Tips And Advices - Use the Weissbluth Sleep Training Method

Understand that the Weissbluth method of sleep training focuses on the parent reading the sleep cues of the child and acting accordingly. The Weissbluth method states that healthy sleep habits affect the child in every facet of life and children can be taught to sleep well.

Watch for your baby's natural pattern of sleep. Once the first signs of sleepiness occur (rubbing eyes, not as alert), soothe the child with swaddling, nursing, rocking or another reliable method and place the child in the crib. Let the child fuss for a few minutes before you check on him so he has a chance to get to sleep himself.

Create a consistent schedule for naps, as created by your child's natural sleep cycle. Little babies sleep every 3 hours or so in the early months. Babies from 8 months old and beyond usually take two naps per day. If your older baby won't go down for the first nap, try to keep him awake until it's time for the second nap and try again.

Establish an earlier bedtime for children with sleep issues. Start the bedtime routine (dinner, play, bath, stories and snuggling) earlier than usual to change the bedtime. An over-tired child is much more difficult to get to sleep because he is over-stimulated.

Know that the Weissbluth method for sleep training focuses on eliminating crying in different ways, depending on the how receptive the parents are in regards to allowing the child to cry it out. The most common Weissbluth method is the "extinction" method where a child is allowed to cry it out indefinitely at bedtime and for an hour at nap time. Follow the regular bedtime routine with your child and put him to bed. Leave the room and don't go back in. At nap time, allow for up to one hour of crying. If the child is still crying after the hour, soothe the child and try again at a later time.