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What Are the Long-Term Effects of Sleep Training?

April 14, 2025 | Leave a Comment

baby crying
Image Source: Unsplash

Sleep training is a sensitive, complex topic. Some parents and experts swear by it and extol the benefits of allowing babies to self-soothe. Others believe that letting babies “cry it out” could create attachment issues and increase infant stress. To help you decide how to handle bedtime, let’s dive into some of the studies that show the long-term effects of sleep training.

What Is Sleep Training?

Before we dive into the studies, it’s important to understand what sleep training is. Sleep training is an umbrella term that encompasses many different types of bedtime routines. These run the gamut from shutting the door and letting babies “cry it out” to sleeping next to their crib. This method is often referred to as “camping out” in the baby’s nursery. Some sleep training methods recommend checking on your child at regular intervals or if they cry for too long.

The fact that there are so many sleep training methods can make it difficult for researchers to compare all of them. It’s possible that the type of sleep training you use may affect your baby’s long-term outcomes.

Effects of Sleep Training

Health of the Parents

One of the most positive long-term effects of sleep training is the health benefits this method confers on parents. Obviously, your baby waking up and crying frequently disturbs your sleep, which has negative consequences over time. Studies have shown that depressed moms are more likely to have babies with broken sleep patterns. In this case, sleep training may be beneficial. According to the BBC, mothers of sleep-trained two-year-olds were less likely to be depressed. Ultimately, when parents have better mental health, they’re able to be more responsive, engaged, and effective.

Long-Term Attachment

baby looking at you
Image Source: Unsplash

Some experts warn that sleep training could create attachment issues and increase infant stress. However, these claims can be hard to verify because it’s difficult to gauge anxiety in infants. One method used is measuring cortisol, which can be tricky because it naturally fluctuates throughout the day. So experts say to take study results with a grain of salt.

With that being said, a small study found that babies had elevated cortisol levels after sleep training interventions. Plus, in 1998, Harvard researchers discovered that babies who were left to cry could be more susceptible to stress and trauma as adults. However, some longitudinal studies yielded different findings.

Researchers in Australia decided to measure children’s cortisol levels five years later to gauge the long-term effects of sleep training. One group had undergone behavioral intervention as babies, while the other group hadn’t. Since the two groups had no significant difference in cortisol levels, they concluded that sleep training doesn’t make kids more stressed in the long run.

According to the BBC, another long-term study found that sleep-trained babies were no more likely to have attachment or behavioral issues at six years of age than other children. Their sleep patterns and cortisol levels were also in line with expectations.

Short-Term Sleep Improvement

Another benefit of sleep training is short-term sleep improvement. A review of 52 studies found that 80% of children experienced clinically significant improvements from bedtime behavioral interventions. These improvements were maintained for between 3 and 6 months. Parents may need to repeat sleep training to make the results stick long-term. However, these results suggest that it’s an effective way to get your baby to fall and stay asleep, potentially helping the whole family get more rest.

Sleep is a tricky topic because every baby and family is different. What works for you may not work for your friends and vice versa. Ultimately, you have to follow your parental instincts. Experts say that going against them can make you more stressed out, so don’t feel like you have to sleep train just because it’s popular. Whether you prefer to rock your baby to sleep or let them self-soothe, feel free to follow your parental intuition.

Read More

  • My Experience With Co-Sleeping
  • Sleeping, Outings and Other Tips to Remember During Potty Training
Vicky Monroe headshot
Vicky Monroe

Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance writer who enjoys learning about and discussing the psychology of money. In her free time, she loves to cook and tackle DIY projects.

Filed Under: Baby Stuff Tagged With: child development, Sleep, sleep training

Where to Get Free Cloth Diapers for Low-Income Families

July 8, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Free Cloth Diapers for Low-Income Families

For families on a tight budget, the blessing of a baby also comes with difficult choices. If they don’t have enough money for the basics, do they choose between diapers for the baby or food for themselves? Some parents have to stretch the diapers in unsanitary ways. They may change their child’s diaper less frequently than they would like or air out the diaper to use again. Parents shouldn’t have to make those difficult decisions. Thankfully, several organizations offer free cloth diapers for low-income families.

Where to Find Free Cloth Diapers

Several organizations offer free cloth diapers, though some do charge a nominal fee for shipping. If you find a diaper bank near you, you can avoid the fee by picking up the diapers directly from the organization.

The Cloth Option

The Cloth Option is a company that will give you enough cloth diapers to diaper your baby for at least a day. Then, you’ll need to wash them for the next day’s use. Newborns will receive 20 diapers, infants 15, toddlers 10. When you’ve potty-trained your child, give the cloth diapers back and get the next size.

To receive the free diapers, you must first fill out an application and provide proof of residency and the baby’s birth or your pregnancy.

Share the Love

Free Cloth Diapers for Low Income Families

Photo by Padmavathi Ashok Kumar on Unsplash

Share the Love was started in 2012 by a mom, Jennifer Labit, who had only $30 a week plus WIC benefits to both feed her family and buy diapers for her newborn. Thankfully, a friend gifted her with a diaper subscription and then cloth diapers so she could properly care for her baby.

After you apply to Share the Love’s program and are approved, you will receive 15 cloth diapers. You must return these by the time your baby turns three years old. Share the Love has locations in nearly all 50 states.

GroVia Gives

GroVia Gives lends a set of 16 bamboo cloth diaper inserts and four covers for a family to borrow. The diapers should fit a child between 10 to 35 pounds. Parents interested in this program must first fill out an application and show proof of being on WIC and having a child. They also must pay a $40 lending fee, which is partially used for the cost of shipping the diapers.

When you have potty trained your child, send the diapers back. They then receive $20 to spend on the GroVia.com website.

Ask for Cloth Diapers as a Shower Present

When you fill out your baby registry for your baby shower, make sure to add cloth diaper supplies. You may get enough at your shower to allow you to diaper your baby for free throughout his baby and toddlerhood. If you want the diapers to last through multiple children, which they can if you take good care of them, choose gender-neutral patterns.

Final Thoughts

If your money is stretched and you’re choosing between food and diapers, apply to one of these diaper banks. They can give free cloth diapers for low-income families. Then, your money can be used in other needed ways and your baby doesn’t have to suffer from infrequent changes.

Read More

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Free Diapers for Low-Income Families

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Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Freebies for Parents, Money and Finances Tagged With: cloth diapers, Free Diapers, WIC

5 Free Printable Baby Shower Games

May 8, 2017 | 4 Comments

free printable baby shower gamesYou’ve graciously offered to throw a baby shower for someone. Perhaps it’s a friend, coworker, or family member. Well done! It’s a fun time, but planning can be stressful. That’s why I’ve put together a roundup of free printable baby shower games to make the most of the mom-to-be’s special day.

5 Free Printable Baby Shower Games

Name That Baby

This is a game we used at my baby shower. Simply pass out the printable forms with a list of animals and have each guest write the names of baby animals of the same breed. for example, goose and gosling.

Find your printable sheets for “Name That Baby” here.

Name That Nursery Rhyme

This single sheet lists several first lines from famous nursery rhymes. Test your guests and see who gets the most right! The printable sheet and answer key are both at the link below:

Print off your copy of “Name That Nursery Rhyme” here.

Baby Bingo

Baby Bingo is a simple and fun game shower guests of any age can play. Print off several of these bingo cards – blue or pink. Make sure you have game pieces, candy, buttons, or coins for players to use for their cards. In each box, write what the expectant mother could potentially receive at her baby shower. For example, diapers, baby blanket, or lotion.

Call out each item and see who calls “Bingo” first!

Choose your printable “Baby Bingo” cards here.

Baby Shower Scavenger Hunt

A great ice breaker that helps people interact with one another is a scavenger hunt. Ask your guests to form into teams of two or three, then give each team a copy of the first clue. The rest of the clues have been hidden by you throughout the house.

I like this version of a scavenger hunt for a baby shower because each clue is fill-in-the-blank, making the clues more solvable and moving the game along at a nice pace. Make sure you have enough prizes for each team member to receive!

Get your “Baby Shower Scavenger Hunt” clues here.

Baby Shower Charades

Could you stand up in front of your friends and describe “Mary Had a Little Lamb” without using words? Try this fun version of charades that centers around popular nursery rhymes. Cut up each choice and have each guest draw one out of a hat to act out.

You can choose a different theme for charades, of course. You can have your guests act out baby-related things like going into labor, swaddling a baby, or having your water break. Oh, the possibilities for fun…

Print off your nursery rhyme-themed “Baby Shower Charades” here.

If you’re looking for more free printable baby shower games or need help putting together your theme, invitations, or snack ideas, then be sure to check the wealth of resources on Pinterest. These five games should help your guests break the ice and enjoy their time making memories and honoring their friend.

Next Up: “5 Quality Baby Items That Are Worth the Investment”

Which baby shower games have you played? Share a favorite with us below!

Image Credit: jdurham (MorgueFile)

Planning on staying home after your baby is born? Check out our top financial resources for stay-at-home moms:

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Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Freebies for Parents, Random Musings, Stuff to Do Tagged With: baby shower bingo, baby shower game printouts, baby shower scavenger hunt, free printable baby shower games, Pinterest

How to Make the Most of Your Baby Registry

November 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Ideas for what to list on your baby shower registryOne of the most exciting things about having a new baby is preparing for their arrival. Suddenly, you have to prepare your home, as well as yourself and for family, for an extra person. The best tool that new parents have at their disposal is the baby registry.

Whether you have been looking forward to this moment since childhood or find it a tacky practice, a baby registry is an excellent way to get the things you need. People want to give you gifts, whether you like it or not. Think of a baby registry as if all the people who will buy you gifts got together and decided to get things that matched, things you wanted, and just enough of what you need.

A baby registry can be a lot of fun, but if you fill it with impractical things, you will get less of what you actually need. Here are some tips to make the most of your baby registry:

Figure out what you’ll actually need

There are lots of adorable and completely impractical things for sale in the baby aisle. These are things that you and your partner can buy the baby yourselves.

Furniture

You will need a place for the baby to sleep, for example. Don’t forget crib sheets and bumper sets. You will also need a car seat (you often can’t leave the hospital without one) and a safe place to set down your baby during the day.

Clothing

Only register for the bare minimum. Some people will not buy off of your registry. Those people will buy you clothes. If you register for as many clothes as you’ll actually need, you’ll end up with a lot more than you need.

Diapers

This includes wipes, diaper cream and other diapering aides. Decide on a brand, and register for a couple bags of each size.

Food

Whether you plan to breast feed or to bottle feed, you will need some stuff. Bottles, nipples and formula are basic for bottle-feeding, and breast feedings moms might need a pump and storage containers. Once the baby is used to eating solids, Hipp baby food and similar products are also something to look out for.

Start Researching Early

You’ll want to have your baby shower a month or longer before you are due. You’ll want to give your guests at least four weeks to buy a gift. And it might take you a month to decide on all the brands you want. So you should start this process as early into your pregnancy as possible.

When deciding on what store to register at, there are several things to keep in mind. You want a store that is accessible not only to you but to your loved ones as well. Online shopping is handy as well. A large chain store might be your best bet if your family is spread out.

Talk to Other People

Ask for suggestions

A pregnant woman is inundated with “helpful” tips by nearly every other woman on the planet. It becomes hard to keep track of who suggested what, but try to steer these conversations towards what you should register for. Fellow moms will help you remember the little things that you might not realize you need: like a bottle brush or gas relief medication.

Tell People

The whole purpose of having a registry is to tell people what you need for the baby. So you have to make sure you tell the people where it is! Have family and friends spread the word for you, post it on social media networks, and add the information to your baby shower invites.

Brian
Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
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Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Baby Stuff Tagged With: baby clothes, baby food, baby furniture, baby registry, Baby Shower, Diapers, gift registry, preparing for baby

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