Sleep training techniques: the 'no cry' approach
Louisa Sherlock
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The 'no cry' approach to baby sleep training doesn't mean your baby will never cry. It could, however, be the answer to your little one getting a good night's sleep. Here's how it works ...
Want a really gentle approach to helping your baby sleep? Then the no tears methods could work for you.
The term was coined by parenting expert and mum of four, Elizabeth Pantley in her book, The No Cry Sleep Solution and also applies to Tracy Hogg's The Baby Whisperer 'pick up, put down' method.
As part of our series on sleep training techniques, we got the lowdown from sleep expert Andrea Grace about how to do the ‘no cry’ approach – and whether it works.
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Remember: before you start any sleep training with your baby make sure you’ve ruled out any underlying issues such as reflux, colic, illness and so on.
What is the no cry sleep training approach?
According to Elizabeth Pantley’s best-selling book, the ‘no cry’ approach is not one specific technique but instead is tailored to your baby’s individual needs.
The key thing to remember however is that you should:
- rock and feed your baby until he’s drowsy before putting him down;
- if he cries, you should pick him up immediately.
Andrea says:
‘Don’t be misled by the name: with all methods of sleep training there is going to be some degree of crying involved.
‘But with this method, it’s about comforting your baby when he is crying and not leaving the room while he is still crying.
‘Instead you stay and support your child before eventually moving on to another sleep training technique like gradual withdrawal.’
The most popular forms of 'no cry' sleep training are the pick up, put down method and the 'disappearing chair' or gradual retreat.
No cry sleep training - how to do it
Key to this no tears approach is a comforting and consistent bedtime routine and also understanding your baby’s sleep patterns. Ways to do this include...
1 Keep a log of your baby's sleep
Avoid tears (as much as possible!) by better understanding your baby's sleeping patterns - what time he falls asleep, what things typically wake him up and so on. Try filling in our Netmums sleep diary to spot any patterns of what could be disrupting your baby's sleep.
Andrea says:
‘Keeping a log of your baby’s sleep is a really good idea. Some of the more rigid sleep training methods will put a baby into a routine and pattern that maybe doesn’t suit him.
‘It’s much more kind and sensible to see what your babies natural pattern is and to work with that, rather than impose an outside regime that isn’t going to suit him.’
Separate these logs into daytime naps and night time sleeps and night wakings.
2 Be consistent with your baby's sleep routine
As your baby's body clock starts to develop (from around the age of 3-4 months) it will help him to have consistent daytime naps and bedtime.
Andrea says:
‘The way you can promote good sleep habits is to try and help your baby be aware of where he is when he falls asleep. This means when he wakes up later, he doesn’t feel panicked and alarmed.
‘Try and get your baby to fall asleep in his cot rather than falling asleep in your arms.’
3 Understand your baby's sleep
Learn how long your baby will typically sleep depending on his age. Also remember - before 12 months babies often wake up in the night and this is totally normal.
4 Recognise signs your baby is tired
As any parent knows, an overtired baby is VERY hard to settle. Learn your little one's sleepy cues and help him start to wind down 15 minutes before he usually goes to bed.
5 Create a calming environment for your baby
Having a calm place to sleep is key. Invest in blackout blinds to help your baby sleep in the day, make sure his room isn't too hot (16 – 20 degrees Celsius is ideal) and think about playing white noise if he's sensitive to sounds. These can all encourage sleep.
6 Use calming words for your baby
As with the 'pick up, put down' technique, think about using the same key phrase with your baby when you put him down. He will then associate your 'shhhh' or 'sleepy time' with his nap or bedtime.
7 Get to know your baby's cries
Learn to distinguish between his cries so you can hear the difference between when he needs comforting, and his weaker cries when he is falling asleep and doesn't need you to stroke him or pick him up.
Who is the no cry sleep training suitable for?
The no tears methods are suitable for all ages as soon as babies start to get their days and nights sorted out says Andrea.
Does the no cry method work?
As with all sleep training methods, it depends on your child’s temperament - and also whether the technique feels right to you.
No tears approach - tips for success
Another way to prepare your baby for sleep is to get a good dose of natural sunlight in the day. Andrea says:
‘The single most important thing that will encourage good sleep at night is exposure to daylight. This is good for the body’s internal circadian clock which is dependent on exposure to daylight particularly before noon to set the body to sleep at night.
‘This is really important and one very valuable sleep tip that parents can do that involves no crying.’
Has the 'no cry' method worked for you? Join in the chat regarding this and other sleep techniques in our chat thread, below ...
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