It was more of a general statement. This conversation kind of gives the tone that cry-it-out is the only way this child (and others) in this case can learn to sleep well on their own. I am noting that it isn't the case...cry-it-out would possibly be the fastest here but ultimately these parents CAN get their child to learn to sleep in an AP friendly way if they choose to.
YES the child should have been taught how to sleep long ago. NO it should not have been left to the daycare provider to do. I have found though, that with these families this is often the case and the daycare provider is left to get the child to sleep. Often not in a manner that the parents would choose.
Doesn't matter the parenting style...it is the parents job to ensure the child has good sleep patterns in place before they plop the child in group care. It is not fair to anyone when a child arrives with absolutely no ability to self sooth and to sleep on their own.
This is where I can't help but feel that true AP parenting would differ from what we currently see referred to as 'AP'. If you are truly AP then you would be thinking ahead and setting the child up to succeed when they transfer to daycare. You would be doing all you could to ease that transition.