Becoming a parent to a newborn is an incredible experience. But the sleepless nights that often come with it can quickly become overwhelming. If your baby wakes frequently at night, you may start wondering whether sleep training is the solution for your family.
In this article, we explain what sleep training is, why many parents and professionals advise caution, and explore gentler alternatives to sleep training that support your baby’s emotional needs and natural sleep development.
Why Is Sleep So Important for Your Baby?
Before discussing sleep training, it’s essential to understand why quality sleep is critical for babies.
Sleep is not a luxury for infants – it is a biological necessity. Babies spend a large part of their early life sleeping, and this sleep plays a key role in both physical and mental development. During deep sleep, the body releases growth hormones that support healthy growth, brain development, and immune function.
When babies do not get enough restorative sleep, it can potentially impact their development and overall wellbeing.
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep can affect babies in several ways. Overtired infants may become more irritable, harder to soothe, and have difficulty regulating emotions. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation may also influence cognitive development and learning.
Sleep challenges don’t just affect babies – parents often experience increased stress, exhaustion, and strain on relationships due to ongoing sleep disruption.
What Is Sleep Training?
Sleep training refers to methods designed to teach babies to fall asleep and stay asleep independently, without parental assistance.
Common sleep training methods include:
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Cry It Out (CIO)
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Controlled Crying
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The Ferber Method
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Graduated Extinction
These approaches typically involve placing the baby in bed awake and allowing them to cry for set periods before offering comfort. Over time, the intervals between parental check-ins are increased, with the goal that the baby learns to self-soothe and fall asleep alone.
Why Is Sleep Training Often Discouraged?
While sleep training may work for some families, it is frequently discouraged due to several concerns:
Emotional stress
Critics argue that allowing a baby to cry without immediate comfort may cause emotional distress, fear, or anxiety, especially in very young infants.
Impact on attachment
Some professionals worry that sleep training may interfere with secure attachment, as babies rely on caregivers to respond consistently to their needs, particularly at night.
Not effective for all babies
Sleep training does not work for every child. Some babies continue to wake frequently despite training, which can lead to frustration for parents.
Individual needs matter
Every baby is unique. Some infants need more comfort, reassurance, and physical closeness than others – especially during developmental leaps or periods of separation anxiety.
Gentle Alternatives to Sleep Training
The good news is that sleep training is not the only way to improve your baby’s sleep. There are gentler, responsive approaches that support both sleep and emotional wellbeing.
1. Create a Calm Sleep Environment
A soothing sleep environment can make a big difference:
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Temperature: Aim for a comfortable room temperature (around 20–22°C / 68–72°F).
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Darkness: Use blackout curtains to reduce light exposure.
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White noise: Soft, consistent background noise can help mask household sounds.
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Safe bedding: Use a firm mattress and avoid loose items in the crib.
2. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine
Babies thrive on predictability. A calming bedtime routine helps signal that sleep is approaching.
A bedtime routine may include:
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A warm bath
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Gentle massage
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A bedtime story or song
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Quiet cuddles
Consistency is key. Repeating the same routine every night helps your baby associate these activities with sleep.
3. Consider Co-Sleeping or Room-Sharing
For some families, co-sleeping or room-sharing can lead to more restful nights. Sleeping close to your baby can make nighttime feeding and comforting easier and may reduce night waking.
If you choose to co-sleep, safety is essential:
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Use a firm, flat mattress
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Avoid soft bedding, pillows, or heavy blankets near the baby
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Never co-sleep if you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or sedating medication
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Ensure your baby has their own safe sleep space
Room-sharing (baby sleeping in their own cot in the same room) can also provide closeness without sharing a bed.
In Summary
Sleep training aims to teach babies to sleep independently, often by limiting parental comfort during night wakings. While it may work for some families, it is widely debated due to concerns about emotional stress and attachment.
Fortunately, there are gentle, responsive alternatives. Creating a calm sleep environment, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, and considering co-sleeping or room-sharing can all support better sleep – without leaving your baby to cry alone.
Every baby is different. Trust your instincts, respond to your baby’s needs, and remember that sleep challenges are often temporary.
Let customers speak for us
Our son woke Up very often in the middle of the night and struggled to calm down. The weighted back helps him to sleep through the night and we ordered a second one.
I'm a big fan of sleepsacks, both with and without weight. The swaddle is clearly well thought out. It's very intuitive how the arms should be placed. The weight has a smart shape and filling. It even has small holes along the sides to ensure your baby doesn't get overheated. The material is nice quality and the zipper seems like it will live out the lifetime of the product. Love it.
Wir sind super zufrieden. Meine Tochter(9monate) konnte nie auf dem Rücken schlafen weil sie immer durch ihre eigenen Bewegungen wach wurde. Seit dem ersten Tag der Nutzung kann sie jetzt auf dem Rücken schlafen, schläft viel schneller ein und wacht nicht mehr so oft in der Nacht auf wie davor. Ich fände es super wenn der Ausschnitt am Nacken tiefer wäre dann könnte man den schlafsack auch "falschrum" anziehen und das Gewicht auf dem Rücken haben sodass das Baby auch auf dem Bauch schlafen kann aber sonst top!!!
Wir haben den Schlafsack mit und ohne Beine und jetzt zuletzt auch die Weste gekauft.
Den Schlafsack haben wir gekauft, weil unser Baby damals immer schon um fünf Uhr morgens wach wurde, und nicht mehr weiter schlafen wollte. Nachdem sie mit dem Schlafsack geschlafen hatte, hat sie bis sieben Uhr morgens geschlafen und das einmal nachts Stillen hat sie auch aufgegeben und durchgeschlafen!!!
Seit her verwenden wir die Schlafsäcke vor allem wegen des frühen Aufwachens! Wir haben Phasen wo wir ihn nicht brauchen und Phasen, wo sie wieder damit schläft!
Einfach Top diese Schlafsäcke!
Für den Sommer schön dünn vom Stoff!
Im Winter haben wir in den Babyzeiten einen Wintersack drüber gezogen!
Und jetzt schläft sie einfach mit Decke drüber.
Vielen Dank für diese tollen Produkte.
Wir nennen unseren Schlafsack Schildkröte, weil es aussieht, als hätte sie einen Krötenpanzer an.
Ausprobieren und lieben!!!
Made it possible to put the baby down in the baby nest! Before baby could just sleep on me.
We had extreme problems with our 3rd child's sleep. After 3 months, we were at our wit's end and tried just about everything. He never slept for more than 45 minutes at a time and not by himself. It improved with the weighted sleeping swaddle. Now he is 5 months old and sleeps well for several hours.
Our daughter is 17 months old and she has a regular wake-up schedule around 9 PM, 11 PM, 2 AM, 4 AM, and 5:30 AM, usually staying awake between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
She frequently wakes up during the night, feeling upset, tossing and turning, and wanting to breastfeed. She gets upset if she doesn't get to breastfeed and prefers to sleep on us while we have to stand up and rock her back to sleep. She usually sleeps in my bed.
Nights have been challenging, and we were getting desperate. However, last night was our first experience with the weighted sleeping bag... 😱 😱
She woke up around 12 AM for the first time, climbed on me, and quickly fell back asleep. She woke up a few times after that but managed to soothe herself back to sleep. At 5 AM, I had to stand up and rock her, but she quickly fell back asleep. At 6:10 AM, there was a joyful wake-up call from our 1.5-year-old. She slept much more soundly and peacefully, and she managed to fall back asleep on her own, which she had never done before.
We noticed a significant improvement just on the first night. In fact, I don't feel utterly exhausted this morning and don't have that pressing need to take a nap during the day, which I usually do. I'm feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming nights and hoping to get a full night's sleep without interruptions, so I can regain some normalcy in my life. I can't imagine what we would have done if we hadn't found this weighted sleeping bag.
I just want to say... thank you!! ❤
About 4 months ago, we entered a nightmare period. Our little boy, who had been sleeping through the night and was generally happy, suddenly started waking up multiple times during the night, inconsolable. Initially, we attributed it to a cold, but even after he recovered, the night disturbances continued. About 2 months later, he was diagnosed with asthma, which seemed like a valid reason for his nighttime awakenings. However, despite responding well to asthma medication and having no issues during the daytime, the nights remained a pure ordeal. He would wake up incredibly anxious and screaming, and we often found ourselves staying up for hours trying to soothe him back to sleep. We tried everything and came across something called 'Night Terrors,' which seemed to describe his symptoms perfectly – an anxious nightmare from which he couldn't wake up, likely triggered by his illness.
I am a trained occupational therapist, and I understand the importance of sensory stimuli for many individuals. So, we began researching products related to weighted blankets/bags. That's when we discovered this sleeping bag.
We received it a week ago, and now, he puts it on when he has his nighttime bottle, creating a positive association. And I must say, it's been a tremendous success. He has slept for a full 11 hours every night for the past 7 nights. Our boy is now extremely happy and well-rested, and so are his parents
Our son used to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep, sometimes staying awake for 2-3 hours. When we read a lot about weighted pajamas, we decided to give them a try. We noticed results almost immediately. He started falling asleep faster and sleeping more peacefully. Instead of having 2-4 wakeful nights a week, it reduced to just one. Now that he has moved in with his big sister, he sleeps through the entire night, and we still use the weighted pajamas because we're afraid to try without them.
We purchased the Baby Deepsleep for our son a couple of months ago. It worked very well in terms of his daytime naps, but it was challenging to determine if it helped at night since our son continued to wake up as frequently as before. Nevertheless, it's a nice product, and I can certainly recommend it to everyone I know to give it a try
When my daughter turned 4 months old, her sleep gradually started to deteriorate. By the time she was 7-8 months old, it had become so bad that going to bed seemed pointless. She would wake up crying 1-2 times every hour throughout the night, and sometimes even more frequently during the early hours of the night. It was absolute torture.
I was aware of weighted swaddle but had hesitated due to the price. However, after trying everything else without success, it was our last option. We've used it for the past 4 nights, and the results have been remarkable. For the first 2 nights, she slept for 7-8 hours straight, and for the last 2 nights, she slept for a whopping 10 hours (!!) before waking up for a bottle. It's been incredible, and it has truly been my salvation. I should have bought it several months ago. I can't recommend a weighted bag enough!
Our girl had colic for the first 2 months, and all her sleep was on us parents... 🤯 We couldn't get her to sleep on her own under any circumstances. The first few nights with the weighted swaddle were a bit challenging as it didn't wrap as tightly as she was used to. But then, something miraculous happened! We woke up one morning and were utterly amazed because she had slept for 11 hours straight. Initially, we thought it might be a one-time occurrence, but to our delight, she has been doing the same thing every night since! 🤩 It's been a month now, and we use the weighted swaddle every time she needs to sleep, whether it's in the sling, the stroller, or the crib. We're even considering getting an extra one because we can't do without it when it's being washed. 😅🙈 The weighted swaddle has truly been invaluable to us, and we wholeheartedly recommend it!
Highly recommended if you have a child who refuses to sleep. My daughter, who was then 5 months old, simply wouldn't sleep. But once she got the weighted sleeping swaddle, she started sleeping right away. I could even stop using the stroller, and she would continue sleeping.
She went from only sleeping for 20 minutes while being held to using the weighted sleeping swaddle, and on the first day, she slept for 40 minutes in her stroller. The naps only got longer from there. Now, she's a happy and well-rested child! 🤩😍
We purchased a weighted bag for our 13-month-old daughter, who hasn't had significant sleep issues. She used to wake up 3 times at night for breastfeeding. After using the weighted bag for 14 days, we've seen a noticeable improvement. She has at least halved the number of awakenings where she needs assistance to fall back asleep 🤪.
We also immediately noticed a slower respiratory rate, with deeper breaths.
We're very pleased with the customer service and the fast delivery to Norway.
Our baby becomes noticeably calmer as soon as we put on the sleeping bag.
I was recommended one for babies aged 8 months and older, with a minimum weight of 10 kg. However, it turned out to be too big for our child, so I am selling mine to buy a smaller one.