Sleep training is the method in which you teach your baby how to sleep on their own – whether that happens when they are placed in their cot at the beginning of the night or when they wake up in the middle of the night.
In simple words, you are teaching your baby how to sleep, or self soothe. Sleep training automatically means parents and caregivers can get more sleep and rest.
How much time does sleep training require?
Depending on the approach you use, the time it takes to successfully train your infant to sleep will vary. But generally speaking, it ought to take three to four nights. Some sleep training techniques may take longer than others, but most of it depends on the parents’ consistency and having a strategy.
Consult your pediatrician if you’ve tried to sleep-train your infant for two weeks but without any success.
Different methods of sleep training
Let us take a look at some of the common methods recommended to parents.
Cry It Out (CIO)
CIO entails putting your infant to bed while they are sleepy but awake so they can develop the ability to fall asleep on their own. It’s possible that your baby will cry when they practice this new ability, but it’s not necessary.
Although it may be the most challenging for parents, this approach frequently yields results the quickest. Since your baby is used to sleeping with assistance, the first couple of nights are usually the hardest. It could take them a night or two to realize they can fall asleep on their own, but things will get better soon after that.
Pick up, put down
Although this method requires the most patience and time, it usually makes sleep training feel less difficult for the parents. The idea is that when your baby starts to cry or complain during the night, you can directly provide physical comfort to them by picking them up and putting them down. However, be careful not to linger after picking them up. Put the child back in the cot after picking them up and soothing them until they fall asleep, then leave the room.
Ferber method
A timed interval check-in pattern is used in this method. Put your baby to bed in their cot when they are sleepy but still awake. Then, leave the room. When you return, you will do so to check on your child at predetermined times; nevertheless, you must not pick them up from their cot.
For instance, check in at three minutes, five minutes, ten minutes, and so forth after putting your child to sleep. You can briefly speak to your child, telling them things like, “I love you,” “You’re doing a great job,” or “I’m here for you,” but don’t stay too long.
Each night, extend the interval between check-ins. The timed check-ins help some newborns, while some babies get more distressed when they see their parents come and go. Depending on their baby’s demands, many parents combine CIO and the Ferber approach.
The chair method
As you have expected, a chair is required for this sleep-training method. Time and patience are also major requirements.
Sit in a chair close to your infant and place them in their cot while they are sleepy. Go out of the room when they are asleep. Return inside and take a seat next to them if they start crying. Move your chair a little away each night until you are finally out of the room.
When should sleep training begin?
It is advised to start sleeping training your infant when he or she is around four months old. Babies may no longer need nighttime feedings at this age because they are normally mature enough to learn how to comfort themselves. Your baby’s sleep cycles also start to mature at around four months, and their circadian rhythm—the hormonal cycle that controls our sleep-wake cycles—begins to take hold.
Some infants can begin sleep training sooner, while others perform well around the six-month mark. Ask your pediatrician for the all-clear if you’re unclear whether your child is old enough or prepared.
Is this method safe for the baby?
There has been a lot of long-term research on sleep training, and there is no proof that it harms babies or kids physiologically or psychologically. In fact, it has been demonstrated to enhance parental mood, enhance newborn sleep quality, and strengthen the bond of security between children and their carers. Any form of sleep training (as long as your infant is mature enough and in a secure environment) is completely secure and healthy.
When it comes to sleep training or any other question or worry, don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician for help or guidance.
