It's not hard to spot a new parent. The initial glow of elation after their offspring's arrival into the world has been replaced by a somewhat dazed expression. Sleepless nights are taking their toll. All new parents expect to lose a fair amount of sleep during the first weeks of their newborn’s life. But if your baby is still waking frequently throughout the night after a few months, it's time to start sleep training. One successful and popular solution is the 5-10-15 method.


What is the 5-10-15 Method

The 5-10-15 sleep method was invented by paediatrician Richard Ferber to help parents teach young babies healthy sleep associations. Newborn babies know nothing about the concept of night and day, so it's up to their parents to teach them that night time is for sleeping. Babies often cry in the night for no reason other than they need you to help them go back to sleep. The longer bad sleep habits are allowed to continue, the harder it becomes to change later on.

The 5-10-15 method involves following a routine called “progressive waiting”. Each time your baby cries, you wait for the progressive amount of time, five, ten and fifteen minutes after which you can go to briefly comfort and reassure your baby that all is well, then leave the room. Over time your baby will come to realize that their cries won't result in them being picked up and instead, will naturally drop off to sleep.

When to Start

Ferber recommends starting the 5-10-15 method when your baby is between the ages of four and six months. Before this they are not physically or emotionally ready and are likely to wake more frequently throughout the night due to hunger, especially if they are breast feeding. But once they're around four months, babies are capable of sleeping for longer stretches at a time as they begin taking bigger night time feeds.

You also need to choose a week or two where you have little else going on so you can devote this time entirely to sleep training your baby. The daily routine is crucial to this method working successfully, so don’t pick a week where you’re going out for the night and need a baby sitter or if you’re going on holiday for instance. And of course, if your baby is ill or teething, you should delay starting the method until they are well again.

The Steps to Take

Step 1: Prepare everyone in the household for what is going to happen. Work out a bed time routine that will easily fit into your daily life and stick to this every night. Many parents choose to follow the bath, story, feed and bed ritual which all helps baby develop an association with sleep. However don't let your baby fall asleep while feeding. Start the routine around an hour before bedtime and try to keep the lights low and background noise down.

Step 2: Once your baby is drowsy and ready for bed, lay them down in their bed while still awake. Try to make sure there are no other distractions around to keep baby awake. It can be helpful if they have a favorite toy or blanket to use as a comforter while they’re learning to go to sleep. Once your baby is tucked up in bed, give them a kiss and cuddle, say goodnight and quietly walk out of the room.

Step 3: Your baby may cry as soon as you leave. Don't go rushing back. On the first night you have to allow them to cry for five minutes before calmly returning and reassuring them that all is well. Just pat their back and talk softly to them, but don't cuddle or pick them up. Then leave the room. The next time they cry, wait for ten minutes, then fifteen minutes before returning to them. Once you've reached fifteen minute stage and they're still crying, keep repeating the fifteen minute cycle until they eventually fall asleep.

Step 4: You may need to repeat this procedure during the night. However, once you've reached the fifteen minute time-slot, don't go back to five minutes. Keep waiting fifteen minutes before reassuring them again.

When to Expect Results

As long as you stick to the routine without caving in, things should become easier within a few nights. However, if you're finding it too traumatic leaving your baby crying for fifteen minutes at a time, you could stick to ten minutes for a couple of nights before extending the time to fifteen and spread the process out over two weeks.

While it can be hard leaving your baby crying, as long as you know they're not in danger or ill, they won't come to any harm. Keep in mind throughout the process what your goal is - a good night's rest for you, your family and your baby. And don't worry. Your offspring won't hold a grudge against you for putting them through this. You may remember it for a long time to come, but they most certainly won't. The 5-10-15 sleep method has saved countless parents from the tortures of sleep deprivation. Just follow the guidelines, don't waiver and you'll soon be able to enjoy the bliss of an unbroken night's sleep.