If you are a new mom, you will find many other moms telling you how difficult the first days of motherhood will be. These first months of parenthood are characterized by sleep deprivation which results from your little one’s unestablished sleeping and waking cycle and the need to be fed after every few hours. However, this should not worry you; it is normal. When your baby is a few months old – after ditching the late-night feedings and now has a sleeping and waking cycle that is more predictable – sleep training him or her would be a good idea. Sleep training your infant will enable your whole family to get a much-needed good night’s sleep.
What is sleep training?
Sleep training is also known as sleep learning, sleep coaching, or sleep-teaching and is a process whereby you step in to assist your little one in learning not only how to fall asleep, but also to stay asleep. Sleep training is one of the touchy topics of parenthood that experts and parents give their opinions on. This is because parents and experts will either speak for or against a sleep technique depending on whether it has worked for them and their infants. However, no one is entirely correct when it comes to which is the right way to sleep train your child and have them sleep throughout the night as there are multiple ways to choose.
When to begin sleep coaching your infant
Any super tired and sleep deprived parent will look forward to sleep training their colicky baby, but when exactly is the right time to begin sleep coaching your infant? Some pediatricians will advise you to sleep train your infant once he or she gets to a specific weight. Other moms may also advise you to wait until the baby is four months old and can self-soothe. However, if you decide to wait longer, it is okay; there’s no right time to start.
However, before you start sleep training your infant, it would be wise to talk with your pediatrician – more so if your child is putting on weight slowly or was a preemie and may not be ready to ditch the late-night feedings. Such infants may need a sleep training schedule that is well adapted to a few late-night wake-ups.
Sleep coaching methods
Before you begin to sleep train your child, it is imperative to note that all these sleep training methods have advantages and disadvantages, and what works for your friend’s little one may not work for yours. Some of the commonly used sleep training techniques include:
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No-cry Method
This sleep learning technique involves subtly changing your little one’s sleeping habits. For instance, by use of the “fading trick,” you slowly ease out of the infant’s go-to-sleep routine. If the little one is used to you holding him or her until they fall asleep, you now begin to hold them to sleep less and less until you can put them down to sleep without holding and rocking them.
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The Cry It Out (CIO) technique
Just as the name suggests, this technique involves sleep training your little one by allowing them to self-soothe without stepping in while he or she tries to fall asleep. The idea of this technique is that the little one will eventually learn to self-soothe, stop crying, and sleep throughout the night.
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Weissbluth Technique
For this technique, you are required to set up a sleeping time routine, for example, sing a lullaby, read a book, or bath the baby, then put him or her down to sleep, leave the room and do not go back inside till morning. Most moms who have tried this method have, however, stated that it was very hard in the beginning, but eventually, the baby went back to sleep after crying.
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Time-Interval Technique
This technique is also known as the Ferber method or modified sleep coaching. This technique requires you to put the baby down to sleep even though he or she is crying, then come to check up on the little one in intervals of 5, 10, 15 minutes and so on. When checking up on him, be sure not to pick him or her up. However, you can verbally try to soothe or gently pat him or her. As the intervals get longer, the baby will eventually sleep through the night.
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Chair Technique
This technique begins with the parent seated right next to the baby’s crib or baby swing. Each time the baby is put down to sleep, you move further away from the baby while verbally soothing and patting the baby. Do this until you are outside the baby’s room. This method is usually helpful if your baby is suffering from separation anxiety.
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Pick up, put down technique
In this technique, you place your baby in bed while he or she is still awake and then keep checking up on him at intervals just like in the time interval technique. However, in this method, you can pick the baby to comfort him or her then put them in bed again. Eventually, he or she will be drowsy and fall asleep on their own.
I hope that these sleep techniques can help your little one to sleep peacefully through the night!
References
https://www.thebump.com/a/how-to-sleep-train
https://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/tips/ten-steps-to-sleep-training-success/
Related Article: 7 Tips For Easy Sleeping During Pregnancy
