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Trouble getting your baby (or child) to go down at night?
For babies having issues transitioning to their own crib or going down at night without a big fight, here is one method you might want to try, it’s called the “Gradual Parent Removal Method”. In fact, you might have seen it on the TV show, “Super Nanny.”
After you complete your baby’s nighttime routine, place them in their crib. At this point they are may be howling and resisting going to sleep. Sit in a chair next to your baby’s bed and wait there until he/she falls asleep. Do not look at them—stare off into a different direction. The idea is that you are “there” as a security blanket but not “available”. If the baby cries, wait a few minutes then rub their head, assure them that they are okay and go back to sitting next to their crib (do not pick them up or take them out of the crib). Keep repeating this cycle until your baby eventually gets tired of resisting sleep and goes to sleep. Do this for two nights. On the third and fourth nights move your chair two feet away from the baby’s bed. On the fifth and sixth nights you will be five feet away. By the seventh night, sit in the doorway, and on the ninth night, then in the hallway. Shortly after this, by the 10th night or by the end of the second week, the baby should be able to fall asleep by him/herself.
Still not sleeping through the Night?
What if your baby is past infancy and still likes to party all night? Encouraging your baby to sleep when you do can be a daunting task and the solutions will be as individual as every family. A recent study in the journal Sleep said that most behavioral intervention techniques work, but there's not enough information to recommend one over the other. What you decide will most likely come down to personal preference. Therefore, it’s up to each parent to decide which approach feels right and works for your particular parenting style. Here are a couple tried and true methods that might just provide you with the sleep you need.
The Ferber Sleep Method: One of the best-known baby sleep training techniques is the Ferber sleep method, named after Richard Ferber, MD. Ferber is director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital Boston and author of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems.
On day one using the Ferber sleep method, put your baby to bed while he/she is still awake but tired and ready to sleep. Then leave the room. Your baby will most likely not fall asleep and will cry. Wait five minutes, and then re-enter your baby's room. Try to console your baby, but do not pick him/her up or stay for more than a short time -- about two or three minutes. The second time the baby cries, wait a little longer -- 10 minutes -- before re-entering the room to console. Again, do not pick the baby up or stay more than a short time. The third time the baby cries, wait 15 minutes before going into the room and offering the basic comfort used the first two times. Repeat the process as long as needed on the first night, waiting 15 minutes between intervals. Eventually, the baby will fall asleep on his own during one of those time periods. If he awakens during the night after falling asleep, begin the routine again, starting with the minimum wait time for that day and working up to the maximum wait time.
On the second night, use the same procedure but start at 10 minutes for the first time interval. Then progress to 15 and then 20 minutes. For every night after, extend the intervals by five minutes. In time, the baby will learn to fall asleep on his own.
Parents wishing to try the Ferber sleep method should be well-rested before they start sleep training. That's because, in the early days especially, they will be spending a lot of time over the course of the night listening for their baby's cries, checking their watches and entering and exiting their baby's room.
The Scheduled Awakenings Method: This method seems to be counterproductive on the surface, but sticking to the guidelines will reap many benefits. With this method, observe and record your baby's natural waking times during the night for a week. You should notice a pattern of regular waking times. Following this schedule, wake the baby 15 minutes before each of those natural awakening times and soothe the baby back to sleep each time. The baby's "unscheduled" awakenings, those that don't follow the regular pattern, should gradually stop. At that point, over a period of weeks, cut back gradually on the number of times you wake your baby before his "scheduled" awakenings until he is able to sleep through the night.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
• Go to bed the same time every night, this will get your biological clock in sync.
• Develop a sleep ritual. Provide you and your child a predictable routine as you prepare for bed. A bath, a snack, a bedtime story and a massage prior to bed will signal wind down time and help prepare you for a restful night.
• No caffeine after 4:00 pm. Limiting your caffeine after lunch will reduce any unnecessary stimulation.
• Prepare your bedroom. For the best sleep environment your room should be quiet, dark, and cool (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit). You should also have a comfortable and supportive mattress.
So, there you have it! I hope that you have a wonderful month and that you get plenty of sleep!
Questions?
Contact Nurse Wendy!
AskNurseWendy@pacifiCord.com
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