According to your inquiry “When should I start
sleep training my baby”. According to research published by Christina
Korownyk, and Adrienne J. Lindblad, baby sleep training should begin at
4 months to 6 years of age.
Your baby is now old enough to go 6 to 8 hours
without eating, but not old enough yet to associate sleep with you.
Sleep training doesn’t increase your child’s
risk for behavioral or emotional problems later in life, despite some parents’
worries that certain approaches can harm a child’s health or lead to attachment
issues.
Most doctors agree that putting your child to
sleep in their crib is safe and beneficial.
When Should I Start Sleep Training My Baby
To
identify some of the issues you may face, let’s take a closer look at age
groups:
Sleep Training Infants
Infant
sleep training is the process of teaching your baby to fall asleep on their
own. This does not mean that your baby will never need you again.
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After
all, babies are babies. However, infant sleep training is the process of
helping your baby learn how to fall asleep with less assistance from
you.
Sleep training a newborn
Newborns
require a lot of cuddles and love. If you’re considering sleep training your
newborn, I strongly advise against crying it out.
In
most cases, you’re doing basic things like establishing a sleep schedule or
establishing a bedtime routine.
Sleep Training a 2 or 3-month-old baby
Once
your baby is 8 weeks old or older, it’s time to think about changing more than
just their bedtime routine and schedule.
Your
baby’s ability to self-soothe may still be restricted, but with a few gentle
strategies, you can begin to move toward more independent sleep, even if
success isn’t always consistent.
Sleep Training a 4-month-old baby
Your
baby will most likely go through a sleep regression at 4 months. A sleep
regression is a permanent change in your baby's sleep pattern.
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Many
babies who used to sleep through the night will start to wake up frequently and
take short naps again at 4 months.
4
months is also a good time to stop sleeping in a swaddle, although some babies
may not be ready until they are a little older.
If
possible, we do not recommend sleep training while still in a swaddle.
Sleep Training a 4 to 6-month-old baby
At
4 months or 6 months, this is usually a good time to start sleep training. Your
baby has come out of the newborn stage, gone through the sleep regression at 4
months, but is not sitting up or standing up yet.
This
can make things a little bit more difficult. Many babies haven’t started their
teething yet, which is a good thing.
Anything
that helps you feel more confident about your baby’s sleep is helpful during
this stage of sleep training. It’s one of the greatest times to start sleep
training!
Sleep Training a 7, 8, or 9-month-old baby
If
your baby is 7, 8, or 9 months old, it can be tough to sleep train them, but
it's not impossible.
They
may be going through an 8-month sleep regression, which can last up to 9 months
or even 10 months. It's different from a 4-month regression because it's
temporary and usually only lasts 3-6 weeks.
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During
this time, a lot of babies are becoming more mobile and have a lot of activity
going on in their minds, which makes it harder for them to sleep and therefore
harder for you to sleep-train them.
You
might not get great sleep, but even if everyone is unhappy, we still see a lot
of families improve sleep through sleep training with this age group.
Sleep Training for a 10 to 11-month-old baby
If
your baby is 10 months old and waking up more than once in the night for a
feeding, or more than once for a feeding that is formula-fed, then it’s
probably time to begin sleep training.
Unless
there’s a medical reason why your baby shouldn’t be getting a good night’s
sleep, be sure to review our baby night feedings by age chart before you start.
If
your baby is between 10 and 11 months old and still takes short naps, then
sleep training is probably long overdue.
The
main problem with babies this age is that they are usually standing and
cruising by this time, so you’ll need to deal with that complication.
If
your baby is standing up during sleep training, we usually recommend laying
them down intermittently but not all the time.
Sleep Training Toddlers
When
it comes to sleep training your toddler, it's all about helping them become
more independent sleepers.
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They
might or might not be ready to go to sleep on their own right now, but a lot of
parents are having trouble with things like needing a parent to be in
the room with them, being woken up a lot during the night, taking naps that are
too short, not sleeping alone, or even climbing out of their crib.
A
lot of toddlers are still waking up like babies who haven't been sleep-trained,
waking up every hour or so, and their parents are exhausted!
Sleep Training a 1-year-old
As
your baby gets older, it's important to keep a few things in mind. First, don't
rush the transition to one nap. If you do this too soon, you could have some
serious sleep issues.
But
there are plenty of daycares that let toddlers take one nap, so you don't have
to worry too much.
Second,
your baby might be transitioning to cow's milk, so make sure to give
them 3 meals and 2 snacks each day to make sure they don't wake up hungry.
Sleep Training a 13 to 17-month-old
Most
babies in this age group take one nap by the time they are 15 months old.
However, some babies may not take one nap until they are 18 months old.
If
your child was a good sleeper, but has started to wake up a lot during the
night (or wakes up too soon in the morning) and is still taking two naps a
single nap may be the answer to your problems.
Sleep Training an 18-month-old
One
of the biggest challenges of sleep training an 18-month-old is that you’ll have
to deal with another sleep regression during this time.
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Toddlers
often wake up at night or miss some naps during this time. However, don’t
worry, they typically return to napping by 3 – 4 years old.
On
top of the sleep regression, you may also start to see some hunger strikes at
night.
Again,
these toddlers are very active and growing, so you’ll want to look at your
daily schedule and add an extra meal or snack to your child’s schedule.
Sleep
training a 19-month-old to 2-year-old
Trying
to sleep train an older toddler can be difficult because of those dreaded
tantrums. Toddlers are becoming more independent and want to decide for
themselves when they want to go to sleep and where they want to sleep.
It
can also be more difficult when your baby is saying a few words like
"mama" and "dada".
If
you thought it was hard to hear your baby crying before, hearing them say
"mama" or "dada" over and over again can be heartbreaking.
That's why we use different sleep training methods with toddlers depending on the sleep issue.
Toddlers
are more mobile, so sleep training can be a bit more difficult than with an
infant, but again we do it every day and it's not too late!
Don't
worry, you can still sleep-train your older toddlers, but it will take
patience, determination, consistency, and follow-through.
A Word From GetMe Treated
When
should I start sleep training my baby? Pediatric experts recommend starting
infant sleep training between 4 months - 6 years using controlled weeping and
nighttime fading techniques to improve babies' sleep. Babies are more likely to
sleep through the night after 9 months.
Night
weaning is not the same as sleep training. Consult a pediatrician and use
effective methods like the Check-and-Console method.
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Fading
the Bedtime Hour involves gradually moving the time earlier each night. It is
recommended to give this method at least a week to work.
The
key is to stay determined to put your baby to bed earlier than you would like.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and there’s no right or wrong way to do
it.
Many
babies learn to fall asleep on their own after establishing a bedtime routine.
You don’t need to panic at every little noise, so long as your baby is sleeping
soundly.
FAQs Related To When Should I Start Sleep Training My Baby
What is the best age to sleep-train a baby?
4
to 6 months old
How do I know when my baby is ready for sleep training?
Sleeping
for 5-6 hours or more at times, waking up more often at night after a long
period of restful sleep, and reaching 4-6 months of age.
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· Can you sleep train a 1-year-old?
Yes.
Will the baby learn to sleep without training?
In
the long run, babies will learn to fall asleep by themselves. But sleep
training works, and it’s great for babies and parents alike, and there’s no
evidence that it’s harmful in the long run.
How many nights does it take to sleep train a baby?
3
- 7 days
What is the 5 3 3 rules for babies?
5
3 3 is also known as the 5-3-3 rule. It’s a sleep training technique where you set
specific intervals for your child’s sleep. You want them to sleep 5 hours, wake
up 3 hours, and then sleep 3 hours again.
