Benefits Of Sleep Training

In my mind this article almost isn't necessary. Sleep training allowed everyone in our house to sleep again. It transformed our lives for the better. But with our first child, before we heard of sleep training,  we were nearing the point of despair. We thought that parenting is impossible and we will never be able to be a person again.

This article is to tell you that the misery ends. You can take control of your life again at 2-4 months. The first 2-4 months may be miserable but there is an end. When you go into the trenches keeping the end in mind, it gets significantly easier (which is why we felt comfortable having more crazy little beasts). 

Sleep training provides significant benefits for both mothers and their babies. It leads to improved long-term sleep quality and fewer sleep disruptions for both baby and mother. This has been proven with randomized control trials to improve infant sleep problems and decrease maternal depression.

A well-rested baby is happier, more alert, and easier to engage with during the day, contributing to a more positive parent-child dynamic. For mothers, better baby sleep means more restful nights, allowing them to recharge and reduce the risk of fatigue, which can affect mood, energy, and overall health. Sleep training can create a balanced sleep routine, helping both mother and baby enjoy a more peaceful and restorative night’s sleep.

Sleep training can also help establish a sense of routine and predictability for babies. Babies thrive on consistency, and a structured sleep schedule can make them feel secure. Over time, this consistency will support your baby in developing healthy sleep habits that continue to serve them as they grow.

Moreover, sleep training helps reduce the chances of sleep associations that can be difficult to break later. If a baby is used to being rocked, fed, or held to sleep, they will come to expect these crutches EVERY time they wake up during the night. This can lead to frequent night wakings and, for mothers, exhaustion from having to comfort the baby back to sleep.

By teaching babies to self-soothe and fall asleep independently, sleep training helps prevent the development of these associations. This process allows babies to build self-soothing skills that help them transition through sleep cycles without needing external assistance, ultimately leading to fewer night wakings and a more restful sleep for everyone.