Ask most parents what the hardest part of parenting a newborn is and they will most likely tell you it is the sleep deprivation. As adults we value and need our sleep. So when our baby comes along and interrupts this much-needed restful phase of our days, we suffer. But we aren’t the only ones that suffer from insufficient sleep - our babies do as well. And it is because of this suffering that it is in everyone’s best interest to help baby sleep as much as possible.
We all know that bodily repairs and regeneration occur for adults during our nightly sleep. For babies, rather than repair, growth and development take place. Therefore babies who miss the critically important phases of sleep both during the day and at night risk missing out on key developmental opportunities. They, like their parents, become sleep deficient and this sleep deficiency comes with a price. Babies who don’t get adequate sleep may encounter developmental problems that express themselves in later years.
According to sleep expert Dr. Marc Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, parents need to pay attention to the signs their baby gives them and respond accordingly. He states that babies have predictable patterns of behavior and only stay awake for 1-2 hours in their early months. Once a parent begins to notice signs of drowsiness – yawning, crying, fussing, etc… - they should respond promptly to them and soothe baby to sleep. By doing so baby will not become overtired and inconsolable.
Keeping children up too long or over-stimulating them is one of the most common mistakes that parents make. Rather than accommodate baby’s sleep needs they accidentally ignore baby’s signs and encroach on precious sleep time. Parents need to watch for cues from baby and soothe them to sleep once they become tired.
So just what are new parents to do? They can start by following these tried and tested techniques that have worked for other parents eager to get their babies into good sleep habits.
Bedtime Routine
Even though as an adult you might not like the idea of such a scheduled life, babies like routine. The reason babies respond so well to routine is because it allows them to understand what is coming next and to prepare for it. Being so new to the world, everything is unfamiliar for them. When you establish a bedtime routine, it allows them to understand there is a structure to their evenings and they then learn to anticipate what is coming next.
Most experts will agree that the bedtime routine of bath, book then bed works well. Babies are prepared with a warm bath and then relax with a book. They then know they are expected to sleep because this is what happens every night.
Avoid Stimulation
For nighttime feedings and changes try and keep the lights low and avoid talking to baby or making unnecessary noise. By not over-stimulating baby you have more of a chance of keeping your baby in a semi-sleep state which will help to get them back to sleep faster.
Protect Sleep Time
A baby’s sleep time should be considered important and all efforts should be made to protect it. And while this may be inconvenient for parents who have errands to do or social engagements to attend, protecting the sleep periods of your baby will help encourage healthy sleep habits.
An occasional breaking of habits probably wont do much damage, but if parents are constantly on the go this lifestyle may backfire in that baby wont get adequate sleep during the day. And sleep begets sleep so this will in turn have negative impacts on nighttime sleeping too.
Most experts will agree that sleep is a habit that needs to be protected and encouraged by parents. Even though many of us assume that sleep is the most natural thing in the world, many babies suffer from a constant disruption to their sleep schedules. As a result, their moods and development may also suffer. By implementing the above strategies you can do your best to provide your baby with the good sleep they need to thrive.
