Preaching the gospel of consistency, Dr. Kempton, a pediatrician, sleep specialist, infant sleep consultant, and founder of Baby Sleep Pro, urges parents to choose a system and — regardless of what it is — stick to it. The key, she suggests, is making a smart game plan and then executing on that plan rather than experimenting with one-off solutions.

“Every child is unique, and most parents end up using a combination of methods to match a child’s needs and temperament,” Kempton says. She encourages parents to follow through with the process after making a decision. Taking a break or changing the method will only result in a confused child, a much longer process, and increased frustration.