Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, the sleepless nights that come with newborns can take their toll on the entire family. Waking up every few hours to feed, change, or comfort your little bundle of joy can leave you feeling exhausted and desperate for sleep. You might find yourself wondering:
- Can I sleep train a newborn?
- Will sleep training be effective for my family?
- If I sleep train, do I have to let my baby cry?
- When can I start sleep training my baby?
In Era’s podcast “Baby Sleep: Myths & Methods”, we explore how infant development unfolds to understand when babies are ready for sleep training and what factors impact that readiness. We also examine various sleep training methods – including the choice not to sleep train your child at all.
What is Sleep Training?
While you may be familiar with popular methods like “Ferber” and “Cry It Out”, sleep training encompasses many different approaches. At its core, sleep training refers to any strategy parents use to change a child’s sleep habits with the goal of helping a baby learn to fall asleep independently.
For many parents, sleep training can help:
- Establish regular bedtimes
- Get kids to sleep in their own beds
- Teach kids to self-soothe when they wake during the night
These changes can lead to long-term sleep patterns that benefit both parents and children.
Research on Sleep Training
If you’re concerned about potential negative effects, research shows that sleep training has no adverse long-term impact on:
- A child’s mood or behavior
- The parent-child relationship
When Can You Start Sleep Training?
Despite what exhausted parents might hope, newborns aren’t ready for sleep training. Here’s why:
- Infants under four months lack the necessary skills and disposition
- Many babies aren’t ready until five or six months of age
- Before six months, babies still need night feedings
- Early sleep training may not reduce crying or prevent future sleep issues
- Training too early could increase parental anxiety
- There’s an increased SIDS risk when babies sleep in separate rooms
Sleep consultant Heather Turgeon, co-author of “The Happy Sleeper”, explains the importance of waiting until five months: “The reason that we know that babies are able to fall asleep independently at about five months is that they have a mature internal clock. They can really tell the difference between night and day and their bodies are really telling them ‘I want to be asleep at night.’ The circadian system is mature, the signals are very strong, and their body is really on their side.”
The Role of Temperament
Your baby’s temperament plays a crucial role in sleep training readiness. Temperament refers to how a person characteristically responds to and interacts with the world, affecting:
- Crying patterns
- Sleep patterns
- Ability to self-soothe
- Response to different sleep training methods
How Temperament Affects Sleep Training
- Babies who need more help calming down might not be ready for sleep training
- More spirited children might benefit from methods like Cry It Out
- Frequent parent check-ins might give some babies hope for negotiation
- There is no “right” temperament – each child is different
Key Takeaways
- No single approach works for every family
- Each baby has a unique temperament
- Success depends on both age and temperament
- Whatever works for your family is the right solution
For more detailed information about infant and toddler sleep patterns, safety recommendations, and sleep training methods, check out Era’s podcast “Baby Sleep: Myths & Methods.”
