Ashwin Lewis
Sleep training is a process that teaches babies to fall asleep by themselves. While some sources suggest that sleep training can begin when a baby is four to six months old, others recommend starting when they are 18 months old. Sleep training methods vary, but they often involve gradually reducing the amount of physical touch and reassurance provided to the baby over time. Some common sleep training methods include the “pick up, put down” method, the “longer and longer” method, and the “cry-it-out” approach. It's important to note that night waking is normal during a baby's first few years, and sleep training should be gentle and age-appropriate to avoid increasing cortisol levels and causing dysregulation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep training techniques | "Pick up, put down" (fading sleep training method), "longer and longer" (Ferber-style graduated extinction method), "cry it out" (CIO), night weaning, chair method |
| Sleep training tips | Establish a pre-sleep routine, use a video monitor or check from the doorway for safety, be consistent and patient, make gradual changes, use white noise, be aware of setbacks, address separation anxiety, ensure a safe environment, consult a pediatrician |
| Sleep duration | Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, children ages 1-3 years should get about 12 hours per day |
| Sleep cycles | Children have REM and non-REM sleep cycles every 90-110 minutes, newborns have shorter sleep cycles of about 50 minutes |
| Nap routines | Younger children usually take two naps per day, gradually transitioning to one nap per day by around 2 years of age, routine naps typically stop by around 5 years |
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What You'll Learn
- Gradual approaches, such as the ''pick up, put down' method, can help your child fall asleep independently
- The ''cry it out' (CIO) method lets your child figure things out on their own
- The ''sleep lady shuffle' and 'excuses' methods are other options to consider
- Establish a bedtime routine, including active play during the day, to help your child fall and stay asleep
- Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, so be mindful of their sleep schedule
Gradual approaches, such as the ''pick up, put down' method, can help your child fall asleep independently
Sleep training is a controversial topic, and some sources claim that it is not a skill that toddlers need to learn. Night waking is normal throughout a baby's first few years, and a study of Finnish children found that sleep is highly variable up to 2 years of age. Sleep regression commonly occurs in toddlers aged 12-18 months, and separation anxiety peaks around 18 months of age.
However, if you are an exhausted parent wanting to sleep train your 18-month-old, gradual approaches such as the pick-up-put-down method can help your child fall asleep independently. This method is suitable for toddlers aged 9-18 months and is a gentle approach that encourages lots of parental support to get your baby used to falling asleep independently without excessive crying.
To begin, play strong white noise in your toddler's room and sit quietly next to their crib or bed. If your toddler cries, respond by picking them up and cuddling them until they calm down, then tuck them back into bed. Stay in the room until they fall deeply asleep. Over several days or weeks, as your toddler gradually cries less and less, move your chair further from the crib or bed and closer to the door until you can move the chair out of the room.
The first couple of nights are typically the hardest, and it's important to stick with the method. A setback night or two may occur, where things get worse before they improve. A gradual approach allows you to make changes to sleep habits very slowly. For example, you may swap nursing for rocking your toddler to sleep, then transition to patting them to sleep, and finally, move yourself out of the room.
Remember, there is no strict age limit for the pick-up-put-down method, and it can be quite hard or even impossible to implement for older toddlers who may resist being put in their crib.
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The ''cry it out' (CIO) method lets your child figure things out on their own
Sleep training is not a skill that your baby needs to learn. Supporting your baby to sleep does not create a bad habit either. It is very common for toddlers to wake up at night. A recent study of 5700 Finnish children in 2020 found that sleep is highly variable up to 2 years of age. The number of babies needing resettling dropped dramatically after the first year of life. However, it was found that 25% of toddlers aged 1-2 years still needed help settling back to sleep at night.
If you are still keen on sleep training your 18-month-old, the cry-it-out method, also known as the extinction method, is one of a few sleep training techniques that can help babies learn to fall asleep on their own. The idea is to give them the opportunity to independently work it out and nod off. This method isn’t intended to be cruel; it’s meant to be used as an intentional tool to teach your baby self-soothing techniques that will stick with them for life.
The cry-it-out method has not been found to be harmful to babies. “There is no evidence to show that children have any social-emotional issues or resentment toward their parents later in life for letting them cry for a few minutes at nighttime,” Dr. Schwartz reassures. However, it is important to remember that there are many sleep-training methods to consider, and crying it out is just one.
The CIO method is great if you are not ready to leave your toddler’s room just yet. Place a chair next to the crib and provide occasional physical and verbal reassurance. From there, you move your chair closer to the doorway over a few nights or up to a week. As you physically distance yourself from your child, you reduce the amount of reassurance given. Finally, you remove the chair altogether and walk out of the room before your toddler falls asleep. This method can be used as part of the gentle or gradual sleep training approach.
The first couple of nights are typically the hardest, then from there your toddler should take less and less time to fall asleep. Be aware that there can also be setback nights where things get a little worse before they improve again. The trick is to stick with it and keep going.
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The ''sleep lady shuffle' and 'excuses' methods are other options to consider
The Sleep Lady Shuffle, also known as the chair method, is a gentle sleep training approach that can be tailored to suit your family's needs. It involves placing a chair next to your baby's crib and providing occasional physical and verbal reassurance. Over several nights or up to a week, you gradually move the chair closer to the door until you're out of the room, reducing the amount of reassurance given along the way. This method helps your baby learn to fall asleep independently without being rocked, bounced, fed, or sung to. It's a good option if you're not ready to leave your toddler's room but want to transition them away from these habits.
The Excuse Me Drill is another gentle sleep training technique developed by Dr. Brett Kuhn, a sleep behaviourist. It involves frequent checks on your child as they learn to fall asleep independently. You go through your usual bedtime routine and then, a little while after lights-out, you tell your child you need to step out for a moment, using an excuse like checking the scores or the price of Bitcoin. This method is suitable for children two and up who sleep in beds rather than cribs and can tolerate you leaving the room for short periods.
Both the Sleep Lady Shuffle and the Excuse Me Drill offer gentle alternatives to the cry-it-out or total extinction methods, providing parents with options that allow them to stay close to their children during the sleep training process.
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Establish a bedtime routine, including active play during the day, to help your child fall and stay asleep
Establishing a bedtime routine is crucial to helping your 18-month-old fall and stay asleep. A consistent bedtime routine can signal to your toddler that it's time for sleep. This routine can include activities such as reading a book, singing lullabies, or having a warm bath. It's also important to ensure your child gets enough active play during the day, promoting healthy sleep at night.
The "`pick-up, put-down'" method is a popular sleep training technique for toddlers aged 9 to 18 months. This method involves staying in the room with your toddler until they fall asleep, gradually giving them more space and independence over time. Start by playing white noise in the room and sitting quietly next to their crib. If your toddler cries, respond by offering comfort until they calm down, then tuck them back into bed. Over several days or weeks, gradually move your chair further from the crib and closer to the door until you can eventually move out of the room altogether.
Another technique is the "longer and longer" method, also known as the Ferber-style graduated extinction or "cry-it-out" method. This involves allowing your toddler to cry for gradually increasing intervals before offering comfort. For older toddlers, you can explain that you will stay in the room as long as they remain in their bed. If they get out of bed, enforce a clear consequence, such as leaving the room.
It's important to remember that every child is unique, and you may need to experiment with different techniques to find what works best for your 18-month-old. Sleep training should be a gradual and gentle process, respecting your child's temperament and emotional needs. Remember that night waking is normal, and it's more about teaching your child to self-soothe and fall back asleep independently.
Additionally, consider the timing of your toddler's bedtime. Toddlers between 1 and 3 years old typically need around 12 hours of sleep per day. If their bedtime seems too early or too late, adjust it in 15-minute increments over a period of several nights to find the right balance.
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Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, so be mindful of their sleep schedule
Sleep training is the process of teaching your baby to fall asleep by themselves. While some sources suggest that sleep training can start from four to six months, others recommend starting when the baby is four months old. This is because babies are typically old enough to learn to self-soothe and may no longer require night feedings. However, it is important to note that every baby is different, and some may be ready for sleep training earlier or later than four months.
When it comes to toddlers specifically, the amount of sleep they need will gradually decrease as they grow. Toddlers between the ages of one and three years should get about 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. This is less sleep than they needed when they were younger. As they continue to grow, they will gradually need less sleep. By the time they reach adolescence, they should be getting about nine hours of sleep per night.
It is important to be mindful of your toddler's sleep schedule and make gentle, age-appropriate changes. Separation anxiety peaks around 18 months of age, so pushing for more separation at this age can cause toddlers to feel more dysregulated, increasing their cortisol levels. Instead, parents should focus on creating a secure environment for their toddlers to fall asleep and setting age-appropriate boundaries.
There are several sleep training methods that can be used to help toddlers fall asleep independently. One popular method is the pick up, put down technique, which is recommended for toddlers between 9 and 18 months old. This involves staying in the room with your toddler until they fall asleep, gradually giving them more space and independence over time. Another method is the longer and longer approach, also known as the Ferber-style graduated extinction or cry it out method. This involves allowing your toddler to cry for a bit before falling asleep, gradually increasing the time you wait before returning to the room.
Regardless of the method chosen, consistency is key to successful sleep training. It is also important to be mindful of your toddler's temperament and adjust your approach as needed. Sleep training is not a one-size-fits-all process, and it may take some time to find the right technique for your child.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some popular sleep training methods:
- The "pick up, put down" method: You stay in the room with your toddler until they fall asleep, gradually giving them more space and independence.
- The "longer and longer" method: A form of the "cry-it-out" method, where you let your toddler cry for longer periods of time before checking in on them.
- The "chair method": You place a chair next to the crib and provide occasional physical and verbal reassurance. Over a few nights or a week, you move the chair closer to the door, reducing the amount of reassurance given, until you remove the chair and walk out of the room.
The first couple of nights are typically the hardest, and then your toddler should take less and less time to fall asleep. A faster approach may get your toddler to sleep through the night in about a week. More gentle methods can take a few weeks.
Toddlers need 11-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours. They may take one or two naps per day, depending on their age.
It is very common for toddlers to wake up at night. Night waking is normal throughout a child's first few years of life. Separation anxiety peaks around 18 months, which can cause night waking.
Sleep training is generally considered safe and healthy for children over four months old. However, some sources suggest that sleep training is not necessary and can be detrimental, causing children to feel more dysregulated and increasing their cortisol levels.
