The Pick up and Put down method is a simple and effective way to train your baby for sleep. It is as simple as its name, pick up when your child is fussing and help them calm down and then put them down again.
This method is famous from a book called “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect and Communicate with your baby” written by Tracy Hogg. This book talks about how to train your baby to sleep by themselves and not be dependent on you but not feel abandoned at the same time.
The pickup and put-down method can be a slow and gentle way to train some babies for sleep, while some might feel confusing and frustrating as well. You need to learn how this method works and then decide what is best for your baby.
This training is said to be effective for many babies, but it may depend on the individual. It may work on some babies and not at all on others. You need to give it a try in the right way to understand that.
How to Use the Pick Up Put Down Sleep Training Method?
The pickup put-down method works effectively if applied properly. You need to look at the guide and apply the method accordingly.
There are steps to follow while using this sleep training method.
Step 1: Bedtime Routine
Step 2: Stop, Wait and Listen
Step 3: Pick Your Child Up
Step 4: Put Your Child Down
Bedtime routine
You need to set a bedtime routine for your child. It should be a consistent time to help the baby understand that it is time for sleep. After the kids are done with the bedtime routine, you need to lay them down in the crib as they’re now feeling drowsy.
You need to lay them down while they are still awake at the beginning. Then, try to observe if they’re creating a fuss or they’re comfortable with themselves. If they are comfortable with themselves, let them stay there.
Stop, Wait and Listen
It is necessary to follow the stop, wait, and listen to your children when they are crying rather than rushing towards them to pick them up.
You need to wait and listen to your child and determine if they need your help. Sometimes children are just fussing and not having a hard time at all.
It is because they’re dependent on you, and you need to make them independent. Hence, you need to control your emotions and listen to them and help if they really need it.
Pick Your Child Up
This is the first part of the pickup and put-down sleep training method. Children may start having a hard time while just being left alone in the crib to fall asleep by themselves. You need to pick your child up, cuddle them and make them feel calm and safe.
The main intention of this step is to calm your child down by making them feel like you’re there for them and you haven’t abandoned them. You need to provide comfort for the child.
Put Your Child Down
As you feel your child is now entirely calm and comfortable, you need to put them back in their bed. Don’t keep on cuddling your child after they’re feeling just fine. This will make your child dependent on you.
When they are all comfortable and silent, you can put them back to their bed and leave the room. This is the latter part of the pickup and put-down sleep training method for kids.
Preferable age of a child for this Method
Before considering any sleep technique, you need to be careful about the child’s age in that method. Some techniques would work on a certain age of children, and some would not.
In the pick up and put down sleep training method, your child should be between the age of 4-8 months. It will not be suitable for babies before four months, and you should be careful about that. However, it may work for children who are a little older than 4-8 months.
Around 4-8 months is a time where children can learn and adapt to different patterns. It is mainly at the age of 6 months; they can establish a sleep pattern. Starting earlier to make them habituated can help them in forming this sleep pattern.
Will the sleep training method work?
Any sleep training needs a lot of patience to train your baby to sleep. You will not train your baby overnight. However, with a bit of patience and at the appropriate age, they will eventually form the pattern.
Any sleep training method may work differently on different babies. You need to make sure to be consistent with them and the patterns. Remember that, it is crucial to listen to your baby and observe what they want.
You need to try different methods and check what works for your baby. You should understand what your baby is comfortable with and help them create the pattern accordingly. For instance, this method may not work for all children. It may work for some and not work for others.
Conclusion
The pick up and put down sleep training method is one of the most effective ways to form a sleep pattern for your children and make them independent. Starting at the correct age will help in forming the habit for your children.
Moreover, maintaining their bedtime routine, listening to what your child wants, and then using the technique may work better for them. If it isn’t working out, you need to think about what’s going wrong. You need to make the child feel safe and calm and not feel left alone. This is very important.
You need to make sure that you, as a parent, get enough rest as well. Parents don’t get enough rest and hence are exhausted themselves. This will not help with the training of the baby. You need to be careful about what your child wants and is comfortable with.
Therefore, if your child isn’t adapting to this technique after a lot of practice and consistency, you need to consider using other sleep training methods. There are plenty of techniques for forming a pattern for your children. Choose what suits you and your child best.
