From the Guidelines
To sleep train your 6-month-old son, I recommend using the gradual approach method, which involves putting him down drowsy but awake and gradually reducing your presence in the room over time, while ensuring a safe sleep environment as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 1.
Key Recommendations
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine that lasts about 30 minutes, including calming activities like a warm bath, reading a book, and gentle rocking.
- Put your baby to bed at the same time each night, ideally between 7-8 PM when he shows signs of tiredness.
- When he cries, wait progressively longer intervals (starting with 2-3 minutes, then 5, then 10) before briefly checking on him without picking him up.
- Reassure him with a gentle pat or soothing words, then leave again.
- During the day, maintain a consistent nap schedule with 2-3 naps totaling 3-4 hours.
Safe Sleep Environment
- Place your baby on his back to sleep on a firm sleep surface, as this reduces the risk of SIDS 1.
- Room-sharing with the infant on a separate sleep surface is recommended for the first 6 months, as it decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50% 1.
- Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from the infant’s sleep area to prevent suffocation or entrapment 1.
- Consider offering a pacifier at naptime and bedtime, as it may reduce the risk of SIDS 1.
Additional Considerations
- Once your baby can roll from the supine to prone and from the prone to supine position, he can be allowed to remain in the sleep position that he assumes, but soft or loose bedding should continue to be removed from the infant’s sleep environment 1.
- Be aware of the risks of sleeping on couches and armchairs, which can place infants at extraordinarily high risk of infant death, including SIDS, suffocation, or overlay 1.
From the Research
Sleep Training for a 6-Month-Old Infant
To sleep train a 6-month-old infant, it is essential to consider the following factors:
- Create a safe sleep environment, as most infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly do so in unsafe sleep environments 2, 3
- Place the infant to sleep in a supine position, on a firm surface, with no soft objects or loose bedding, and no head covering 3
- Ensure the infant is not overheated and that the room is at a comfortable temperature 3, 4
- Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended, as it can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 2, 3
- Breastfeeding on demand and the use of a pacifier during sleep time can protect against SIDS 3
- Parents should be advised against the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs during gestation and after birth, as these can increase the risk of SIDS 3, 5