At what age can one sleep train your baby?

Elfrieda - posted on 09/13/2012

I did starting at 8 months. By 10 months he was taking regular naps for the first time in his life, and going to sleep without rocking, often without any crying. It was rough, but if you try to balance the need for sleep with the need for kindness, you should be alright.



It will be different for everyone, but we put him down with the routine we wished would work, then let him cry for 15 minutes, then went back in and did it however it worked. After about a month and a half, he fell asleep before the 15 minutes were over, and often didn't cry at all.

Brittany - posted on 09/13/2012

I sleep trained my daughter at 3 months, it worked out well since we were switching her from co-sleeping to sleeping on her own. For her I would cradle her in my arms while bent over the crib and sang to her. During the night I would wait 5 minutes when she would cry to see if she would fall asleep on her own. If she didn't I then got up and breastfed her.



My son, he was a special challenge. He was in our room until 6 months, and honestly didn't sleep really well until he was in the room he shares with his sister. He slept moderately well until around 4.5 months. He then started waking every hour from 3am until 7am. It was horrible. For him, I would have to remove myself from the room at night for him to fall back to sleep, he knew I was there and wanted me. For him, I had to first change how I put him to bed.



Up to that point I had played music for him and sat in the room until he was asleep. So I first removed myself from the room and he just had music. Once he got used to that, I changed from music to a fan. After that I made sure to stay out of his sight at night. Even then a lot of nights he would cry a lot. It was never the really upset cry, but the whinny (yet loud) cry. He still ate 3 times a night. I also became more adamant about him using a binki (he was showing signs of being a thumb sucker). That is really what won him over. It took about a month for him to get used to it, but it worked.



Each child is different. There isn't a sure fire technique. As Sage said, consistency is key. Make changes in routine slowly and try something for at least 2 weeks before giving up and trying something different. Any change is change.

Sage - posted on 09/12/2012

In my experience,It is better to start when you know baby will sleep through the night. Also children love a routine, if you get your baby accustomed to a routine that you can follow every night, they will get used to it. Self soothing works well, also soothing music or a security blanket, paci, or animal helps. Just be very consistent. If you are doing the cry it out method just keep coming in to reassure baby your still there by patting on the back, leave out, if the baby cries more give him/her some time and come back in and reassure the baby. It will take time, patience, and strength ( if you do not like to hear baby cry) but whatever method you choose will eventually work just be routine and consistent. Good Luck!