Sleep training methods (2024)

I personally don’t believe in sleep training or that babies can be “trained” to do a biologically normal thing like sleep. It’s perfectly normal for babies and children to wake up frequently at night, while it’s also normal for others not to. My daughter is just over 2 now and has only recently started sleeping through the night. She’d wake up to 6x a night up to about a year a half. While it was difficult for me at times due to the lack of sleep, I knew it was temporary and that she needed the support, for whatever reason, whether she simply needed comfort or had anxiety, or was going through a developmental leap. Probably not the advice you wanted 😅 but it’s what has worked for our family ❤️

There is a book called The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. Her methods are gentle. I haven't really implemented a concrete plan from the book, but have incorporated different strategies to gently get my toddlers less dependent on me for sleep. It's definitely a good starting point if cry it out isn't for you (it's not for me either, I just can't do it).

I would second the above-mentioned book. I read it and got some good ideas, but also never really followed her plan strictly. I will add that sleep training as she describes works best with older babies. 5mo is still pretty young to be expecting long or consistent sleeps on a regular basis, imo. It certainly feels long when you're in the middle of this phase of I terrupted sleep for yourself, but they're still really young at this age.

I didn't sleep train. To me, it felt unnatural. Bedside bassinet and after 6 mo, cosleeping was the solution.

This is what “works”: bond with your baby, be close with your baby, carry your baby, and sleep with it next to your baby. That will make them feel safe and calm. Being a parent is not about getting your own needs met, it’s about them. And they don’t sleep they way you might want them to the first years. My youngest is 4 and wakes up most nights still. She comes to our bed or we go lie with her until she’s calm and asleep again. She sleeps next to her older sister in a trundle. No one likes to sleep alone, especially not kids. It’s the most natural thing in the world to need company and comfort.

Crunchy sleep training is using a baby carrier during moms waking hours so baby can be close and comforted at all times and breastfeed easily and bed sharing with mom until around 2 years old and then transition to a twin bed, in their room, usually mom sleeps with them in that bed and goes to her own bed and wakes to tend and comfort (or just stay there and sleep with them) until around 3 years old when LO feels secure to sleep in room, in bed solo. Even at 3, LO will wake and call for you until unforseeable future and you can invited them back into bed or again, sleep with them in their room. No sleep for moms until all kids are older unfortunately.

I’m a ftm only have one baby so far. Wondering how having the baby in the carrier works with a toddler. Would the older sibling playing/having fun wake the baby? Trying to figure it out before I have my second. With my first I didn’t sleep train but I did put him in the bassinet for naps and I would nap beside him.

Baby will get used to the natural noises of your home and sleep even if a loud speaker was playing music (as long as he/she is on your chest cozy) Check out Happy Baby Carrier and get into their fb group for more info on carrier types etcI tandem carried when needed with my last newborn (girls are 3 1/2, and 2 now and we still carry on occasion for long hikes outdoors)For naps, we all lay down together and take naps! I’m 3 mo pregnant and need a nap as often as I can lol but I am diligent with nap time .. we all lay down, no matter what, even if the oldest is just laying quietly.

This. Except, my baby I eventually learned, had sensory issues and sometimes just wanted to be put down in her vibrating bouncy chair. I think they were later recalled. I thought I would baby wear and never put her down, because that's my culture. But she would get fussy from overstimulation when I wore her and not want to nap. Regarding parents' sleep, co-sleeping once she was out of the newborn stage was great sleep. I'd wake up just enough to put her on the boob and go right back to sleep. I think it's important to prioritize parental sleep but I agree "sleep training" babies isn't the answer.

White noise machine really helps.