Often we have sleep deprived parents come to us to understand how they can help their baby sleep through the night. After all its been months since they themselves have had a full nights rest. The internet is full of many ideas and suggestions and one of them is the Cry it out method for Sleep Training. But this also comes with many questions and concerns and here is a quick understanding on how you can effectively sleep train your baby.
1) How long is it ok to let a baby cry ?
I can understand that it is very difficult to see your little one crying and our first instinct is to make it stop. However all crying may not be stressful to the baby. Research has shown that a few minutes of intense crying does not stress the brain. However if the baby is crying it’s good to acknowledge the baby and check for what could be wrong. It could be hunger, dirty diaper, some pain or discomfort or also plain boredom. Attend to your crying baby but not necessarily feed or pick up the baby every single time.
2) How can I calm a crying baby ?
There is a simple rule of 5 S’s
Sing – your voice can be extremely calming. Don’t worry if you are a bathroom singer your baby still loves your voice.
Sway – Rock your baby gently as this replicates the swaying movements from the womb. Never every shake your baby vigorously as this can cause more harm.
Swaddle – wrap the baby gently in a soft fabric to make the baby feel snug and cosy.
Sssssh – These sounds are like white noise and may also make the baby feel and hear the same sounds like the mother’s pulse inside the womb.
Suckle – If all is not working put the baby to the breast as this can help to calm the baby down easily.
3) Can Cry it out method be used for sleep training?
Yes but we need to work with a modified variant.
We want to help the baby become independent and be able to self soothe and sleep on their own. At the same time we do not want to over stress the baby’s brain or cause a build up of negativity in the baby.
Establish a good bedtime routine so that the baby is prepared for bed time. Place the baby awake in the bed and gently pat the baby if the baby cries.
After a few days place the baby in the bed and refrain from physical contact but only sit next to the bed and soothe the baby with your voice.
After a few days simply sit next to the baby and refrain from touch or talk.
Another few days later sit far away from the bed but in the quiet and dark environment.
And finally leave the room in another few days.
The process can take two to three weeks but it can be a gentle way of fostering independence and allowing the baby to form the right sleep associations.
Want to learn more about Sleep Training? Or more about the Early Years of your little one? Get in touch with us for a one on one consultation or register for our parenting program – Early Years on our website www.baby360degrees.i2.
