Sleep Training Methods: Effective Approaches for Encouraging Independent Slumbers in Infants

Sleep training requires guiding your baby to self-comfort and individually doze into sleep without dependence on parental or caregiver help.

It involves teaching them not only to initiate sleep but also to sustain it autonomously. With numerous sleep training methods available, finding the right one for your family may require some experimentation.

Sleep Training Infants Can Start at Six Months of Age

In early parenthood, many emotions are encountered, spanning from overwhelming love to sheer tiredness due to lack of sleep and regular care for the infants.However, the encouraging news is that while sleepless nights are difficult for parents, most infants can build a whole night's sleep pattern by the age of 6 months. 

For babies who no longer need overnight feeding or have specific needs, sleep training becomes important in teaching them how to sleep through the night.

Falling asleep on their own and staying asleep are skills that need to be developed, and numerous sleep training methods aim to help babies learn these skills. The key lies in finding a sleep training approach that suits your family and regularly doing it.

Selecting the most appropriate sleep training method for a family relies on personal choices and the baby's personality. Researching the numerous choices and consulting with a healthcare provider can help in making an informed decision.

Five Widely Used Sleep Training Methods

Fading Method

This method involves gradually reducing dependency on soothing techniques, such as feeding or rocking, to help the baby fall asleep independently. Over time, parents slowly phase out their involvement in the bedtime routine, allowing the baby to learn to sleep without assistance.

Pick-up/Put-down Method

A mild approach, this method includes picking up the baby when they cry, comforting them shortly, and then placing them back down, awake but drowsy. By frequently reassuring the baby that they are secure, parents aim to teach them to fall asleep on their own.

Read Also: Cry It Out Method for Sleep Training: What Every Parent Should Know

Chair Method

Parents begin to sit in a chair near the crib until the baby falls asleep, gently increasing the distance between themselves and the crib each night. Eventually, the baby learns to sleep on their own without parental existence.

Cry It Out Method

After completing the bedtime pattern, parents leave the nursery and do not respond to the baby's cries throughout the night. There are a variety of this method, permitting parents to customize it based on their comfort level and the baby's needs.

Ferber Method

Named after the physician who developed it, this approach includes putting the baby to bed and gently increasing the intervals at which parents respond to their cries. Advocates of this approach believe it develops babies to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own over time.

Seeking Help from Doctors

Don't hesitate to consult the baby's doctor for help on when and how to begin sleep training. If you've carefully followed a sleep training method for two weeks without progress, seeking advice from your doctor can be useful.

While random spit-up or vomiting while crying it out isn't commonly a cause for concern, if it happens regularly, it might display an underlying issue or recommend that this method isn't appropriate for your family. It's suggested to discuss any concerns with your pediatrician.

Initially, sleep training often involves tears from both you and your baby. However, with persistence, consistency, and a bit of luck, you'll eventually enjoy peaceful nights, and your baby will acquire the valuable skill of falling and remaining asleep independently.

Related Article: Unlock Better Nights: Top 5 Essential Rules for Successful Infant Sleep Training