A Real Sleep Training Success Story : Jessica

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Aug 28
4 min read

By: Sarah Bossio, Certified Pediatric Sleep Expert

If you are a parent struggling with your little one's sleep, you are not alone. Sleep training can be tough, especially when you're juggling middle-of-the-night wakings, a toddler's bottle dependency, and a whole lot of emotions. But I've got a story that might just give you hope—and maybe even the courage to try again.

Let's talk about Jessica, a two-year-old who used to love her bottle. But that love was not doing her or her family any good favors. Jess's mom and dad had already tried to sleep train her a few months earlier, but it did not work. There was a disconnect. Mom was doing the bulk of the work, while dad, unfortunately, was not involved so much. And I totally get how sleep training can feel like a solo mission when you are exhausted.

But things weren't just about getting Jess to sleep at night. It was also about breaking her heavy bottle dependency that she had carried with her from babyhood. At bedtime, she'd need her bottle to fall asleep, but that habit also played a huge role in her night wakings. And honestly, it was preventing her from learning how to sleep independently.

So, what did we do?

We dove in with the sleep training method I have used for years, helping families like Jess's create a consistent bedtime routine that is both gentle and effective. This method teaches children how to fall asleep on their own at the beginning of the night. If they cannot fall asleep independently at bedtime, they won't be able to sleep through the night without waking up needing help.

Mom's goals were clear—Jess needed to learn to fall asleep on her own and sleep through the night. This was the key to increasing sleep duration and, hopefully, improving everyone's quality of life. And what really made it tough was that Jess was still room-sharing with her parents. That is a challenge in itself, but it is also completely doable with the right approach. A little creativity with a visual barrier between the crib and their bed made all the difference.

But here's the big challenge: Jess wasn't just using bottles at bedtime. She had developed a bottle association for infant sleep throughout the day. In the morning, before naps, after daycare, and at dinner—Jess had a bottle in her hand. It was her comfort, her routine, and at two years old, it was just too much.

The solution? Cold turkey. I recommended that mom and dad get rid of the bottles. All of them. Immediately. It's the most effective way to break the cycle without the back-and-forth that sometimes happens with "watering down" the bottle.

At first, the mom was a little skeptical about how Jess would react, but she was willing to try it. And when I say "try," I mean we had to work really fast. The bottles were put away, and bedtime began with Jess being put in her crib awake. The first night, she fell asleep in just 25 minutes! I was honestly amazed, because, typically, when toddlers have a bottle dependency, bedtime can take much longer.

But the journey didn't stop there. The first few nights included some night wakings and a few bumps along the way, but what made the difference was the consistency. Jess's parents stayed committed to the process. They were doing time checks during her middle-of-the-night wake-ups and sticking to the plan even when it was tough.

After a few days, the shift started to happen. Jess's independent sleep onset improved. She was falling asleep on her own, without the bottle, and not waking up as much in the night. And just like that, she was sleeping through the night. By the third week of sleep training, Jess had a clear sleep duration—she was falling asleep by 8 p.m. and waking up at a reasonable hour at 7 a.m., refreshed and ready for the day.

Not only did Jess begin sleeping better, but there was also a huge shift in her eating habits. When mom told me that Jess started to sit down and eat meals instead of relying on milk to fill her up, I was beyond excited. This was a huge win! Once Jess stopped drinking 32 to 40 ounces of milk daily, she started eating solid food more easily, making her sleep duration even more consistent.

The best part? Jess's bottle transition was not as difficult as mom feared. After just a few days, Jess had no memory of her bottles, and that meant no more middle-of-the-night feedings. She was eating solid meals, sleeping better, and, most importantly, her parents were able to rest easy too.

By the end of the process, Jess had increased sleep duration, improved independent sleep skills, and her family was finally getting the rest they needed. This sleep training success didn't just make a difference for Jess—it made a world of difference for her entire family's mental health.

If you're feeling stuck or unsure about your child's sleep, don't give up! Sleep training is a journey, but with the right approach and the sleep training method, you can get to the other side with more sleep, less stress, and a much happier home.

Ready to take the next step?

Book a FREE discovery call with me if you're looking for a personalized plan for your child's sleep. We can chat about your child's sleep struggles and get you on the path to success—just like Jessica's family.

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I work with families one-on-one all the time who are experiencing issues with their babies' naps, overnight sleep, and more. If this sounds like you, please book a 15-minute sleep assessment call just so I can understand a little bit more about your child's sleep and then explain ways that I can work one-on-one with you to get it in order.

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