From No Cry to Cry It Out: Getting Your Baby to Sleep

When you have a new baby, people often tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps, but what happens if the baby is up all night? New parents learn pretty quickly that sleep is elusive, which is why so many turn to sleep training. There are a few sleep training methods out there, but competing information and anecdotal evidence make it difficult to choose the right approach for each baby's temperament and different parenting styles.

1. The Right Age

For sleep training to be successful, you have to wait until the baby is old enough. Most newborns eat every three to four hours for the first few weeks, and sleep regressions are common throughout infancy. It helps to look for trends in behavior. The ideal time to begin sleep training depends on the baby, but around six months is common. Most experts do not recommend starting before three months.