As a parent, there’s nothing worse than having your baby wake up crying in the middle of the night. Life gets even harder to cope with when you are sleep-deprived. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help both you and your baby get a good night’s sleep. Here are five tips on how to start sleep training:
1. Observe your baby’s behavior.
To start, you’ll want to identify what your baby’s problem is.
- Is it that they’re not sleeping long enough?
- Do they wake up every two hours at night?
- Or do they just seem generally restless during the day and have trouble falling asleep?
Once you’ve figured out what kind of sleep issues your little one is having, look for patterns in their behavior:
- How long do they sleep?
- Where do they like to nap?
- Do they seem tired or clingy after waking up from a nap or at bedtime (or both)?
When it becomes challenging to discern a clear pattern in your baby’s sleep habits, and each day presents its own unique set of challenges, seeking assistance from a baby sleep coach may be a wise decision. These professionals possess the expertise to pinpoint the underlying factors contributing to your baby’s sleep struggles and provide tailored guidance to address them effectively.
2. Start with a routine.
The first step to sleep training is establishing a routine. A consistent schedule is important for babies because it helps them feel safe and secure. It also helps parents feel more confident about what they are doing, knowing when to expect certain behaviors from their baby.
3. Try to establish a bedtime routine and stick to it.
You may not be able to start sleep training right away, but you can begin establishing a bedtime routine. This will make it easier for your child to fall asleep without much fuss in the future. A bedtime routine can also help you feel more in control of things–and that’s important when you’re dealing with a picky eater or fussy baby!
4. Dim the lights in your house an hour before bedtime.
You need to start dimming the lights (Hatch Baby Rest) in your house an hour before bedtime. This is important because it helps your body transition from daytime mode to nighttime mode by telling it that it’s time for sleep.
5. If you must feed frequently during the night, try feeding at set times rather than whenever your child wakes up crying (this will help him learn to self-soothe).
Establishing a sense of routine and predictability in your child’s nighttime feeding schedule can be crucial in fostering their ability to self-soothe and develop healthy sleep habits. If you find yourself needing to feed your little one frequently throughout the night, consider implementing set feeding times, as opposed to responding immediately to their cries. By doing so, you encourage your child to gradually adapt to a consistent schedule, while also providing them with the opportunity to discover their own self-soothing techniques. In turn, this practice not only improves their sleep quality and independence but also allows for a more restful night for both parent and child.
Baby sleep training takes time but can be worth it!
Baby sleep training is not a quick fix. It can take several weeks to see results, but it’s worth it in the end!
If you’re struggling with sleep training, don’t give up! It’s normal to feel frustrated and worried about how your baby will fare during this process. But remember that all children are different, and what works for one may not work for another. The most important thing is to stay consistent with your methods and keep trying until they do work — because they will!If you need more guidance, you can book a free discovery call with me or one of my Dream Team who can provide you with the information and support you need to make the best decisions for you and your baby.
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