Ah, sleep training. It’s like the parenting version of assembling flat-pack furniture without instructions. You know it should work in theory, but halfway through, you’re not sure if you’re doing it right, and you're pretty sure there aren’t supposed to be any leftover parts. Let’s dive into the most well-known sleep training method, with a touch of humour and real-talk about what this does for your little night owl—or not.

“Cry-It-Out” (CIO): The Tough Love Approach

Your little night owl is put into their sleep space after they’ve fed, watered and in suitable sleep wear. That’s it. The caregiver doesn’t do anything to resettle the baby, no matter how long or loud they protest. As the title indicates, they’re left to ‘cry it out’.

Pros:
• Efficiency: Once you get past the initial heartache (and earache), many parents swear by its quick results. They say it is like ripping off a sticking plaster—painful but fast.
• Simplicity: No need for a PhD in sleep science. The method is straightforward: put baby to bed, exit stage left, resist the urge to return until morning.
Cons:
• Emotional Rollercoaster: Not for the faint of heart. The sound of your baby crying can feel like someone’s tearing at your heart.
• Judgy McJudgy: Mention you’re trying CIO to a relative, or at playgroup, and watch the mixed reactions roll in. Arm yourself with research and confidence if this is your chosen path. Oh and get good earplugs, for those sleepless nights where your little owl is in full song, and you’ll likely need to use them again to block out well-meaning Judgy McJudy’s opinions during the day!

Little Moon Sleep Solutions: The Gentle Supportive Approach. Not Tough Love

If we circle back to that sticky plaster situation from before, Dan Ariely spins a similar tale in his book Predictably Irrational. He reckons that our gut instinct to rip off the plaster in one fell swoop isn't as sharp as we might have thought. Turns out, it's a bit more of a drama-fest for both the plaster-wearer and the plaster-ripper-offer. And, hand on heart, I've got to absolutely nod along with him.

Plus…if you like your neighbours, even just a little, then this is method is a fast way to being taken off their Christmas List!

There are many more solutions that I can suggest for you and your little night owl, crying it out is not one that I promote. Let’s exhaust some gentle interventions together first that won’t traumatise your little one, you, or the neighbours!

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