Sleep training your child, whether an infant or a preschooler, has many benefits. The benefits can be most easily recognized by looking at the effects of lack of sleep. Decreased sleep can be in the form of not falling asleep easily at bedtime or nap, waking up frequently throughout the night, early morning waking, and short naps. Without proper sleep, children have a higher risk for obesity, diabetes, learning problems, and attention issues. Sleep training, done when the child is an infant, sets the stage for healthy sleeping habits and patterns. If there are sleep issues with an older child, sleep training can also be beneficial.
So what is sleep training? Sleep training is a combination of routines, age-appropriate timing of sleep, proper environment, and the interactions with the child leading up to sleep times. Methods are based on parenting style, the child’s age, health, and temperament.