Sleep Training Your Baby: Moms Share 5 Tried-and-Tested Tips
Mommies, you can catch up on z’s too!
Sleep training your baby is probably one of the most exhausting experiences for new mommies, especially since your body would have to adjust to waking up at wee hours in the morning during the first few weeks. We all know that not getting enough sleep can have negative effects on both parents and infants.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, infants aged 4-12 months should get at least 12 to 16 hours of sleep every day. Children ages 1 to 2 years need 11 to 14 hours of sleep, while kids 3 to 5 years need 10 to 13 hours per day. If they don’t get enough sleep, it could result to shorter attention spans, and an increase in the release of stress hormones.
Not catching up on enough z’s can affect parents too, as it has been linked to postpartum depression.
To avoid these, two moms share how they effectively sleep trained their babies, and gave tips for new mommies to try!
What is sleep training?
Basically, sleep training is the process of “training” your baby to fall asleep by himself. Once he has learned the development skill of self-soothing, it translates to more sleep for parents. It is recommended to start sleep training when your baby is about four months old, as their circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle starts to take effect.
Tip #1: Let them cry it all out.
The “cry it out” technique is popular among mommies, although the most difficult according to 45-year-old Amanda. This technique means that you will be putting your baby in their crib when they are tired but still awake, making sure that they have a clean diaper and a full stomach.
“I used this [technique] on my bunso, siya ang pinakamahirap patulugin sa kanilang magkakapatid, ito lang ang gumana sa kanya,” shares Amanda. “After dinner kapag pagod na siya, I will put him in his crib and will leave him there until he falls asleep on his own.”
This technique teaches your baby that they can self soothe and sleep without your assistance. “Iiyak sila syempre, kaya medyo mahirap ito as a mother. But my son learned the quickest through this method,” she adds.
Tip #2: Establish their sleeping environment.
It’s important to set the environment when sleep training your babies. Make sure that the room has just the right temperature, and the crib is safe and comfortable. This way, they are less likely to get fussy and cry.
Amanda recommends being consistent in the room that your baby falls asleep in, too. “I’m not sure if this is required, pero ito ang nag-work para sa akin.” When she was sleep training her son, she made sure that she made him nap in the same room every time. “This specific room has everything he needs, all the comfort he needs. In a way, para ma-associate niya ito sa pagtulog at pag nandito siya, may idea siya na oras na para matulog.”
Tip #3: Follow bedtime rituals.
Angie, a 26-year-old single mom, is consistent with her baby’s bedtime ritual. “I established a sleep routine for my daughter, and I do these things every single night, no exceptions.”
After feeding at night, Angie bathes her daughter. Then, she either reads her a story or sings her to sleep. “It doesn’t have to be super specific or complicated. You don’t have to read them specific stories or anything like that, because they’re still probably too young to understand. Ang importante lang ay you’re setting the mood that it’s time to sleep,” she explains.
It is highly discouraged to set any stimulating activities during bedtime, like watching TV or tickling them.
Tip #4: Take notes.
Another technique that Angie vouches for is keeping a record of your baby’s habits. “Always keep a watch with you, a notebook, and a pen,” says Angie. “Take note of their habits. Halimbawa lagi sila umiiyak sa gabi, take note of what time they usually cry or get hungry or pee. Things like that.”
This way, you will be able to establish a pattern, which will help you in identifying what methods you need to apply that will work in sleep training your baby.
Tip #5: What works for others may not work for you.
There is no specific approach that works for everyone. While there are several methods you can utilize to teach your baby how to self soothe, the most important thing to remember is to be consistent. All of your efforts will be put to waste if you regress and give up on a method that has the potential to work.
Sleep training your baby takes time, so always remember to be patient, and be consistent. It’s important to know that it may take you a few tries before you find a method that works, but once you do, it will be highly rewarding.
This article originally appeared on OneLife.PH
