What exactly IS sleep training?

trojas

And what do I need to do to sleep train?

wither16

Ha- that's a loaded question!  I think there are several methods that you can utilize, it's going to depend on what you are comfortable with.

A couple of the popular methods are Baby Wise and also Baby Whisperer (they utilize the 4 S's)

Both of those methods promote CIO, so if that is something you are not wishing to do, you might have to search around for other methods.  

 

Hope that helps point you in the right direction!  Good Luck! 

oliversmommy32912

There are no cry types and cry it out types. We decided to use cry it out because it's generally faster and DS was already crying probably three to five hours a day total in our arms so we figured it couldn't get much worse.

We did the Sleepeasy Solution which uses "controlled crying" with checkins. DS went from crying three to five hours a day and sleeping only on us, even at night, to going to sleep with no crying or less than a minute of crying and sleeping in his own crib.

There are lots of things you can do to sleep train. I firmly believe that every family should find what works for them. Every parent is different and every baby is different. CIO was a godsend for us but it certainly does not work for every family.

mben1119

Also keep in mind that you don't have to sleep train. We never did, and Ds sleeps just fine.

lil_jen051708

oliversmommy32912:

We did the Sleepeasy Solution which uses "controlled crying" with checkins. .

I downloaded this book to my nook the other day. Last night was night 1 DS cried for 5 min, I checked in with him and he was asleep 1 min later. He fussed a few times at night but was able to put himself back to sleep. He even slept until 7 am this morning which is unheard of in our house! I'm hopeful that this is the start of mommy and DS sleeping well!

oliversmommy32912

lil_jen051708:

oliversmommy32912:

We did the Sleepeasy Solution which uses "controlled crying" with checkins. .

I downloaded this book to my nook the other day. Last night was night 1 DS cried for 5 min, I checked in with him and he was asleep 1 min later. He fussed a few times at night but was able to put himself back to sleep. He even slept until 7 am this morning which is unheard of in our house! I'm hopeful that this is the start of mommy and DS sleeping well!

It worked overnight for us, too. It definitely sounds like a good start for you guys! 

catmtl

mabenner1:

Also keep in mind that you don't have to sleep train. We never did, and Ds sleeps just fine.

If your baby doesn't have "problems" sleeping then you don't need to sleep train. People typically sleep train if their LOs can't fall asleep on their own - they need to be rocked, walked, nursed or sung to sleep for instance and/or can't fall back asleep without assistance when they wake at night.

RioG1978

catmtl:

mabenner1:

Also keep in mind that you don't have to sleep train. We never did, and Ds sleeps just fine.

If your baby doesn't have "problems" sleeping then you don't need to sleep train. People typically sleep train if their LOs can't fall asleep on their own - they need to be rocked, walked, nursed or sung to sleep for instance and/or can't fall back asleep without assistance when they wake at night.

 It also depends on your personal definition of "problem".  I rock, sing and nurse my LO to sleep regularly - though she doesn't always need it.  I personally don't consider it a problem, though can see how others might.

 To the OP - sleep training is essentially you (the parent) "training" the baby to fall asleep on their own without parental help.  Some methods suggest the baby cry until they fall asleep, some methods suggest a gradual removal of the parent in the fall-to-sleep-process.  It's a very personal decision and certainly not something you do or don't have to do.  Depends on you, your baby and your family's needs!

catmtl

RioG1978:

catmtl:

mabenner1:

Also keep in mind that you don't have to sleep train. We never did, and Ds sleeps just fine.

If your baby doesn't have "problems" sleeping then you don't need to sleep train. People typically sleep train if their LOs can't fall asleep on their own - they need to be rocked, walked, nursed or sung to sleep for instance and/or can't fall back asleep without assistance when they wake at night.

 It also depends on your personal definition of "problem".  I rock, sing and nurse my LO to sleep regularly - though she doesn't always need it.  I personally don't consider it a problem, though can see how others might.

 To the OP - sleep training is essentially you (the parent) "training" the baby to fall asleep on their own without parental help.  Some methods suggest the baby cry until they fall asleep, some methods suggest a gradual removal of the parent in the fall-to-sleep-process.  It's a very personal decision and certainly not something you do or don't have to do.  Depends on you, your baby and your family's needs!

That's why I added the and/or. It's usually those who can't fall asleep unassisted or especially go BACK to sleep by themselves in the MOTN that are problematic for some parents. Many who fall asleep being rocked etc need this intervention at subsequent awakenings. If yours doesn't you're lucky.

wither16

I would like to add too, just in case you are unfamiliar (My mom had NO clue what CIO meant).  That doesn't mean we left our baby screaming for hours on end.  That is absolutely NOT what CIO or Sleep training is about.  

As everyone has said, it's going to be what you and your spouse are comfortable with doing.  There are a lot of factors that go into it.  I also have plenty of friends that did NOT sleep train, and their babies are just fine with STTN.  So, while BabyWise worked for our family, I definitely think there are other methods that probably work just as well.  I would read as much as you can about the methods mentioned, ask questions, and then decide what works for y'all.

I would be more than happy to explain how we did it, as I am sure many other mommies would too.  GL with whichever path you decide!