What Is the Sleep Wave? A Gentle, Science-Backed Sleep Method

Dec 4

By 5 months, most babies are capable of falling asleep on their own and sleeping through the night. That’s the great news, and it’s supported by science and our work with thousands of families over more than a decade.

In real life, though, it doesn’t always feel that simple. Even once babies reach this age, many parents are still struggling with issues like,

It’s taking longer and longer for baby to fall asleep
The old soothing “tricks” suddenly stop working
Parents are tiptoeing out, only for baby to wake 30 minutes later
Night feeds feel unpredictable and happen multiple times
Baby is waking too early and missing valuable sleep
Naps are unpredictable or too short

At this stage, your baby has simply outgrown the once-magical rocking, bouncing, and feeding ways of soothing that helped during the newborn months. These strategies played a helpful role early on, but now they can actually get in the way of your baby’s natural ability to self-soothe.

💡Our Babies 3-5 months online class will help you survive the 4 month regression.

The Sleep Wave Solves the “Sleep Training” Dilemma

Julie created the Sleep Wave Method to help the exhausted parents in her Wright Mommy & Me program, because she wasn’t comfortable recommending harsh, “cry it out” (CIO ) methods. She believed parents shouldn’t have to choose between sleepless nights and approaches that didn’t feel emotionally attuned.

The Sleep Wave worked so consistently that it became the foundation of The Happy Sleeper approach and our first book.

The Sleep Wave is a specific, structured, attuned way of handing over the role of self-soothing to your capable baby. Your baby always knows you’re nearby and responding predictably, while also having the space to fall asleep independently.

Traditional sleep-training methods often tell parents to not respond at all, or to leave babies alone for long stretches. The danger with these harsher methods is that babies can move from protest, into worry and then fear, which we never want. Babies of all ages need to know that caregivers are nearby and responding consistently.

The Sleep Wave is a middle ground approach. Happily, it works as fast or faster than the CIO methods, while protecting your bond with your baby.

There is usually protest crying with the Sleep Wave (change is hard), but babies stay in a protest state, rather than progressing to worry or fear, because parents are responding frequently and regularly.

💡 Want step-by-step guidance? Learn the full Sleep Wave process in our Gentle Sleep Course or schedule a 1-on-1 consult with Heather or Julie. The Happy Sleeper book is a great companion to our classes and consults.

What does it look like to use the Sleep Wave?

Using the Sleep Wave means:

creating a consistent bedtime and nap routine
setting developmentally ideal sleep timing
optimizing the sleep environment
gradually adjusting and/or weaning night feedings (if needed)

Then, you put your baby in their crib and use our super detailed (the more detailed the better success!) response that supports your baby as they practice falling asleep independently.

Parents who learn, and consistently follow, the exact details of the Sleep Wave from our book, online classes, or individual consults, see the quickest and best success. Most families see major improvement in under a week (often in just a few nights).

And the most common thing we hear?

“I’m so proud of my baby! I can’t believe how capable they are!”

Learn the Sleep Wave; Step-by-Step Guidance for Parents

Ready to start? You don’t have to choose between sleepless nights and harsh methods.

Get a clear, compassionate plan that lets your baby’s natural self-soothing abilities emerge, without guilt.

Thousands of families have reclaimed peaceful nights using the Sleep Wave. Yours can, too.

FAQ

We typically recommend starting around 5 months, when babies are developmentally capable of self-soothing and can benefit most from a gentle, consistent approach..
Some protest crying is normal when babies are practicing a new skill. With the Sleep Wave, babies remain connected and secure because parents respond predictably and frequently throughout the process.
Most families see significant improvement in under a week when they follow the Sleep Wave plan consistently and with the recommended details in place..
Not at all. The Sleep Wave is a gentle, responsive approach that preserves connection while giving babies space to fall asleep independently.

Author Bios

Julie Wright, MFT & Heather Turgeon, MFT

We're Julie Wright and Heather Turgeon — psychotherapists, and authors of the best-selling book, The Happy Sleeper.

We're also both moms, so we know what it feels like to be desperate for sleep while also wanting, above all else, what's best for our babies.

We created The Happy Sleeper method to give parents a science-based, developmental approach to healthy sleep and a healthy bond. We’ve helped over 100,000 parents achieve this goal, and we’re excited to help you too!