When should you start sleep training?
Good sleep practices can start as soon as your baby is home from the hospital. This can include optimal sleep environment, using light and dark to teach day and night, using safe sleep practices to reduce the risks of SIDS, and more. I help with all of this in my services, no matter which package you chose. As for formal sleep training, it can start any time after 4 months old as this is when a baby is cognitively ready to learn independent sleep. I always like to start at this age because you can get ahead of a lot of bad habits. That being said, I work with kids up to 5 years old, so it’s not too late if you have a toddler who needs help. I simply adjust the methods we use to suit the appropriate age and specific sleep struggles that child is facing.
How long does sleep training take on average?
When I start with a new family, I always ask them to carve out 2 solid weeks to stick to the plan I provide as closely as possible. This means for those 2 weeks, no travel or house guests that might throw off the plan I am providing. Those first 2 weeks are very important for being as consistent as possible to get your baby used to the changes and to settle into the new structure we are providing. After those 2 weeks, if we have achieved the desired results, parents can start to make slight adjustments as they see fit. Some methods take longer than others, and some kids are more resistant than others, but I have yet to meet a family that I couldn’t get significant results in 2 weeks with the parents being fully on board and consistent. (**knock on wood!!**) Also something to note, nights fall into place much faster than naps. So it’s normal to see great progress in nights first, and for naps to linger a bit longer before falling into place.
Should you let your baby “cry it out”?
A lot of people assume that the term “sleep training” automatically means letting your baby cry it out. This is absolutely not the case. Cry it out can be a very effective method when it is used properly. However, there is a lot more to this technique then just leaving your baby in a crib all night no matter how much they cry. In order for this method to work, you have to set the baby up for nighttime success by having the day structured in the correct way. This means the baby has to have enough feeds at the optimal times, the age appropriate number of naps, proper nutrition, optimal sleep environment, age appropriate bed time, a strong wind down routine, etc. I never recommend letting a baby cry it out unless you have done your research and know what you are doing, or are working with a certified sleep consultant who can help you. I also only ever use this method if the parents are fully on board with it, I never want the parents to feel uncomfortable with anything we are doing while working together.
How do the different sleep training methods differ?
There are a handful of different methods when it comes to sleep training. I like to explain sleep training as sort of a spectrum of methods. On one end of the spectrum you have cry it out, which is a hands-off technique that produces quick results but can be emotionally hard on parents depending on their personalities and parenting styles. On the other end of the spectrum we have the very hands-on methods that involve staying in the room and tending to each cry with either touch, voice, or picking up. And there are a few techniques in the middle of the spectrum that are a little more to one side or the other. It’s also possible to combine different techniques, or even to start with one and then progress to another if needed. No one method works for every baby or every parent, but that’s why working with a certified sleep consultant is so amazing, because I can match the method to you based off the intake questionnaire that you fill out for me. If you want to try a different method then what I suggest, that’s fine. I’m here to get you the desired results you ask for, no matter which method you are most comfortable with.
How can I prepare for sleep training before we start?
In the information I provide my clients, I give them everything they need to know before getting started. The most important thing we work on before starting is making sure that the sleep environment is optimal for good sleep. This means we review things like white noise, temperature, sleep attire, light and dark, sleep props, and more. We want to set your baby up for success, so having the most conducive sleep environment is crucial. If baby has their own room, or if they share a room with a sibling, or if they are in a crib/bassinette in mom and dad’s room, we can make it work. Also, I always like my parents to talk to their pediatrician first to get their blessings to start sleep training. I feel like this is a little extra comfort for the parents to know that what they are doing is beneficial and their child is ready.