Just what is widespread with regards to Baby Sleep Consultants right now?
Dads
who actively bond with their babies from day one not only boost their
child’s physical and mental development, but also hold the key to their
family’s strength as a unit, and even to their child’s future attitudes
and their likelihood of success in life. One or two daytime naps – short
period of sleeping during the day – are often needed for a few years
until your child grows out of them. It’s common for this to happen
around the age of 3 to 4 years old, although some children may keep on
napping until they’re older than this. Every baby is different, but
generally babies over about six months can sleep through the night
without a feed – but of course that doesn’t mean they do! If you’re down
to one night feed and think your baby could do without it, you could
try gradually bringing it forward to before midnight to lengthen the
number of hours he’s sleeping without food. One of the biggest
disturbances at this age is hunger. Your little one may be so distracted
during the day that she forgets to eat and only realizes she’s famished
after the lights are out. Or she may eat all day and still be hungry at
night because she’s in the middle of a growth spurt. Either way, there
are a few ways to manage nighttime hunger so your little buddy is
getting all the nourishment she needs - during the more agreeable
daytime hours. Sleep with your baby's mattress sheet for a couple of
nights so that it smells like you. Newborn babies have a highly
developed sense of smell. When they are born they can’t recognise you by
sight yet, but they know your smell. Your smell is very comforting to
them and makes them think you are close by. You should always place your
baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side (unless your
doctor has advised you of a medical reason to do so).
In
some families, a later afternoon nap and a later bedtime is more
practical. Familiar bedtime rituals set the baby up for sleep. The
sequence of a warm bath, rocking, nursing, lullabies, etc. set the baby
up to feel that sleep is expected to follow. The first few months can be
a bit of a blur with your little one up at all hours. It’s good to know
what’s ahead and how their sleep needs change over time. If you feel
your eyelids getting heavy and your baby is asleep, turn off your mobile
and shut your eyes and just see what happens. The washing and ironing
can wait. You and your baby are your top priority and if you can’t
function then it isn’t good for anyone. Some parents say sleep training
has helped them and their baby both sleep better during the night.
However the long-term effects of sleep training are not well researched.
Some experts do have concerns about it and do not recommend doing it,
particularly for babies under 12 months. If you need guidance on
Gentle Sleep Training then let a sleep consultant support you in unlocking your child's potential, with their gentle, empathetic approach to sleep.
Developing A Rhythm
To
break the food-sleep association, start your bedtime routine with a
feeding; outside the bedroom is best. If your baby falls asleep, gently
wake him and proceed with reading a book and singing a song, and then
put your baby down sleepy, but still awake. With babies of all ages,
feeding your baby to sleep can be lovely. Baby is snuggled in your arms,
having a delicious cuddle. It's great for bonding and lovely for both
mum and baby. Whilst it can be tempting to rock your baby to sleep, be
prepared that this may be building up problems for the future. If your
baby is used to you always being in the room when they fall asleep, they
may find it difficult to fall back to sleep when they wake up during
the night. Babies should learn how to self-soothe. This means not
picking up your little one every time he or she fusses. Giving babies
some time to comfort themselves so they can fall back asleep on their
own can establish good sleeping habits, which in turn, helps parents get
a good night’s rest. When it comes to sleep training, don’t be hard on
yourself if things aren’t always perfect. There will be times when your
baby finds it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. A sleep consultant
will take a holistic approach to create a sleeping system that you can
manage and one which takes into account
Ferber Method as well as the needs of the baby and considerations of each family member.
Routinely
putting a baby to sleep on the stomach raises her risk of SIDS about
fourfold. But SIDS risk jumps even higher (eight- to thirty-seven-fold)
when young babies (under four months) are put to sleep on the back but
accidentally roll to the stomach. All babies should be slept on their
backs unless there is medical advice saying something different. If your
baby has reflux, or any other on-going health condition, speak to your
doctor about the best care for them. You should not sleep your baby on
their front unless you have been advised to do so by a medical
professional. If your baby needs thirty minutes of bottom-patting each
time he rouses or demands that only Mommy can put him to sleep (and
screams if Daddy tries to step in), I think it’s pretty clear you’re
looking at a bad sleep cue. Keeping the house as quiet as you can at
night, combined with the dark, will naturally encourage your newborn to
associate this with sleeping. Babies thrive on routines, so create a
simple, calming, bedtime routine that will serve as a cue to sleep. If
you're looking for a compassionate, effective and evidence-based
approach to sleep or just advice on one thing like
Sleep Training then a baby sleep specialist will be able to help you.
Quiet In The Bedroom
If
your baby just won’t settle down on her back, talk to your
pediatrician, who may want to check for any possible physical
explanations. Much more likely is that your baby just doesn’t feel as
secure on her back. If that’s the case, there are a few tricks you can
try to encourage back-sleeping, including swaddling your baby and giving
her a pacifier at bedtime. Just skip the sleep positioner, and stick
with a consistent routine. Eventually, your baby will get used to
sleeping on her back. Babies’ sleep patterns change as they get older
and fall into a routine. Every baby is different. Moreover, premature
babies (preemies) may behave consistently with babies of a younger age
based on how early they were born. Experts call this an adjusted or
corrected age. Newborns should eat as often and as long as they want, so
it may be necessary to wake your newborn if she's sleeping too much to
meet her calorie and nutrient needs. Frequent feeding is crucial for
your newborn’s growth and development. Right after birth, babies lose up
to 10 percent of their body weight and need to regain it quickly. It is
normal for babies to be fed to sleep especially in the first 6 months,
babies feel calmed and comforted by feeding and it helps them settle.
This is not a problem and they will change this once they develop and
are able to self soothe. Some kids go from overtired to totally wired
really fast. And once they cross the line, they get revved even more and
struggle against sleep. So check your wake/sleep diary and try to put
your infant down thirty minutes before you think the yawning will start.
Then, set up a great bedtime routine. And don’t forget that an early
bedtime will boost your baby’s sleep. Whether its something specific
like
Sleep Regression
or really anything baby sleep related, a baby sleep consultant can
guide you to find a sleep solution as individual as your baby is.
If
you’ve consistently stuck with a sleep training method for at least two
weeks and your baby’s sleep is still disturbed and you’re not sure why,
consider calling your doctor to see if he or she has any insights or
advice to help your baby sleep better. Don’t feel bad if you need to
take a temporary break from sleeping in the same bed with your partner.
Opt for separate beds if you and your sleep partner are having
bed-sharing issues. Sufficient sleep contributes to healthy and happy
relationships, and sleeping in separate beds is a healthy option. During
the first weeks of life your baby does not yet have a set day-night
rhythm. You can help create this rhythm by setting regular times for
going to bed and waking up. These need to allow plenty of time for
sleep. The more regular the hours, the stronger the sleep-wake cycle
will be. This helps you predict when they need sleep. Regular hours are
important for older children too. Don’t be hard on yourself if your baby
has developed a napping habit, it’s easily done and can be gently
changed. Your baby will ultimately lead the way with how they sleep but
avoiding these habits that can have them relying on certain things to
sleep form early on, could help them learn to settle to sleep more
naturally from an earlier age. If you’re having trouble putting your
baby to sleep anywhere but in your own arms, you’re definitely not
alone. When it comes to frequently asked sleep questions, this is the
question she gets asked the most by parents. The key in understanding
how to solve it doesn’t really lie with your baby — it lies with you.
The gentle approach and caring manner of a baby sleep expert allows them
to assist you in the most preferable way to deal with
4 Month Sleep Regression and to assist you and your family in any way possible.
Stay Asleep Techniques
Some
parents have found that their baby’s sleep patterns tend to get
disrupted between 6 and 9 months old when babies go through a series of
growth spurts. From around 8 months separation anxiety often starts to
set in. Use a firm mattress that is covered by a tightly fitted sheet.
This can prevent gaps between the mattress and the sides of a crib, a
play yard, or a bassinet. That can reduce the risk of the baby getting
stuck between the mattress and the sides (entrapment). It can also
reduce the risk of suffocation and SIDS. A tiny baby gets tired just
being alive, but older babies need a bit more stimulation and play
during their wake times in order to be tired enough to sleep. That
doesn’t mean spending their every waking hour frantically dangling toys
in front of them and singing The Wheels on the Bus, but find a nice
balance: plenty of face-to-face interaction and talking is good. Avoid
TV and screens at this age. You need to help your baby understand this.
You do this by socialising as little as you can at night. Save
stimulating social interaction for daylight and evening hours. Attend to
your baby and feed in low light overnight. Also avoid rushing to the
cot at the first sign of stirring. Your baby may well resettle if left
for a moment or two. Warm the cot with a hot water bottle or beanie
before you put your baby down. If your baby is falling asleep on you,
then the change of temperature may be causing them to wake. By warming
the mattress it can help keep them asleep. Remember to remove the hot
water bottle before you put your baby down and check it isn’t too warm.
Sleep consultants support hundreds of families every year, assisting
with things such as
How To Become A Sleep Consultant using gentle, tailored methods.
Slings
and baby-carriers are useful for holding a baby hands-free, however
they are not always used safely. Although there is no reliable evidence
that slings are directly associated with SIDS, there have been a number
of deaths worldwide where infants have suffered a fatal accident from
the use of a sling. These accidents are particularly due to suffocation,
and particularly in young infants. You’ll still be feeding at night
until at least 3-6 months old, so try to stay calm, accept the night
wakings and respond to your baby’s demands for food quickly and quietly:
that way she’ll hopefully drop off back to sleep quickly afterwards and
so will you. A baby who knows he’ll be fed when he asks for it will
feel secure and will be more likely to be able to soothe himself to
sleep later on. This bit’s tough on parents, but it won’t last forever.
For some new parents, one of the toughest challenges is sleep or should I
say, the lack-there of. It is important to recognise that every baby is
different, especially when it comes to how often and how long they
sleep for. Uncover more information on the topic of Baby Sleep
Consultants on this
NHS page.
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