Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

What is bedtime fading?

Bedtime fading means temporarily moving bedtime later, to the time your child actually falls asleep, so they fall asleep quickly, and then bringing it earlier in small steps until you reach the bedtime you want. It involves little crying and has randomized-trial support in babies 6 to 16 months for falling asleep faster. On its own it does less for night wakings.

What it is, and why it works

Sleep pressure builds the longer a child is awake. If bedtime is earlier than the child’s body is ready for, they lie awake, protest, and learn that bed is a place for struggling. Bedtime fading lines bedtime up with real sleepiness, so the child falls asleep fast and bed becomes linked with sleep again. The body clock is then moved earlier gradually, while the morning wake time stays fixed.

What the research says

Bedtime fading was one of two methods tested in a 2016 randomized controlled trial of 43 infants aged 6 to 16 months. Compared with a control group, babies in the fading group had large reductions in the time it took to fall asleep, and infant cortisol showed small-to-moderate declines. Unlike graduated extinction, fading did not produce a large reduction in night wakings. Twelve months later, there were no differences in emotional or behavioral problems or attachment. A review of 52 studies for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine also lists bedtime fading with positive routines among the behavioral treatments with supporting evidence.

What it fixes, and what it does not

It helps with: long bedtime battles, a bedtime set too early for the child’s body clock, and bed that has become linked with lying awake.
It does not fix by itself: needing to be fed or rocked to sleep. If your baby is still helped to sleep at the later bedtime, night wakings usually continue.
It is not a fix for early morning waking; a later bedtime rarely produces a later morning.

Who it tends to fail for, and why

Babies whose main problem is night waking rather than bedtime. Fading targets falling asleep at the start of the night.
Families who leave the late bedtime in place for weeks. Total sleep still matters, and a child kept up late can become overtired, with more waking and earlier mornings.
Inconsistent mornings. The method depends on a fixed wake time, which is hard to hold after a late night.
Younger babies. The trial evidence is in babies 6 months and older.

Getting the timing right is the whole method. Starting too late, moving too fast or too slowly, and missing that the real problem is a sleep association are the common reasons it stalls.

How Actually Sleeping is different

Timing is one part of an Actually Sleeping plan, not the whole plan. Dr. Sam looks at how your child falls asleep, night feeds, naps, temperament and your family’s schedule together, and writes one plan that addresses bedtime and night wakings at the same time. It is not cry it out and not wait it out. You get bootcamp-style coaching before night one, daily 1:1 check-ins that adjust timing as your child responds, and naps coached until solid.

The outcome is guaranteed in writing: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Full refund if not. Parents describe their results on our video reviews page.

Safety

Whatever the bedtime, your baby sleeps on the back, alone, on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface without soft bedding, as the AAP advises. Talk to your pediatrician about any health concern before changing your child’s sleep.

If bedtime has become a nightly battle, book a free consultation and Dr. Sam will tell you whether timing or something else is driving it.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

How long does bedtime fading take?

It varies with how far bedtime has to move and how consistently the morning wake time is held. On its own it often leaves night wakings in place. An Actually Sleeping plan handles bedtime and night wakings together, with the outcome guaranteed in writing.

Is bedtime fading a no-cry method?

It usually involves little crying, because the child is put down when truly sleepy. Some protest is still possible, especially if the child is used to being helped to sleep.

Does bedtime fading help with night wakings?

Only partly. In the 2016 trial it shortened the time to fall asleep but did not produce a large reduction in night wakings. Night wakings improve most when the child also learns to fall asleep without help, which an Actually Sleeping plan addresses directly.

Can I use bedtime fading with a toddler?

Timing changes are often part of fixing toddler bedtime battles, alongside a consistent routine and a clear response to getting out of bed. On its own, fading rarely covers all of that.