Frequently Asked Questions

Your baby or toddler are taking in an enormous amount of information throughout the day. This information is processed and stored during sleep. As well, growth hormone is primarily emitted during sleep. Babies and toddlers literally need sleep in order to grow and for healthy brain development!

The duration of my sleep plans are usually over the span of two to three weeks. After the first week, your child should be beginning to show progress in putting themselves to sleep. Generally, the method of sleep training can also influence how long it can take and the age of your child. However, there are no hard fast rules as every baby and toddler is an individual being!

Learning a new skill and making changes can be a frustrating experience for toddlers and babies. Many babies and toddlers will protest the change of having to fall asleep by themselves and no longer receiving their caregiver’s help. Crying is an expression of emotion and frustration and does not mean the caregiver is doing something wrong if their child is loved, safe and responded to. Protesting and testing boundaries is a normal part of child development and this includes healthy boundaries around bedtime. My gentle methods allow caregivers to comfort and soothe their child while they are learning this new skill and support them in their time of frustration.

The short answer is No! You do not need to night wean in order to sleep train. Sleep training and night weaning are separate as feeding is for nourishment and sleep training is to teach your child how to fall asleep on their own. You can successfully teach your younger baby how to learn this skill while still providing night feeds as recommended by your doctor. If you choose to keep night feedings, I will guide you how to do this successfully while following your sleep plan.

There is no “best age” to sleep train. However, generally the older the child, the longer sleep training will take as habits are more engrained. Four months old is a great age to begin as sleep cycles mature and the circadian rhythm is formed. However, this can also happen much sooner if healthy sleep habits are built from the start. The biggest factor in determining when to sleep train is whenever the caregiver is comfortable starting.