If you don't feel comfortable with the cry it out method -- believe me, you are not alone on that one. Some people don't feel comfortable with that. There is another way to do it and it's called the gradual retreat process. That is where you stand by the crib or sit on the bed, depending on how old your toddler is and whether he is sleeping in a crib or a bed. You can touch them, hold their hand, comfort them in that way. You sit on the bed for about three or four nights until they start falling asleep, and then you gradually go into a chair. You can still hold their hand, touch them, those sort of things. Then you gradually move the chair back towards the door. You stay about three or four nights in between moving the chair, until they get comfortable sleeping. Once you get to the door, you sit outside the door for two or three nights. Tell the child, "I'm right here by the door. If you need me, call me, and I'll come back in." The gradual retreat process can work with older children as well, especially if they have anxiety about going to sleep, if they have nightmares or they have night terrors or anything like that. So you do not facilitate their sleep process by rocking them to sleep, but you are still helping them go off to sleep.