Best Age to Start Sleep Training
Sleep training is an important part of parenting and can be a difficult process for both parents and babies. Knowing when to start sleep training is key to ensuring that your baby is getting the best sleep possible. The best age to start sleep training is usually between four and six months of age. This is when babies are developmentally ready to learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own.
At four months of age, babies are beginning to develop the ability to self-soothe and are able to recognize their own sleep cues. This is the ideal time to start sleep training as babies are more likely to respond positively to the process. During this time, parents can begin to establish a consistent bedtime routine and help their baby learn how to fall asleep on their own.
At six months of age, babies are more aware of their environment and are better able to understand the concept of sleep training. This is the ideal time to start sleep training as babies are more likely to respond positively to the process. During this time, parents can continue to establish a consistent bedtime routine and help their baby learn how to fall asleep on their own.
Sleep training can be a difficult process for both parents and babies, but it is important to remember that it is a process and it takes time. It is important to be patient and consistent with your sleep training routine and to remember that it is normal for babies to take some time to adjust to the new routine.
Should You Wake a Sleeping Baby?
It can be tempting to wake a sleeping baby, especially if they are sleeping for longer than usual. However, it is important to remember that babies need their sleep and it is best to let them sleep as long as they need to. Waking a sleeping baby can disrupt their sleep cycle and make it harder for them to fall back asleep.
If your baby is sleeping for longer than usual, it is best to let them sleep. If you are concerned about your baby’s sleep schedule, it is best to talk to your pediatrician. They can help you determine if your baby is getting enough sleep and provide advice on how to adjust their sleep schedule if necessary.
Breastfeeding From 6-12 Months
Breastfeeding is an important part of a baby’s development and can provide many health benefits. Breastfeeding from 6-12 months is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as it can provide important nutrients and antibodies that can help protect your baby from illness.
During this time, it is important to continue to feed your baby on demand. This means that you should feed your baby whenever they show signs of hunger, such as rooting or sucking on their hands. It is also important to remember that your baby may not always finish a full feeding, and that is okay.
It is also important to remember that breastfeeding is a two-way street. It is important to make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed while breastfeeding. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, it can make it harder for your baby to latch on and feed.
FAQs
What is the best age to start sleep training?
The best age to start sleep training is usually between four and six months of age. This is when babies are developmentally ready to learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own.
Should I wake a sleeping baby?
It is best to let a sleeping baby sleep as long as they need to. Waking a sleeping baby can disrupt their sleep cycle and make it harder for them to fall back asleep.
Is breastfeeding recommended from 6-12 months?
Yes, breastfeeding from 6-12 months is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as it can provide important nutrients and antibodies that can help protect your baby from illness.
My son is 3 weeks old and was born at 37 weeks. I have both a bassinet and a mosses basket that I have in my bed. He doesn't have any issues falling asleep on my chest, however anytime I try to put him down whether it be in the mosses basket or his bassinet he cries and gets extremely upset 😢 😞 so I usually have him sleep on me during the night. I'm trying to break this habit, but it's easier said than done. I co-slept with my daughter the day she came home from the hospital. She was a day late. So totally opposite of my son. This was also 17 years ago! So I feel like a brand new parent all over again. My son also recently got circumcised 4 days ago. So while family is saying I should put him in his bassinet/mosses basket and let him cry 😢 I feel in my heart he's not ready and it would be too hard on him emotionally right now. So my question is. When should I let him "cry it out" or self sooth until he falls asleep on his own and not on me? Also I'm currently not producing a lot of milk so he's been getting 90% formula and 10% breast milk. Im trying to pump to increase my milk but its hard when im holding him constantly. I pee holding him, clean holding him… you get the drift 😐 it's just really hard for me to see him get so upset. Oh also he isn't the best with breastfeeding. It doesnt help that my nipples are inverted too 😕 And now he literally does one or two sucks and he gives up and starts crying. I watched another video that said if babies are using medium flow bottle nipples they can get a bit lazy with the boob. They're so used to not having to work for the milk. Nipple shields are great but when he doesn't suck long enough to get anything out he gets upset.
I hope all this made sense. It's kinda all over the place. Like my life is right now 🙃 😆 🤣
Praying you see this and can help me, because lord knows I need all the advice and support I can get 🙏 Thank you so much ♡♡♡
Why does the AAP recommend babies sleep in your room at least 6 months and preferably up to a year if SIDS almost always occurs between 2-4 months? The recommendation doesn’t seem very logical. Especially when you could be sleep training your baby and giving them better rest
So what do we do 2-4 months? Possible to sort of sleep train? Sleep prep?
Could you talk about the updated covid booster please
My daughter is 7 months and has always struggled with sleeping throughout the night. We can’t seem to get our pediatrician to help us with answers for this. She keeps telling us to sleep train, but I don’t think that’s the issue. She falls asleep on her own between 7:30-8 pm, but she wakes up at 11 pm and is ready for the day by 4/4:30 am. What are the questions we should be asking our pediatrician?
I have twins. There is no way, I am feeding one without waking the other, night or day. Otherwise I would never have the time to sleep. I think there should be an exception when it comes to parents of multiples. Just imagine having triplets and feeding them at different times.
Thank you for picking these questions! They address right where I'm at with baby and was the reassurance I needed!
Your videos are too long
Thank goodness for your videos by how do you get your baby to sleep independently. My baby is six weeks old and she falls asleep on me and when I transition her to her crib, she wakes in less than 5minutes
I know you two have mentioned your dogs! Do you have any special tips for introducing baby to the dog? Did you train your dog on anything new before hand?
Hello – thank you so much for doing these YouTube videos. I had my son three weeks ago and my husband and I are in major survival mode and are struggling because our son won't sleep in the bassinet/will only contact sleep, so we aren't getting sleep (because we don't want to sleep with him sleeping on us- surviving through the night with coffee 😬). Our son also spits up and screams a lot in relation to eating and being laid down – so our questions:
1. could his issue with the bassinet be that he has acid reflux? If that's the case should we talk with our pediatrician about which sensitive stomach formula we should switch to (I'm EBFing currently)
2. If it isn't a diet/reflux issue what Is going on? What should we do to convince him to at least sleep in the bassinet for an hour or two over night?
Thank you so much!!!
Any thoughts on night lights once baby starts sleeping in their own room? We have the Hatch and I'm wondering whether to keep the soft light on at night or go pitch black.
Love your videos!!!! <3 Thank you for sharing your experience.
Just had my first baby and she was sleeping 8-10 hours during the night. Then, when she turn 6 months it all went down hill and wakes up every 2-3 hours.
Definitely, will try the sleep training and your tips 🙂
Question, if a baby is getting enough milk oz during the day. Then how much food should they eat? Do you cut down on milk when you start to introduce solids to a baby?
Super informative. Thank you!
Hello doctors! My daughter just turned 6 months and started flapping one arm a few weeks ago. She responds to her name, plays perfectly, already crawls, loves standing and is very playful with everyone around her. I have been trapped in the cycle of autism videos and flapping arms is a common sign of autism. Should I be concerned or is this just a normal baby thing? Can signs of autism even be seen this early on?
Thank you so much for answering these questions. I’m 38 weeks now with my baby and these are all the questions I had prior to my little coming. Thanks doctors!
I know sleep training can stir up alot of emotions and opinions from people 😅 y’all are brave to tackle it, but I appreciate it!
It is a shame that this crazy rhetoric about babies learning how to self sooth comes directly from doctors. It's BS. Self soothing is something difficult to learn for adults, let alone for a 4 months old baby over a week end. They are just learning to be quiet at night and – eventually – falling asleep again. And parents are convincing themselves they are doing the right thing by ignoring their instinct to nurture their babies. It is ridiculous, our instincts are way older than us and more evolutionary proven and sharpened than any research paper out there. Obviously there are advantages on having a baby who doesn't wake up their parents at night, and that is what the research picks up on. However, it is impossible to quantify other psychological effects that sleep training might have years down the line for both parents and child. As such, it should not be recommended by pediatricians just as form of precaution.
Can you do a Q&A on mom? I was wondering if the mini pill causes mothers to have their periods very early on even if they are breastfeeding. Thanks!
My baby is 15 months old. How much longer do I need to give whole milk?
You two look SO happy in this video! Thank you for the helpful tips on sleeping…
Tomorrow I return to work after 6 months of being home with my baby and I've been crying all night. This video is just what I needed. I hope everyone reading this has a great week!
Could you all do an episode on babies and colds/flu etc? I'm on my third baby and still struggle with treating colds and flu effectively. My first child had RSV at 5 months old and scared us quite a bit and I'm always worried something like that may happen again. As we head into fall/winter it is on my mind.
Thank you so much for answering my question, great info!!
My baby is nine months old, I just had her weighed the other day at a sick visit and she’s 24 pounds, that’s 6 pounds more than she supposed to be. They’re telling me to continue to feed on demand even though her growth chart looks like she’s obese. She is so used to eating when she wants to do that, especially during the night, if I go in by her and don’t feed her if she screams at me. And more often than not I have to let her cry herself to sleep during naps and bedtime because as long as I am with her the only thing that’ll keep her from crying as a boob in the mouth.
Thank you sooo much because this cleared up soooo much me being a first time parent. My mother was trying to get me to start sleep training our new born and I felt like that was a little aggressive because this is the stage where she’s trying to eat as much as possible and focus on gaining weight. I feel A LOT better reading other comments and listening to this as well. My daughter is 3 weeks now and she sleeps very well thru the night wakes up every 2-3hrs for feedings during the day time sometimes I would have to wake her up but other than that she’s a foodie like her parents 😂