So, you’ve decided you and your baby are ready for sleep training! You may feel like the right time to sleep train is ASAP – before the sleepless nights drive you even crazier…
GREAT! That’s what we’re here for. But, we want to make sure when you do the work to sleep train, it sticks. Timing is everything. Sometimes finding the right time to sleep train, even if it means more wakeful nights, will allow the consistency it takes to be successful.
Here are some occasions when it might be better to wait.
Vacation
If you’re on the countdown for a family vacation within the next few weeks, you’ll want to wait to sleep train until you return. For some families it takes up to three weeks for sleep training to connect!
Moving
Moving is stressful for you and your children. Logistics, new environments and unpacking are more than enough. Once you’re settled and your baby is used to his or her new bedroom, it will be much easier to sleep train.
Holidays
Inevitably, the holiday season involves occasional late nights or missed naps. It’s all part of the fun! But it also means consistency may go by the wayside, which isn’t a great time to sleep train. Wait until your guests depart and the festivities are over.
Too young
During the first few months of your baby’s life, you can lay a solid foundation for healthy sleep. If you do that, you may never have to sleep train. Some babies may be ready for sleep training by four months, but many are not. If you need to sleep train, age five to six months is the ideal. That’s the easiest time. If you wait too long, it can be done, but it gets harder and harder.
Different Pages
If you and your partner are not on the same page with sleep training, it can be tough. Before you begin the process, make sure that you and your partner agree on when you want to sleep train and what approach you want to take.
Illness
If your child is sick, sleep training goes on the “back burner”. Sleep is medicine, but your baby may really need extra snuggles and/or food to get better, too. Wait until you’re confident that your baby or toddler is healthy, then get started.
Baby on the way
A new baby is a huge adjustment for you and older siblings! All that excitement can interfere with sleep training. We recommend sleep training before your last trimester (bonus: you get more sleep before baby!) or after you and your family have settled into a comfortable routine after baby arrives.
Potty Training
If you’re in the midst of potty training, you and your child will be more successful at both if you focus on one at a time. Both sleep and potty training require a lot of patience and work.