How to sleep train babies? Tips on sleep training babies
Most parents, especially Moms always ask themselves the question, “How can I get my baby to sleep through the night?” Most of our little ones seem to be nocturnal and we all just want that good night's sleep through the night so that we're more energized during the day taking care of them.
A recent study in the American Journal of Pediatrics showed that 38 percent of typically developing 6-month-olds and 28 percent of 1-year-olds were not yet sleeping at least six consecutive hours at night. So how can we get to practice them to do sleep training at such a young age?
Sleep training benefits
Sleep training refers to the process of teaching infants and young children to develop healthy sleep habits and routines. There are several potential benefits associated with sleep training, both for the child and the parents:
1. Improved Sleep for the Child
Sleep training can help infants and children establish a consistent sleep schedule and promote longer and more restful sleep periods. Adequate and quality sleep is essential for a child's growth, development, and overall well-being.
2. Enhanced Parental Well-being
When a child sleeps better, parents also tend to get more rest, leading to improved physical and emotional well-being. This can reduce parental stress and increase their ability to cope with the demands of parenting.
3. Establishment of Healthy Sleep Habits
Sleep training helps instill regular sleep routines, creating a structured sleep environment for the child. Consistent sleep schedules can improve the child's internal sleep clock and make it easier for them to fall asleep independently.
4. Better Behavior and Mood
Children who get enough sleep are often more alert, attentive, and emotionally balanced. They may exhibit improved mood and behavior during their waking hours, leading to a more harmonious family environment.
5. Reduced Night Wakings
Sleep training can help reduce the frequency of night awakenings. Once a child learns to self-soothe and fall back asleep on their own, they are less likely to rely on parental intervention during the night.
6. Increased Parent-Child Bond
While some people may worry that sleep training could harm the parent-child bond, it actually can improve it. When children are well-rested and parents have more time to care for themselves, they can engage in positive interactions and quality bonding during waking hours.
7. Improved Cognitive Development
Adequate sleep is crucial for a child's cognitive development. When a child gets enough sleep, it supports memory consolidation, learning, and overall brain development.
8. Enhanced Daytime Functioning
Well-rested children are more alert and focused during the day, leading to better performance in various activities, including learning, playing, and social interactions.
9. Long-Term Sleep Benefits
Establishing healthy sleep habits early in life can lead to long-term benefits. Children who learn to self-regulate their sleep are more likely to continue practicing good sleep hygiene into adolescence and adulthood.
It's important to note that sleep training methods can vary, and what works for one child may not work for another. Additionally, the appropriate age to start sleep training and the specific approach used should be discussed with pediatricians or child sleep experts to ensure that it aligns with the child's individual needs and developmental stage. Always prioritize the safety and well-being of the child throughout the sleep training process.
Sleep training: Tips to encourage good sleep habits
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Know that your baby is an individual
Sleep tricks might work for others, but might not work for your little one, and that’s totally fine. Every baby is different and we should know that. Like all other individuals who are different from each other, our babies are too.
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Have a routine
It’s important to establish a routine and do the same thing at the same time every day before bed. A routine would be something that our babies would remember immediately especially if it's practiced every single day—like reading a book before bedtime or singing him/her a lullaby. Try to set the mood for sleep an hour before bedtime.
Sleep training: What's a good bedtime routine for babies?
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Lower the lights
Lighting is important in establishing the sleep/wake cycle. You should let your baby understand that if it’s already dark, it's time to go to sleep.
Dim the lights an hour before bed, and get blackout curtains to make it as dark as possible in the room while they sleep. These can also help for naps too since they can block out the bright mid-day sun. Plus, doctors say if it's totally dark when the babies are sleeping it helps more on their growth hormones.
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Sit in a rocking chair with baby before bed
They say rocking your child is a great soothing technique. This is also a wonderful time to read books together. Besides the fact that it’s great for language development, your voice is calming to your baby.
During this sweet cuddle session, it’s also important to remember your goal is to get them sleepy—not asleep. It's important to put them down groggy so they learn to fall asleep on their own and not be dependent on you.
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Consider using a calming scented lotion
Lavender is a popular scent for baby lotions because it’s so relaxing. Giving your baby a little massage with a calming scent could be a nice addition to the bedtime routine. As with all products you use on your baby, be sure to watch out for allergic reactions too.
Nowadays though there are also soothing lavender essential oils that you can massage on your baby or rather diffuse on a humidifier to make your baby calm and eventually sleep through the night.
Sleep training: What's the best sleep environment for a baby?
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Make sure the room is ideal for sleeping
As mentioned above, blackout curtains will make the room darker and more conducive to sleep. Also, make sure the temperature of the room should be comfortable too. Anywhere between 68 to 72 degrees is usually a good range.
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Drown out noises
White noise machines are really helpful to blunt outside noises. Not only do they help prevent babies from waking up with things like sirens, television noises, and voices outside of the room, they also provide a soothing sound, which can calm a baby. But of course again, completely remember that it doesn't work for all babies.
What should your baby sleep with?
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Use a swaddling blanket for newborns
If your baby isn’t rolling over yet, you can try a swaddling blanket. Newborns, who are used to being curled up in the womb, love the soothing closeness a swaddling creates. However, be cautious because sometimes babies can break out of the swaddle, which could risk a baby's safety.
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You can give your baby a pacifier at bedtime
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses a pacifier in bed because they’ve been proven to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Your child can be soothed by sucking on one.
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A lovey is safe for 1-year-olds
After your kid is 12 months old, they can sleep with a lovey, a soft cloth toy, or maybe a soft blankie since the risk of suffocation drops significantly already. It can provide reassurance and security to a baby too.
And soon, you'll notice that they'll grow to love that soft toy or soft blankie that he or she will usually ask for it even when going out-of-town.
Updates by Marhiel Garrote
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