3 Proven Steps for Easier Sleep Training

With the holidays ahead, it’s easy to push off sleep problems until the new year. I get it – who wants to make changes and risk losing more sleep with travel, family, and holidays upon us?!

Once January hits, I’m expecting a flurry of calls for help. If you’re hoping to add “get more sleep” to your New Year’s Resolutions, you’re in good company!

It makes sense to sleep train your little one in January. Winter (at least in New York) is dark, cold and typically a time when families have less going on.

Homebound with infants and toddlers who don’t sleep = crankiness all around.

If I’m speaking your language, I want this next sentence to sink in:

Don’t wait until January. You can start the coaching process now without upending your life.

IDEA:

You can make gradual, small changes for easier sleep coaching.

When I first meet a family, I collect information on the child’s current sleep patterns and personality traits. I’ll share about the road ahead so parents know what sleep coaching could look like end to end.

AND THEN, before we implement major changes, I assign homework.

RESOURCE:

I often recommend parents introduce a lovey to help prepare for sleep training. Here’s my favorite that all my 3 boys used for years!

LINK TO PURCHASE 

TIP:

My 3 most common “homework” assignments are:

1.        Nail down the bedtime routine.

Babies and children thrive on predictability and consistency. Having a simple, concrete routine helps them wind down and prepare their body and brain for sleep.

2.        Regulate bedtime and wake up time

The science behind this involves your child’s circadian rhythm (internal body clock) and their sleep pressure (need to sleep). Implementing a consistent bedtime and wake up time will help them prepare their body for sleep (by releasing melatonin rather than cortisol) so they will fall asleep and stay asleep more easily.

3.        Begin fading the sleep crutch at bedtime.

Sometimes this is easier said than done! Ideally, you want to reduce the work that you do and get your child to do more of the work when it comes to putting themselves to sleep. Here’s an example: If you rock them to sleep every night, try just holding them and putting them down drowsy but awake. Over time, you can put them down more awake as they learn the skill of putting themselves to sleep at bedtime.

Thinking about potty training this winter?

Check out why it’s a great idea!

READ THIS!