Infant Sleep Training To Get Baby To Sleep Through The Night

I remember being jealous of people who’s babies slept through the night. Well, Karen Kirsner, author of the parenting guide, “The Baby Fast to Sleep Formula,” is helping new parents get their babies to sleep through the night in as little as eight weeks! Hold the phone! I would never even have thought that was possible. However, according to Dr. W.A. Silverman, an American physician who made significant contributions to neonatology, infants are capable and can sleep for a long stretch at night starting as early as six weeks. Kirsner’s book (affiliate link) focuses on infant sleep training to teach a baby to sleep through the night.

What is Infant Sleep Training?

Infant sleep training to basically helping baby learn how to sleep through the night. “Just as babies need to learn to walk and talk, infants need to learn when to be awake and when to sleep,” said Kirsner. “Learning to sleep through the night is about creating a structure for the child that includes feeding, daytime activity and sleep schedules.”

Her book, The Baby Fast to Sleep Formula, provides a simple week-by-week structure that gradually and systematically increases the duration between feeding along with increases in response time to the infants’ cries, a process also known as progressive watching.  What to find out more about getting your baby to sleep through the night? Read on to learn her infant sleep training methods.

Always consult with your pediatrician before making significant changes to your baby’s sleep routine, especially if your baby has any health concerns or special needs.

Here is an exclusive excerpt of The Baby Fast to Sleep Formula introduction reprinted with permission.

How To Get Baby To Sleep Through The Night:

Why is it important to start a sleep schedule right away?

Well, it’s simple: your child’s sleep patterns are set as a routine around the eighth week of life. Therefore, if she becomes used to waking up during the night and having you right by her side, then that teaches her that waking up and you being there is normal. If you teach (and the important word is teach) your child that it is not normal to be up all night, then she will learn to sleep through the night making everyone happy…especially you!

Sleeping through the night is all about creating a schedule for your child that includes a sleeping schedule and an eating schedule. When you get these two things in sync, your child will sleep through the night, which is the goal for this book. Please note that you have to be willing to put the work in and have the self-discipline to do this, or it will not work. In addition, you should know that each baby is different and you may not see the same results with each child.

Baby Sleep Cycles?

Believe it or not, sleeping is something that has to be learned. Sleeping through the night isn’t something that just happens automatically. From the day we are born, we have sleep cycles. Even as adults we have sleep cycles, and just like our babies do, we wake up in between every single cycle. What is the difference between your sleep cycle and your baby’s sleep cycles? First, your baby’s sleep cycle is not as long as an adult’s, and second, as an adult you have learned to fall back into a deep sleep after a sleep cycle and do not even realize that you have woken up in between cycles. However, your baby wakes up and has to learn how to fall back to sleep. It is proven that your body performs a vast number of functions when you sleep, ranging from going over what you learned that day, to repairing the body and mind, and in children giving the body a chance to grow. All this goes on in your baby every night. Therefore, it is important to view sleep for your baby as a type of nourishment, just the same as you would look at food as nourishment. 


Between six to eight weeks of age, most babies begin to sleep for shorter periods during the day and longer periods at night.

Though most continue to wake up to feed during the night, your baby does not have to be one of them! If you look around at people you know with babies, you will realize that most of your friends’ babies will start to sleep eight to ten hours through the night between four and six months. However, according to WA Silverman (1 Silverman), infants are capable and can sleep for a long stretch at night as early as six weeks. And that is the goal of this book. It will take some work on your part. Remember, just like you are going to have to teach your baby how to walk and talk, sleeping is not something babies just know how to do and when to do it. They take their cues from you.

Starting a Bedtime Routine

After successfully getting both my sons to sleep through the night at six weeks old, I have come to firmly believe that it’s never too early to start a bedtime routine. Your routine can be something as simple as getting your baby changed for bed, singing a lullaby, giving her a bottle, and giving her a kiss good night. Babies do understand routine and it is healthy for them. Your baby will know what to expect with routine, and in return she will become more predictable for you. Routines also do wonders for you as the parent, as you will know what to expect from your baby and when, which will help you plan your daily and nightly activities.

I hope you found this excerpt of The Baby Fast to Sleep Formula helpful and it has made you realize that baby sleeping through the night is possible. You can find the full method of infant sleep training in her book (available on Amazon through my affiliate link here).

Baby sleeping through the night is the ultimate dream for most parents. Pre-parenthood it’s difficult to imagine the effects of sleep deprivation, however broken nights can quickly take their toll and be detrimental to your well being. Getting your baby into a simple bedtime routine can be the key to all of you achieving some quality slumber.

Sample Baby Bedtime Routine To Get Baby Sleeping Through The Night:

This three step bedtime routine is not from the book above which is way more detailed on infant sleep training but this is a baby bedtime routine that was sometimes helpful to me.

The first step is a warm bath.  Bath time should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience for you and your baby.

Step two is baby massage, which has been proven to have numerous benefits to both baby and parent. Keep the lights low and the room warm and indulge in some gentle bonding with your little one.

Step three is quiet time before bed, which could involve singing softly or reading in a low voice, or simply giving your baby a pre-bedtime cuddle.

This easy to implement three step routine is very helpful and baby will begin to recognize the routine and prepare themselves for bed with less of a fight within in just one week. Why not try this sleep routine tonight for a blissful, better night’s sleep and to get your baby sleeping through the night?

Conclusion

Helping a baby sleep through the night can be a challenging task, but there are several strategies that parents can try. Keep in mind that every baby is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Make sure your baby gets plenty of natural light and outdoor activity during the day. This can help regulate their circadian rhythm and promote better sleep at night. Create a consistent and calming routine before bedtime. Encourage your baby to learn how to self-soothe by putting them to bed when they are drowsy but not fully asleep. This can help them learn to fall back asleep on their own if they wake up during the night.

So what do you think?  Interested in learning more about infant sleep training?  Does your baby sleep through the night? Hang in there! Parenting is all about making it to the next stage.

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