How Do You Sleep Train a Baby?

Experts agree it is best to start sleep training a baby between three and six months of age.

Are you hoping to answer the question, “How do you sleep-train a baby?” Then, you have come to the right place!

Keep reading to learn more about how sleep training works and why it is essential.

What to Do If Your Baby Will Not Sleep

Sleeping through the night is an essential milestone for babies, and sleep training is a great way to help them learn how to do it.

There are a few different methods you can use to sleep-train your baby, and the best one for you will depend on your parenting style and your baby’s personality.

One popular method is the cry-it-out method, which involves letting your baby cry for a short period before you go in and comfort them. This can be tough to do, but it’s often very effective.

Another popular method is the gradual withdrawal method, which involves gradually reducing the time you spend with your baby in their bed until they’re sleeping through the night on their own.

Discomfort will also contribute to your baby’s sleeping pattern. Possible causes are having a gassy stomach, rashes, and body temperature. 

Make sure to research remedies for these. Knowing how to relieve baby gas will help a gassy stomach, and having rash treatment creams available for diaper rashes to ease the itchiness.

Also, make sure the room temperature is not too cold or too hot for your baby. It’s best to keep the room temperature around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius).

How Do You Sleep-Train a Baby?

To sleep train a baby, you must put them on a regular sleep schedule and teach them how to self-soothe.

This means setting up a bedtime routine, sticking to a regular sleep schedule, and teaching your baby how to fall asleep on their own. This can be done through different methods like crying it out, co-sleeping, or sleep training with a gentle approach.

Sleep training a baby can be a complex process, but you can do a few things to make it easier.

You must establish a bedtime routine that includes a few minutes of quiet before sleep. This might consist of a bath, followed by some quiet time with a book, and then singing a lullaby or two. This will help your baby to know when it is time to sleep.

A comfortable sleep environment for your baby is also needed. This means ensuring the room is dark and quiet and that the crib is comfortable. Once your baby is in their crib, drowsy but awake, you need to leave the room and let them fall asleep on their own.

It is essential not to go in and check on them every few minutes. Doing this will only extend the process and make it harder for your baby to fall asleep.

Make sure to be consistent with your sleep training methods. This means following the same daily routine and being compatible with how much your baby sleeps. 

Different Types of Sleep Training

The four types of sleep training are:

• Fading
• Bedtime fading
• Extinction
• Ferberizing

Fading is when you gradually reduce your bedtime time with your baby.

Bedtime fading is when you start the sleep training process by putting your baby to bed drowsy but awake and then gradually reducing the time you spend with them until they fall asleep on their own.

Extinction is when you put your baby to bed and leave them to fall asleep on their own without any intervention from you.

Ferberizing is where you let your baby cry for set periods before going in to soothe them.

The first night, you would let your baby cry for five minutes before going in to help them. The second night, you would let your baby cry for 10 minutes before going in to soothe them. Eventually, your baby will be sleeping through the night.

Benefits of Sleep Training

Sleep training your baby can have many benefits. It can help your baby learn to self-soothe, sleep through the night, and have a regular sleep schedule.

Sleep training can also help you get some much-needed rest. You will need to commit to a few nights of consistent sleep training when you sleep train. This means you will need to do the same bedtime routine every night and put your baby to bed drowsy but awake.

You may need trial and error to find the best sleep training method for you and your baby. But once you find a method that works, stick with it. Consistency is vital when sleep training.

Sleep training can be difficult, but the benefits are worth it. It will help your baby develop a regular sleep schedule, ensuring they get the right amount of sleep each night.

Sleep Training Cons

There are also drawbacks to sleep training your baby.

Melting down and crying it out can be hard on your baby’s emotional health. It can also be tough on your own emotions to hear your baby crying.

Sleep training takes time and effort. You may need to do it for several nights (or even weeks to months) before your baby gets the message.

Sleep training may not be suitable for every family. For example, some parents cannot stand letting their baby cry it out.

If you are unsure whether or not you can handle this method, talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist before you start.

The Sleep Training Debate

“How do you sleep-train a baby” is a controversial topic with varying opinions

Some sleep training methods are more gentle, such as allowing your baby to cry for a short period before you respond, while others are more abrupt, such as putting your baby in their crib awake and leaving the room.

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