What do all families have in common during a sleep consultation? All of you have read lots on the internet and in books, tried sleep training, and failed. Many of you will have tried for three days and then given up. Has this made you feel guilty and caused your child to be a bit more resistant?
I want to inform you of the six common traps, so you can all have a good night’s sleep.
1. Your child cannot self-soothe.
Typically infants develop the capacity to self-soothe between 4-6 months. What does self-soothe mean? This is the skill to help your baby settle and sleep alone. Most babies are not natural self-soothers, so they need guidance, not just to be put down and let them cry it out. Having children cry it out before the age of six months is not advised.
2. Inconsistent bedtimes
A well-structured bedtime is vital in helping your child sleep. Children whose bedtimes chop and change continue to have poor sleep. Bedtime should not take over an hour. Please keep it simple, no more than 30 minutes. Bath, massage and bedtime cuddles, and a story should be enough. Try not to play with your child before bed; they get excited and can’t sleep.
3. Missing the core causes
If your child has obstructive sleep apnea, cow milk allergy, separation anxiety, anxiety, nightmares, asthma, or pain, then it’s best to treat these first. You will find your sleep plan will not work. It’s good to see a paediatrician rule out any medical problems or see someone like me to help treat nighttime fears or separation anxiety and anxiety.
4. Not being ready
It’s important to start something new when both parents want to give it a go. A joined-up, consistent approach is critical. It’s OK to wait if one parent feels a bit mixed, if you are going on holiday, when you go on holiday, or even if work is stressful. It’s not good to start if they have a new sibling.
5. Moving your child to their room and cot to bed
So many parents want to do it all at once, but if your child has had a tough time sleeping in his room, it will be challenging to move rooms and cots to bed all at once. Take each step at a time and wait several weeks following moving into their room or from their cot to bed.
6. The 3 to the 7-day rule
If we start to change a behaviour then there is always a time it gets worse before it gets better. This is the same for sleep; it can be challenging when your child is upset or cross, and parents give up after three days. If you keep going, then it should start getting better. This is different for those children who have yet the capacity to self-soothe; it can take longer as we have to work on this first.
In my experience, inconsistency and inability to keep going are the most common ones. Let me help you and your child have a good night’s sleep; click here to contact me.
