The Success Rate Of The Pick Up Put Down Method

Every parent hopes that the sleep training method they choose will be effective. This is due largely to the fact that once you start, you are committing yourself to a nightly routine that can leave you more exhausted than your little one. The amount of determination and dedication that parents put into sleep training is like that of a marathon runner training for the Olympics. Although your friends may rave about the success they had using a fading approach with their baby, does the pick up, put down method work and is it right for you?

One of the more gentle expressions of sleep training, the pick up, put down method (PUPD) meets in the middle of modified cry it out and the Chair Method. As the Baby Sleep Site explained, the way PUPD works is, once you've placed your baby in his crib, you hang close by to listen for fussing or crying. After you've determined your baby needs you to comfort him, you return to the crib and pick him up, soothing him until the tears are gone. Once he's calm, you gently return your baby to the crib and repeat this process until sleep settles in.

According to the website Baby Sleep Advise, Tracy Hogg, better known as The Baby Whisperer, created the PUPD as way to teach babies to sleep in their crib alone, but also feel comforted in the process. Due to the repetitive nature of the approach, the PUPD method requires a lot of patience from the parent. Which means being in the right mindset and having support from your partner is crucial.

As Healthline pointed out, "success with this method will depend on your baby’s temperament and your commitment." As with any sleep training routine, staying consistent is key. Additionally, having another adult to tag-team the calming and soothing each night could be the difference between burnout (and abandoning the method) and winning at PUPD.

Ultimately, the success of the PUPD method will depend largely on how committed you are to the approach, the amount of support you have at your child's bedtime, and the personality of your little one. Observe the temperament of your baby — if he is easily calmed and doesn't fuss much when you're not around, PUPD may be a great fit for you.