Sleep Training in Asian Households: Tips for Gaining Family Support

Aug 10, 2024

Sleep Training in Asian Families: How to Get Your Husband and Parents On Board

Sleep training isn’t something most Asian families talk about. In many households, co-sleeping, feeding to sleep, or rocking are seen as the natural ways to care for a baby and stepping away from those norms can feel like swimming against the tide.

But when you’re an exhausted mom, constantly running on fumes, doing your best to care for your baby, and still expected to function like nothing’s wrong you start to wonder: Is there a better way?

For many families I work with as a certified pediatric sleep consultant, sleep training isn’t just about the baby it’s about changing mindsets, setting boundaries, and creating space for everyone in the household to rest and recover.

Let me tell you how I got my own family on board and how you can too.

My Personal Sleep Training Journey: Convincing My Husband and My Mom

I first heard about sleep training from a close friend a twin mom who had her babies just a month before I had mine. When she told me they were already sleeping through the night, I thought she was joking. My daughter was waking multiple times a night, and I was a zombie during the day.

I was skeptical… but I was also desperate.

When I told my husband I wanted to try sleep training, he wasn’t convinced. Like many dads, he was concerned about letting our baby cry. “What if she feels abandoned?” he asked. But after hearing more about my friend’s success and understanding the long-term benefits, he agreed to support me cautiously.

We hired a sleep consultant, and it changed everything. She explained the science, addressed our concerns, and gave us a plan that worked for our family.

My mother, however, was another story.

She was visiting us in Singapore and strongly believed in bed-sharing. “Babies are meant to be held,” she insisted. And while I valued her wisdom, I knew this wasn’t working for our family anymore. My husband and I weren’t sleeping, and our baby was struggling too.

So here’s what I did: I asked my mom to stay with my cousin for the first three nights of sleep training the hardest part. When she returned and saw how beautifully our daughter had learned to fall asleep on her own, she was genuinely surprised.

She wasn’t fully convinced… but she respected our decision. And over time, seeing was believing.

How to Get Your Family on Board with Sleep Training

If you're facing resistance at home, you're not alone. Here's how you can bring your partner and elders along on this journey with empathy and clarity.

1. Be Honest About Your Struggles

Start by sharing how sleep deprivation is impacting you emotionally, physically, and mentally. You’re not just tired. You’re drained. You’re anxious. You can’t show up as the mother or partner you want to be.

Sometimes, people don’t realize how bad it’s gotten until you spell it out. When your family sees what’s at stake, they’re more likely to listen.

2. Share the Science

In traditional Asian households, parenting advice often comes from personal experience. That can be beautiful but it can also be limiting.

Show them that sleep training isn’t about ignoring your baby’s cries. It’s about giving your baby a consistent, predictable structure and helping them learn to fall asleep without being rocked, nursed, or bounced every time.

You can even share evidence-based research showing that sleep training does not cause long-term emotional harm. It’s actually associated with better sleep outcomes for the whole family.

3. Talk About the Benefits for Baby and You

When families understand that sleep training is good for the baby, too not just the parents they soften.

You’re helping your baby:

Get better quality sleep
Wake up happier and more alert
Learn critical self-regulation skills
Strengthen development and immune health

And you’re helping yourself get the rest you need to be a more present, more peaceful, more joyful parent.

4. Respectfully Set Boundaries with Grandparents

This one can be hard, especially when you're living in a multigenerational household.

But remember: You’re the parent.

Have an open, respectful conversation with your in-laws or parents. Let them know you value their experience, but you've chosen an approach that works better for your family right now.

If your husband is on board, he should also take the lead in this conversation with his parents. That support can make all the difference.

5. Let Them Talk to a Professional

Sometimes, the best way to win over a skeptical partner or elder is to connect them with someone who speaks their language.

As a certified pediatric sleep consultant who has worked with over 900 families across 18 countries, I know how to address cultural concerns, explain the logic, and guide families with compassion.

If your family has questions — let them ask me. I’m here to help.

Final Thoughts

Introducing sleep training into a traditional Asian family can feel like a battle. But it doesn’t have to be. With empathy, evidence, and the right support, you can guide your baby toward healthy sleep habits and bring your family along with you.

It won’t always be easy. But it will be worth it.

Ready to Start?

If you're exhausted and unsure where to begin, I invite you to join me in my signature Infant Sleep Training Program designed to help your baby sleep through the night with gentle, effective strategies tailored to your parenting style.

👉 Explore the Baby Sleep Made Easy Program
A step-by-step masterclass for parents who are ready to reclaim their nights and raise confident, well-rested babies without cry-it-out.

Together, we’ll make sleep a gift your whole family can enjoy.