shush pat method after 4 month sleep regression

Instead of keeping your hand on baby until he/she falls into a deep sleep, you may also want to try removing your hands from baby when they begin to settle to sleep and take a step back and see if he /she can put themselves to sleep the rest of the way. Holding a baby too long at this age can lead to you turning into a prop. Just put them down in the cot (all the way down) after this much time has passed then pick them back up again if they are still crying. 35-40 mins (the infamous catnap!).įor 4-6 month olds: Do not hold them longer than 2-3 minutes at a time. occur at the same time each night or morning), or during the day you know your baby consistently only sleeps for a set period of time e.g. This technique is most successful when the wakings are in fact habitual (i.e. Just like any other sleeping method, it requires commitment and consistency, and can take an average of 3-7 days to see results. Wake to Sleep is a strategy pioneered by Tracy Hogg (The Baby Whisperer) to help reset a child’s pattern of habitual sleep awakenings/body clock. I do not recommend starting sleep training of any kind if your child is currently ill, or in pain (which would require more intervention at these times, not less). I always maintain before commencing any sleep training, ensure you have firstly responded to your child’s basic needs (hunger, discomfort, pain, illness, cold/hot etc.). Expect an average turnaround of 1-3 weeks. The below options can be somewhat more labour intensive than other “cry it out” methods, so some patience, and a support network (spouse, friends, or family) can help you stay on track.

These solutions do not offer a “quick fix”. The success of any method you choose will rely on your stamina, commitment, emotional bandwidth, and time. falling asleep on the breast, being rocked to sleep, the dummy and co-sleeping).Īlthough sleep training is not always necessary, below are some of the more ‘gentle’ strategies which can be effective for a range of sleep issues such as: rocking/feeding to sleep, habitual early rising (or overnight wakings), catnapping, and disrupted sleep patterns due to developmental milestones and life transitions. Old habits usually die hard as our children rarely give up their favourite thing without a fight (e.g. There is no such thing as a “no cry” solution when changing sleep patterns. Which one is best suited to your parenting style? your time commitments? your child’s temperament? or the most effective solution for the particular sleep difficulty you are experiencing?

There is a plethora of sleep training methodologies and advice available at our fingertips so much so, that the decision of which one is right for you and your family can be overwhelming.

Shush pat method after 4 month sleep regression