Babies and sleep

‘Here sleeps a baby with a head full of magical dreams, a heart full of wonder, and hands that will shape the world’

Good deep sleep is a major booster for health and growth of babies. It promotes motor skills, memory consolidation, focus, development, emotional regulation and growth.

Some babies fall into the day and night routine easily while some need a little help from a sleep specialist. Sleep training should not be a punishment for parents or babies. It is the process of forming good habits that will promote baby health. It is best started after 4-6 months.

If you decide to take professional help with your baby’s sleep routine then consult your sleep specialist to discuss the best method that works with your baby’s temperament as well as your family dynamics.

In any case the following basic tips could help ensure a smoother transition to dreamland:

• Establish a bedtime routine. Follow a consistent 30- to 45-minute baby sleep routine to help transition your little one from awake time to sleepy time. If they fall asleep at the breast or bottle, schedule that feed before the bath or books, so you’re able to put them to bed while they are still awake.
• Time the training. It’s not the time to make any changes when there’s been a recent disruption in their life (a move, new maids, ear infection, travel). Wait until things have settled down before attempting sleep training.
• Know when your baby’s tired. Watch for sleep cues like yawning, eye rubbing or crankiness, which may happen around the same time every night. It’s important to put your baby to bed when they are sleepy but not overtired.
• Put the baby down awake. Sleep training is based on teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own — a lesson that won’t be learnt if you rock them to sleep in your arms before transferring to their sleeping space.
• Position. Put the baby down on their back and remove any soft movable bedding, pillows, soft toys etc.
• Delay your response time. Don’t rush to the baby at the first whimper. Babies make lots of noises at night, including crying, and then fall back asleep on their own. Responding to every little noise or cry may wake a nodding-off baby or derail their efforts to self-soothe.
• Keep interactions brief. Calmly but quickly do any checks, feeds or diaper changes to avoid overstimulating your baby at night.