When to consider sleep training

Most families that sleep train start between 4 and 6 months, once the 4-month sleep transition has landed and baby is physically capable of longer stretches. Waiting is also fine — many babies work out consolidated sleep on their own by 9–12 months. There's no single method. Options range from gentle fade-out (slowly reducing your involvement over 2–3 weeks) to check-and-console (visiting on intervals) to full extinction (letting them cry to sleep without visits). All have evidence when applied consistently. Pick a method both parents can commit to for at least 7–10 days. Consistency is the active ingredient; switching methods midway usually resets the clock. Talk to your pediatrician if baby is under 4 months, medically fragile, or if progress hasn't landed by 2 weeks.