Is your baby still not sleeping through the night? Are you ready to start sleep training your baby so that both you and your baby can finally get that much needed sleep you have always wanted?
Now it is going to take a little bit of time and effort, but after reading this hopefully you can get things to a better point in your baby's sleep training stage.
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When can you start sleep training baby?
Every baby will be different but sleep training can begin anywhere from 4-6 months. Talk to your pediatrician if you are unsure.
Also remember sleep training shouldn't be done when baby is sick. They need those extra mommy cuddles!
Cry it out method
It is just like it sounds, you let your baby cry it out. This helps your baby learn to self-soothe themselves back to sleep if and when they wake up during the night.
You will hear people that are for and against it, but in all honesty, you have to do whatever works for you! Being a parent isn't about keeping up appearances, it's about doing what is best for your child no matter what.
Ferber Method
The Ferber method is a gentle version of cry it out. It still uses the idea of teaching your little one to self soothe.
Parents have intervals of time where they can't come in to soothe, but after that time has reached, you can then go in and calm baby down. Gradually these intervals get larger.
Helpful tips for sleep training baby
1. Keep yourself from having a meltdown
What you need to remember to keep yourself from having a meltdown during sleep training:
- Tell yourself you are a good mom. Remind yourself you are doing what is best for them.
- They need to sleep, and they need to learn how to fall back asleep in the middle of the night.
- You need the sleep. It's hard to be a good mom if you aren't getting plenty of sleep too!
Close the door or walk to another part of the house. It is going to be hard, but try to get your mind off of your baby crying.
Baby will be asleep before you know it. This is where a video baby monitor is your best friend!
This has been hands-down the BEST baby product I have bought, and honestly wished I had it with my first baby.
2. If possible, have baby sleeping in a different room than you
While I completely understand that not all circumstances let this be an option, but if you can, have your baby sleep in a different room than you. This was an important part in sleep training my kids.
The reason for this is because while your baby learns to self-soothe, the room he/she sleeps in will be loud and crazy.
The part about cry it out is that your baby has to cry it out to learn how to self-soothe, and if you sleep in the same room...no sleep for you!
3. When's the right time?
Every baby is different. As a mom, you are going to be the best judge of when your baby is ready to learn sleep training: cry it out.
There are definite exceptions like if they are sick, or crying because they are still hungry or wet. I found it was a good time to start sleep training after my baby had an already established routine of feedings and play times.
Also, it's okay to go in an check on your baby. Use your mom's intuition, you are the best judge of your baby.
My own success story
Like I said earlier, I had read a lot about the cry it out method, but if you are like me, hearing your baby cry physically does something to you.
It was the most heartbreaking thing to hear her cry. So, cry it out was put on the back burner, and I constantly went to my baby when she cried.
This developed a pattern at night time, and if she woke up in the middle of the night, she couldn't self-soothe herself back to sleep. After the countless times of getting woken up in the night, I decided I had to do something for my sanity and my husband's.
I came back to cry it out. This is the best way for a child to learn to self-soothe herself back to sleep especially in the middle of the night after both you and your spouse are fast asleep.
The first week I would deem as hell week. I think I cried just as much as she did.
The next week, I could see the light. She was still testing the waters when we put her down to sleep, but after 5-10 minutes of "fake crying", she would fall asleep.
Then, it happened! I slept through the night. Amazing. I always get woken up to her crying in the middle of the night, but this time it didn't happen.
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