Ashwin Lewis
Sleep training is a way of teaching your baby to fall asleep independently and sleep through the night. However, sleep training a newborn is not recommended as they have short sleep cycles, cannot go all night without eating, and do not know how to self-soothe. Instead, the focus should be on creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment and establishing a bedtime routine to help newborns optimize sleep. While formal sleep training is not advised for newborns, parents can start optimizing sleep and building good sleep habits from the newborn phase, which will be helpful for babies in the first few weeks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep training newborns | Not recommended |
| Sleep training from birth | Possible, but not formal sleep training |
| Sleep training from 1-6 weeks | Possible, but not formal sleep training |
| Sleep training from 3-4 months | Possible, gentle sleep training |
| Sleep training from 4-6 months | Possible, formal sleep training |
| Sleep training from 5 months | Possible, baby is developmentally ready |
| Sleep training techniques | Cry-it-out, Ferber method, chair method, pick-up/put-down method |
| Sleep training goals | Teach baby to fall asleep independently, sleep through the night |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns cannot self-soothe
Newborns have underdeveloped circadian rhythms, which means they don't have a well-established day-night sleep cycle. This is why they often sleep in short bursts throughout the day and night or may even have their days and nights reversed. As such, implementing a "by the clock" schedule is unachievable.
Newborns rely on their caregivers to fall asleep and stay asleep. They will need external help to fall asleep, and it is best to offer them comfort and reassurance if they are struggling to fall asleep. This is because newborns do not have the ability to self-soothe. As a result, they can become dependent on their caregivers to fall asleep, associating sleep with their presence.
While it is okay to help your newborn fall asleep, there are some things you can do to help them develop self-soothing abilities. For example, you can place your baby in a crib or bassinet in your bedroom near your bed. Doctors recommend that you do not sleep with your baby in the bed as this can cause accidental suffocation. You can also establish a bedtime routine, which may include a bath, cuddling, singing, or playing quiet music to create a peaceful atmosphere that cues your baby that bedtime is near.
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Sleep training methods
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep training, there are several methods that parents have found effective. The right method for your family depends on what you and your baby are most comfortable with.
Cry It Out (CIO)
Also known as extinction or full extinction, this method involves putting your baby to bed while they are still awake, then leaving the room. If the baby cries, you don't respond. The idea is that they will eventually tire themselves out or self-soothe back to sleep. This method has its critics, who argue that it causes unnecessary stress for the infant.
Pick-up/Put-down
This method involves placing your baby in their crib while they are drowsy but still awake. If they start to fuss, wait a short while, then pick them up to console them. After a few minutes, place them back in the crib. Repeat this process until they fall asleep. Over time, you gradually increase the amount of time you wait before picking them up.
Gradual Method
This approach is similar to the pick-up/put-down method, but instead of picking the baby up, you start by offering comfort while they are still in the crib. Over time, you gradually reduce the amount of contact until they are able to self-soothe.
Chair Approach
This method involves placing a chair near your baby's crib and sitting on it while they fall asleep. Each night, you move the chair a little further away from the crib until you are eventually out of the room.
Feeding and Soothing
In the newborn phase, it is perfectly fine to feed your baby to sleep. You can also use sleeping aids like pacifiers, swings, and rocking to help them fall asleep.
Routines and Schedules
From the newborn phase onwards, you can start to establish a bedtime routine. This might include changing diapers, darkening the room, white noise, and reading books. You can also start to implement a schedule: eat, play, sleep.
Safe Sleep Environment
Before considering sleep training, it's important to ensure that your baby has a safe and comfortable sleep environment. This includes following safe-sleeping guidelines and creating a calm and soothing atmosphere.
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Creating a safe sleep environment
While newborns cannot establish independent sleep habits, you can start to create a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your baby to optimise sleep. Here are some tips for creating a safe sleep environment:
Firstly, the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their crib, on their back, on a firm, flat surface. This position is recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and has been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is important to ensure that the crib meets Canadian Government safety standards. It is also important to keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items away from the baby's sleep space.
Secondly, it is recommended that babies sleep in a room that is quiet, dark, and at a slightly cool temperature. Dressing the baby in sleepers can eliminate the need for a blanket. It is also important to avoid letting the baby sleep alone on a couch, sofa, or armchair, as this increases the risk of suffocation.
Thirdly, while it is okay to feed a newborn to sleep, it is important to establish a calming and consistent bedtime routine. This might include changing diapers, darkening the room, white noise, and feeding the baby. Allowing infants to fall asleep on their own can help them learn to comfort themselves.
Finally, it is important to remember that newborns cannot self-soothe, so it is best to offer them comfort and reassurance if they are struggling to fall asleep. Rocking the baby to sleep, using a swing, or snuggling them in a baby carrier are all ways to help your newborn sleep.
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Sleep training is not recommended for newborns
Newborns cannot establish independent sleep habits as they are unable to self-soothe and will need external help to fall asleep and stay asleep. They also need to be fed at least a few times overnight, as they cannot go all night without eating. Therefore, it is important to focus on creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your newborn to optimize sleep and meet their nutritional needs.
While formal sleep training is not recommended for newborns, you can start to help your baby learn to sleep better and establish healthy sleep patterns from the newborn stage. This includes prioritizing full feedings and orienting day and night to minimize wakeful periods at night. You can also practice placing your baby into their sleep space from a slightly awake state every so often to encourage them to fall asleep more independently.
Additionally, you can start implementing a nap and nighttime routine for your newborn, which can help them recognize what's about to happen and associate their nighttime routine with learning to relax and winding down for bedtime. However, it is important to be flexible and follow your baby's lead, as they may need to be fed to sleep or have contact naps during the newborn stage. These habits can be fixed later on, and what matters most is keeping your baby calm and well-rested.
Most experts recommend holding off on formal sleep training until a baby is at least 4 to 6 months old, as this is when they are developmentally ready and can learn to self-soothe when falling asleep and waking up overnight.
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Sleep training a newborn is not developmentally appropriate
Newborns also have tiny tummies and nutritional needs that require feeding at least a few times overnight. They are unable to self-soothe and rely on external help to fall asleep and stay asleep, such as soothing techniques like shushing, swaying, and rocking. Crying is a newborn's primary form of communication, and responding to their cries is crucial for building trust and security. Therefore, sleep training methods that involve letting the baby "cry it out" are not suitable for newborns.
Instead of formal sleep training, the focus should be on creating a safe, comfortable, and consistent sleep environment for your newborn. This includes optimizing their sleep space, establishing a bedtime routine, and learning to recognize their sleep cues. By creating a calm and nurturing environment, you can help your newborn adjust to sleeping more easily without the need for formal training.
As your baby gets older, typically around the three to six-month mark, their sleep patterns will start to mature, and you can gradually introduce gentle sleep training techniques. This may include methods such as the "`pick-up/put-down`" approach, where you place your baby in their crib while drowsy but still awake and gradually increase the time before picking them up to console them. Remember that every baby is unique, and it is always best to consult with your pediatrician before implementing any sleep-related strategies.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not recommended to sleep train a newborn. Newborns have short sleep cycles and cannot go all night without eating. They also don't yet have a sense of day or night and are unable to self-soothe. Instead, focus on creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your newborn to optimize sleep.
Most experts recommend holding off on formal sleep training until a baby is between 4 to 6 months old. By this time, most babies are developmentally ready and can learn to self-soothe when they go to sleep and when they wake up overnight. However, some babies can start sleep training slightly earlier, while others may do better starting a little later.
Here are some tips to help your newborn sleep better:
- Create a safe and comfortable sleep environment.
- Establish a bedtime routine to help your baby recognize what's about to happen and associate it with relaxing and winding down.
- Prevent over-tiredness by keeping wakeful periods at night to a minimum.
- Learn your baby's sleep cues and do what you can to keep them calm and well-rested.
- Feed your baby when they are hungry, as newborns need to be fed at least a few times overnight.
