When to Start Sleep Training Your Baby

I love this question because it’s at the crux of the issue. What you’ll find online is that “there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question,” or “The best time to start sleep training will vary from baby to baby.” Which is somewhat true. But here’s the deal: if you wait too long, you'll find yourself miserably rocking your baby for two hours every single night, unsafely bed-sharing, or up at all hours of the night getting them back down. If you do it too early, you’ll risk them still needing something when crying (poopy diapers at night, which improves dramatically after the newborn stage) OR you’ll be fighting the already inevitable 4 or 5-month sleep regression. And look, this is a judgment-free zone. I know you are probably in survival mode. I’ve been there. So you do what you gotta do to get by. BUT…I don’t want what happened to me to happen to any more families if I can help it. I’m coming at this with love, not sass. Cool? 

How do I know it’s safe to start sleep training my baby?

Well, if your baby is healthy, and gaining weight and your pediatrician approves your start date, I would recommend you start sleep training your baby around four to six months old. However, you can’t start before you’re ready. So, I’m here for you when you’ve hit a place where you cannot keep surviving off of fragmented, unhealthy sleep and need relief. Just rest assured (ha!) knowing that babies are typically ready to start learning to sleep independently around this age, so it’s up to you to help them do so. 

Which sleep training method should I choose?

Also, keep in mind that “sleep training” and “teaching healthy sleep habits and self-soothing techniques” are not one and the same. You can start implementing positive sleep associations in their first few weeks alive, while also bonding and nurturing your baby’s every need. I love helping parents in the newborn stage because it actually prevents them from needing a more aggressive sleep approach down the line. The younger the baby, the gentler the method can be because it’s all they know. But I’ve also had lots of success with gradual, gentle methods with older babies… maybe it was working for their parents until it didn’t anymore, which was later than other parents. So now… they are ready to implement something immediately. So try to reach out before you get to that place where you’re pulling your hair out. Sound good?

Wishing you all the best. Now get yourself some rest. <3

Jackie