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Consider the “Cry it Out” Method to Help Your Baby Stop Fighting Sleep at Bedtime

Many new parents wonder then sleeping through the night will become a part of their baby’s routine. You cannot compare babies because they are all individuals.The technique that works for one baby may not work for all. All you can do is trust yourself, love your baby just as she is, and do your best.

The Method is “cry it out”?

This doesn’t mean that you let your baby cry it out for that specific amount of time without offering her any comfort. Any method of getting babies to sleep by crying it out is referred to as “Ferberizing” by many parents, which is a method set out by Richard Ferber.

The Ferber Method

You should first wait until your baby is ready to begin sleeping through the night. This usually happens when the baby is between 4 to 6 months. Each child is unique, so it may vary. If you get too much resistance with this method, wait for a few weeks before trying again.

1) When your baby is still awake but sleepy, put her in her crib.

2) Say goodnight to your little one and then leave the room.Once she starts crying and you have already left the room, allow her to cry for a specific set of time, about 3 minutes.

3) To reassure her, return to her room for about 5 minutes, and pat her gently and lovingly. Don’t turn the light back on. A voice that is quiet and soothing is best when speaking to your baby. Avoid the temptation to pick up your baby. Leave the room while your baby is still awake even if she is crying.

4) Remember, don’t go back to baby’s room for 10 minutes and follow step 3 again, making sure you stay out a while longer. Be sure to leave the nursery before she falls asleep.

5) Continue these same steps until your baby is asleep even when you are not in the room.

6) Later, if your baby wakes up, follow the same routine as outlined in steps 2, 3, and 4.

7) Every night increase the amount of time you make to your baby’s room. Your baby will begin to sleep on his own, according to Ferber, by night 3 or 4, and no later than day 7. Try this process again in a few weeks, if she is still not sleeping on her own after several night of this.

Training your Baby to Fall Asleep without Using the Cry it Out Method

Perhaps you do no like the idea of having your new little one cry herself to sleep all by herself. Besides the cry it out method, there are other methods available. Some of the other methods involve a more gradual approach that will involve a few less tears.

- During the day, make sure she gets enough to eat. Learning that she needs to eat during the daytime and sleep at nighttime is something she will soon understand. If your baby is not awakened by hunger, she will probably sleep through the early morning hours.

- It is important to establish a regular naptime schedule for your baby. This will help keep her sleep schedule regular.

- Around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., put your little one to bed.M. Keeping your baby awake longer will not make her more tired. For your baby to sleep may actually become harder.

- Stick to a regular bedtime routine. Try beginning with a bath, followed by a storybook, a lullaby and then bedtime.

Just follow your heart when you are deciding which method is best to help your little one learn to sleep through the night.Remember that this too, shall pass.

Bennetta Elliott is CEO of Personalized Gift Express, which offers a great variety of unique baby gifts and baby gift baskets.

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