For all the new parents, it can be no less than a challenge to put the baby to sleep. And once the baby is 4 months old, comes the sleep regression. It is equal to another nightmare for all the parents.

Are you also one of those parents to think sleep training is synonymous to cry it out method? If yes, then you are highly mistaken.

Sleep training is not cry-it-out only, it is a lot more than that. For tired, drained, sleepless parents, it is a true blessing. After all those nights where you would stand throughout to rock your baby. Well, you deserve some rest and sleep training is your ultimate choice.

Hence to clear out all the doubts and to explain some of the popular sleep training methods. So let's take a glance.

The right time to start

To start the baby sleep training, 4 to 6 months is the best time. By this time your baby might have sleep regression. So you will for sure need to start his training.

Some babies will adapt to the new change in their routine with ease. On the opposite are some stubborn babies who deny what you want. Hence you will have to be consistent and show some patience.

Apart from that, the age and method you choose can also have its effects. One baby will react well to your opted method, the second baby won't. It is not possible to determine which approach is an ideal choice.

Popular methods

1- Ferber Method

The first method has various names other than the Ferber method. You might have heard of graduated extinction, interval method, check and console method. All these are the same with different names.

This method works with you checking on your baby after short intervals. They might cry, stay awake, try to look for you, etc. But you won't feed them or soothe them or rock them.

Your baby needs to be at least 6 months old if you adopt this method. So you need to put the baby in his crib at the usual bedtime. Then you will leave them alone for a minute or two.

Next, you can go on and check on them, may pat their back and try to soothe them with words. It is often preferred to avoid picking them up. With time, you can increase the intervals until the baby learns it all.

2- Extinction or CIO

Next comes the method that most parents are not in favor of. Might be due to the name; cry-it-out. This one also works pretty much like the Ferber.

You will put the baby in his crib, soothe him and then leave the room. Now, this can be a bit harsh to hear and even for parents. But in the end, it is all worth the patience you showed.

It can be difficult at first and especially the first night can be rough. So you can go and check on your baby at midnight and see if he is awake. If your baby is up at that time, it is completely okay to feed him and soothe him or pick him up. But afterward, leave him back alone till morning.

3- Pick Up, Put Down and Shush-pat

If your baby is younger than 7 months, this is your solution. You can stay in their room, but let them try to sleep on their own. Also, you won't offer them any help.

If the crying intensifies, you can pick them up and pat them. Feed them and calm them but not for too long.

4- Chair method

If you opt for this method than you need to show some real patience and consistency level. As the process work on gradually and with some time taken.

Start with the usual, bedtime routine, feeding him and putting in the crib. But unlike other methods, you won't have to leave the room.

Place your chair next to the crib. All you have to do is sit there till your baby sleeps and then leave. If they wake up midnight, you need to sit back.

Repeat this process every night but keep moving your chair further away from the crib. And then you will be out of the room.

5- Bedtime-hour Fading

This technique is often confused with bed-time routine fading. Instead, you will put the baby at the time he ends up dozing off. And then make that time his new sleep time.

Slowly you need to shift to an earlier time slot. If you can't keep a track of the timings then use a diary. After a few nights, shift the routine to 15 minutes earlier and so on.

But experts often won't suggest this approach. As they think that sleep training needs consistency and the method lacks it.

6- Bedtime-routine Fading

If you are not a fan of the crying of your baby then go for this option. The fading technique means that you can stay in the same room.

But with each day you have to decrease the time interval. And continue it till the baby sleeps on his own. With this method, the crying will minimize to a great extent.

Conclusion

We hope you will find the article helpful and opt for any of the above-listed methods for your baby.