Chapter 4: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take the GoodNight Sleep Method to work?
Most parents report significant improvements in just 2‐4 days. Within 10 days,
nearly
all
parents
report
that
their
child
is
sleeping
through
the
night.
If
you
do
not
see
an
improvement
in
10
days,
talk
to
your
doctor
(there
are
tools
on
the
website
for sharing your data with your pediatrician).
Will the GoodNight Sleep Method work if I’m breastfeeding?
Absolutely.
Whether
you
are
breastfeeding
or
bottle
feeding,
try
to
keep
your
baby
awake
until
the
end
of
the
feeding
session
and
then
follow
the
GoodNight
Sleep
Method for putting your baby to sleep drowsy but awake.
How long should I spend in my baby’s room at each CHECK in the GoodNight Sleep
Method?
Each visit should be brief. Remember that you do
not
want your baby to fall asleep
with
you
present.
Nor
do
you
want
to
restart
your
baby’s
self
soothing
process
by
picking
him
up
or
rocking
him.
If
your
child
has
thrown
a
lovey
to
the
floor,
you
can
retrieve
it,
but
if
he
throws
it
again,
leave
it
there
until
the
next
time
you
come
to
check
on
him.
Simply
check
to
make
sure
that
your
baby
is
safe
and
healthy
and
reassure
him
with
a
quick
“Everything
is
okay.
Go
to
sleep.”
How long should my baby be sleeping?
This varies from child to child but some averages can be found in the chart below
Age
Nighttime Sleep
(hours)
Daytime Sleep
(hours)
Total Sleep
(hours)
1 month
8.5 (many naps)
7.5 (many naps)
16
3 months
6-10
5-9
15
6 months
10-12
3-4.5
14.5
9 months
11
3 (2 naps)
14
12 months
11
2.5 (2 naps)
13.5
18 months
11
2.5 (1-2 naps)
13.5
2 years
11
2 (1 nap)
13
3 years
10.5
1.5 (1 nap)
12
4 years
11.5
0
11.5
