Sleep Training and Your Baby’s Stress Response
If you’re interested in sleep training, there is a good chance you’re also concerned about the stress your baby may experience during the process. (Not to mention the stress you might experience!) You may have even heard the phrase “toxic stress” tossed around when sleep training is mentioned.
That being said, it’s important to first understand how researchers define stress before drawing conclusions on how much stress is too much stress, when it comes to sleep training.
Believe it or not, there’s some stress that is expected and can even be good for our development! The Positive Stress Response is defined as a “normal and essential part of healthy development, characterized by brief increases in heart rate and mild elevations in hormone levels. Some situations that might trigger a positive stress response are the first day with a new caregiver or receiving an injected immunization.” [1]
Now, there’s typically not a concern about attachment issues arising as a result of leaving a baby with a new caregiver for the day, even if prolonged bouts of crying are a result. This is a normal part of life, a transition that must occur in order for us to go about our normal lives. One could argue that sleep training causes a very similar or even less stressful reaction for children.
Next, there is the Tolerable Stress Response, which is an activation of the body’s alert systems to a greater degree than a positive stress response. This comes as a result of more severe, longer-lasting challenges, like the death of a family member or a natural disaster. However, as long as the event is time-limited and buffered by loving relationships with adults who help the child cope and adapt, the brain and organs will experience no lasting negative effects.[1]
Finally, there is the Toxic Stress Response, which occurs when “a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity- such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship- without adequate adult support.” [1] This type of stress response can negatively affect a child’s brain development and other bodily organs, and increase the risk of stress-related disease and cognitive impairment.[1]
The conclusion of these research findings? When a young child’s stress response systems are activated within the network of supportive, loving relationships with adults, the “physiological effects are buffered and brought back down to baseline.” [1]
Knowing all this, I would classify sleep training as an event that causes a Positive Stress Response in a child. Your baby may experience increased levels of cortisol and other stress hormones, but these reactions will be buffered by your support and love, as well as the deep bond you have developed; with the Slumberly Check-In Method of sleep training, we are letting the baby know we are nearby throughout the process, that they are safe and loved, while still allowing them the space to learn how to self-soothe.
If you are interested in sleep training, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. We offer In-Home and Virtual Sleep Training for families located anywhere in the US!
[1] Toxic Stress (2015, March 19). Center on the Developing Child: Harvard University. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/
