What do sleep training and chairs have in common? This isn’t some corny dad joke. Believe it or not, a chair is an essential component of a particular sleep training method.
You’ve settled into life as a new parent, you’ve moved your baby to their own room, and now you’re ready to get some more sleep. Enter sleep training.
But with several contrasting sleep training methods, how do you know which is best for you and your baby?
Over the course of this guide, we’ll explore the Chair method in more detail.
Table Of Contents
What is sleep training?
Sleep training is the process of teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own and self soothe when they wake.
There are a range of sleep training methods, including the Ferber method, Cry It Out and several others. Sleep training is considered to be an essential process for parents hoping their baby will sleep for longer.
Sleep training methods typically fall into two categories - ‘gentle sleep training’ and ‘let them cry’. Each has its own positives and negatives, and there is certainly no ‘correct’ sleep training method.
What is the Chair method?
The Chair method, also known as the ‘fading method’, is a type of gentle sleep training that encourages parents to remain in the room until their baby has fallen asleep.
Unlike the Ferber method or Cry It Out method, it doesn’t require parents to put their baby down in bed and leave the room.
But how does it work, and where does the chair come into it?
How does the Chair method work?
In its simplest form, the Chair method sees parents sit on a chair until their baby has fallen asleep. The next night, they move the chair a little further away from the cot. And again, and again, until you no longer need to remain in the room.
The idea is that your presence will offer the reassurance and comfort your baby wants (and arguably needs) in order to fall asleep. As the days go on, they grow increasingly comfortable with you being further away from them.
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If and when your baby cries, you should remain in your seat and offer verbal comfort, rather than returning to the cot in order to reassure them physically or pick them up.
Just like other sleep training methods, a consistent and calming bedtime routine is absolutely essential.
Of course, you can and should return to your baby if there is something seriously wrong with them.
An example Chair method routine
Everyone finds a bedtime routine that works for them, from timings to activities.
But let’s look at an example of a great bedtime routine and utilising the chair method.
6:00pm - Bath time: Bath should always be the start of your bedtime routine, creating a clear signal that it’s time to wind down.
6:10pm - Pyjamas: A warm, snuggly towel, baby massages and fresh pyjamas is perfect to help your baby wind down.
6:15pm - The last feed: You don’t want your baby to associate food with sleep, so try to give the final feed at least 30 minutes before they go to bed.
6:45pm - Final preparations: It’s time to head up to their room, prepare the room and get them into their swaddle blanket or sleep sack
6:50pm - Bedtime story: Grab their favourite book (or yours!) and make sure you use a calm, soothing voice.
6:55 - 7:00pm - Time for sleep: It’s time to put your baby down and say goodnight. You can sing them a lullaby or gently rub their head for a minute or two, first.
7:00pm onwards - chair: Before they fall asleep, sit yourself on a chair immediately next to their cot. Try not to interact with them and wait for them to fall asleep. If your baby cries, use your voice to soothe them rather than rubbing their head or picking them up. You must remain in the room until they fall asleep.
Night 2: Repeat the routine, with the chair moved a little further away from their cot. How far you move it will depend on the size and shape of the room.
Night 3: Repeat with the chair moved further away.
And continue until the chair is no longer in the room and you’re no longer visible.
The pros and cons of the Chair method
The overwhelming positive of the Chair method is that it’s seen as less distressing for your baby. Unlike methods like Ferber, you’re still there until they fall asleep and your baby is far less likely to get upset.
It also offers the ability to see your progress. If you’re trying a method like Ferber or Cry It Out, it can be difficult to recognise when you’re making progress. However, with the Chair method, every time you move that chair closer to the door, you’re able to see you’re a step closer to completing sleep training.
On the downside, it can take a while longer than other methods. In fact, most sleep training methods take roughly a week before your baby is falling asleep on their own. This one typically takes about two weeks, because it’s more gradual in its approach.
Obviously, you’ll need to have a chair, too. Whether you buy one, have the space to keep one upstairs, or need to move it from room to room every night is up to you.
When can you start the Chair method?
All sleep training methods can be started after the six month mark. Before this point, sleep training doesn’t work because babies have not developed a circadian rhythm yet - the body’s natural clock that creates cycles for when to wake and go to sleep.
They also haven’t developed an understanding of object permanence, either. So when their parents are out of sight, they don’t understand that they are still there.
FAQs
How long should I stay in the room?
If you commit to this method of sleep training, you need to be in it for the long haul. The foundation of the chair method is staying in the room with them until they fall asleep. If you leave the room, you start mixing methods which will reduce the chance of success.
What if I think something is wrong?
If you think something is wrong, you should check on your baby. Your baby’s health and safety is far more important than sleep training.
That being said, by now, you may well be familiar with some of your baby’s cries, which should help you to identify if or when something is really wrong.
How long does sleep training take?
Sleep training typically takes around a week. However, the chair method can take up to two weeks because it’s a more gradual approach. If you do not see an improvement within two weeks, take a break and try again in a few weeks time. Or, consider an alternative method.
