Get the Good Night's Sleep You Both Need

Sleep training is the process of helping your child learn healthy, independent sleep habits. The goal is to help the child learn the skill of self-settling and connecting their sleep cycles independently, which leads to fewer night wakings and longer sleep stretches overnight and for naps.

No. I believe sleep training should feel responsive, supportive, and aligned with the parent's comfort level. While some frustration or tears can happen when learning a new skill, I do not believe in leaving children to fully "cry-it-out" without any support. There are a range of sleep training methods we work with and the method we choose is customized to your child's age, temperament and current sleep habits.

Short answer is No! Sleep training is helping your child learn self-soothing skills and connect sleep cycles to sleep longer stretches overnight. We are not locking your child in a room for 12 hours and letting them cry it out hoping they’ll fall asleep. Secondly, even in the most gentle sleep training methods your child will most certainly cry as you are changing a habit they’ve grown accustomed to. So, keeping your expectations real, it is impossible to avoid crying! But will this crying damage your child? No! How do I know this?  Recent scientific studies show no evidence of neurological damage, emotional insecurity, or attachment issues from sleep training. In fact, studies show that sleep training can significantly improve parent and baby sleep, reducing parental stress and risk of postpartum depression, which benefits the child.

Infants starting from 4 months of age can be sleep-trained given their growth and weight gain is normal. The best time to start is when both parents and all members of the house are on-board and feel ready to make necessary changes and stay consistent with the plan.

Typically, after 6-8 months, most children do not need night feedings and the night wake ups are usually out of habit than hunger. After analysing the child's night time behaviour over a period of time, we decide whether the night feedings can be gradually and safely weaned or if one feeding is still needed.

The duration of sleep training depends on the chosen method and the consistency in implementation. With the right approach many families start noticing significant improvements within a few days to two weeks.

Crying is a natural way for babies and toddlers to communicate, particularly when learning new sleep habits and routines. While some protest or frustration may occur during the adjustment period, my approach prioritizes responsiveness, connection, and emotional support for both the child and the parent. With consistency in sleep training, age-appropriate routines, and a strong focus on meeting your child’s emotional needs during the day, sleep becomes easier and crying naturally decreases as your child grows into a confident, independent sleeper.

Sleep training while bed-sharing is generally not recommended (and not safe for infants under 12 months old), as it can be difficult for children to develop independent sleep skills while continuing to rely on close parental presence throughout the night. For the best results, I typically recommend gradually transitioning your child to their own sleep space while providing gentle, responsive support throughout the process.

Book a free discovery call and let’s chat about your family’s sleep goals.