How to Sleep Train Your Baby

During the early days of life with a newborn, you're focused on what's best for your child, so sleepless nights seem like a small price to pay. Within a few months, however, waking up every few hours starts getting old. You'll wonder how to sleep train a baby and prevent midnight fussiness.

As it turns out, you don't need to wait very long for some shut-eye relief. Some babies begin sleeping through the night between 3 and 4 months of age, if you let them, says Charles Schaefer, PhD, author of Winning Bedtime Battles: Getting Your Child to Sleep. The key is building solid sleep habits that can stick with you for years.

Interested in learning more? Here, we break down the basics of sleep training, including recommended timeline and techniques. We also share a seven-day plan for sleep training your little one. Just make sure to talk with your child's pediatrician before sleep training to ensure your baby is ready and doesn't need any additional nighttime care.

Also note that "sleeping through the night" doesn't mean your child won't awaken at all, which isn't healthy or developmentally appropriate. The concept simply refers to falling asleep and staying asleep on their own, relying on self-soothing techniques. It's also different from night weaning, or eliminating nighttime feeds.

When to Sleep Train Your Baby

Your child's health care provider can help you determine a sleep training timeline. Most experts recommend waiting until they're between 4 and 6 months old. Around this time, babies are typically able to soothe themselves, and their sleep cycles are starting to become more regular.

Also, babies this age might make it through the night (at least six or eight hours) without waking for a feed. As another bonus, your infant probably isn't old enough to rely on caregiver soothing techniques (rocking, shushing, nursing, etc.) that can complicate sleep training.

Sleep Training Methods for Babies

There are many different approaches to sleep training, aside from the seven-day method we outlined below. It will likely take some trial and error to figure out which works best for your baby. Here are some of the most popular sleep training methods to know.

Cry It Out Method: With this sleep training method, parents leave the room after putting their baby in the crib—and they stay out. Some choose not to respond to cries for the entire night, while others come back into the room after a certain duration of crying.

Ferber Method: Parents respond to crying at set intervals, which increase a little bit each night.

Chair Method: For this sleep training method, a caregiver will sit near the child's crib until they doze off—no soothing techniques necessary. The chair moves further away each night until you leave the room.

Pick Up, Put Down Method: Consider this a "no-cry" solution for how to sleep train. Whenever your baby fusses, you soothe them for a short time, then leave them alone before they're completely asleep.

Fading Method: Parents start "fading" out reliance on soothing techniques (like feeding, shushing, or rocking) that prevent babies from falling asleep independently.

How Long Will Sleep Training Take?

The sleep training timeline will differ for every baby. But generally, once you start sleep training, it doesn't take long to stick. We outlined a seven-day method below, but you can find sleep training instructions for three or four nights too.

If it's taking much longer than this to sleep train, your baby might not actually be ready to sleep through the night. Talk to your pediatrician for more guidance if sleep training hasn't "stuck" after two weeks.

Tips for Sleeping Through the Night

No matter which sleep training method you choose, these tips can help your baby get a solid night's rest.

Establish a bedtime routine. Taking a bath, reading a book, cuddling... bedtime routines help your little one prepare for slumber, and they're associated with improved sleep. With a consistent routine, babies will start associating the activities with winding down for bed.

Time it right. Your child should be sleepy but not overly tired when you put them to bed. Look for signs like eye rubbing, yawning, and droopy eyelids.

Avoid sleep training during life transitions. Did your little one just start daycare? Did you move to a new house? Have they begun teething? Avoid sleep training during major life transitions, or you're less likely to meet with success.

Give them space. If you rush into your baby's room whenever they cry, sleep training will take longer than expected. Let them fuss a little bit, and in the end, you might be rewarded with your baby sleeping through the night.

Sleep Training Your Baby: A 7-Day Method for Parents

Is it possible to get your baby sleep trained in 7 days? Some experts say yes. Sleep training goals will be different for everyone, but strategies such as instituting a positive sleep routine and encouraging self-soothing could benefit both of you. And at the very least, you could learn some tips on getting your baby to sleep without being held. Here's a seven-day, step-by-step routine for sleep training for your baby.

Day 1: Start a Regular Routine

Many babies get their days and nights mixed up, napping for long periods in the afternoon and waking up to play at bedtime. But our sleep training technique will fix that. "The latest research shows that infants can be taught the difference between night and day from the get-go," says John Herman, PhD, clinical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. You simply need to provide the cues that allow this to happen. Here are some steps you can take:

• Wake your baby up early on day one.
• Try to rise at this same time every day.
• Position your baby's crib near the window to let the natural light shine in. (Just be sure there aren't any blinds or drapes that could pose a safety risk.)

"The natural light helps babies organize their circadian rhythms," says Dr. Herman. Letting them nap with natural light can also promote this process. "If they wake from a nap in the daylight, they understand it's time to get up. If they wake at night in the dark, they'll learn to go back to sleep," he explains.

At nighttime, begin some quiet rituals. "Decide on a specific bedtime routine," says Claire Lerner, MSW., a child-development specialist at Zero To Three: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, in Washington, D.C. Dress your child in their pajamas and put them down in their crib for the night with the lights out. Just prior to tucking them in, read a story or sing a song, which helps your baby's motor and sensory system slow down.

Day 2: Practice Makes Perfect

On day two, focus on building the consistent routine you began. If your child still requires nighttime feedings, it's a good time to accentuate the difference between day and night, says Robert Ballard, MD, director of the Sleep Health Center at National Jewish Medical Center, in Denver. "Keep night feedings very relaxing, with the lights low. Do everything you can to avoid stimulating your baby," he says. "And during the day, make feedings a time of high activity, when you tickle their feet or sing songs, so they begin to perceive the difference."

Pay careful attention to what soothes your baby in the evening too. "A bath may be calming for one child and invigorating for another," says Lerner.

You might also want to try adding white noise, says Carl Johnson, PhD, a psychologist and pediatric sleep researcher at Central Michigan University, in Mount Pleasant. "The hum of a fan or air conditioner or a radio set on static works well for many infants. The good thing about white noise is that you can fade it out over time, once your baby begins to sleep more predictably."

Day 3: Brace for a Few Tears

Steel yourself: Day three involves putting your child down in their crib while they're still awake. "It's the single most important thing you can do," says Dr. Schaefer. "If they fall asleep at your breast during their bedtime feeding, for example, arouse them enough that their eyes are open when you place them in the crib." Or even better, shift your baby's bedtime feeding to the start of their bedtime routine. Of course, a little—or a lot—of crying may ensue. But rest assured, it will be tougher on you than on your baby.

Parents naturally find it agonizing to listen to their little one cry, but just keep reminding yourself that the end result—sleep!—will benefit the whole family. "Get over the worry that ignoring your baby while they cry will do psychological harm," emphasizes Dr. Schaefer. If you've been meeting their every need in other ways, this situation certainly won't lessen their sense of security.

If some nighttime tears do ensue, periodically check on your baby and reassure them that you're there; aim for every three to five minutes the first night. But keep your visits brief: Don't turn on the light, remove them from the crib, or offer them a pacifier or a bottle. "If they fall asleep with one of these crutches, they'll cry for it again if they wake up or at bedtime tomorrow night," says Lerner.

Day 4: Tough It Out

Day three was a long one. Expect an improvement on day four. Your baby will remember a little sooner that crying doesn't produce results. When they protest, you can lengthen your response time to every ten minutes or stick with checking every few minutes. And whatever happens, don't give in. "If you're inconsistent, the baby learns to hold out—they'll just up the ante and cry twice as long tomorrow night," says Deborah Givan, MD, director of the Children's Sleep Disorders Center at Riley Hospital for Children, in Indianapolis.

Day 5: The Baby Settles In

Most babies get with the program in three to five days, so this could be your lucky night. If your child is still holding their own, you can lengthen your response time to 15 minutes, or stick to what you have been doing. "Some babies need the frequent reassurance that you're checking on them, but others find it a tease," says Lerner.

"Checking on the baby is really for the parents' benefit," says Dr. High. "If you notice that you're fueling your child's reaction every time you go in and you can tolerate staying away, it's fine to do so. Just peek at them through a crack in the door instead so they don't actually see you."

The other frequent problem at this point is night feedings. At about 3 to 4 months, most infants are ready to give them up—but you can't just stop cold turkey with a younger baby. You can, however, keep them as brief and quiet as possible: Cuddle your baby but don't sing to them, keep the lights out even during diaper changes, and settle them in the crib as soon as they're done, even when they are awake.

Day 6: Baby Sleeps Through the Night

Sounds like bliss, doesn't it? But chances are you'll be wandering the halls a little anyway. You may find yourself getting up to check on the baby—but relax. Dress them in warm PJs if their room feels cold, and turn the monitor down so that you hear them only if they're really in distress. Now that you've made so much progress, don't wreck it by rushing in too quickly. Let your child soothe themself. You also need to relax so that you can fall asleep!

Day 7: You Sleep Soundly Too

Give yourself a big pat on the back. Not only have you regained your sleep, but you've given your baby an important gift: Good sleep habits are as critical as good hygiene to a child's well-being. Of course, there will be setbacks, such as an illness, a new sibling, or an unfamiliar hotel room. "Even children who are good sleepers will have problems now and then," says Dr. Givan. But fall back on our foolproof plan whenever the need arises. Your child will respond with even less difficulty the second time around because they already know the drill.