Sleep Training FAQ
Can I continue breastfeeding while sleep training my baby?
Yes, absolutely! Breastfeeding is an amazing way to nourish and develop a close bond with your child. You can breastfeed your baby for as long you would like to! Depending on your baby's weight, we may work on dropping night feedings in order to help your little one learn new independent sleep skills, but we will work closely together during these transitions.
What is a sleep prop?
A sleep prop is anything your child needs to fall asleep. Without it, they can’t fall asleep. The most common sleep props are nursing to sleep, bottle-feeding to sleep, rocking, holding, or laying in bed with your child to sleep, or using a pacifier to fall asleep. The unfortunate thing about a sleep prop is that it is simply a prop or a dummy. It isn’t a long-term solution that helps them to sleep independently and consistently through the night.
Is your sleep training method considered “cry-it-out”?
No, it is definitely not. The “cry-it-out” method, also known as the extinction method, is controversial because it says once you’ve met your child’s needs, you lay them down for night and do not come back until the morning, no matter how much your baby cries. The sleep training method I use involves some crying because your child is protesting the way they learn to fall asleep; however, it doesn’t involve leaving them to cry without parent intervention. I use a sleep training method that is responsive self-settling, meaning that you’re responding to their needs but at the same time allowing them to learn how to self-settle or self-soothe and fall asleep independently. The method can also be done by staying in the room with your child.
When can my child learn to sleep through the night?
Babies who are under 15 pounds can learn healthy sleep habits and routines that set the stage for success. Babies who are at least 15 pounds can learn to sleep through the night (11-12 hour stretches, absolutely yes!). When the child transitions into a toddler bed, the process becomes little longer because there’s often some pushback, but the child can learn to sleep through the night.
When should I not sleep train my baby?
If you have a trip coming up, you have a significant life event (getting married, new job, moving) going on, or your child is very sick, I would recommend waiting until things are settled down and you have a more predictable schedule that can be focused on reaching your child’s sleep goals.