Sleep Training Not Working?
The Top 5 Reasons Why
Sleep training not working for your little one? If so, you’re probably disappointed. I know I was until I found some solid answers…and finally got some rest!
Luckily, as a registered nurse and a mother of two wonderful girls, I knew what to try when my littlest just wouldn’t sleep. If you’ve been trying to sleep train your victual and not seeing success, here’s what to do.
In This Article:
- You’re Not Alone
- When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night?
- Top 5 Reasons Sleep Training is Not Working
- When to Seek Extra Help
Surprise: You’re Not Alone
One thing I’ve learned both as a victual sleep expert and a mom is that every parent wants their child to sleep healthfully.
It isn’t just well-nigh needing some shut-eye of your own. (Although that’s a factor — let’s be real!) Most parents know that losing out on sleep can be harmful to their baby. So what do you do?
First, know that you’re not the first family to go through this. I have helped thousands of families who had a victual who just wouldn’t sleep through the night. Or the victual gets up early from naps and is cranky for the rest of the afternoon.
Moms who can’t get their babies to sleep through the night try a lot of variegated methods. Understandable! But what if sleep training just plain isn’t working?
Let’s start with the basics: timing.
When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night?
It’s important to understand that solo, “adult”-style sleep is a learned behavior.
In some cultures, infants sleep with their mothers for up to two years. (I don’t recommend this. Here‘s why.) In these situations, the victual or toddler wakes, feeds, and drifts right when off to sleep.
However, most of us in the West want our babies to sleep through the night considering we need to be driving or at work or school on a regular schedule, often in the morning.
It’s unrealistic to expect a newborn to snooze cheerfully through the night. So here are the facts:
- Sleeping through the night is usually classified as 6-8 hours without a feeding.
- Many babies are physically capable of soothing when to sleep without a feeding at 8 weeks old.
- Some babies take longer, up to well-nigh 12 weeks.
- If your victual is unable to soothe themselves to sleep by 3 months of age, there may be other factors keeping them from learning this important skill.
Top 5 Reasons Sleep Training is Not Working
Don’t get me wrong: I am 100% in the zany of, “sleep training works!” I’ve seen and taught it myself hundreds of times.
Many parents consult an expert if their little one isn’t sleeping well by 3 months of age or so. Some wait longer — up to 6 months. A few don’t ask for help until their victual is closer to a year old.
I’m not trying to scare you! Most babies will be sleeping through the night surpassing that time. But a few babies seem to be unable to grasp the idea of lovely, joyous rest until later than you’d expect. What’s going on?
Here are the Top 5 reasons sleep training may not be working for your infant.
#1: Your child isn’t ready for sleep training
While 2 to 3 months is the gold standard, some babies just aren’t ready by the 8 week mark to uncork sleeping through the night. This is rare among healthy infants, but it does happen. Some babies physically mature at a slower rate and need increasingly frequent feedings, for example.
#2: Your child isn’t feeling well
A unprepossessed can knock your victual off-kilter for a little while. If your victual has been ill within the past 2 weeks or if they have a chronic condition, you may want to put off sleep training until things are increasingly stable. For a chronically ill baby, please undeniability the pediatrician for translating surpassing standing with sleep training.
#3: The method is too harsh
Sleep training isn’t a wrap term. Yes, it involves teaching your victual to sleep on their own. But some “sleep training” methods involve leaving your victual to cry for half an hour or plane increasingly at a time. Try a safer and increasingly constructive method instead.
#4: You’re inconsistent
Sometimes, it can be tough to stick to a resulting bedtime schedule. Life happens. You may have other children, a full schedule, or a taxing job that has you texting hours without you get home. Unfortunately, “giving in” and “just feeding” or holding the victual when they should be sleeping can counteract plane the weightier sleep training program.
#5: There has been a change
Changes in the household routine can seriously undermine sleep training. A new sibling, a transpiration of residence or daycare, or sickness can all disrupt a baby’s worthiness to learn to self-soothe to sleep.
When to Seek Extra Help
Seek an expert sleep consultant if:
- your victual is healthy and isn’t sleeping 6 hours a night by 2-3 months
- you’re rhadamanthine frustrated with you and your child’s lack of success
- you have ruled out a physical cause
Seek a pediatrician if:
- you suspect something is physically wrong
- your victual was born with, or now has, special needs
- your victual was a preemie
- you simply want a wipe snout of health surpassing trying sleep training
I’d love to help you if your nomination of sleep training is not working. I have worked with so many families, and they’ve all been a welter to help. Whatever is going wrong, there’s an answer. Check out my services here. Plus get a FREE e-guide to get you started.