Sleep training gets a bad reputation, but there are undeniable benefits for both babies and parents. And let’s face it: learning to sleep is one of the big skills babies need to develop in their first year.
Teaching Your Baby to Sleep is a Game-Changer
There is a huge movement within parenting communities and among infant care professionals that claims sleep training is cruel and harmful – despite study after study showing that it is not. If the term “sleep training” makes you uncomfortable, or worse, makes you angry, you can simply think of it as sleep coaching or sleep learning.
Don’t just take our word for it! Check out these articles to see how the scientific and medical community agrees that sleep training is not harmful to infants:
- ‘Cry It Out’ Sleep Training Won’t Hurt a Parent or Baby. Bad Sleep Will
- Five-Year Follow-Up of Harms and Benefits of Behavioral Infant Sleep Intervention: Randomized Trial
Your baby will reach many milestones in their first year and sleep is just one of them. Some babies naturally learn how to fall asleep without parental intervention – rocking, feeding, bouncing, or patting. Others need a mindful, structured approach to develop this skill. And some, even when their parents do all the “right” things, benefit from a short, methodical 2-3 week period of more focused sleep training.
The benefits of sleep training for babies are clear: they get more sleep. When babies sleep well, they are calmer, easier to care for, and able to meet their developmental milestones more easily. But parents also reap significant rewards. Let’s explore how choosing to sleep train your baby can improve your entire household.
More Sleep for the Whole Family
This is an obvious one, but it’s worth emphasizing: parents need sleep, too. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to impaired cognitive function, increased stress, weight gain, heart disease, and even Type 2 diabetes. When you sleep train your baby, you are not just helping them – you are also protecting your own health and well-being. A well-rested parent is a more patient, present, and engaged caregiver.
Less Anxiety and Frustration
Broken sleep and unpredictable nights can be mentally exhausting. Parents who experience consistent sleep deprivation often feel heightened levels of stress, frustration, and self-doubt. Sleep training can bring predictability and routine, allowing parents to relax, enjoy their baby more, and reduce the overwhelming exhaustion that can cloud the early parenting months.
More Quality Time with Your Partner
When you’re not holding your baby through every nap or making multiple trips to soothe them at night, you suddenly have more time for yourself and for your relationship. Couples who prioritize sleep training often find they have more time to talk, laugh, share meals, and even enjoy some much-needed intimacy. Sleep training can restore balance to your entire household.
A Greater Sense of Confidence as a Parent
When your baby isn’t sleeping well, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing as a parent. You may second-guess yourself, feel stuck, and struggle with self-doubt. But successfully sleep training your baby can restore your confidence. Knowing you have helped your baby develop healthy sleep habits can be incredibly empowering, making you feel more in control and capable as a parent.
A Happier, More Well-Rested Baby
When babies get enough sleep, they are less fussy, more engaged, and better able to learn and grow. Well-rested babies tend to have better moods, improved feeding habits, and a stronger ability to self-soothe. By choosing to sleep train your baby, you are giving them the gift of better rest, which can positively impact their overall development and temperament.
How to Get Started with Sleep Training
If you’re ready to sleep train your baby but aren’t sure where to start, talking with a Sleep Consultant can be incredibly helpful. A sleep expert can evaluate your family’s unique needs and provide a clear, compassionate, step-by-step approach to better sleep. Every baby is different, and working with a professional can help you tailor a sleep training plan that works best for your family.
Sleep training is not about forcing a baby to sleep – it’s about giving them the tools to sleep well so that the entire family can thrive. If you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, know that there is a solution. Sleep training could be the key to a happier, healthier, and more well-rested home.
BONUS:
Read 5 Ways To Improve Sleep Right Now to get started tonight on improving sleep for your baby and you!