The Ultimate Guide to Sleep Training While Room Sharing

Sleep training can be a game-changer for families struggling with sleepless nights, but what if your family dynamic or living situation means your baby shares a room with you? It might seem tricky at first, but with the right plan, patience, and a little creativity, sleep training while room sharing can be very successful! Here’s how to do it.

Set your goals

Before you start, be clear on your sleep training goals. Are you aiming for your baby to sleep through the night, fall asleep independently, or take longer naps? Once your goals are set, choose a sleep training method that fits your parenting style and feels manageable within your shared space. Options include the SleepLady Shuffle, the Ferber method, more gradual approaches, etc.

Set up the bedroom

Creating a room that works for both you and your baby is key. Think about ways to minimize distractions and promote a sleep-friendly environment:

Crib

Move the crib as far away from your bed as possible. We want as much space as possible between you and baby. Even moving the crib to the end of the bed is preferable to having it by the side of your bed.

visual barrier

Create a “visual barrier” so that your child cannot see you from their crib. This becomes especially important when your child can stand up in the crib. Here are some ideas:

• Use a room divider
• Use furniture, large plant
• Hang a sheet
• Put a free standing coat rack and hang many things, etc.

Sound machine

Use a white noise machine to block out disruptions. You can also use a humidifier or a fan, but having constant background noise will reduce the chance of waking up each other when you are in bed and prevent baby from waking up when you come in and out of the room.

Dark room

Use blackout curtains to keep the room dark when baby is sleeping.

Sleep training at bedtime vs. middle of the night

At bedtime, use the sleep training method you chose as intended. For example, if you’re doing the Shuffle, follow the typical positions. If you’re using the Ferber method, leave the room between intervals as instructed. However, during middle-of-the-night wake-ups, you can adapt to the room-sharing setup. Instead of leaving the room completely, return to your bed to wait out the intervals, or, if you’re using the Shuffle, support your kiddo from your bed once you are further from the crib at bedtime. This approach allows you to remain consistent with the method while accommodating the realities of sharing a room.

More tips for success

Here are some other tips when room sharing:

• Consider sleeping in a different room for the initial stages of sleep training.
• Fake sleep: Pretend to sleep to signal it’s time for your baby to rest.
• Be patient: it may take a bit longer to see progress, but with consistency and repetition, your baby can learn to sleep independently!

Room sharing doesn’t have to mean sleepless nights. With a clear plan and a commitment to consistency, you can teach your baby to sleep independently while sharing the same space. If you need support to create a tailored plan for your unique situation, we can help. You can learn more here. Reach out and schedule an initial call to get started. Together, we can find a solution that works for your family so you can all get more rest!