Zoe Clews & Associates

Many people think of sleep training as end-all solutions to their night time problems. Parents believe that once they get a plan from the expert, it is going to be all fine and their baby will be sound asleep without any crying whatsoever.

While it is true that sleep training can get you there, it won’t mean much if you and your child are not ready for the course. Here is a checklist that you can use to determine that this kind of thing will help:

Your baby is prone to learning a new way to sleep – there is a notable difference between babies who can self-soothe and those who cannot manage it. And while experts will provide a different take on the ideal age to test this, it is up to you as a parent to determine whether your baby can learn a new way of falling and staying asleep.

Your baby knows what they want – while it may sound strange to you, babies have their way of quickly discovering what feels good and what doesn’t. They instinctively signal what they need, i.e. when they need the parent to hold them, or they need a change of diaper. But a need becomes a want and it is up to you to determine that. If your baby cries during sleep time, it is maybe because that is all she or he knows. That is exactly what sleep training can teach you.

The baby has a sleep problem – learning to distinguish between a problem and assuming there is one is just as important to start sleep training. Sometimes a few months old baby will cry out during the night, but that is not because of a sleep problem, but rather a need to eat.

The timing is good for them – depending on your baby and their temperament, you will want to consider whether sleep training is right for them. Just because many believe 6 months of age is a good starting point doesn’t mean you should exclude the option at 12 months. You are the parent and you know your baby best - you decide when the best time to try sleep training is.

The timing is good for you – some sleep training methods involve crying, which means you have to show discipline and follow through regardless. You are in for uncomfortable moments and you have to endure them, in order to see success with the sleep training.

Can you commit the time and effort? – Answering this question is essential for the success of any sleep training course for your child. You need to have the right expectations in regards to how long a sleep training course will take. Sometimes, results vary and it is all too easy for parents to just quit, enduring the sleep problems of their child. You have to understand that, since every child is different, you may have to commit to changing habits for a year or longer! Even though you may see some success pretty early on, it is imperative that you remain invested in the sleep training method for a longer time.

You can be consistent and patient – patience and consistency are the two qualities that every sleep training program will put to the test in a parent. Changing strategies and losing patience will not give you the results you are after, let alone help your child sleep better.

Now that you have this checklist, you can easily determine whether baby sleep training is right for you and your child. Use it wisely! Check out this link to learn more: https://zoeclews-hypnotherapy.co.uk/treatments/baby-sleep-training/

© Zoe Clews & Associates