Sleep is essential for our daily lives taking a break from the activities of the day to relax, rejuvenate and also get a very clear mind on how to go through the rest of your day. For your kids/ baby sleep is even more essential as it makes them happy, active, etc.
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Keeping a log can help you notice patterns in your baby’s sleep schedule. Start by tracking days and nights for one week, then use the data to figure out their ideal bedtime. There are apps that have made this a lot easier so you can track it effectively. SleepScore, Sleep++, Pillow etc.
Bedtime routines are essential for kids as it helps them ease into their daily routine and so creating this routine allows you to map out time for quality sleep. Include soothing techniques such as bathing, reading, or singing lullabies.
One way to successfully achieve anything is to keep a strict routine and a sleep schedule for your baby requires an even stricter routine.
4. Choose a Sleep-Training Technique
Effective sleep-training tactics vary by family and child. Here are a few popular options to consider.
Fading Method: With this method, parents help their baby fall asleep with soothing techniques (feeding, rocking, talking, etc.) Your baby will naturally require less comfort over time, so you can gradually “fade out” of their bedtime routine.
Ferber Method: Parents check on their crying child at gradually increasing time intervals, which promotes self-soothing and independent sleeping.
Pick-Up/Put-Down Method: Parents pick up their babies when they cry or fuss, then put them down after they’re comforted, repeating until they fall asleep.
Cry It Out Method: After their bedtime routine, babies are left to “cry it out” until they fall asleep independently.
Chair Method: Mom or Dad sits next to the crib in a chair until the baby falls asleep, trying not to soothe if they get fussy. They gradually move the chair further from the crib each night, until they’re outside of the room and out of view.
5. Stay Consistent
One of the biggest mistakes parents make, no matter what sleep-training method they use is being inconsistent. At some point, your little one will cry for you in the middle of the night—even if you think you’ve all made it over the sleep-training hump. Check on them to make sure all is well.
6. Trust yourself
A lot of mums doubt if they can successfully sleep train their child so they fall in and out of the routine constantly. Trust yourself to be a good mom and you will naturally ease through this phase and survive the difficulties.
Have a pattern with your partner that even in your absence the training is still going on and even with your caregiver the routine is still the same.
