As a parent, navigating your little one's sleep can feel overwhelming, with numerous methods available to improve sleep and no one-size-fits-all solution. However, sleep training is often essential for helping babies develop healthy sleep habits, and understanding the different approaches can help you find the one that works best for your family. Here’s a breakdown of some of the popular sleep training methods, supported by research, with the pros and cons of each.
- The Ferber Method (Recommended Age: 6+ months)
The Ferber Method, developed by Dr. Richard Ferber,[1] is a structured form of "controlled crying" or "graduated extinction." This approach encourages parents to allow their baby to try and self-settle (fall asleep independently) for progressively longer periods before offering comfort.
How It Works:
Parents put the baby to bed awake, leaving the room after a bedtime routine. If the baby cries, parents wait for a set period before offering brief comfort without picking the baby up. The waiting periods gradually increase each night.
Pros:
- Teaches self-settling relatively quickly (within a few days to a week)
- Structured and straightforward, providing clear guidelines for parents
- Research shows it can improve both infant and parental sleep quality in the long term[2]
Cons:
- Some parents find it emotionally challenging to hear their baby cry for extended periods
- Not suitable for babies under six months
- Can be stressful for parents who prefer a gentler approach
- Spaced Soothing (Recommended Age: 6+ months)
Spaced Soothing, similar to the Ferber Method, focuses on giving the baby time to settle on their own but incorporates gentler soothing techniques between intervals.
How It Works:
Parents follow a similar approach to Ferber, but instead of leaving the baby alone entirely, they return to soothe with a gentle pat or calming voice at set intervals. The intervals get longer each night to encourage self-settling.
Pros:
- Gradually encourages self-settling without long periods of crying
- Allows for some comforting, which can be emotionally easier for parents
- Research suggests it’s effective in reducing night wakings over time[3]
Cons:
- May take longer to work compared to stricter methods like Ferber
- Requires consistency, which can be difficult for tired parents
- Some babies may still cry, making it challenging for parents
- Shush-Pat (Recommended Age: 0-6 months)
The Shush-Pat method, popularised by baby sleep expert, Tracy Hogg[4], is a gentle method designed for younger babies. It involves soothing the baby through physical touch and calming sounds while they are still in the cot.
How It Works:
Parents place the baby in the cot and gently pat their back or tummy while "shushing" until the baby calms down or falls asleep. Parents gradually reduce the amount of patting and shushing over time.
Pros:
- Gentle and comforting, making it a good fit for younger infants (under six months)
- Involves minimal tears, making it emotionally easier for parents
- Helps babies associate sleep with the cot rather than being held
Cons:
- Can be time-consuming, especially in the early stages
- May require a longer period before the baby can self-settle
- Some research indicates it may not be as effective for older infants
- Habit Stacking (Recommended Age: 6+ months)
Habit Stacking focuses on gradually introducing new, sleep habits while gently removing sleep associations parents no longer want (i.e. rocking or feeding to sleep). It’s a slow, patient approach that works well for parents who want to avoid crying.
How It Works:
Parents start by identifying their baby’s current sleep habits (e.g., rocking to sleep) and then introduce new sleep associations like rocking, patting and shushing to sleep. You will do this for a few weeks the slowly remove layers to eventually move away from rocking to sleep. So this might look like only rocking until baby is drowsy but keep patting and shushing baby. Then rocking until baby is relaxed but not drowsy then keep patting and shushing until they’re asleep. Then just pat and shush whilst stationary until they’re settled to sleep. Lastly, lay baby down awake & shush to settle to sleep.
Pros:
- Gentle and flexible, allowing parents to make changes at their own pace
- No crying involved, making it less stressful for both baby and parents
- Encourages long-term sleep independence through gradual changes
Cons:
- Results can take weeks or even months to see significant improvements
- Requires a lot of patience and consistency from parents
- Research suggests it may not be as immediately effective as other methods for babies with significant sleep issues[5]
- Bedtime Fading (Recommended Age: 6+ months)
Bedtime Fading is a gentle approach that adjusts your baby’s internal sleep clock by gradually moving bedtime closer to their natural sleep onset time. This method is useful for babies who struggle to fall asleep at bedtime and can be an effective way to reduce bedtime battles without causing distress.
How It Works: Parents observe when their baby naturally falls asleep, then temporarily set bedtime closer to that time. Over a few days or weeks, parents gradually move bedtime earlier by 15 minutes, until reaching the desired bedtime. This method is designed to prevent prolonged wakefulness in bed, helping babies associate bedtime with sleep more easily.
Pros:
- Gentle and doesn’t involve crying, making it a good choice for parents who prefer no-cry methods
- Helps regulate the baby’s sleep-wake cycle naturally
- Research supports its effectiveness in reducing bedtime resistance and improving sleep onset[6]
Cons:
- Takes time to adjust the baby’s internal clock, so results are gradual
- Requires consistent observation of the baby’s natural sleep cues and timing
- May not be suitable for families looking for a quick solution
Research Support: Bedtime Fading has been found effective in various studies on paediatric sleep disorders. Research suggests that gradually adjusting the bedtime can help babies fall asleep faster, reduce night wakings, and improve overall sleep quality. A study by Moore et al. (2008) found that bedtime fading was effective in treating sleep onset issues and minimising bedtime resistance in young children.[7]
Which Method is Right for Your Family?
Each sleep training method has its pros and cons, and the best approach depends on your baby’s temperament, your parenting style, and your comfort level with crying. If you're looking for quicker results, methods like Ferber or Spaced Soothing might work well. If you prefer a slower, more gradual approach with minimal crying, Shush-Pat, Habit Stacking, or the Fading Method might be better suited for your family. Ultimately, the key is consistency and choosing a method that feels right for you and your baby, which is what I focus on during my one-on-one consultations.
Unlike traditional methods that focus on just one approach, my method incorporates a combination of evidence-based techniques designed around five key stages. I take into account your child’s individual sleep needs, temperament, and your family’s lifestyle to create a personalised plan. This responsive approach means that we're not locked into just one method; instead, we adapt and adjust based on how your baby responds, making sure the process is gentle, supportive, and effective for everyone involved.
If you have absolutely tried every sleep guide and would like one-on-one support specifically for your situation and your child's sleep issues, then I have services available for you here. If you're unsure where to start book a FREE 15 min discovery call.
REFERENCES:
[1] Ferber, R. (2006). Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems: New, Revised, and Expanded Edition. Simon and Schuster.
[2] Mindell, J. A., Kuhn, B., Lewin, D. S., Meltzer, L. J., & Sadeh, A. (2006). Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. Sleep, 29(10), 1263-1276.
[3] Meltzer, L. J., & Mindell, J. A. (2014). Systematic review and meta-analysis of behavioral interventions for pediatric insomnia. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 39(8), 932-948.
[4] Hogg, T., & Blau, M. (2005). The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior—Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood. Atria Books.
[5] Sadeh, A., Tikotzky, L., & Scher, A. (2010). Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(2), 89-96.
[6] Moore, B. A., Friman, P. C., Fruzzetti, A. E., & MacAleese, K. (2008). Brief report: Evaluating the bedtime fading technique on children’s bedtime problems. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33(4), 437-445.
[7] Moore, B. A., Friman, P. C., Fruzzetti, A. E., & MacAleese, K. (2008). Brief report: Evaluating the bedtime fading technique on children’s bedtime problems. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33(4), 437-445.