Techniques For Teaching Baby To Sleep Through The Night
Teaching the baby to sleep is a task that must be performed by parents. Each child is a unique being and the techniques to be used must be suitable especially for him. There are very different ways that can be used with the same child at different times.
In general, it is advisable to start this routine in the fourth month of the baby’s life, but this recommendation may vary in each case. Some babies sleep several hours straight from small, while for others this is more difficult.
Advice for the baby to sleep through the night
There are two totally opposite theories regarding how to get children used to falling asleep on their own. Still, first you need to know some common rules that help you acquire this habit.
- The entire family must agree with the technique to be used. If the mother decides she is going to let the baby cry in the crib for a few minutes, someone else should not go and pick the baby up.
- Set nap times during the day and respect this time. This way, the baby will not be as tired and will be able to relax more quickly.
- Repeat a routine every night before bedtime. It could be a bath, telling a story or singing a song, giving gentle massages and putting the baby in the crib, for example.
- Try to get him to sleep early. If you wait until he’s very sleepy, he might get nervous and not be able to sleep anymore.
- Avoid arguments at this point; babies are aware of tensions.
Experts continue to research and debate the best ways to teach your baby to sleep, but they do not reach a consensus precisely because there is no single way. Some parents will have better results with one technique, while others will be happier with others.
Methods for teaching your baby to sleep
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Sleep without the baby crying
It is certainly the most desired method by the grandparents of the little ones, as they never want them to cry for any reason.
William Sears is a pediatrician who carries the banner of this theory and bases his advice on the idea that positive associations should be created. If the baby can associate sleep with caressing and tranquility, he will be able to rest in a healthy way.
It is necessary to take the little one, already almost asleep, to the crib and be aware of the noises. If necessary, pick up and rock the baby again every time he wakes up.
Giving the breast, the bottle or the pacifier, giving gentle caresses and giving security to the baby are the key points of this technique. Parents are also advised to sleep with the baby if they so wish. The important thing is that the child associates this moment with sensations that make them feel safe.
This method takes longer and is taught gradually. Slowly, the awakenings become more and more spaced out and sleep will be a pleasant moment.
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let the baby cry herself to sleep
At the other extreme are those who say that in order to teach a baby to sleep alone, he must be allowed to cry. With this method, babies incorporate the habit faster, but it takes patience to apply it.
Richard Ferber guarantees that the child must learn to calm down on his own. To do this, you must put the baby still awake in the crib. If he cries, stay with him for a few minutes and soothe him with some cuddling or singing, but don’t pick the baby up. Then go back to leaving the baby alone.
Crying for a few minutes does no harm and seeing your parent next to him will give you security. After a few moments of tears, the baby goes to sleep.
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Fading/Removal Method
This is a technique that falls between the two previous ones. She seeks for the child to calm down alone, but more gradually.
The baby is placed awake in the crib and the parents are at her side, rocking the baby to sleep; little by little, they get farther and farther apart or stay with her for less time. Thus, the baby gradually acquires the habit of sleeping unattended.
In addition to the variety of advice for teaching your baby to sleep alone, the key is the flexibility to switch between one method and another as needed.
Some of these techniques may work for one child, but perhaps not the other. You just have to experiment and not despair of sleep. Sooner or later the results will come.
