Sleep training is a hot issue in the infant world, and with good reason: sleep is essential for babies, but each baby is unique. How can new parents help their children sleep through the night before they can do so themselves, for everyone’s sake?
Opinions differ on whether sleep training is the best strategy; some swear by it, some swear off of it totally, and others are unsure. While most people associate sleep training with the “cry-it-out” method, there are numerous other sleep training strategies available. If you’ve never tried sleep training before, you might be surprised at how simple it is to find a method that works for you.
Sleep training methods
- The cry-it-out technique
When you put your baby to bed, give them some time to wail before returning to them. Parents normally wait a certain amount of time, beginning with modest increments and then increasing as the infant learns to self-regulate. This is the most difficult and divisive question. Allowing your child to cry in this manner is cruel, and it can be challenging for parents to hear their cries. We naturally react to our babies’ cries, after all! For many babies, this will improve as they learn to self-soothe, but you know your child best. This strategy may not be suitable for babies with more sensitive temperaments or those who like to be visible to their parents during daytime activities.
- The gradual withdrawal approach
As a comparable but less abrupt method to sleep training, parents gradually limit the amount of time they spend with their baby before going to sleep. This strategy gradually introduces the baby to being alone and comfortable with self-soothing and stimulation. This is a sort of middle ground strategy; you’re still available if the kid needs you, and for many people, it feels less sudden than the no-cry method. Pulling away may be difficult at first, but there is plenty of time to experiment with different strategies until you find your groove.
- The No-Cry Method
This is exactly what it sounds like: instead of letting the infant cry it out, you offer assistance as soon as they become agitated (or shortly thereafter). The trick is to avoid picking them up or moving them from their crib. Babies (and people in general) are highly sensitive, and touch is frequently an effective approach to calming them. You can stroke their back, stroke their head, rock them, sing to them, or talk to them—whatever your baby prefers—to reassure them that they are safe in their sleep space and that you are still present.
Remember that you know your family best, and you know what’s best for your infant. If sleep training isn’t for you, that’s fine! If so, that is also perfectly fine. Struggling with sleep may be unpleasant and difficult for the entire family, so if you’re trying something that isn’t working, be kind to yourself and your baby, and don’t feel bad about pausing things.
Believe it or not, a baby’s mattress and sheets have a significant impact on their sleep. Many sleepers have informed us that their babies sleep independently on our Crib Mattress and Crib Sheets (they are incredibly comfortable, after all, and the bamboo coating on our Crib Mattress means it is naturally cooling and temperature-regulating).
Blackout to the rescue!
No matter what type of sleep training you use (or whether you sleep train at all), creating a nighttime routine and a comfortable environment can help your baby feel drowsy and relaxed. White noise machines, infrared lights, and soothing bedtime activities such as songs or stories can all help a baby feel calm and comfortable before bedtime.
Consider this: you can regulate the noise and temperature in your baby’s room, but not the sun (and if you’re like most parents, you’d rather sleep after sunrise!). Sunlight naturally wakes us up, as our biological clocks synchronize with the sun’s cycles. Similarly, as the sun sets, our bodies begin to produce sleep chemicals, making us fatigued. These hormones help control our sleep cycles, which is why it is critical to wake up and sleep at the same time—for both us and our babies. The sun, on the other hand, usually has different plans; it stays up all day in the summer, is scarcely visible in the winter, and throws everyone off at daylight savings time.
Blackout curtains allow you to control when light enters and exits your room year-round. This will enable the baby to sleep more soundly and longer, free from external disturbances. What if the baby is terrified of the darkness? It happens; getting a fussy baby to sleep is difficult, so try a night light (particularly an infrared light) to help them adjust to the dark and calm. This way, you can still control the amount of light that enters the room, and it will remain steady.
If you are concerned about noise, a white noise machine might help drown out outdoor disturbances that may shock your child. If your blackout curtains for home are thermally insulated, they will also help filter out noise while simultaneously adjusting the temperature in the nursery.
What matters most?
Many parents have tried and liked sleep training to help their children sleep; however, an equal number have decided not to sleep train at all, instead choosing alternative strategies. Ultimately, there are no correct or incorrect answers. Baby temperaments, natural sleep habits, and your existing family routines will all influence what routine works best for you, but one thing is universally important: consistency. Creating a controlled, comfortable sleep environment will be the most effective strategy to help babies sleep better for longer.