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When to Start Sleep Training
Find out when to start sleep training and how best to sleep train your baby
by: Nancy Ripton
Sleep Training
- Start sleep training at six to eight weeks of age.
- By six months, most babies have the capacity to sleep through the night.
- When your baby starts to rub her eyes, yawn, suck on her fingers, fuss and show a shortened attention span, it’s time for bed.
- During training, put your baby to bed awake and regularly come back to soothe her until she falls asleep.
- Establish a nightly routine that will let your baby know it’s time for bed.
he first month of life is exhausting for parents, says Dr. Cathryn Tobin, author of the Lull-A-Baby Sleep Plan. Your baby can’t tell the difference between day and night and needs to be fed every two to four hours. When it comes to sleep, it’s survival mode. But once you’re through that initial rough patch, it is possible to teach her to sleep through the night. Here’s how.
When to start sleep training
“By six to eight weeks, babies start telling the difference between day and night,” says Dr. Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This is the ideal time to establish a sleep routine and instill healthy sleep habits.
At this age your baby’s vision dramatically improves and she can see color and detail. She will gaze at you and smile. Your baby will be able to briefly hold her head up, and will recognize your voice and be calmed by it. Once you notice these changes, it’s time to introduce healthy sleep patterns.
“By three months, sleep habits are fairly set,” says Dr. Mindell, so it’s crucial to start sleep training before this age. Imagine where you want your child to be at one year and start moving toward that point at six to eight weeks of age. Things won’t happen all at once, but it’s important to start a set bedtime routine and to start putting your baby to sleep when she’s drowsy, but still awake. Most babies will continue to wake once a night for food until at least three months, but by six months babies have the capacity to sleep through the night.
What sleep training method is best for you?
With so many sleep methods out there–cry-it-out, Ferber, no-cry solution–what’s a parent to do? Although there are a lot of different names, Dr. Mindell says all methods are basically a form of the checking method: put your baby to bed and regularly come back to talk to her, or stroke and comfort her until she falls asleep.
“Ferber has been misquoted,” says Dr. Mindell. “His theory is not to cry it out. I don’t think any doctor would ever recommend putting your infant to bed and closing the door.” You need to teach your baby to settle herself, but you also need to let her know you are there by coming back to offer comfort at regular intervals.
Three steps to successful sleep training
In addition to your comforting presence, there are three keys to establishing healthy sleep patterns: setting a sleep schedule, putting your baby to bed when she is drowsy but awake, and establishing a routine.
1. Set a sleep schedule. Babies need regular naps and bed times. While it’s common for newborns to stay up until 10 or 11, by three months your child should be in bed by 7 or 7:30. “If you leave it until nine, your baby will be too tired and it will be difficult to get them to sleep,” says Dr. Mindell. “Look for sleep signs,” adds Dr. Tobin. When your baby starts to rub her eyes, yawn, suck on her fingers, fuss and show a shortened attention span, it’s time for bed.
2. Put your baby to bed awake, but drowsy. Put your baby to bed when he’s still awake, then comfort him with your presence, touch and voice. “If your baby is fussing, whisper softly in his ear,” says Dr. Tobin. “If he’s screaming, switch to a perky voice and speak quickly.”
Expect training to take about two weeks. Once your baby gets used to falling asleep with you there, she will soon be able soothe herself to sleep.
3. Establish a nightly routine that lets your baby know it’s time for bed. Give him a bath, a massage or change his clothes. Read a story or sing a song. There are a lot of things you can do together, but the activities should be consistent and they should be soothing. “Avoid TV viewing before bed as it can lead to disruptive sleep,” says Dr. Mindell.
Meet our Experts:
Dr. Cathryn Tobin is a pediatrician and author of the Lull-A-Baby Sleep Plan. Dr. Jodi Mindell is the Associate Director of the Sleep Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also the author of Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep.
