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#15 in popularitySince 2007Modified graduated extinction with verbal reassurance

The Sleepeasy Solution

Jennifer Waldburger & Jill Spivack

Timed check-ins at increasing intervals, with a short script of what to say at each visit.

Find the book
Starts
4 mo
Results in
1 week
Crying
Timed check-ins
Evidence
Moderate

Overview

Psychotherapists Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack, of the Los Angeles practice Sleepy Planet, wrote The Sleepeasy Solution as a modified form of graduated extinction. You set a daily schedule and bedtime routine, put baby down awake and leave. If they cry, you check in at increasing intervals and give a brief scripted reassurance without picking them up. Night wakings are handled the same way, and unneeded night feeds are dropped.

The script gives parents something concrete to say and do during check-ins. It's faster than gradual methods, typically about a week, though check-ins make crying worse for some babies. The same authors later helped build Owlet's Dream Lab course.

How it works

  1. Set schedule and bedtime routine.
  2. Put down awake and leave.
  3. Check in at increasing intervals with brief scripted verbal reassurance, no picking up.
  4. Same for night wakings; drop unneeded night feeds.

Pros

  • Faster than gradual methods
  • Reassurance script helps parents
  • Parents stay involved

Cons

  • Crying
  • Check-ins can re-escalate some babies

Evidence

Moderate. Graduated extinction is well studied; this program isn't trialed.

Details

Popularity
#15 of 39 · Moderate (estimated)
Since
2007 (19 years)
When to start
~4–6 months for training; newborn guidance earlier
Day structure
Cue-based routine
Format
Book, video
Good fit for
Parents ready for a check-in method who want exact words and steps for each visit.

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