Can I Sleep Train If I Co-Sleep?

This is one of the questions I get asked most often, and the answer is a little nuanced.

You can absolutely work on sleep-conducive habits while co-sleeping. You can:

• Get your baby on an age-appropriate schedule

• Build consistent, calming bedtime routines

• Support full feeds during the day

• Create predictable sleep cues

• Set your baby up for overall sleep success

All of those things matter. A lot.

But when we talk about sleep training, we’re talking about something a little different.

Sleep training is really about teaching your baby independence during sleep. It’s about helping them learn strategies to fall back asleep when they naturally wake between sleep cycles — without needing the exact same support every time.

And here’s the reality: when you are co-sleeping, especially if you’re co-sleeping and nursing, your baby is sleeping right next to you. They can see you. Smell you. Feel you. And if you’re nursing, your boob is right there.

So it’s not reasonable — or fair — to expect a baby to sleep independently while sharing the same bed. Of course, they’re going to want to nurse when they wake up if that’s what they’re used to and it’s immediately available.

That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means the expectations need to match the setup.

If you want a little more space while still staying close, you can absolutely transition your baby to a bassinet, pack-and-play, or side-car setup next to your bed. That small amount of distance can sometimes make a big difference.

But long story short: you can set your baby up for sleep success while co-sleeping — but choosing to co-sleep means choosing to be present and supportive during night wakings. 

That’s the trade-off, and it’s okay if that works for your family.

If you want help building sleep-supportive routines and habits that work with your current setup, I walk families through that gently and realistically in my guides.

You can find those here if you want support:👉 https://peacefulpeanut.gumroad.com/