Sleeping adds a lot to the development of a baby. It also helps mothers to enjoy some personal time and take rest. The sleeping schedule of the baby during the first few weeks after the birth will fluctuate a lot and is not to be adjusted or controlled. But this cannot be continued forever and thus you will need to set a routine and schedule everything.

There may be times when you will not be around, for such situations, the baby should know how to self soothe themselves. Sleep coaching can help achieve this.

So here's all that you need to know about sleep coaching your baby.

What is Sleep Training?

Sleep training, as the name suggests, involves some methods that can be used to adjust the infants' sleeping practices. This will help make your child sleep at the same time you do, especially during the night. It also includes training your baby to fall asleep without your help and to fall back to sleep if they wake up in between.

Various methods can be followed to train your baby to achieve a sound sleep for them.

Methods of Sleep Training for Your Baby

Of all the sleep methods, you can try any for your baby. One should not expect the baby to learn and adjust to the sleep schedule overnight, so it will require you to be patient.

Cry it out method

In this method, you will have to put the baby in the cradle and let them cry until they soothe themselves to sleep. Make sure to put the baby in a cradle with a full tummy and in a safe environment.

This method may sound a little harsh, but it is very effective to make your baby fall asleep independently. Soon after, they’ll not whine and will be able to sleep in no time when put to bed.

Ferber method

If you find the cry-it-out method and letting the baby cry too difficult for yourself, then the ferber method is the alternative you can opt for.

In this method, you have to allow the baby to cry for some time before going to check on them. Every time you go to check on your baby, make sure to increase the time interval in between.

Gradually the baby will learn to soothe themselves without your presence.

Bedtime fading method

Does your newborn take a lot of time to fall asleep? This might be because of the difference in your sleep schedule. A Baby's body might not be ready for sleep at your scheduled time because of their circadian rhythm.

This sleep method is all about synchronising the baby's circadian rhythm with your sleeping schedule over some time.

In this method, you've got to notice your baby's actions and put them to sleep whenever they look sleepy. Then you need to put your baby to bed 15 minutes early or after their normal routine, wherever matches your sleep cycle and this way you can make them sleep at the desired time.

Chair method

You will find this way the best, if your heart just doesn't agree with leaving the baby crying. In this method, you have to sit on a chair near your baby's cradle until they fall asleep. You don't have to pick the baby up anytime and need to move your chair away from the cradle every successive night and eventually move out of the room.

This way, you'll train your baby to fall asleep without you comforting them.

Pick-up put down method

In this method, you need to follow your baby's normal bedtime routine. You should put the baby to bed when they look drowsy, but are not asleep. If the baby cries, let them settle on their own. If they continue to cry, pick them up, soothe them, and put them back to sleep. Ensure not to soothe them to sleep

When to start sleep training?

The best time to start sleep training your baby is when they start developing cardician rhythm. The baby's circadian rhythm is the feeling or understanding of day and night, which begins to develop 4-6 months after birth. This is the best time for sleep training your baby and synchronising their sleeping schedule with yours. Also, it is at this stage that you can leave your baby alone for 7-8 hours while sleeping.

It is good to comfort your baby, but it is even more important to teach them how to sleep by themselves. You can try out any of the mentioned sleep methods and see what works the best for your baby.