It's also good to use light sources with low levels or blackout curtains." Lee advises that "screen time should be controlled, as should the later afternoon naps in toddlers. You can't have too many expectations, and sometimes we have to reframe the situation to see that there's already a good level of consistency." "While routines are powerful, there has become an expectation that sleep can be perfected and this can cause frustration. He said: "While you can control a lot of what your baby does, such as movement and nutrition, sleep is one of the few things we can’t control." This can mean sitting by their cot stroking their hair, or humming a nice tune, or just simply being present to reassure them as they settle down." Five sleep training methods:Īdvanced sleep practitioner Lee Chambers says there are a lot of factors to consider when sleep training and there are "definitely positives to each sleep training method." This doesn’t mean rocking to sleep until your back can’t take anymore, but simply comforting them until they are settled and almost asleep. If you’re not truly comfortable, you’ll have frequent wake-ups, and babies and toddlers are the same." Fi adds. From choosing the bed to finding the most comfortable nightwear for the time of year, it can often feel like an overwhelming choice, but think how you like to sleep yourself. "The key to a happy bedtime is making it all about the comfort. It doesn’t have to be regimented, instead aim for similar feeding or meal times, morning and afternoon nap times, daily wake-time activities and a regular bedtime routine which ideally consists of a nice bath, cuddles, feed/milk and into bed." How do I create a bedtime routine?īabies and children thrive on routine and the familiar, so if there is a particular place or baby sleep aid or toy they have in order to sleep, this should be with them every night. "Start by creating a steady and consistent routine. This is because routine plays a key part in a healthy and regular sleeping pattern." How to start sleep trainingīefore you start implementing a training method it's important that you first establish the perfect baby bedtime routine.įi says: "routine is the magic key! Sleep training starts from the moment your little ones wakes up in the morning rather than bedtime. While there are ways to wean your baby off night feeds, this shouldn’t be attempted as a formal sleep-training method before four months, until your baby is able to go longer in between feeds and their circadian rhythm starts to develop.Īs it is also recommended that baby sleeps in the same room with you in their own co-sleeping bedside crib until six months, this is a good time to start sleep training. ![]() "As a general guide, sleep training your child can start anytime between 4-6 months as this is the time your little one will have the ability to self-soothe and less likely to need those middle of the night feeds." When to start sleep training babyĬhild Development Specialist Fi Star-Stone said: "Just like all stages of development, every child is different, it is only you as a parent who will know that your little one is struggling to settle or stay asleep once settled, and that a little sleep training is needed." The great thing is that there are many different stages of baby sleep cycles and sleep training methods that you can choose from to suit your parenting style. ![]() Sleep training might take a while to get the hang of and requires time, patience, and effort, but it will be worth it in the long run. ![]() Even as parents we're always looking for ways to improve our sleep quality, and if our nightly sleep is disturbed, it could make us tired, grumpy, and disturbed during the day too. ![]() Teaching your baby how to sleep is something that will serve them well in their everyday lives as they grow, too. We all know that sleep is a very important part of life. Just like we teach our babies to talk and encourage them to reach their walking milestones, sometimes to get baby to sleep, we must teach them through sleep training.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |