For most people, sleep traning is associate with leaving your child to cry until they fall asleep. Thankfully, there is quite a bit more to sleep training than that. There are many different methods parents can choose if they decide to embark on the sleep training journey. Sleep conditioning is not as common; yet it's the very foundation at which all sleep journeys should begin.

Sleep conditioning is essentially creating and implementing a healthy sleep environment, and healthy sleep habits, right from the start. This early approach does not involve your baby crying or leaving them in their crib to self soothe. In fact, when done properly, it can many times erase the need for any sleep training whatsoever down the road.

When sleep conditioning a baby, you follow and assist them in their natural sleep patterns, cycles, and body’s circadian rhythm. This can include learning your baby’s sleep cues, learning and following age-appropriate wake windows and daily sleep needs. It’s giving your baby all the tools they need to become the best sleepers possible, even from an early age.

Babies are not developmentally ready or able to self-soothe until around 16 weeks of age. This also when most parents begin to see signs of the 4-month sleep regression. Simply put at around 4 -5 months of age, babies transition for newborn sleep cycles to more adult-like ones. Sleep training can be safely implemented at this stage.

Sleep training deals with a baby who is more aware of their surroundings and able to fall into patterns and schedules with much more ease. A baby who is old enough to sleep train has a well-established circadian rhythm and their body follows the rise and fall of sleep hormones. This allows them to fall in and out of sleep with much more predictability.

Healthy sleep habits begin from the start and will carry on throughout your child’s lifetime. Although some babies are born as good sleepers, most need a little bit of help and guidance to get there. Creating those good habits early on, will teach your child that sleep is not only necessary for their growth and development, but also something they can learn to enjoy and do well.