Most babies are still waking throughout the night in week 25. Don’t worry, you’re not the only mama using matchsticks to keep her eyelids open this week. Sleep deprivation isn’t fun and can leave you feeling pretty rotten. There are so many different parenting styles when it comes to sleep and you may have reached a stage where you’re willing to try anything.

The self-soothing sleep method

The self-soothing sleep method is based on the idea that babies can learn to settle themselves back to sleep if given the opportunity. It’s seen as quite a controversial method with some experts claiming young babies are developmentally unable to learn how to self-soothe. Many moms swear by it as a way of getting more sleep and, of course, it’s up to you how you decide to parent your child. If you want to give the self-soothing method a try, here are some tips to help you on your way:

1. Create a bedtime routine

A regular bedtime routine is important for this method because your baby needs to learn to anticipate bedtime and what will happen next. It’s totally up to you what your bedtime routine looks like. Many parents choose to incorporate bathtime, bedtime stories and quiet cuddles in the bedroom. You could also consider adding in baby massage or listening to soothing music as part of your routine. It doesn’t really matter, as long as it is consistent and regular so that your baby can learn to anticipate bedtime.

2. Do the soothing

Many experts believe that children learn to self-soothe because they have learned how to regulate their emotions thanks to the caring adults in their lives. If you take an active role in soothing your baby when she is upset, your baby will learn how to make herself feel better without your help in time.

3. Wait a little bit

If you want your baby to learn to self-soothe, your baby will need time to practice this skill. That means, when your baby begins to cry, you might want to hold off on rushing to the rescue. This is a personal choice and it may not be one you’re comfortable with. If it is, then you can leave your baby to cry for a few minutes before going in to offer reassurance.

Have you tried the self-soothing sleep method?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

There is nothing worse than sleep deprivation. The complete and utter exhaustion of new parenthood is unlike anything else. You’re so tired your hair hurts, your teeth ache and you can’t remember the last time you had a decent conversation. Your most searched for term on Google is ‘when will my baby sleep through the night?’ You fantasize about getting to enjoy eight hours of uninterrupted blissful slumber. Put simply, you’re desperate for sleep. So desperate, in fact, you’d do anything. So, should you leave your baby to cry it out?

The cry it out method

The cry it out method does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Instead of going in to soothe your baby, you simply leave her to cry it out. When following the method, parents are advised to leave their baby to cry for slowly increasing periods of time before going into the room. It’s not for everybody, but some parents swear by it as a way of getting a decent night’s sleep. Cry it out is not advised for babies aged under six months.

There are different versions of the cry it out sleep method. While some may be quite harsh and advise parents not to comfort their crying infants, other take a gentler approach to sleep training. The idea behind the cry it out method is that it will teach your baby how to soothe himself to sleep, thus saving you a job in the middle of the night and, hopefully, allowing you to get a better night’s sleep.

Why wouldn’t I do it?

If it works, why would a parent choose not utilize cry it out to grab a few extra hours sleep each night? Well, your baby’s cries are her early attempt at communication. Some parents simply don’t feel comfortable ignoring their baby’s cries and prefer instead to respond quickly to their baby’s needs. The argument behind cry it out is that it teaches babies to self-soothe, but some experts feel that babies are too young to learn how to self-soothe. Some parents fear that, far from teaching your child to self-soothe, you are instead teaching her that nobody will come when she cries.

How you raise your child is a deeply personal decision and one that only you and your partner can make together.

Do you feel comfortable with the idea of the cry it out method and are you planning to try it when your baby is six months old?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.