Does Sleep Training Work for New Parents?

As a new parent, finding the best way to help your baby sleep can feel overwhelming. Many of us grapple with whether to try sleep training or stick to gentler methods. With so much mixed information out there, it’s hard to determine what’s best for our little ones.

In 2026, I’ve noticed more parents in Sydney sharing their experiences with different sleep training techniques. Some swear by methods like the Ferber approach, while others lean towards no-tears strategies. It seems like every family has their own unique journey. What does the research say? Are there studies that favor one method over another?

Have any of you found sleep training techniques that worked for your family? How did you deal with the flood of advice from friends and family? I’d love to hear your tips on navigating this challenging time!

Sleep training definitely worked for us, but it took a few tries to find the right method. We ended up combining some ideas from the Ferber method with gentle techniques, which seemed to click for our baby. The advice can be super overwhelming, but I just focused on what felt right for us and kind of tuned out the rest!

I haven’t tried strict sleep training yet, but I’ve heard a lot of parents in my circle have success with the Ferber method. It sounds pretty intense though! How did you manage the stress of letting your baby cry it out a bit?