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There are important things that you need to know about how you can start sleep training in the right way. This includes knowing when you can start practicing it based on certain factors, specifically the age of your child.
Some people believe that newborn babies should not be sleep trained as they need all the attention and care they need to survive and become healthy. However, sleep training can start when a baby is just a few weeks old such as when the child is already 6 to 8 weeks old. According to experts, you can already give your 6-week-old baby a chance to fall asleep on his own.
How Do I Start the Sleep Routine?
The first thing that you need to do is simply develop a bedtime routine. Doing this is important as it allows a child to get used to the routine. It also gives you the chance to set expectations and let your child know what’s going to happen next. Bear in mind that if you set different bedtime routines every night, it won’t give the child an idea that sleeping time is coming or that their body needs to start relaxing. Doing the bedtime routine properly and consistently can help you start the sleep training easily.
The Recommended Bedtime Routines
There are simple things that can be part of your child’s bedtime routine, such as cuddling and singing or turning the lights out. Determine what is best for your child as one routine may work for others but not for you. For instance, giving a bath can work well for many children but not for others. A bath can either help the child get sleepy or rile him up, especially if he is a spirited one. Just make sure that you do the same routine every night to help the baby realize that it’s time to go to bed.
Signs That the Baby Is Sleepy
There are common signs that will let you know if the child needs sleep. When the baby yawns, rubs his eyes, fusses, or looks away from you then it is an indication that your baby is sleepy. You don’t have to wait for the baby’s sleeping schedule as it will overtire him and give him a difficult time to get to sleep.
Problems to Expect During Sleep Training
There can be several challenges that you may encounter while trying to sleep train your child. You just need to be very patient and only start doing it if your child is ready.
Some people believe that newborn babies should not be sleep trained as they need all the attention and care they need to survive and become healthy. However, sleep training can start when a baby is just a few weeks old such as when the child is already 6 to 8 weeks old. According to experts, you can already give your 6-week-old baby a chance to fall asleep on his own.
How Do I Start the Sleep Routine?
The first thing that you need to do is simply develop a bedtime routine. Doing this is important as it allows a child to get used to the routine. It also gives you the chance to set expectations and let your child know what’s going to happen next. Bear in mind that if you set different bedtime routines every night, it won’t give the child an idea that sleeping time is coming or that their body needs to start relaxing. Doing the bedtime routine properly and consistently can help you start the sleep training easily.
The Recommended Bedtime Routines
There are simple things that can be part of your child’s bedtime routine, such as cuddling and singing or turning the lights out. Determine what is best for your child as one routine may work for others but not for you. For instance, giving a bath can work well for many children but not for others. A bath can either help the child get sleepy or rile him up, especially if he is a spirited one. Just make sure that you do the same routine every night to help the baby realize that it’s time to go to bed.
Signs That the Baby Is Sleepy
There are common signs that will let you know if the child needs sleep. When the baby yawns, rubs his eyes, fusses, or looks away from you then it is an indication that your baby is sleepy. You don’t have to wait for the baby’s sleeping schedule as it will overtire him and give him a difficult time to get to sleep.
Problems to Expect During Sleep Training
Separation Tantrums
An infant gets terrified of feeling alone, while toddlers get frightened of actually being alone. Separation tantrums take place when the child screams, clings, and grieves because he is terrified of being alone. This is one of the most possible scenarios that is going to take place while you are trying to sleep train your child. You should handle this with love and discipline to help your child deal with the separation issues well.Power Tantrums
This is when the child uses resistance for the sole purpose of getting what he wants. It may be that your child just wants you to immediately respond when he is crying or when he feels that he is left alone. The child will scream and cry until you give in to his demands. Once you do, the power tantrums will keep on happening every night. You need to defuse the tantrum fast and let the child understand that you are in charge.There can be several challenges that you may encounter while trying to sleep train your child. You just need to be very patient and only start doing it if your child is ready.
Baby Sleep Training: A Quick Start Guide to Getting More Sleep - Dr. Terrell Clements
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