Pick Up / Put Down

How the method works

The parent places the child in bed awake. If the child starts crying, the parent picks them up and holds them until calm. As soon as the child is calm, they are placed back in bed. If the child cries again, the process is repeated. This continues until the child falls asleep in the bed.

What the research says

The method has not been studied in controlled studies. It comes from Tracy Hogg's book¹ and is based on the principle that the child receives physical comfort when needed but still practises falling asleep in their bed.

Potential benefits

• The child receives physical comfort by being held when crying
• No extended period of crying without parental contact
• Can be perceived as a secure method by parents

Challenges

• –Can be very time-consuming – the process can take a long time per sleep onset
• –Repeated pick-ups can stimulate the child rather than soothe
• –Physically demanding for the parent
• –Can be frustrating if the child cries at every put-down