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Let Sleeping
Babies Lie
By Sharon Penchina C.Ht. and Dr. Stuart Hoffman.
As any new parent knows, infants do not sleep like
babies. Neither do mothers and fathers. Lack of
sleep is one of the hardest adjustments new parents
have to make. In a recent poll of parents with
children six months old and younger, one-third of
the respondents reported waking up from one to eight
times a night. Often interrupted sleep can be as
exhausting as no sleep at all. No wonder getting
babies to sleep through the night is considered such
a challenge. While there is no one size fits all
approach to this age old problem, there are some
methods parents can use to lull their babies into a
peaceful sleep.
Bedtime Tips for Parents
Same Time Same Place. Establishing a nighttime
routine is one of the most important steps parents
can take towards developing healthy sleep habits for
their baby. Many pediatricians and experts believe
most sleep problems children experience are the
result of not learning how to fall asleep on their
own. Having a consistent nighttime routine can help
babies learn this process and develop regular sleep
patterns. A sample routine may include feeding,
bathing, dressing, reading or singing, and then
settling her into bed. This routine should be
repeated in the same place at around the same time
every night. The consistent repetition ensures that
the child associates the actions, patterns, and
place with sleep. Another cue parents can give their
babies is a bedtime message. This message can be
anything from a favorite lullaby to a simple “I love
you. Sweet dreams.” Hearing the song or the words
every night will let the child know it is time to
sleep.
The Sound of Silence. Many parents suffer the
misconception that babies need a quiet environment
in order to sleep. Children only require complete
silence if that is what they become accustomed to.
While in the womb, babies experience anything but
silence. They hear the hum of their mother’s voice,
the swish of body fluids, and muffled sounds from
the outside world. To a baby submerged in amniotic
fluid, all of these sounds have a soft edge to them.
These soft white noises are often replicated in the
sounds of a vacuum cleaner, air conditioner or
dishwasher; all of which have a calming effect on
babies. Another thing that relaxes babies is the
sound of a heartbeat. For nine months, every sound a
baby hears is set against the backdrop of her
mother’s heartbeat. Therefore, it makes sense that
this sound is a comforting one. Many lullaby CD’s
incorporate the sound of a heartbeat into the music,
which has been proven to soothe and lull babies to
sleep.
Talk the Talk. Crying is how babies communicate.
Cries and screams, like words, differ from situation
to situation. Babies have different cries for
hunger, pain, sleepiness, boredom, and attention.
When parents learn to distinguish their baby’s
cries, they are less likely to jump at every whimper
that comes over the baby monitor. If a baby wakes in
the night and recognizes that her body is still
tired, she will out of habit let out an “I am sleepy
cry.” Then, it is quite possible that she will roll
over and return to sleep. On the other hand, if a
parent rushes to the crib before deciphering the
cry, she may become stimulated and too alert to lull
herself back to sleep. Parents should give it minute
and listen to what their babies are trying to tell
them, and then respond.
Respond in Kind. Even though babies have different
cries for different needs, it is important to point
out that during the first three months of life,
children are survival based. Therefore, during this
time you can in no way be too attentive or spoil a
child. In these first precious months children
establish a foundation for future security and
emotional health. Parents should listen for cues,
but never let a baby cry it out. When attending to a
baby at night, avoid stimulation by keeping the
lights low, speaking softly if necessary, and
assuring her with a gentle touch. This will help the
child return to sleep more easily and on her own.
Sharon Penchina C.Ht. and Dr. Stuart Hoffman are the
creators of the award winning I Am A Lovable Me!
series of empowerment books and audio CDs for
children. The series includes Mom’s Choice Award
winner I Am A Lovable Me! Affirmations for Children
book as well as Sleepy Time Messages for Children
CD. Sleepy Time Messages for Children features
unique soothing music and positive affirmations set
to a scientifically mastered soundtrack that
integrates the comforting sounds of a human
heartbeat. |
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