Sleep Training Strategies: Finding What Works for Your Little One

Understanding the Goals of Sleep Training

The primary goal of sleep training is to help your baby learn to self-soothe – to develop the ability to fall asleep and return to sleep on their own without constant parental intervention. This doesn’t mean neglecting your baby’s needs, but rather empowering them to become independent sleepers.

Common Sleep Training Methods

Here’s an overview of some popular sleep training approaches, ranging from more gradual to more direct:

• “No Tears” or Gentle Methods: These methods prioritize minimal crying and involve a gradual approach to fostering independent sleep.
  • Fading: Gradually reducing your involvement in your baby’s sleep routine. For example, if you rock your baby to sleep, you might start by rocking until drowsy, then placing them in the crib. Over time, you reduce the amount of rocking needed.