Sleep Training - Sterling,VA

Dori has given you terrific advice. Babies are individuals, and some are great sleepers, some not so much. Part of parenting is enduring sleep deprivation or making adjustments to the baby's needs for however long it takes.

"Training" by CIO doesn't help them sleep well so much as teach them to give up on getting their needs for connection and comfort (and sometimes even feedings) met. And even those who do use CIO agree that 6 months is the earliest babies should be subjected to this.

Check out these videos for The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp, who explains why he calls the first 3 months the Fourth Trimester, and explains why babies run pretty much according to their own needs for the first few months.

How-to's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re...

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...

Enhanced sleep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

You can teach your little one about sleep and sleep routines but to expect a lot at 4 months is expecting too much. Even advocates of "sleep training" say that you need to wait until at least 6 months.

CIO is not going to teach baby anything about sleep and it certainly isn't going to be helpful at 4 months old. Even the doctor who started the whole crazy CIO movement says you don't begin that kind of awful training until at least 6 months.

You might try things like swaddling, a crib wedge (around $10 at BabiesRUs), white noise, etc BUT remember infant sleep is *never* static. There will be changes and bumps for a long time to come.

Your baby is very young to consider getting rid of a source of comfort like a pacifier.

It is essential that you put baby on his back to sleep. The Back to Sleep campaign was initiated for a very good reason and has dramatically reduced the SIDS cases in this country.

I highly recommend Dr. Sears Baby Sleep Book and The Baby Whisperer and The No-cry Sleep Solution. You should be able to get all these at the library or order them pretty easily and inexpensively. I used all three to learn about infant sleep and formulate a sleep plan that worked for both my kids. The better you understand infant sleep the better you can teach your baby how to sleep.

My oldest was a champ sleeper after I taught him how to sleep. My daughter was never as good a sleeper as him until she was fully weaned at 20 months.

It does help to have a good nap routine. All routines help baby learn what to expect and what is expected. I found once my son's naps fell into place the night followed but he was over 6 months old.

And lastly, remember-infant sleep is never static. There will be bumps and changes all along the way as baby hits milestones, growth spurts, illness, etc.

He may still be too young-try again at five months. Does he roll onto his tummy-or do you have to place him that way? One day, when my oldest son was around 4 or 5 months old-I couldn't walk another step-I put him in the crib and he put his thumb in his mouth and went to sleep! I would do training during the day nap-that's when you may have the most staying power. I would probably not give the pacifier if he is on his tummy.It's a tough call.

What are his sleep patterns?
Are you going for through the night?
Do you know that "through the night" for an infant is 5-6 hrs at a time not 8-12?
Babies don't usually sleep through the night at 4 months , you're looking at growth spurts, teething, and milestones that all interfere with sleep patterns.
I personally believe that sleep training isn't necessary.
Somethings that work with one child might not work with another, personally my kids are total opposites when it came to most things , including sleeping.

My kids are much older this book saved my sanity and also kept me from running away from home. Buy another one!