Whoever thought the simple act of sleeping would require any training? For infants, sleep training is a necessary, important journey to their well-being and one you won’t regret.
Sleep training is utilizing specific methods with the end goal of removing the sleep crutches so the baby is able to self-soothe and fall asleep, unassisted. Examples of sleep crutches are: the baby requires nursing, rocking, or a walk to sleep, or requires a pacifier (not a sleep crutch in all cases), etc.
Before starting the process, I suggest parents consider some important factors:
- When can I start sleep-training my baby?
- Is the timing right?
- Am I ready to focus and commit to the program?
- Is my baby healthy?
What is the current family dynamic? Are we going through major life changes such as a change of residence, a death or a divorce?
You can start gradually laying the groundwork for the healthy sleep habits that your child will use for the rest of his life, as early as 2 weeks old!
Let’s review some of these questions and find out if you are ready to sleep- coach your little one!
When can I start? You can start gradually laying the groundwork for your child’s healthy sleep habits as early as 2 weeks old! We would not sleep coach a newborn as he or she needs to eat every 2-3 hours and sleep most of the time! But we can definitely create a good base for them to develop good sleep hygiene, lasting for years to come.
The ideal age to sleep coach a child is 4 months and older. At that age, most babies have the ability to sleep longer at night and their sleep is more organized.
Is the timing right? Is my family going through any major changes?
It might not be an ideal time to sleep train a child when the family is busy with work, going through a divorce, moving, job loss, about to go on vacation, or if the baby has a new caregiver or is about to go in to day care. All these changes might affect the family dynamic, thwarting the positive impact of the sleep training program.
Is my baby healthy? Development milestones and illnesses like an ear infection, or when the child is teething may make it difficult for your baby to sleep through the night. I strongly recommend holding off on sleep training until the child feels better. When in doubt, ask your pediatrician.
Am I ready to commit to sleep training? Consider how much time you are willing to devote to the process and what your expectations are about how long it will take. Some parents get frustrated early into the program because they aren’t seeing quick results. Changing sleeping habits is not something that will happen overnight. It requires consistency, patience and time. Sometimes, it can take as little as 3-4 days. In other cases, it might take 1-2 weeks. Keep in mind, that the longer the child has had the sleeping habit, the longer it will take to change it.
I hope this has helped you decide whether you are ready to start sleep training. Trust your instincts on this journey – they will take you far!
Sleeping Babies = Happy Families,
Much Love,
Eve
