#atom

Soothing-based approach to breaking unsustainable sleep associations

Core Idea: The SLIP (Sleep Learning Independence Plan) method aims to help children learn to fall asleep without unsustainable sleep associations like rocking, nursing, or feeding to sleep.

Key Elements

• Implementation approach:

  1. Remove the final "soothe to sleep" step from bedtime routine
  2. Any feeding (bottle or breast) should occur 20+ minutes before bedtime
  3. Put child down fully awake in a safe sleep space
  4. Don't return until the child is asleep (full extinction approach)

• Variations and considerations:

  • Can be used while continuing co-sleeping (though an adult must remain present)
  • Non-nursing parent may have more success implementing with nursing children
  • Mobile infants in adult beds require constant supervision for safety

• Graduated vs. full extinction:

  • SLIP typically uses full extinction (not returning until child is asleep)
  • Contrasts with Dr. Ferber's graduated extinction approach (timed check-ins)
  • Both methods are effective, but full extinction may:
    • Work more quickly
    • Result in less crying overall
    • Avoid unintentional reinforcement of crying
    • Prevent increased distress that some babies experience when seeing parents

Commitment Requirements

• Requires full commitment to permanently stop the previous sleep association
• Consistency is crucial - returning to old methods undermines progress
• Approximately 70% of children respond well to this approach

Additional Connections

• Broader Context: Sleep Association Theory (understanding dependencies)
• Applications: Breaking Sleep Associations (practical application)
• See Also: Extinction Burst (potential response during implementation)

References

1. Dubief, A. (2017). Precious Little Sleep.

#sleep #parenting #sleeptraining #SLIP #sleepindependence

Connections:

Sources:

• From: Dubief-Precious Little Sleep