Transition 1 – 8 pounds/ 8 Weeks

Make sure your baby is ready for the first transition in sleep training.

• My baby is at least 8 pounds
• My baby is at least 8 weeks old
• My baby has been cleared by the pediatrician for one longer stretch of sleep with no food at the 2-month check-up.
• My baby is NOT sick.
• My baby has not had any vaccinations within the last 48 hours.
• My baby’s circadian rhythms have begun (you will notice this when they are more alert during the day, and start to get sleepy as the sun goes down)

If you have checked all of these, then you are ready for transition 1.

Begin with your day time schedule and give it two full days before beginning nights.

Also, asses your nursery/sleep space to ensure you are promoting healthy sleep.

• Night 1
  • Assess the daytime for calories and total number of hours of daytime naps
  • Bring milk in case you need it, but the plan is to not use it until the designated feeding time. Try an assortment of soothing techniques to get the baby to go back to sleep without the feed.
  • If breastfeeding, you will not need to bring milk but need to make your breast inaccessible.
  • Once it is past 12 you will resume feedings as scheduled (12a, 2 am, 4 am)
  • Once its morning (6am) leave your nursery and start your day time schedule

• Night 2
  • Assess the daytime for calories and total number of hours of daytime naps
  • Bring milk in case you need it, but the plan is to not use it until the designated feeding time. Try an assortment of soothing techniques to get the baby to go back to sleep without the feed.
  • Nights 2 and three are typically the most difficult nights and require extensive soothing.

The most important thing to remember with pushing a feed and soothing is that you get your baby back to sleep without food. If you soothe for 25 minutes and get tired and this results in feeding, you will create a very negative association to food and crying for your baby.

• • If breastfeeding, you will not need to bring milk but need to make your breast inaccessible.
  • Once it is past 12 you will resume feedings as scheduled (12a,  2 am, 4 am)
  • Once its morning (6am) leave your nursery and start your day schedule

• Night 3
  • Assess the daytime for calories and total number of hours of daytime naps
  • Bring milk in case you need it, but the plan is to not use it until the designated feeding time. Try an assortment of soothing techniques to get the baby to go back to sleep without the feed.
  • Nights 2 and three are typically the most difficult nights and require extensive soothing.

The most important thing to remember with pushing a feed and soothing is that you get your baby back to sleep without food. If you soothe for 25 minutes and get tired and result in feeding you will create a very negative association to food and crying for your baby.

• • If breastfeeding, you will not need to bring milk but need to make your breast inaccessible.
  • Once it is past 12 you will resume feedings as scheduled (12a,  2 am, 4 am)
  • Once its morning (6am) leave your nursery and start your day schedule

• Night 4
  • Assess the daytime for calories and total number of hours of daytime naps
  • Soothe as needed
  • Once it is past 12 you will resume feedings as scheduled (12a,  2 am, 4 am)
  • Once its morning (6am) leave your nursery and start your day schedule

• Night 5
  • Assess the daytime for calories and total number of hours of daytime naps
  • Soothe as needed
  • Once it is past 12 you will resume feedings as scheduled (12a,  2 am, 4 am)
  • Once its morning (6am) leave your nursery and start your day schedule

The next transition will happen based on weight gain, but to maintain this progress you must stick with your day time schedule and forms of soothing at night as needed.