It’s the solution to getting your best sleep ever!
Baby sleep training is exactly how it sounds. It is the process of training your baby to sleep through the night. Sounds simple enough but there’s much more to it!
This post digs into greater details of what is involved with baby sleep training and why you should give it a try.
You also will get tips on how to pick the best program for you so you and your baby can get the best sleep ever!
Baby Sleep Training Defined
As a new parent you probably heard it a lot, be prepared to be up all night with the baby! You probably experienced it too with all the midnight feedings.
Of course in the beginning sleepless nights are a normal part of having a newborn. Babies are hungry and need to eat. They don’t know the difference between night and day. Eventually as babies grow their sleep habits change and they start to go through longer stretches of sleep in the night.
Not all babies catch on to healthy sleep habits naturally. That too is normal for babies. That’s where baby sleep training comes in!
Luckily there are experts who developed methods to help your baby fall asleep. Baby sleep training is the process parents take to teach their little one to fall asleep without help from mommy or daddy.
Sounds pretty simple right? This is pretty much where the simplicity of baby sleep training ends.
So Many Baby Sleep Training Choices!
Remember reading about the experts who developed all of the baby sleep training methods? That’s all well and good, but….there are so many baby sleep training choices!
Here is a lowdown of some of the most popular ones.
Ferber Method
Created by pediatrician Dr. Richard Ferber this is where you put your baby down drowsy but awake. If your baby starts crying you wait a few minutes before going to comfort your little one. Each day you extend the time before tending to them, so 3 minutes the first day, 5 minutes the next day, 8 minutes and so on. The idea is your baby eventually learns to be okay and falls asleep on their own.
Wake And Sleep Technique
Developed by Dr. Harvey Karp this technique focuses on putting your baby in the crib awake and not fully asleep. After going through a normal routine of swaddling, feeding, and rocking babies tend to grow dependent on falling asleep with these things. Instead of laying them down fully asleep parents are instructed to jiggle them slightly awake. Tickling their feet or jiggling the crib are some ways to do that. After that baby’s fall back to sleep on their own.
Fading Method
This method involves slowly fading out things in a bedtime routine to help babies adjust to falling asleep on their own. Things like length of rocking, feeding or swaddling are shortened.
No-Cry Solution
Created by Dr. William Sears this idea involves a bit more on the parents part. The idea is to help babies fall asleep without any tears. To do this parents need to switch up their techniques each time so babies learn to fall asleep with a variety of tools rather than get attached to one way. So one night you might rock baby fully asleep, the next night feed baby fully asleep.
Cry-It-Out
This technique might be one of the oldest ones in the books. It can also be controversial. Essentially Cry-It-Out means just as it sounds, parents let their baby cry it out until they fall asleep. Some say that this method helps babies learn how to soothe themselves to sleep.
Naptime
Depending on your baby’s age also depends on how many naps are in a day. Generally 2-3 solid naps is most common. Typically you can apply whatever baby sleep training technique for night time slumber to naptime routines.
So Overwhelming!
With all of the choices how do you choose which one to use? Or what if you try a baby sleep training method it doesn’t work? Then what?
You’re tired enough as it is, it can be overwhelming picking out a baby sleep training technique. Time is precious. You want to get the best night sleep ever like now!
And you want the best for your baby! So how do you pick the right baby sleep training technique? Here are some tips:
- Pick the method that feels right for you and your baby
- Try the technique that sounds the most doable for you
- Give a method a trial run, if it doesn’t work go back to the drawing board
- Read up on as many methods as you can
- Ask friends and family about what’s worked for them
Does this sound like a lot of work? You do have another option.
Work smart, not harder and call in an expert who can help you and your baby get the best night sleep ever sooner!
The Only Baby Sleep Training You Need
You’re tired enough as it is. You’re busy enough as it is. Eliminate the guesswork and start your baby sleep training journey off right.
Call a baby sleep expert! Get the guidance you need from the get go. Get the support. Get your baby sleeping through the night in a way that’s best for them!
Is there such a person and service? Yes there is!
Sweet Dreams LA
The sleep experts at Sweet Dreams LA created a one of a kind baby sleep training program. Started by Kimberly Von Slomski, a Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care Specialist, and Lactation Educator Counselor. Throughout her career Kimberly had the unique opportunity to work closely with newborns and parents in a personal setting, their homes. She saw lack of sleep was a common issue in her clients.
Kimberly took the personal and hands on approach she used as a postpartum doula and incorporated it into her own baby sleep training method. That’s something you can’t get from a parenting self-help book.
Have you ever read a book chalk full of advice only to have it not work? Theories and methods aren’t always the solution. There’s an adage that says, “mothers know best.” That’s the heart of Sweet Dreams LA. This baby sleep training program is all about what mothers know best, common sense, emotional connection, moment to moment analysis and logistical support.
4 Steps To Baby Sleep Training
So what does Sweet Dreams LA baby sleep training look like? You and your baby will achieve the best sleep ever in 4 steps.
Your sleep coach will get to know your little one and you through the in-home program to create a one-of-a-kind customizable plan. Another thing you can’t get from a how-to book!
This is what the 4 steps look like.
1. Detailed Assessment & Getting To Know You
Your baby sleep training journey begins with an intake. You will complete a comprehensive questionnaire which will help the sleep coaches get to know you better even before your first meeting. This gives you the opportunity to clearly state your needs and goals for your baby.
2. 30 Minute Phone Consult
The next step in the process is to review your questionnaire in great detail with a sleep coach. Together you can ask questions and share answers.
After the phone consultation a sleep coach will come to your home to meet you and your family. By this time it will feel like you’re meeting an old friend! Your sleep coach will get to know everything about your baby, the layout of your home and your concerns.
3. Your In-Home Sleep Training & Customized Action Plan
This is the part of the process you have been waiting for! Depending on the time length you chose for your baby sleep training program a sleep coach will be with you and your baby the entire way.
Sleep coaches dedicate their time to focus on your baby’s habits and needs. From this they create a tailor-made action plan for you and your baby. The plan also takes into account your baby’s age, developmental stage, personality and more.
The sleep coach also guides you through all the steps in the plan while caring for your baby. From nap times to sleeping through the night the trainers will get you there. Depending on the baby’s age, sleep coaches will have babies taking 2-3 naps a day. For night time sleeping coaches will get your baby sleeping through the night.
Together you work on sleep training your baby so you can be confident to maintain the program after your time with your sleep coach passes.
You can’t get that from a book!
4. Implementation & Extended Support
Once the in-home portion of the baby sleep training concludes your sleep coach still works with you! It takes time and consistent practice to change routines, overcome regressions, recover from sleep deprivation, and make new habits stick.
You will get coaching calls and unlimited support via email and phone for up to 4 weeks. This continued support ensures you and your baby will be successful!
Now that you know more about baby sleep training which plan sounds best to you? You can read books, look up web-sites or just try to wing it.
Or you can get the guidance and support you need and be on your way to the best sleep ever!