Having a child who sleeps through the night and wakes up happy and refreshed may sound like a dream. However, with effective sleep training, expert recommendations, and a tailored approach to your child’s needs, it can become a reality. Learn more about sleep training, why it’s a hot topic today, and how perspectives on this crucial aspect of parenting are evolving.

What is Sleep Training?

Sleep training is the act of guiding your baby to fall and stay asleep independently throughout the night. The goal is for them to learn to sleep comfortably with minimal parental assistance.

When Can I Commence Sleep Training?

Most babies aren’t ready for sleep training until they are at least four months old. However, some parents may still find it unethical to establish specific boundaries, such as those in the Cry it Out method, which requires resisting the urge to immediately comfort the baby.

Despite these challenges, sleep training has been shown to have no harmful effects on children’s behaviour, sleep patterns, or parent-child relationships when conducted safely. In fact, the Sleep Foundation has found that it offers long-term benefits for both parents and children.

How Can I Sleep Train My Baby? 

There are many sleep training methods, with a handful being more widely studied and adopted than others. Below, we explore five popular techniques and explain how they’re executed.

Cry it Out (CIO) Method

The Cry it Out method involves settling the toddler in bed and leaving the room. Even if the child starts crying, the parent does not intervene. The idea is to allow them to self-soothe and learn to fall asleep independently without parental involvement.

Up until recently, sleep training was often associated exclusively with the Cry it Out method. However, this is not the case; there are alternative, less emotionally challenging methods available for parents who find CIO unsuitable for their family. 

Ferber Method

The Ferber method offers a more gradual approach compared to the Cry it Out method. It requires letting your child cry for progressively longer intervals before providing comfort. This means gradually increasing the duration before offering reassurance each night.

Chair Method

For this method, place a chair next to your child’s bed and gradually move it further away each night until you are at the door, and eventually outside the room. The Chair method is often cited as the preferred method for toddlers and older babies, offering a gentler, smoother, albeit longer transition.

Pick Up, Put Down Method

Also known as Fading, the Pick Up, Put Down method allows parents to stay in the room with the child. For babies, this involves picking them up when they’re fussing and putting them down once they’re calm. For toddlers, it means providing assistance until they’re sound asleep. Parents slowly reduce the time spent rocking, nursing or holding the baby (thus fading) until they learn to fall asleep independently.

Pop Out Method

The Pop Out method is similar to the Ferber method but involves briefly leaving the room after sitting with your child. Before stepping out, reassure your child that you will return, and make sure to come back as promised. Over time, increase the duration of time you are away before returning.

Sleep Training Tips

When Sleep Training, Do…

Establish a Routine

Setting up a routine can significantly enhance your child’s sleep training. A bedtime routine consists of a series of activities repeated each night before bed, creating a sense of predictability that helps your child feel secure and know what to expect. Going through these repetitive motions can help them fall asleep more quickly, sleep more soundly, and reduce nighttime awakenings.

Create a Cosy Sleep Environment

Like us, children need a conducive environment to feel safe and relaxed in order to fall asleep. Ensure their bedroom or nursery is quiet and dimly lit, free from distractions like toys and screens (it’s best to give them time to wind down at least half an hour before bed). Additionally, dress them in appropriate sleepwear so they don’t feel too warm or too cold. Invest in a safe and comfortable bed. Beyond these physical conditions, consider experimenting with aromatherapy, such as through the use of essential oils, which have been proven to help create an environment more favourable to sleep by relieving stress and promoting relaxation. 

Be Consistent — Stick to the Plan

It can feel like your chosen sleep training method isn’t working well after days of going at it. But avoid jumping between techniques as it can throw your toddler off in the midst of their adjustment. Remember that consistency and patience are key in successful sleep training, as they are in many other aspects of parenting. 

Encourage Self-Soothing

Learning how to self-soothe isn’t just a trick to help you survive parenting, it’s an important life skill that will accompany your child throughout their life. Guide your toddler towards finding calm by giving them a chance to settle themselves, tending to them in bed before deciding to pick them up, and offering a security object. Baby-safe plush toys are a popular choice for this purpose, such as the universally loved Jellycat. A soothing sleep environment and consistent bedtime routine can help here as well.

Identify and Respond to Your Toddler’s Needs

While some sleep training methods involve allowing your child to self-soothe, this by no means equates to neglecting them when they are in distress. It is also crucial to recognise when your toddler requires comfort or has other needs that demand attention. Pay close attention to their cues and be responsive to their emotional and physical needs to ensure their well-being. 

But Don’t…

Sleep Train During Big Changes

Major transitions, such as welcoming a new sibling, starting daycare, or moving, can introduce stress and anxiety that make adapting to new routines more challenging. These events can also disrupt consistency, which is essential for effective sleep training. Wait for a stable period before beginning sleep training to avoid complicating the process and hindering your child’s progress.

Rush the Process

Remember the patience we referenced before? Sleep training doesn’t happen overnight — experts say it takes three to seven days on average, although most parents would agree that it’s typically a two week process. Avoid pushing your toddler too quickly and respect their pace. Celebrate the small victories, like falling asleep faster (even by minutes!) and waking up less at night.

Fall into the Trap of Sleep Crutches

Sleep crutches, or sleep associations, are cues and items that children have grown reliant on to fall asleep. These dependencies, like being rocked or fed before sleep, can hamper sleep training as they require replicating a specific and often unsustainable set of conditions for sleep. Refrain from forming sleep crutches to promote more consistent and restful sleep for both you and your toddler.

Ignore Your Toddler’s Signals

Sleep training methods are designed to develop healthy sleep habits, but they are not rigid rules. As much as consistency is important, parents should customise the routine to fit their toddler’s needs and adjust as necessary. Forcing your toddler to bed when it is too early and they are simply not tired enough will do more harm than good.

Hesitate to Seek Support

Mums and dads frequently shoulder the responsibility of parenthood alone, but it does not have to be an isolated journey. Paediatricians, sleep coaches, and even loved ones can be valuable sources of support to help ease sleep training and make the process easier for both parents and child. Whether it’s a tailored sleep plan, insights and guidance from experience, or additional resources, a well-rounded support system can make the most challenging obstacles effortless, such as in achieving successful sleep training. 

Conclusion

At Mothercare Malaysia, we have a team of mother and baby experts dedicated to helping you create the ideal conditions for sleep. Discover how our products can assist your baby or toddler in achieving quality sleep. You can also connect with our Digital Nursery Advisors to explore these options from the comfort of your home. Alternatively, visit our experience stores at Suria KLCC and Mid Valley Megamall to interact with them firsthand! 

Learn more about Mothercare Malaysia’s enduring legacy in empowering parents and nurturing healthy, happy babies, in sleep and beyond.