What Is Sleep Training?
Clearing up the confusion around infant and toddler sleep
Sleep training is one of the most searched - and most misunderstood - topics in baby and toddler sleep. For some families, it brings up fears around crying. For others, it simply reflects a desire for more predictable sleep.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that “sleep training” is used synonymously with Cry It Out but in actual fact sleep training uses many different approaches. As a result, parents are left unsure of what sleep training actually involves, when it is appropriate, or whether it aligns with their family.
In reality, sleep training is not one method or one experience. It is a broad term used to describe intentional support for sleep as children grow and their sleep needs change.
What does sleep training actually mean?
At its core, sleep training refers to making purposeful changes to support sleep, rather than waiting and hoping sleep will improve on its own.
This can include:
Establishing age-appropriate routines
Adjusting nap timing and bedtime
Changing how sleep support is offered
Supporting longer, more settled stretches of sleep
Creating consistency across day sleep and night sleep
Sleep training is not about removing comfort or forcing independence. It is about aligning sleep support with your child’s development and your family’s capacity.
Why do families consider sleep training?
Most families begin looking into sleep training when sleep stops feeling sustainable.
This often happens when:
Night waking becomes frequent or prolonged
Naps remain short or inconsistent beyond what is expected
Bedtime becomes stressful or drawn out
Parents feel unsure what to change next
Sleep training exists to provide structure and clarity when sleep patterns are no longer working for the family as a whole.
If this sounds familiar, many families also explore why is my baby waking frequently alongside sleep training support.
Is sleep training the same as cry it out?
No. This is one of the biggest myths surrounding sleep training.
Some approaches involve less parental presence, while others involve staying with your child and offering reassurance. Many families use approaches that sit somewhere in between.
Sleep training is not defined by whether a child cries. Crying can occur anytime a child is adjusting to change, even when fully supported.
What matters is:
Your child’s age and development
Consistency in approach
Clear expectations
A plan that is sustainable
Sleep training before five months
Before around five months of age, sleep is largely driven by biology. Night waking, feeding overnight, short naps, and frequent resettling are all normal and expected.
At this stage, support usually focuses on:
Understanding newborn sleep cycles
Creating a predictable day structure
Supporting appropriate sleep pressure
Establishing a safe and sleep-conducive environment
Many families benefit from education at this stage rather than formal sleep training.
When can sleep training begin?
Formal sleep training is introduced from around four months, once sleep cycles have matured and babies are developmentally capable of managing longer stretches of sleep however we recommend waiting until around five months.
This question is explored in more detail in when to start sleep training, which walks through readiness signs and what support looks like at different ages.
Sleep training from five months onward
From five months, sleep training may involve:
Consolidating naps and bedtime routines
Reducing frequent overnight waking
Adjusting settling approaches
Supporting independent sleep in a way that suits your child
Sleep training at this stage often goes hand in hand with routines such as the 5 month sleep routine or 6 month sleep routine, as sleep timing and structure become more consistent.
Sleep training for older babies and toddlers
As babies move into later infancy and toddlerhood, sleep training looks different again.
Sleep at this stage is influenced by:
Nap transitions such as the 3–2 nap transition, 2–1 nap transition or 0-1 nap transition
Emotional development
Bedtime resistance and boundary testing
This is why sleep training for toddlers often overlaps with blogs such as bedtime battles, fear of the dark, and parasomnia.
What sleep training is not
Sleep training is not:
Ignoring your child’s needs
Expecting perfect sleep every night
A one-time fix that never needs revisiting
A sign that something is wrong with your baby
Sleep is dynamic and will continue to shift with development, illness, milestones, and routine changes.
Why age-specific guidance matters
Sleep needs change significantly between infancy and toddlerhood. What works at five months will not work the same way at fifteen months or two years.
Sleep regressions
Nap transitions
Routine changes
Emotional development
This is why a single plan rarely works long-term without adaptation.
Courses that support sleep training
If you are looking for structured, ongoing guidance, these programs are designed to support sleep across stages:
5–24 Month Infant Sleep Course – step-by-step guidance through routines, regressions, nap transitions, and overnight sleep from infancy into toddlerhood
Infant and Toddler Bundle – long-term support covering both infant and toddler sleep, including emotional and developmental changes
2–4 Year Toddler Sleep Course – focused guidance for toddler sleep, including routines, fears, parasomnias, bedtime resistance, and boundary setting
Each course is designed to grow with your child rather than offer a one-size-fits-all solution.
There is no single “right” way
Sleep training is not about doing something because you should. It is about choosing support when sleep no longer feels manageable and you want clarity around what to do next.
If you are questioning whether sleep training is right for your family, that uncertainty often signals that guidance would be helpful.
Looking ahead
Sleep will continue to evolve as your child grows. Understanding sleep and having support that adapts across stages can remove much of the stress and second-guessing.
With the right information, sleep becomes something you can respond to confidently, rather than something that feels constantly confusing.
The Smarter Way to Invest in Better Sleep
Supporting sleep doesn’t have to mean starting over every time something changes.
Our sleep courses are built to support you long term, with age specific guidance that adapts as your child grows. From early routines and regressions to nap transitions and toddler sleep challenges, you’ll have a clear plan and ongoing support so you can respond with confidence at every stage.
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5-24 Months
Toddler
2-4 Years
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