When you’re trying to get help with sleep training, it’s frustrating to think that it’s going to cost several hundred dollars. But what if you could get started sleep training for less than $10?
There are lower-costing options to get help with sleep training, especially via ebook, free groups, and now via a sleep training journal and planner. Each option can be used separately but will work best together in a complete, custom, self-built sleep training plan for your child (and family).
Ready to learn how to get help with sleep training your child – for less than $10? Let’s dive into things – and help you get back to sleeping already.
How to Get Help with Sleep Training Your Baby
There are a lot of ways to get help with sleep training your child – but the best ways to do it for free or at a low cost are going to be via some of these methods. Even so, let’s go through all of the ways to get sleep training help for you and your baby.
Once we’ve gone through all of the options, we’ll look at how to get the most and best help possible – all for less than $10.
1. Join a free forum or Facebook group dedicated to sleep training.
Most of the free forums or groups are run by a sleep training guru, though they may not be able to comment on every post. However, they generally try to step in quickly when and where able.
Even if you aren’t getting immediate responses from the group guru, you’ll still get a lot of great advice from group members. And you can search the group (or forum) archives to see that you aren’t alone – most sleep problems are universal. So there’s probably another parent who’s already had a similar issue – and they’ve gotten advice that may help you, too.
There is a downside to joining free parenting groups, though. And it’s that sometimes things can get a little bit out of hand. Generally, most moderators keep all of the Judgy McJudgerson’s in check. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be the occasional spat – or someone trying to slam everyone who’s trying to help their family the “wrong” way.
But as long as you can remember that that’s usually the exception – and that most people are generally very supportive of those who are taking an active role in improving their family’s health and well-being, then you’ll be just fine.
2. Read up about sleep training online via this website (or others).
Another option is to do all of your research online. There are some big pros and cons to doing all of your research online – and using this site or any of the other websites that are dedicated to sleep training.
Here are some of the pros of online research.
- It’s easy, fast, and convenient.
- You can search for what you want when you need it.
- Get your answers and then get back to your life.
However, there are also some important negatives to consider about online research, too.
- Internet-based information does require internet access.
- Many websites share the same, generic information about sleep training. Much of it is not super helpful.
- Most other websites are designed to sell you sleep training services – or they keep all of their best information behind a paywall that requires a membership fee to access.
While there are other websites out there, I remember what it was like using those to guide my own research into sleep training – and help with getting our kids to sleep better. That’s why I’ve designed this site to be different than the rest.
Instead of charging you for the information, I want you to have all of the information for free. Sure, if you want the downloads and printable worksheets, then the only way to access them is by becoming a newsletter subscriber. But even then, they don’t cost any money.
Furthermore, I’m trying to make sure that you don’t get the same, generic information that’s next to useless. I want you to have free access to the actually-helpful information. No paywalls. No fluff. Just the good stuff.
3. Read a book (digital or hard copy) about sleep training.
Next, you can invest in a book that will help you understand sleep training better. The best books not only explain the methodology (how to do it), but also the scientific rationale, effects, and studies that back their claims. Sleep training books can cost anywhere from $5 to $50, with most in the $10-20 range.
Personally, my favorite sleep training book is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (click here to check pricing and formats available on Amazon). It’s a thick book full of methods, scientific rationales, and all sorts of data. This is the kind of book that I generally recommend you get in paperback or hard copy. The ebook (or Kindle) versions are great as a secondary version – or if you prefer digital, that’s fine, too.
I just like being able to hold the book, flip back and reread sections, and not drop my phone into a pan while trying to read and cook dinner. Thankfully that hasn’t happened – but it’s come close!
Now, I do have several other sleep training books that I love – so if Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby doesn’t jive with your family, that’s okay. In order to read about the other top sleep training books I recommend, make sure you check out this article here on the best books for sleep training.
4. Buy a sleep training journal and planner.
There’s exactly one sleep training journal and planner on the market right now. Sure, you could use any journal or planner. But if you want one that will help you get through sleep training while offering real support, ideas, and advice on how to improve things? Then the sleep training journal and planner are what you want to invest in.
How do I know it’ll help? Easy – I wrote and designed it. It’s designed to walk you through any sleep training system – and help you evaluate how things are going so that you can continually improve and strive for your (very reasonable) goal of getting enough sleep.
In order to keep costs lower for you (because I’m a firm believer in helping everyone get enough sleep), I opted to self-publish this planner on Amazon. This means that you should be able to get it for a fantastic price – just click here to go see the Sleep Training Kids Sleep Journal and Planner (and what the current pricing is) over on Amazon.
Again, this is a journal and a planner all in one. That way, you don’t have to buy two things. And in case you need extra pages? The book will tell you how to get extra copies of the journal and planner pages – for free. Unless you want to buy another copy of the book, that is. That’s definitely an option, too.
5. Invest in a specific sleep training program.
Another option for getting sleep help is to invest in a customized (or generalized) sleep training program. There are a ton of options out there!
And not only can you choose from several sleep training programs that are great for general purposes, but you could also opt to hire a sleep training coach. Sleep training coaches could help you through every step of the way. Before you do hire a coach, though, make sure you read my post on how sleep coaches are certified – that way, you aren’t paying too much.
Sleep training courses, coaches, and pricing is all over the board. Some coaches can be hired for as little as $100 for an over-the-phone consultation, while others charge thousands upon thousands of dollars for an in-home and done-for-you program.
Courses are usually more reasonably priced. They also range anywhere from $30-300 or more, depending on if you want just the program or also a consultation.
To see which programs I recommend (and why), make sure you check out this post on the best behavioral sleep training programs.
Okay – so now we’ve talked about the best ways to get sleep training help. Now, let’s talk about how to get the best bang for your buck – and get it all done for less than $10.
How to Get Sleep Training Help for Less than $10
Ready to see the best way to dip your toes into sleep training kids? And to do it for $10 or less? Here’s what you need to do.
First, go to your local library (or their website) and do a basic catalog search. See what sleep training books they’ve got on hand. Part of the reason I love Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby is that it was widely published. Most local libraries have a copy. Put a hold on that book and check it out when it’s available.
Now that you’ve got a book, go ahead and read it. Then, get a copy of the Sleep Training Kids Journal and Planner (available on Amazon) and use that to plan out your own, customized sleep training plan that’s based on a system and methodology that works.
Why buy the planner? Well, the sleep training journal isn’t available in any local libraries for two reasons.
- First, it’s a planner that’s designed to be written in and used. Libraries usually frown on you writing in any of their books.
- Second, it’s a print-on-demand style of a book. This means that it’s not published nor distributed by a big-name publisher, so it’s far less likely to make its way to your local library.
Again, because I’m the designer and author of the planner, I’m the one who sets the prices (okay, Amazon does have some control over that – like if there’s a sale). However, I’ve set the price as low as I can possibly get it – and I’ve set it to always stay under $10. Now, I can’t control any shipping costs or currency conversion rates. Those are out of my control. But if you’re in the United States and you’re a Prime member, you should be able to get the Sleep Training Kids Planner and Journal for under $10 – no matter when you order it.
And that journal (and planner) is designed to help you plan, implement, and evaluate your whole sleep training journey. That way, you can use it with a book, methodology, or just the free information from this website – to handle sleep training on your own.
Final Thoughts
Sleep training really can be a big deal. I remember how big of a deal it was for us. And while we’re on the tail end of things (thank heavens!), my kids still get us up through the night from time to time. Like last night – at 3:30 AM.
Even so, sleep training doesn’t have to be big, hard, or scary. It can be simply realizing that sleep needs to be a focus – and then shifting your mentality to focus on healthy sleep patterns until everyone is getting enough rest. Or you may need to use some more intense training – until everyone’s ready to go back to the gentler stuff.
No matter where you are in your sleep training journey, I don’t want you to have to do it alone. But I also don’t want you to have to go broke from it. So please make use of this website – and share it with other friends. That way, you can get all the information I wish I had when I was starting this journey.
Best of luck, friends. I hope tonight is better for you and your cute kiddos.
Related Questions
How long do you let a baby cry it out? Crying it out usually takes about an hour on the first night, with less time required on subsequent nights. Read my full guide to crying it out right here.
What’s the best sleep training method? The best sleep training method is the one that works, whether it’s a set methodology or an amalgam of methods slapped together. Here is my post on the best behavior-based training methods – and what you need to know.
When can I start sleep training my baby? Due to human physiology and development, sleep training won’t be effective until a baby has reached a certain brain maturity level. This usually happens at 4-6 months of age. You can read more about that stage (and how to identify it) in my complete guide right here.