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Sleep is essential for a baby’s growth and development. While some babies self-soothe themselves to sleep, some require assistance from parents. Sleep training is one way of ensuring that your baby learns to sleep with minimal fuss and crying. Several techniques let you sleep-train your baby, and one such method is the pick up, put down method.
Read on to learn about the pick up, put-down method and how to use it to help a baby sleep better.
What Is The Pick-Up, Put Down Method?
The pick up, put down method is a sleep training technique developed and mentioned by the British nurse Tracy Hogg in her book ‘Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How To Calm, Connect, and Communicate With Your Baby.’ The method aims at soothing your baby to sleep without the need for them to learn self-soothing by crying (1).
Steps For The Pick Up, Put Down Method
The pick up, put down method focuses on the four S – setting the arrangement, settling the baby, sitting with the baby, and shushing, picking up, and putting down. Below is the elaboration of the four S of the pick up, put down method (2).
1. Setting the arrangement
- First, establish a nighttime and daytime sleep routine for the baby. It makes it easier for the baby to know when it is time to sleep. Also, pick up, put down method focuses on improving the baby’s sleep quality and the ability to self-soothe. It does not work on establishing a routine.
- Choose a time when the baby is drowsy yet awake. This sleep training method may not work if the baby is extremely sleepy, tired, or cranky.
- Keep the baby’s crib and room ready for placing the baby in it.
2. Settling the baby
- Gently place the baby in the crib. You may swaddle the baby or offer them a pacifier if you do so usually.
- Do not pat the baby or shush them. You need to first wait for them to self-soothe to sleep.
3. Sitting with the baby
- Pull a chair and sit close to the crib. Remember not to talk or pat the baby if they are not crying since you need to first let them fall asleep on their own.
- You must remain in the room as long as the baby is awake. Once your baby falls asleep, leave the room.
- If you hear the baby’s cries, wait for a few seconds before entering the room. If the baby does not stop crying, enter the room to follow the next stage of this sleep training method.
4. Shushing, picking up, and putting down
- Shush the baby and pat them without picking them up from the crib. Give a few seconds for the baby to self-soothe without the need to pick them up.
- If the baby does not calm down, pick them up, and soothe them in your arms. You may rock them or sing them a lullaby at this stage.
- Put down the baby in the crib once they stop crying but are still awake. If your baby cries when you place them, repeat the shushing and patting while they are in the crib before picking them and calming them.
- Once the baby is in the crib, pull the chair and sit with the baby. Wait for them to fall asleep. If the baby cries again, pick them up, soothe them, and put them down,
- Sit on the chair and repeat the same steps from the “Sitting with the baby” step.
Does The Pick Up, Put Down Method Work?
Most babies respond well to this sleep training technique. Nevertheless, the pick up, put down method has its share of pros and cons like any other sleep training method (3).
Pros
- Focuses on teaching self-soothing to babies
- Can be customized by parents to meet their or baby’s needs
- Can be customized to make it gentle for sensitive babies
- Baby need not cry and stay alone when awake
- Parents may choose to sit with the baby all the time
- It may be emotionally rewarding for parents and babies than other sleep training methods that let the baby cry and self-soothe without parental intervention
Cons
- Could be tiring and exhausting for the parent, especially if they have another child
- May take a lot of time if the baby takes a long time to fall asleep
- Parent may have to stay close to the baby’s room all the time to listen the baby cry
- May not work with older babies and toddlers who may deliberately cry and throw tantrums for parent’s attention
At What Age Can You Try Pick Up, Put Down Method?
The method works best for infants between the ages of four and eight months (2). You may try this method once your baby is four months old. Avoid this training for newborns for up to three months since they require additional care and attention. Babies older than eight months may be difficult to sleep-train, and they may also test cause and effect by crying at night to gain parents’ attention.
How Long Does Pick Up, Put Down Method Take To Work?
The time taken to reap the benefits of pick up, put down method may vary, depending on the baby’s response and the consistency shown by parents. Pick up, put down method may take a week to three weeks to display results (2). However, some babies may show results within days, while some may take slightly longer than three weeks.
You may tell the method is working when the baby wakes up less number of times. The baby may sleep better since they have a sense of reassurance that their caregiver is always around to soothe them if they wake up. Babies who do wake up may go back to sleep before you enter the room to soothe them.
How To Make The Pick Up, Put Down Method Successful?
Below are some tips that could make pick up, put down method effective and easy for both the parents and the baby.
- Try the method when there is stability in your and your baby’s routine. Avoid sleep training when experiencing new events, such as change of house or a visit from guests.
- The baby should be in good health. Do not try this method or any sleep training method when the baby is unwell or has recovered from illness.
- Ensure that you are well-rested and in good health. Pick up, put down method may become exerting if you need to catch up on lost sleep.
- Take the help of your partner or another family member. Designate the task to check on the baby to someone else for alternate nights.
- Room-share with your baby if you are a single parent or the baby refuses to be soothed by anyone else but you. Place the baby’s crib close to the bed. Follow the same steps except that you do not have to leave the room. However, do not pick up the baby frequently or hold them for too long just because you are now closer to the baby throughout the night.
- Maintain consistency with the method since it helps babies learn better.
What If The Pick Up, Put Down Method Does Not Work?
If the method does not seem to work, give a break and try a few days to weeks later. Most babies usually respond well since the method involves receiving assurances from parents without the need for crying alone. Therefore, you may check for other potential interferences. For instance, check if the baby is well or if they are experiencing a life event, such as a growth spurt. You may also check if the baby’s room is comfortable and whether you are maintaining a consistent bedtime routine to prevent confusion for the baby. If your interventions do not work or the baby displays persistent sleep problems, speak to a pediatrician.
Other Sleep Training Methods
Below are some other sleep training methods for infants (3).
- Cry it out: It is a method where parents let the awakened baby cry alone for a fixed duration before they intervene to soothe the baby. The Ferber method is one of the most popular cry-it-out sleep training methods. It involves soothing the baby in the crib without picking them.
- Controlled crying: The parents let the awakened baby cry out for a gradually increasing time before intervening and pacifying the little one.
- Chair method: In this method, you place the baby and sit in the chair next to the crib. You remain seated while the baby sleeps. Gradually increase the distance of the chair from the crib each night. You soothe the baby verbally from a distance without picking them.
Sleep is vital for a baby’s growth, and it is also essential for a baby to learn how to sleep with minimal assistance from parents. Pick up, put down method is a gentle, no tears way of teaching self-soothing to your baby while potentially improving their quality of sleep. Do not be disappointed if it does not work initially. Try it again and be consistent with your efforts to get the most out of pick up, put down sleep training technique for babies.
