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#34 in popularitySince 2016No-cry

Bedtime Fading

Michael Gradisar, PhD (Flinders University)

Temporarily move bedtime later, then earlier in small steps, with little to no crying.

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Starts
6 mo
Results in
1–3 weeks
Crying
Gentle, low-cry
Evidence
Moderate

Overview

Psychologist Michael Gradisar's team at Flinders University tested bedtime fading in a 2016 randomized trial published in Pediatrics. Parents temporarily set bedtime to when baby actually falls asleep. Once baby reliably falls asleep within about 15 minutes, bedtime moves earlier in steps of about 15 minutes until it reaches the target time.

There's little to no crying. In the trial it shortened the time to fall asleep, but unlike graduated extinction it didn't reduce night wakings. Parents also stay up later for the first stretch.

How it works

  1. Temporarily set bedtime to when baby actually falls asleep.
  2. Once baby falls asleep within ~15 minutes, move bedtime earlier in small steps (~15 min).
  3. Repeat until reaching the target bedtime.

Pros

  • Little to no crying
  • Simple

Cons

  • Improves time to fall asleep but not night wakings
  • Parents stay up later at first

Evidence

Moderate. 2016 RCT (Pediatrics).

Details

Popularity
#34 of 39 · Low (estimated)
Since
2016 (10 years) · Trial published 2016
When to start
Tested in infants ~6 months and older
Day structure
Sleep-timing biology
Format
Research protocol
Good fit for
Parents whose main struggle is long, drawn-out bedtimes rather than night wakings.

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