Sleep training

I personally like the ferber method for sleep training. It's definitely a hard couple nights, but for me, it worked well with both of my kids. Both kids (26 months and 6 months) sleep through the night 730pm-7am. If you'd like to know more about my experience or any tips, let me know!

Hi! I'm considering starting my LO on sleep training. What are some tips you have regarding the Ferber Method (which I need to look up lol)?

Ferber method works. My baby now sleeps 7:30pm-5am, wakes up for a bottle then right back to bed til 8am

@Elvia, so Ferber is not the same as crying it out. It's similar but more "gentle" and personally makes me feel more in control! So you choose the intervals you want to check on, baby, and as the night goes on, they get long and longer. For example, you might check on baby 5 min after putting them down, stay for a short as you can - you can comfort them if needed (personally i dont pick them up, ill talk to them and pat their tummy). Then you wait 10 min, do the same, then 15 min and so on until they to sleep.

So dont be surprised if the first few nights take an hour or so to fall asleep, that's totally normal learning this new skill. Also its common for them to take about weeks to not cry at all before bed!

My biggest tips are to find a relaxing show or movie, have a treat, and try to relax as much as possible. Try to hang out in a space that's not too close to baby, so you're not on edge. Its so hard to hear them want you. I personally dont have a video monitor because it causes me too much anxiety.

Obviously, if you think your baby needs something or is unsafe, go in and attend their needs! But know that if they are fed, changed, dressed appropriately, in a safe place, and ready for sleep, they are good to be left alone. They checking is for you, not for them!

Hope this is helpful. I notice that once my babies are sleep trained, everyone sleeps so much better and is so happy all the time! That's really why it's worth it to me. My little boy is all smiles and bedtime, and when i wake him up 💙

@Whitney I think this is what we're going to try. I'm just very sad to move him into his crib instead of next to me. It was so nice to sleep between him and my husband. I'll miss that. 😔 he used to sleep for 10hrs at a time all swaddled up. But since having to have an arm out (starting with one) he just doesn't sleep.

He can still sleep in your room! Just apply whatever sleep method you choose and keep him in there. You just will probably want to wait to go to bed yourself until he's for sure asleep!

Its totally normal for them to have a hard time adjusting with their hands out. But personally i think that's the best time to sleep train!

I’m in the same boat! Thinking of sleep training soon and transferring to a crib but it sounds daunting and hard

Thank you for speaking so reasonably about sleep training! I didn’t want to sleep train my LO but she has been really struggling since her 4 months sleep regression and is getting significantly less sleep than recommended for her age. (It’s caused my own mental health and marriage health to slide downhill as well.) I feel like there’s such a loud community out there of moms proclaiming that sleep training is never a good option; almost like they earn a prize for having a baby that doesn’t need guidance to sleep or even wanting to be a martyr for waking up 6-8 times every night. Your logical explanation has me researching the feber method and feeling hopeful about something effective and gentle for my babe.

@Maria i feel like sleep is just like any other skill you teach your baby! My babies definitely need to be taught everything, even nursing/eating 🤣

@Whitney hes been getting to sleep okay. But then waked up like every 3 hours 🙄