How to Choose an Infant Sleep Training Method

Newborn infants wake up every few hours, day and night, to be fed. Once the baby is large enough and old enough that he can go for several hours without feeding, sleep training can begin. The Yummy Mummy Club, an online parenting resource, recommends three basic methods to teach a child to fall asleep alone and soothe himself back to sleep when he wakes at night. These are Cry it Out, Gradual Checks and the Fade Away.

Things You'll Need

  • Resources on sleep training methods

Instructions

    • 1

      Educate yourself on sleep training methods. Easygoing babies whose parents have flexible schedules may not need any formal sleep training method. After the first few months, you can establish a bedtime routine. Many babies will naturally fall asleep when the routine is followed. If everyone in the family is getting enough sleep, a sleep training method may not be necessary.

    • 2

      Assess your baby's readiness to sleep through the night. Babies younger than 3 months or less than 10 pounds will need you to feed them during the night. Consider your baby's temperament and personality before choosing a sleep training method. Some babies can be put in the crib and left to fall asleep even if they cry for a time, which is the Cry it Out method. Others will not fall asleep and will cry for a long time.

    • 3

      Determine which sleep training methods are comfortable for you and other caretakers. Discuss how much crying you can tolerate and how disciplined caretakers can be. Reach agreement among all caretakers who will be putting the baby to sleep. Many parents prefer the Fade Away method, in which the parent puts the baby in the crib and stays in the room, singing lullabies, soothing the baby and offering comfort.

    • 4

      Follow a sleep training method consistently for at least seven to 10 days to determine if it will work for both parents and child. Allow time for the baby to adjust to the new routine, then assess its effectiveness. The Gradual Checks method may take longer. In this method, you allow the baby to cry for three minutes the first night and gradually increase the times each night.

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