It’s completely normal that the thought of your child crying is upsetting – you are biologically programmed to feel this way! Crying is your baby’s primary means of communication. When we introduce a new way of settling your baby, this is a change for your baby, and it’s natural for your baby to feel a range of emotions, such as confusion or frustration and to express this through crying. I will always encourage you to respond to your child when they are upset, and you will NEVER be asked to leave your baby to cry. Be assured that you will be in the room supporting your little one emotionally and physically while we work on sleep, and this is very different to leaving your baby to cry alone.
My approaches are all focused on supporting attachment, and focus on providing your child with the right balance of physical and emotional support so that they can feel secure knowing that you are nearby, while also giving them the opportunity to learn and explore independent sleep. My clients often say that they were pleasantly surprised with the process, and they wish they had started working on sleep sooner!