Building Healthy Sleeping Habits
Many parents don't realize that they can start helping their child build healthy sleeping habits when they are an infant. Jessica Hartshorn, Senior Lifestyles Editor for American Baby Magazine, explains.
They key to teaching your child to sleep at night is to not get frustrated. "Your baby comes out with a personality, which might be the early riser," says Hartshorn. "You can really set the stage at home." Having a sleep routine is useful; children pick up on certain clues that tell them it's bed time.
Some young children are what Hartshorn refers to as "Cat Nappers." This problem is usually seen in very young infants. "You read that a baby - a newborn - sleeps like sixteen hours a day," says Hartshorn. "They sleep for like a half hour, and then they're up." Your child's sleep pattern will organize itself around their first birthday; at that point, your son or daughter should be taking one morning and one afternoon nap.
For cat nappers, try to encourage sleep by keeping them in their crib a bit longer. They'll learn to associate their crib with sleeping. Also, wake your baby up at the same time every day. Keep in mind, too, that most babies need a nap roughly two hours after they wake up. Try to keep the pattern consistent, even if it's a weekend.
Other children are "Early Birds." These children wake up very early every morning. Parents can be easily frustrated because no matter what, these children wake up with the rising sun. Hartshorn says it's best to make early morning hours seem very boring for these early risers. Don't pick them up and try to rock them back to sleep. Instead, keep them in their crib, rub their back gently, but don't make eye contact. Also, avoid turning on the lights or the television. Eye contact, noise and movement signal to your child that it's time to get up. You want them to learn that it's not time to be awake yet.
Some parents find their children are picky about how, where and when they sleep. "Honestly, it's something that parents do," says Hartshorn. "You have to be very careful about the habits you fall into." If you constantly play a certain song as your baby is falling asleep or always drive them around the block to soothe them, two months later, your child won't be able to fall asleep without these distractions. This becomes an issue, especially if you're away from home. Instead, foster habits that you can continue, like reading a book, singing to them, or bathing them right before bed. "Do things that you can sustain," says Hartshorn, even if you're away from home.
Other children are extremely light sleepers. Parents can be easily frustrated by this sleeping quirk because any noise or disruption wakes the baby. Hartshorn says to take advantage of white noise, even if it's just the bathroom fan. White noise drowns out background noise. Some companies even sell machines that mimic the sounds baby heard in the womb. If light bothers your child, invest in blackout curtains or room darkening shades. Most are fairly inexpensive and can be found at major retailers. "Some babies are just really sensitive to noise, light, sound," says Hartshorn. "It's all just about setting the stage in your house and giving them an opportunity to sleep."
For more information on teaching your child to sleep on their own, visit www.AmericanBaby.com by clicking here.
By Erin Shea