Available Methods at 5 Months
Five months is an excellent age for the Chair method, Pick Up Put Down, and the Fading method. Ferber can be considered if gentler approaches haven't worked, but it's still early. Your baby has better self-soothing ability than at 4 months and is typically past the worst of the 4-month regression.
Key Adaptations for 5 Months
- Chair method: You can try 2-day positions if your baby adapts quickly, but 3 days is still fine.
- Pick Up Put Down: This is the ideal age for PUPD. Your baby is big enough to handle the transitions but not yet resistant to being put down.
- Night feeds: Most 5-month-olds still need 1 night feed. Sleep train for the falling-asleep skill and keep a scheduled feed.
- Nap training can start, but expect naps to take longer to improve than nighttime sleep.
Many babies are transitioning from 4 naps to 3 naps around 5 months. Avoid starting sleep training and dropping a nap at the same time. Stabilize the schedule first.
What to Watch For
Rolling is common at 5 months. If your baby can roll both ways, let them find their preferred sleep position. If they can only roll one way, practice during the day and use a sleep sack to reduce rolling in the crib until they master both directions.
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