Behavioral treatment of multiple childhood sleep disorders. Effects on child and family.

Parents of a 14-month-old asked for help. The child woke up many times each night.

The team used graduated extinction. Parents waited longer each night before soothing.

They tracked night wakings, parent mood, and how the parents got along.

Night wakings dropped fast once the waiting times grew.

Mom and dad felt happier. They also said their marriage felt better.

McLaughlin et al. (1972) saw the flip side. When preschool staff ignored talking out, good play and work dropped while other odd acts rose. The same core move—extinction—can cut one behavior yet spark side effects you must watch.

Greer et al. (2023) tested longer extinction runs. They found more nights of ignoring did not stop later relapse. So quick gains, like those in Durand et al. (1990), may still need a relapse plan.

Phipps et al. (2022) paired extinction with free toys and praise. Child unhappiness spiked at first, then fell. This lines up with the better mood parents felt in Durand et al. (1990) once the wakings stopped.

You can teach sleep-extinction in one visit. Tell parents to add one minute of wait time each night until the child stays in bed. Track side effects—check if play, language, or mood slip. Plan for resurgence around trips or illness. If crying jumps, add brief check-ins or non-contingent hugs to keep everyone calm while staying consistent.