The Extinction Burst: What To Do When Good Sleep Training Goes Wobbly
Description
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Night three of sleep training and suddenly everything's gone pear-shaped? Before you panic or give up, Sally & Bec explain the extinction burst—that predictable wobble where babies test whether the new sleep rules are here to stay.
In this episode, they walk through why half of all families hit this speed bump around night 3-5, what it looks like (spoiler: it feels like going backwards), and exactly how to push through without undoing your progress.
What You'll Learn:
- Why babies suddenly protest after sleeping well for 2-3 nights
- The difference between an extinction burst and actual problems
- How to stay consistent when every instinct says "try something else"
- What happens if you cave (hint: you're back to square one)
- Why night 5 extinction bursts feel extra rude
- The mindset shift that gets you through tough nights
Chapters:00:00 Intro & bakery preferences chat06:59 What is an extinction burst?08:16 The "old way vs new way" confusion09:32 Why it feels like going backwards11:03 When confidence gets wobbly12:32 Starting from scratch vs pushing through14:19 Multiple extinction bursts (dropping feeds)16:17 Night 5: the extra rude surprise17:16 Is baby sick or just testing?19:27 Why sleep success isn't linear21:27 Using extinction bursts as practice24:41 What Sally & Bec would do26:54 Wrap-up & pistachio donut chat
🎙️ ABOUT NAP TRAPPEDHosted by sleep consultants Sally Woods (The Sleep Concierge) and Bec Maher (The Sleep Centre), Nap Trapped helps tired parents solve baby sleep challenges with warmth, evidence, and no judgement. Every week we turn your questions into practical solutions—with a side of Aldi chocolate.
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