleep aids.
You’ll find support—to use them, adapt them, or let them go…
without fear, without guilt, through connection.
In short:
– Sleep aids are not a problem
– They are a loving response to a real need
– You’re not spoiling: you’re parenting
– And if they work for you too—don’t change them just because someone else said you “should”
Want help with sleep?
I’m here to support you in improving your baby’s sleep without betraying your instinct.
You can book your first free call here.
I’ll listen—without judgment and with all the respect in the world.
