Sleep Training is not a Dirty Phrase
Go for coffee in any Mom’s group circle and bring up the idea of sleep training and you’re bound to be met with different understandings of the method, shifty eyes, and insistent holy grail tricks to help your child sleep through the night.
All babies reach full nights’ sleep milestones at different ages, and what works best for one family might be disastrous for another. The unique make up of infant sleep is designed to allow for frequent wakings in the first four to six months as babies both continue to nurse and feed for nourishment, and reach a critical waking period in their REM sleep cycle.
The good news: It’s totally normal. the bad news? No one is sure exactly how long each child will take to condition themselves to fall back asleep without the loving guidance of a parent present. Most babies are ready to learn how to sleep better before we realize it. That’s right, most babies have to learn how to sleep better.
So should you sleep train? Should you worry about telling OTHERS that you’re sleep training?
Absolutely not! Sleep assistance is vital for not only your baby to learn to let sleep overtake them, understand that nighttime is the time for sleeping, and that they are safe and loved even when outside of arm’s reach of their caregivers, but it’s vital for continued health in those caregivers.
Are you ready for more sleep? Here’s where it might get complicated.
There are many, many different ideologies around training your baby to sleep through the night. Some include crying, some do not. All require commitment, consistency, and, as we recommend, external support. Often times babies are ready to learn how to sleep better long before their parents are ready to teach them. Because sleep training is hard to do alone and there are often so many questions involved in the process.
One thing is certain; the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends starting sleep training after infants reach the 6 month milestone. This allow them to cognitively and developmentally gain readiness to sleep without impact, and also ensures that down the road, the methods and cues given to your baby will be long lasting!
An excellent resource for building a customized, personal and effective sleep plan is to consult with a sleep training specialist. We’re thrilled that our professional sleep training specialist, Tiffany Shank of Family Bliss, is only a phone call away!
If you’re struggling with having a well rested family and are beginning to wonder if your baby could benefit from sleep (and he/she is over the age of 6 months), give Tiffany a call! She can paint you a wonderful picture of how to balance the scales in your household!
Comments