Baby sleep question – when to start sleep training & which method?
My son is almost 6 months old, exclusively breastfed.
Sleep habits:
Only falls asleep while breastfeeding/rocking. Needs me nearby.
Wakes ~45 min after bedtime, then roughly every hour overnight, needs breast to resettle. Sometimes wakes fully and wants to play.
Naps:
Very inconsistent. Most ~45 min (sometimes only 20 min if put down). Contact naps can extend up to ~1h15min.
Wake windows:
Usually 1.5 h or less. Recently sometimes up to 4 h in the morning (doesn’t make sense).
Routine:
No fixed bedtime or routine except diaper + sleep sack. I usually sing while breastfeeding/rocking. Bedtime based on wake windows, naps, and morning wake-up.
Teething:
Teething since 3.5 months. Bottom teeth at 4 months, top incisors at 5 months. Now upper lateral incisors are coming. Almost always unsettled.
Question:
Given his age, teething, short wake windows, strong sleep associations, and exclusive breastfeeding:
When (or if) to start sleep training?
Which method might be suitable?
Posted Feb 7, 2026, 11:05 PM UTC