Denise, I read your message about how babies can be allowed to settle
themselves to sleep from birth with extreme interest.  My observation is
that most babies and young children like to be rocked, held and especially
nursed to sleep for weeks, months and even years.  As a very social species
all humans seem to prefer body-contact in order to feel safe enough and
comfortable enough to fall asleep.  Actually, I am 48 and even I like to be
cuddled to sleep!

But to be specific, could you share with us:

-  what methods would be used to encourage a baby to "sleep through the
night from around 2 months of age"

- what signs you would use to identify that "Babies know how to go to sleep
on their own from birth"

- what is "controlled crying or other method"

- the "various settling techniques which are are used to CALM the baby but
NOT to put the baby to sleep"

While I agree that having a wakeful baby is a strain for the mother, and
that mothers often have many other responsibilities, I am not convinced that
giving a higher priority to these tasks at the expense of allowing the baby
adequate time at the breast is the most logical solution.  Unfortunately I
find that my clients who are persuaded that their other commitments should
take precedence over breastfeeding their babies start to experience low
breastmilk production and much frustration as they try to be all things to
all people, and the baby's weight gain becomes marginal.  The baby - far
from being happy - becomes irritable and enraged, and the crying drives
everyone crazy.  I have worked with mothers who are so afraid of meeting
their baby's basic needs for food and comfort (which they interpret as
"spoiling") that the baby has actually failed to thrive.  It seems sometimes
that the whole point of motherhood has sailed right past a mother who cannot
read or respond to her baby's cues.  It is so sad.  The mother always seems
angry and resentful and eventually she seems to withdraw and distance
herself from the baby.  Perhaps this is the basis for detachment-parenting.

Yes, I see mothers who are tired, mothers who are over-loaded, and
overwhelmed, but I don't think that encouraging them to deny their babies'
needs and put the needs of the toddler/school-child/husband or their own
"time-outs" first is the answer.  Babies are so portable - it is possible to
nurse or hold the baby while playing with a toddler, supervising an older
child, or snuggling with Dad, just before you go shopping and immediately
afterwards - i e anywhere, any time.  Healthy, thriving, breastfed babies
are a delight, not a nuisance and when a mother sees that her baby does not
have to be controlled, manipulated, forced into someone else's idea of what
is convenient, her self-esteem and enjoyment is enhanced, not to mention the
baby's health and emotional well-being.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe