The taboo subject of sleep training
The term ‘sleep training’ often brings to mind controversial crying methods such as Cry It Out or the Ferber method where you check your baby at incremental intervals. These sleep training methods gained popularity in the 1980’s when more Mum’s were returning to work and therefore needed a good night’s rest, but have since become hugely outdated, and in many cases unnecessary.
Being attuned to baby’s needs
While crying methods for sleep training can be effective and suitable for some families, they may not be the right fit for parents who are uncomfortable with prolonged crying, and prefer gentle and responsive sleep support methods. These methods allow us to be more attuned to a baby’s needs while still achieving progress in independent sleep with fewer disturbances, often within as little as one week.
I see baby sleep as a jigsaw puzzle, with various factors, such as daytime routines, contributing to a baby’s sense of security, confidence, and comfort when sleeping independently. Addressing these elements alone can lead to significant improvements from day one.
So, what do I mean by gentle and responsive sleep support methods?
Instead of leaving babies to cry themselves to sleep or checking in at intervals, we can respond to their disturbances and support them until they fall asleep. This support is then gradually reduced over time - usually a couple of weeks, allowing the baby to eventually sleep independently.
The long term benefits
These responsive sleep training approaches are more gradual than crying methods, but I believe they genuinely teach babies the lifelong skill of settling themselves to sleep. Parents also learn how their baby prefers to be soothed and can better distinguish when something is genuinely wrong. If they left the baby to cry, they might miss these important cues.
Another benefit of gentle and responsive sleep training methods is that they can be started early, with versions suitable for newborns. I like to recommend establishing good sleep habits from the early days, which can be built upon as the baby grows.
These responsive methods are also flexible enough to adapt to situations such as illness, teething, or any major changes in little one’s life. In these situations we can progress the steps slightly more quickly, knowing that your little one already possesses the skills to sleep independently.
Don’t just take my word for it…
“Our 7 month old daughter went from waking 4 times a night to only once after just two days of implementing her sleep plan!”
“After a call with Charlotte, we were able to put into practice her advice and saw changes in his sleep almost immediately. Fast forward a week and our little boy is sleeping through the night and able to self settle.”
The Good Snooze Company consultations
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