Why do parents feel the need to sleep train?

Question

No judgement intended, just trying to understand why people feel like it’s something that needs to be done rather than take sleeping through the night like a milestone such walking. I feel all babies will do what is biologically normal for them in their own time.

Answer

Because it’s best for baby and you!! Babies need to sleep to thrive and when they can sleep through the night it’s so good for them and their brain. Not all babies can just learn to sleep through the night. I have a friend who never sleep trained their baby and he is 3 and cannot go to bed on his own and even after they get him down he will still come in their room in the middle of the night to get back to sleep. Even milestones we help our babies reach! We put them in tummy time daily so they can learn to put their head up and sit up. They need practice for everything including how to fall asleep not being put to sleep by someone rocking them! Unfortunately, the practice for this isn’t as fun:/ Although tummy time was terrible for me too because she HATED it haha

Answer

Because I don’t want my kids up all night. Lol I want them on a regular schedule. Me and their dad are both back at work full-time, Mon-Fri 9-6. I don’t have the energy or patience or time to be up with two kids all night long. They deserve a normal routine and we deserve sanity.

Answer

Because I need my sanity and energy. My daughter is also happier throughout the day when she’s gotten a good nights sleep. If I’m sleep deprived nothing helps coffee, energy drinks, supplements, nada. I want my daughter to have the best side of her mom at all times and she can’t get that if I’m dead tired. Plus sleep is so important for babies I couldn’t imagine waking so many times throughout the night and being able to learn and be curious. It’s the best for all of us.

Answer

I never had to “sleep train” my babies but for some babies I think it’s might be necessary especially if they never learned how to self soothe or fall asleep on their own.

Answer

I waited until I knew my LO could consistently self soothe (around 6mo’s) on his own before I attempted to shape/train any sleep. So in my opinion, I do think sleep is developmental mostly but can also be shaped if needed when the time is right...if the baby is waking up a ton of times at night, struggling with short naps, only napping in arms, etc. but I do think “when the time is right” varies greatly from baby to baby. 6 months was just the right time for us.

Answer

When the situation was no longer sustainable and with the blessing of the pediatricians of both my children. This was around six months for both. The first was just a transition from crib in my room to crib in his room. The second was a transition from my bed (he was starting to roll to his tummy) to his pack n play in his own room. They both still wake/woke up a couple times a night to eat but that was/is a million times better than waking 3-5 times a night.  My sleep training goal was just to move them out of my room essentially, not to sleep through the night. After about two days of very little crying during the initial put down to sleep, they both fell into a nice and easy sleep routine. Wohoo! 
My first slept through the night consistently at 18 months. I am ok with my second doing the same.

Why do parents feel the need to sleep train?

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