What It Means To Train Your Baby to Go To Sleep

There’s much talk about sleep training and several methods taught to help train your baby to sleep. Sleep training is convenient for both the mother and the baby. When your baby learns to sleep in a specific schedule and sleeps through the night, he or she processes the things that she learns throughout the day. Sleep disturbances could hinder that learning. For moms, sleep training their baby means having to spare some time during the night to cater to self-care and have enough rest to be ready for another day. There are several methods that experts suggest. Two of these methods are “crying it out” and the “no tears” method.

The “cry it out” method means letting your baby cry out when he or she wakes at night and allow your baby to go back to sleep. This encourages independence although the first few days or weeks of training could mean that you have to endure the cries of your little one until he learns to self soothe and go right back to sleep by himself. There are a few factors to consider before starting out with this method. Crying is your baby’s way of communicating and could mean that there is something wrong or he might be in pain. Make sure that you consult your pediatrician before starting out. Those cries could indicate an underlying medical condition that needs quick attention.

If the “cry it out” method does not work out for you, the “no tears” method would probably do. This method means responding to your child immediately when he or she cries. It could also mean cuddling your baby until he goes back to sleep. During the first few months of life, a baby needs to be cuddled as much as possible for trust to the primary care giver to develop. This is based on the psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson.

Other parents prefer to sleep train their babies in their own way. An incorporation of various methods could be done to cater to your baby’s specific need. Other methods include:

• ·         Swaddling
• ·         Have your baby sleep in his own crib or space
• ·         Ensure proper room temperature (not too hot and not too cold)
• ·         Be consistent with your bedtime routine
• ·         Set a specific sleeping schedule
• ·         Pay attention to your baby’s sleeping signals (yawning or rubbing the eyes)

Most of the time paying attention to your baby’s signs works wonders. Looking for signs of readiness from your baby will also help. Sleep training could be done as early as 6 weeks when your baby has adjusted to the world outside your tummy. Be patient with your baby because he might not get it the first time or the second time. It is important to be consistent.

Remember that sleep is essential to you and most especially to your baby. A good night’s sleep also guarantees a happy and an un-grumpy baby.