If you respond inconsistently to every nighttime waking, there will unfortunately be more nighttime wakings.
This is why a sleep training method is so helpful because it gives you a more systematic way to respond while STILL responding to your child.
To help babies deal with nightime wakings, it is always helpful to pause, observe, and then run through a checklist of things like:
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Is this a normal feeding time? They are probably hungry!
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It is not a normal feeding time– maybe sending in a non-breastfeeding partner would be helpful.
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How were they acting today? Under the weather, congested, grumpy? They may need medicine, snuggles, etc
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Was their schedule off? Were they really busy/overstimulated? They could just need some time to settle and go back to sleep or a quick check in for reassurance.
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And as always, it could be a dirty diaper making them uncomfortable so a quick check for poop or leaking out can be helpful.
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Is it warm in their room? Colder than when they went to bed? Temperature can disrupt sleep because our body temperature changes with sleep!
Read also:Â Healthy Ways To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
How to stop night wakings for baby
To help stop night wakings for babies, consider these things:
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Look at their schedule and see if there’s a tweak you can make
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Triple check their sleep environment
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Change up the way you respond to a less desired way (send in a non-feeding partner, rock instead of feeding)
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