Benefits of Sleep Training

Will sleep training benefit my baby?

It’s a question that new and even experienced parents ask all the time. The short answer is yes; sleep training has many benefits for babies. But let’s back up to how you got here.

Your story probably goes a little something like this:
You brought your new baby home, and you were prepared for the round the clock feedings, because that’s what newborns do. Soon, he started giving you a few longer stretches of sleep, and you felt almost human again. And then, you don’t know what happened, but right about the time he turned 4 months old, everything fell apart. Bedtime takes forever, he’s up every hour and wants to nurse all night long. And let’s not even talk about the 20-minute “naps.” You’re exhausted and frustrated and wondering if you can get things back on track.

You can, and we’re here to help!

How Sleep Training Benefits Your Baby

Babies need sleep, just like their parents do. In fact, babies need a lot more sleep than their parents. By establishing healthy, independent sleep early on, you can set your child up to reap the benefits of good sleep habits for the rest of their life.

Quality sleep has a ton of health benefits. Children who get enough sleep have a much lower risk of obesity. One study found that 3 year-olds who got less than 10.5 hours of sleep per night increased their chance of obesity at age 7 by 45%.

Sleep also promotes immune health. The body’s germ fighting cells, cytokines, are produced during deep sleep. If your baby wakes between every sleep cycle, never moving into deeper sleep, their immune system misses out on this benefit.

Research shows that kids who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk of developing heart disease later in life. Establishing healthy sleep habits early on protects your child’s heart health for the long term.

Sleep habits also impact academic success in school. Sleep deprivation symptoms mimic the symptoms of ADHD. Overtired kids can be impulsive and have trouble regulating their own emotions. (I mean, have you ever tried not to cry into your coffee after the baby had a bad night? Now imagine being a little kid who’s that tired.) One study found that 70% of participants had their ADHD symptoms cleared after sleep was restored. Getting just 27 more minutes of sleep per night has been shown to make a huge improvement in kids’ behavior.

Kids need sleep in order to “finish” the learning process. They spend the day learning new words, new sounds, and new motor skills. The body processes all this new information during sleep, decides what’s important to store in the long term memory, and what to let go of. In another words, a good night’s sleep helps your child remember that “ball” is what you call that round bouncy thing and how to coordinate walking. It also allows them to forget that they had peas for dinner, freeing up memory for more important things

How Sleep Training Benefits Families

Sleep training has benefits for the rest of the family, too.

When baby won’t sleep, it’s usually Mom who ends up providing most of the middle-of-the-night care. She ends up chronically sleep deprived, and may feel resentful. Sleep deprivation is also linked to more severe symptoms of postpartum depression.

Having a baby is stressful for most marriages. You adore your little one, but you’re also learning a whole new skill set and how to juggle new roles in your relationship. A baby that won’t sleep compounds all that; you’re tired, you never get a minute alone with your husband, and you can’t leave the baby with a sitter for a date night because she won’t go down for anyone else.

Sleep training can help you teach your baby to fall asleep independently and stay asleep. This is one of the big benefits of sleep training for the whole family. It’s close to impossible for parents to get enough sleep themselves and connect as a couple when a baby has to be held in order to sleep, and is overtired and fussy when awake.

Healthy, independent sleep allows mom and dad to get enough rest, spend time together, and have some time to unwind and relax in the evenings. This kind of self-care isn’t selfish! It’s necessary for your physical and mental health. Chronic stress–like the kind caused by long-term sleep deprivation–can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself allows you to take care of your baby. Healthy, happy parents and a strong family are a wonderful gift to give your child.

Does My Baby Need Sleep Training?

If you’re wondering if your child needs sleep training, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your child getting 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night?

• Are your child’s naps too short? (less than an hour)

• Is bedtime a daily battle?

• Does your child wake too early?

• Does your child mouth breath or snore?

• Does your child have daily tantrums or tend to be fussy?

If you’re nodding your head yes to many of these questions, it’s a good time to consider how sleep training can benefit your child, and the rest of your family.

What Does the Sleep Training Process Look Like?

First you’ll choose an initial consultation date.

Once you have a consultation scheduled, you’ll receive a detailed questionnaire to complete and return before your consultation. It should take about 15 to 20 minutes.

Your sleep trainer will review your questionnaire and connect with you for your consultation. We have email, phone, video chat, or in person options for your consultation.

You’ll pick the package that works best for you. From there, you choose a start date that works for your family.

We’re here to support you! We can’t wait to help your little one get the sleep she needs and help you add some new skills to your parenting tool kit–and some ZZZZs to your night.