Is sleep training likely to help or harm your baby?

NataliaDeriabina/Getty Images Welcoming a baby is a time of great joy for parents.

It can also be one of the most challenging.

One of the greatest difficulties many parents face is getting their baby to sleep and re-settling following night wakings.

When these problems persist, parents’ sleep can be disrupted, worsening their mental health and wellbeing.

At this stage, some parents might then turn to sleep strategies, previously known as sleep training.

Sleep strategies aim to help a baby learn to settle themselves to sleep, without the help of an adult.

Others worry about claims these strategies might harm their baby.

So what does the evidence say? Sleep is a learnt skill.

While some babies learn to go to sleep easily, others need more help.

If used properly, the evidence shows sleep strategies can help babies and parents sleep better, and don’t harm the baby or their relationship with their parents.

But they can be hard to implement.

When might you use sleep strategies? Sleep strategies are best suited to babies aged six months or older, once they can get enough food during the day to meet their nutritional needs.

Younger babies may still need to wake for a night feed.

Only use sleep strategies if your baby’s sleep is actually a problem for you – some parents are happy to get up multiple times overnight, and that’s fine too.