How to Room Share with Baby (and still get some sleep)
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “can we still sleep train if we share a room? We aren’t ready to move them out! (or we don’t have the space to move them out).”
The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that your child sleeps in the same room as you but in their own separate sleep space for up to 6 months ideally (for maximum prevention against SIDS, which they recently lowered from up to 12 months).
It is a tool to help prevent SIDS and it can also make night time feedings more manageable!
However, the AAP does acknowledge that everyone sleeps best in their own space and more unsafe practices can occur the longer you room share.
So can you sleep train if you still room share?
YEP!
First, what is Sleep Training?
Sleep training is a huge umbrella term for a large variety of interventions that basically boil down to helping children be more independent with sleep, in order to increase sleep quality and quantity for the whole family.
CAN YOU STILL SLEEP TRAIN IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTINUE ROOM SHARING?
YES, you can still sleep train your baby while room sharing.
When sleep training, you are changing the way you respond to your baby when putting them to sleep. However, being in the room with them does not change that. In fact, the majority of sleep training occurs when you’re awake. So room sharing really doesn’t have any bearing on that. It can be more difficult to night wean, but there are plenty of alternative options available without permanently removing them from your space.
If you are room sharing and sleep training, here are some tips and strategies to help make it successful:
Optimal sleep environment! Make sure bedroom is an optimal sleep environment with white noise, cool and dark as cave.
Leave the room and reenter when baby is asleep. Sneak back into the room after baby has fallen to sleep independently.
Move out of the room for a few nights. This tip is more for the parent that is “forced” to room share with the baby. Try sleeping on the couch for a few nights while you are sleep training and move back into your room when they have mastered the skill. Some parents even take their mattress to a separate room so they’re not entirely uncomfortable. This may be more helpful for when you’re ready to tackle the night time portion of sleep training.
Move the baby’s crib further away from your bed. Having some distance between your baby doing the sleep training process can help. Try the foot of the bed or a corner in the room. Using a slumberpod can be extremely helpful too!
Prepare before baby’s bedtime. Make sure you grab all of the things you need out of your bedroom before putting baby down to sleep.
Even though it is absolutely possible to sleep train your baby while room sharing, adjust your expectations because it may take a little longer. Continue to be consistent and safe! When room sharing, you may hear more baby noises, be consistent with your response! Even though you are room sharing with your baby, make sure you continue to practice safe sleep guidelines.
