While it’s true that sleep training is much more difficult for you than for your baby, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer while you’re doing sleep training to navigate this important baby milestone. In fact, sleep training doesn’t have to mean tears for you or your baby! Here’s everything you need to know about the basics of sleep training, from when to start sleep training to how to start sleep training.
Sleep Training Basics
What Is Sleep Training?
This may surprise you, but sleep training and “crying out” are not synonymous! On the contrary, crying is just one type of sleep training method. There are many ways to train your baby to sleep… Of course, not all tears are needed! In short, sleep training is the process of teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own and fall back asleep. Think of it this way: sleep training gives your baby the tools they need to soothe themselves… A must-have skill!
At What Age Is Suitable for Baby Sleep Training?
While all babies are different, the little ones are usually developmentally ready for sleep training by the time they are 4 to 4 to 6 months old. This is the best point for sleep training, as it is usually before your child has had time to Xi shaking or feeding to sleep. When does the 4-month sleep return start… Make this window an excellent time to think about sleep training. But before any sleep training, it is important that parents fully understand what they actually expect from their teenage sleepers. For example, by 6 months of age,”sleeping all night” usually means taking a five- to six-hour nap without the need for feeding.
Can Newborns Be Trained to Sleep?
No…At least not what you think! Young babies need to wake up every two to four hours to feed. Plus, they’re not ready for an extraordinarily long night’s sleep. (Talk to your child’s pediatrician about when it’s an appropriate time to wean your baby.) However, you can get your newborn a successful sleep by providing them with a womb-like environment that prompts their sleep response. For example, swaddling simulates a hug in the womb, while white noise mimics the constant whistling of blood flowing through the uterine arteries. Essentially, using these senses allows for a natural and early training of the baby’s sleep.
How Long Does Sleep Training Take?
No matter which sleep training technique you decide to adopt, it’s important to know that every caregiver… And the time it takes is different for each baby! In general, most sleep training strategies take about a week to implement, but sometimes it takes longer, depending on your approach… and your consistency. If you’ve been trying sleep training for two weeks without success, consider seeking advice from your baby’s pediatrician.
Is Sleep Training Safe?
While it is 100% accurate to say that sleep training can be very stressful for parents, if your baby is developmentally ready and in a safe sleep environment, sleep training – no matter what method is used – is absolutely safe. In fact, studies in the journal Pediatrics noted that no long-term differences were found between children who had been treated. In infancy and in people who have not undergone sleep training. In addition, another study found that successful infant sleep training significantly improved the mother’s mood.
How to Train a Baby to Sleep
There are plenty of sleep training tips to choose from… Sometimes they are used individually, others overlap, and sometimes they are combined. So, just choose a sleep training method that works for you and your baby.
“Cry It Out” (CIO) Sleep Training Method
“Shouting out” is the most well-known sleep training method and asks you not to intervene if your baby becomes irritable or crying when you put your baby down before bedtime. This is sometimes referred to as the “extinct” sleep training method. Since some babies have specific health or feeding needs, it’s not a bad idea to consult with your baby’s pediatrician before starting a CIO.
How to do it: Here, there is no need to shake or feed your baby to sleep. Instead, with the “cry out” sleep training method, you feed your baby, burp up, change diapers, and then put them in the cradle and make them drowsy, but still awake. You say good night, and… Leave. If your baby is cooing softly and is about to fall asleep… Or if they’re irritable or crying, you quit. Once you’re gone, you can’t come back until your baby’s next scheduled feeding time or they wake up in the morning. Of course, this means that you need to do your best not to let your baby cry. And, well, it can be tough.
Wake up and Sleep Exercises
The idea behind the wake and sleep method is to gently stop your little one from being held or shaken so that he can fall asleep all the naps and nights. This is probably the gentlest way to teach your baby to self-soothe and sleep soundly through the night.
How to do it: Every time you go to bed, wrap your baby in swaddling clothes and turn on some power, the sound is as loud as a shower. Next: feed and burp your sweet peas, let them fall asleep in your arms, and place them in the cradle (safely, on your back, of course). However, after you put the Munchkin down, gently scratch their neck or feet until they open their eyes. After a few seconds, your baby will close his eyes again and fall asleep again. If your baby is fussy, continue to pick them up to feed or seek comfort, but be sure to wake your newborn again when you put them back. Sounds crazy, right? Who woke up the sleeping baby?! But those few seconds of lethargic waking are the first step in helping your baby learn Xi how to self-soothe and sleep through the night.
Faber Sleep Training Method
This is sometimes referred to as the examination and console sleep training method or “graded extinction.” The Faber method is very similar to “shout it out”. Except that you take a small step towards the end goal. Since the Ferber method is another form of CIO, it’s wise to consult with your pediatrician before you begin.
How to do it: After completing the entire feeding-burping-changing procedure and putting the awake baby down, leave the room a la “cry out.” However, with the Faber Sleep Training Method, if your baby is crying, you go back to their room and check your sleep at specific, progressive intervals. For example, you come back 5 minutes later to boo or talk softly to your baby, then leave immediately. If your child is still crying, return in 10 minutes. (The time between each check-in should be longer.) Just like “cry out,” the Ferber method emphasizes that you don’t pick up your baby when you return to the room.
“Chair” Sleep Training Method
This sleep training strategy also requires a chair, a lot of time, and a lot of patience. (This is also known as the camping sleep training method.) As with the Faber method, you can sleep train your baby gradually. Again, it’s a good idea to consult with your baby’s healthcare provider before you begin.
How to do it: You know what to do: Put a drowsy, well-fed, freshly burped, freshly changed baby in the bassinet. But instead of leaving the room after saying goodnight, you sit on the edge of your baby’s bed… Only leave after the baby dozes off. If your baby cries, you go back to the room and sit down again. Pick-up is not permitted, but you can provide a gentle verbal guarantee. Every few nights, you’ll gradually move your chair closer to the door until you finally leave the room.
“Pick It Up, Put It Down” Sleep Training Method
This sleep training technique is similar to the Faber Method, but you can continue to provide some immediate physical comfort when you return to check on your baby at specific progressive intervals. This is sometimes referred to as the “shhh
How to do it: Feed, burp, change diapers, and put your baby down when he is awake. If your child is fussy or crying when you put it in the bassinet, you don’t have to plug your ears and leave the room. Instead, feel free to pat their little belly or put your hand on them and whisper a boo or sweet talk. You can even pick up your baby, as the name “pick up, put down” indicates. However, the key is to be brief. Pick up your baby, soothe them well and settle them down, then put them back in the bassinet and sit wobbly. Whenever they cry, you repeat this loving, yet brief routine.
Sleep Training Tips
Set a bedtime routine. Most babies are very willing and able to establish a bedtime routine when they are around 6 to 8 weeks old. Reliable Xi can help your child begin to recognize the signs that they are ready to go to bed… Then respond with sleep. Xi that includes relaxing bathing, then swaddling, some white noise, breastfeeding, and a regular bedtime routine are usually ideal.
Start wisely. It’s best to avoid sleep training during chaotic periods at home, such as when your baby is teething, when there is a time change, when a new caregiver starts working or when parents return to work, or when you move your baby to their own room. (PS: Starting on Friday can get you through the biggest ups and downs of the weekend.)
Look for clues to drowsiness. It’s best to start your baby’s sleep Xi when they’re tired but haven’t fallen asleep yet. Therefore, pay attention to your baby for signs of sleepiness, including rubbing his eyes, fluttering or drooping eyelids, yawning, or pulling his ears.
Keep your baby awake. All sleep training methods revolve around your little one being able to fall asleep on their own. To do this, your baby needs to be awake when you put them in the bassinet.
Don’t be in a hurry to respond. If you’re using a gentler approach to sleep training, that doesn’t mean you should go to your baby for the first time. Reacting too quickly to every sound can undermine a child’s self-soothing efforts.
Finally, keep this in mind: some sleep training techniques simply won’t work for you. Don’t beat yourself up for it! Like many things in life, sleep training for babies can take some trial and error. So, if the sleep training method you decide on doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to try something new, or a combination of both techniques. But once you’ve found a way that works – be consistent! Give your baby at least a week to figure it all out.