Statistics · computed 2026-08-28
Sleep training method statistics, computed from our own comparison data
This site's own original data study: every number below is computed at build time from our sourced method comparison matrix, last verified . Nothing here is hand-typed.
3/5
methods with direct RCT-level evidence (graduated extinction, full extinction, and bedtime fading; chair method and pick-up-put-down are practitioner-documented only)
3–21
night range across all 5 methods, shortest reported timeline to longest
9.5
average midpoint timeline (nights), across all 5 methods equally weighted
5/5
methods documented as workable alongside AAP-recommended room-sharing
3
peer-reviewed studies cited directly on this site, with links to the original paper
Crying-level distribution
| Crying level | Methods | Which ones |
|---|---|---|
| moderate | 1 | Graduated Extinction |
| high | 1 | Full Extinction |
| minimal-to-moderate | 2 | Chair Method, Pick-Up-Put-Down (PUPD) |
| minimal | 1 | Bedtime Fading |
Every method, sourced and dated
| Method | Timeline | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduated Extinction | 3–7 nights | 3 cited studies | Verified 2026-08-28 |
| Full Extinction | 3–5 nights | 3 cited studies | Verified 2026-08-28 |
| Chair Method | 7–14 nights | Practitioner-documented, no RCT | Verified 2026-08-28 |
| Pick-Up-Put-Down (PUPD) | 7–14 nights | Practitioner-documented, no RCT | Verified 2026-08-28 |
| Bedtime Fading | 14–21 nights | 1 cited study | Verified 2026-08-28 |
Collection method
Each row in the underlying matrix is built from the method's documented mechanics (cited per method on the comparison page) plus, where one exists, a direct peer-reviewed randomized controlled trial or systematic review. A method is only credited with "RCT-level evidence" here if a cited study measured that specific method's own outcomes; a method folded into a broader review category without its own isolated result (chair method, pick-up-put-down) is counted honestly as practitioner-documented, not RCT-backed, rather than borrowed from a study of a different method.
This page is educational, not medical advice. See our methodology for how this site is sourced and reviewed.