Is There Such a Thing as Sleep Training?

Parents have been asking the same question or years - is there such a thing as sleep training? Can you train your child to sleep throughout the night, instead of having to get up a half a dozen times a night?

While many parents stick their nose up at these new methods, others are flocking to sleep training as a way to be the best parent they can be in the morning, and really get their beauty sleep in.

What exactly is sleep training?!

The Basics...

Sleep training is basically getting your child to sleep throughout the night - the entire night - without having to be held, rocked, cuddled, or sung to in order to fall asleep.

Sound impossible? Maybe, but many parents have found that this actually is possible, and countless children have been 'trained' to go to bed, stay in bed, and stay asleep throughout the entire night.

How Does It Work?

Here's how most experts say you should train your child to sleep. While various parents have various ways of doing it, the basics almost always remain constant - the core, if you will.

You start by introducing a relaxing, easy routine for your children. Most parents bath their babies, dress them, read them a story and then lay them in bed - this can be whatever you want it to be. Make sure that it's relaxing, not stimulating.

Then, lay them down in their bed. Your child might cry, but stay in the room - don't pick them up, however. Your baby will get the idea that yes, it's time to sleep.

Throughout the night, your child might wake up and cry. Go into the room, change their diaper, and leave - come back every five minutes until they go to sleep again.

Keep this up for up to ten days, or until your baby really gets the idea that it's time to sleep - no excuses. Remember to be hard with this, and really stick to it. If you don't, it just won't work.

This is only recommended for children who are older then two months. Most experts suggest starting it at three to five months, when your baby really is older enough to realize what's going on.

It's important that you don't leave the child's room before he or she goes to sleep the first time - at least until they stop crying. If you do, your baby will feel like you're abandoning them, and leaving them alone.

Remember

Don't do anything that you're not comfortable with. You know yourself, and you know your baby - if you're not sure that sleep training is right for you, try it and see. If you don't like it, simply don't use it.

Sleep training is up to you, and while it can help, some children simply don't respond to it.