woocommerce-subscriptions domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/babycoac/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260Myth 1️⃣
It isn’t normal for babies to sleep through the night.
First of all this means my own babies and my clients babies are all abnormal?
Sleeping through the night isn’t really what it seems. Adults don’t sleep through night either. Sleep is cyclical and both babies and adults wake between their sleep cycles. It’s the ability to go back to sleep confidently allows uninterrupted sleep.
Myth2️⃣
Babies can’t self soothe. ?
Most of the time they don’t even get a chance to self soothe. With mittens, swaddles and lots of gadgets babies don’t have much space to develop early motor skills such as sucking on hands or fingers. There is more emphasis on food if they are sucking on their hands than the ability to self settle due to reflexes and development stages.
Myth 3️⃣
It is only short lived. ?
Often I hear that parents have attempted sleep training but due to growth spurts, illness , development and travel, they have given up. Reality is that any of these stages shouldn’t hinder a babies sleep long term. These stages are only short term and it’s up to the parents to continue with the knowledge they have to keep the confident sleep patterns going or return to them.
Myth4️⃣
There are reasons babies don’t sleep?
Yes there will be reasons why a baby isn’t sleeping and that is exactly why it’s a good idea to seek advice and support to see who can help. Sometimes it takes someone neutral to see what might needs to be changed.
Myth5️⃣
Society tells you?
Everyone has their opinions and that is ok. What does make me just a bit mad is that with mental health a very hot topic and sleep being a very big part of recovery. Sleep deprivation for a parents is normalised. Plus we shouldn’t be judging parenting styles.
Myth6️⃣
Sleep training means CIO ?
It certainly does not. Helping a baby to sleep more confidently can be very gentle and nurturing experience with some grizzling but certainly not distressed crying or leaving your baby without responding.
I never said it was easy but with individual guidance, support and follow up it certainly is very achievable?
Not all babies sleep well swaddled.
Not all babies like the patting and shushing as this can actually overstimulate them.
This is especially so for the love to dream swaddle.
Many new mum buy this type of swaddle/sleeping sac for their newborn babies.
For very newborn babies under the age of 2 weeks these swaddles can be great.
However as your baby grows stronger, becomes more aware of their environment and is starting to stretch and move around a little more. These swaddles can be more of a hinderance than a great sleep tool.
Babies love to stretch out their hands above their head just like us when we wake.
As you can see by the picture there isn’t much room for your baby to stretch and there is limited amount of movement especially when your baby is growing.
I find babies grow out of these suits very quickly.
Also when you are finding that when your baby wakes with very wet material around their hands, they are looking at sucking for self soothing which is best done by skin to skin contact. It’s at this time getting rid of the swaddle altogether and transferring your baby to a sleeping bag is your best option.
It may take a few days for your baby to get used to a little more freedom but they will thank you for it as they can find their fingers or thumbs to suck for self settling and also stretch and move without limitations.
If your baby is a dream sleeper in this type of swaddle then why change.
Just keep in mind that when they are changing their sleep patterns that it could be they are needing a change of sleep attire.
Babies cry for all sorts of reasons – not only for hunger
They may cry due to
– Tiredness
– Pain
– Overstimulation
– Wind
– Boredom
First of all it’s very important that you recognise your baby’s needs and also familiarise yourself with your baby’s cues.
A baby’s cues for hunger, tiredness, pain and wind are all exactly the same.
Check out my video here for more info
Once you need to help your baby settle or resettle, it’s important to think what tools or actions you are using.
You can respond by action.
You can respond by sound.
OR
You can respond by observing.
Let’s look at a baby waking from their nap too early.
You hear your baby waking. They are noisy, grumpy, sucking on their hands, yep even newborns suck can be frantically looking for their hands.
Many mums will quickly run in and pick baby up without a second thought.
This is most likely due to what they have heard.
Never leave a baby that is crying!!
While you would never leave a baby to cry and especially when in distress.
Always respond to your baby when they are crying BUT it’s how you respond that is the key
So here is the reason why its best to keep in mind these words
Respond without Action
Instead
Observe! Observe! Observe!
Yep before you physically pick your baby up, I want you to observe first.
Peak around the corner by the door, don’t let yourself be seen especially if your baby is over 4-5 weeks. Older babies will recognise you very quickly and it will be harder to help them resettle.
The reason why I want you to observe first is because your baby may still be sleeping but transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next or just needs a little help to get get back to sleep. Resettling a baby that has already been picked up is unlikely to go back to sleep without intervention.
Babies have generally 2 sleep cycles.
These are REM and NON-REM both lasting between 20-30 mins.
REM– Rapid Eye Movement
Non REM – Non Rapid Eye Movement
Majority of babies, especially newborns, will cry when falling asleep or when transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next.
When they do this they are still asleep. Yes they will cry, make noise, suck on their hands and grizzle, all in their sleep.
When we hear our little ones wake or cry, we insticntly want to pick them up.
If they are transitioning and need help to resettle, we may have stopped them from being able to fall back to sleep.
The intervention has prevented your baby to resettle. The action was a physical action without observation.
If the action becomes consistent, it will become the norm.
Hence why a lot of babies become 30 min nappers.
So here is what I want you to do next time you hear your baby.
STOP – USE THIS ACRONYM
S – Stop or Pause
T – Think and take a deep breath ( how long has baby been asleep, could they they hungry, what time of day is it …..
O – Observe Observe Observe
P – Plan and Proceed (decide what action you are going to take)
When we respond without thought, we may not have the result we want.
Why is my baby only sleeping for 30 min?
Cat napping is very common, especially for babies aged between 8 weeks and 6 months.
The number one reason why babies only sleep for 30 min or less is because they are not linking their sleep cycles and the reason why they are unable to link their sleep cycles is they may not have had the opportunity to do so.
Babies have two sleep cycles: REM and NONREM.
The first cycle of a baby’s sleep is called REM sleep.
This is when your baby is starting to fall asleep and is in a light sleep for 20-30min.
In this time your baby will be grunting a lot, sucking on their hands, jerky movements of their arms and legs and eye movement is present.
This sleep is usually not a very restorative sleep and their little brains haven’t really had enough time to shut out stimulus and thoughts.
This is when babies often wake up for their startle reflex due to loud noises or movement.
As your baby is transitioning from this 20-30 min nap (REM sleep) most babies will wake before going into their next cycle (NON-REM sleep).
NON-REM sleep is their restorative sleep in which they rest and their little brain is taking time out to recharge and restore. They also do most of their growing and gaining weight in this second sleep cycle.
Babies often will wake up after their first sleep cycle. The reason why many babies are unable to go back to sleep is because they haven’t been given an opportunity too. Mum or dad have picked them up from their bed because they have woken up or maybe have been crying.
Helping your baby to resettle with confidence without being taken out of bed or staying close to their beds to be able to put them back is your best option.
Resettling will help your baby eventually learn how to link their sleep cycles.
So next time you hear your baby wake after their 30min nap, wait a little and see if they will go back to sleep.
(Check out my blog _ How to resettle a crying baby.)
Yes, even when they are crying a little.
Allow them time to resettle on their own or with a little guidance.
If they do cry and you think they are unlikely to go back to sleep then pick them up, stay in their room or near their bed. Give them a cuddle to allow them to settle and place them back into their cosy bed to finish their nap once drowsy or asleep.
They may need to be shushed, use white noise plus some reassurance with rocking or patting to help them go back to sleep.
Repeat as necessary up to 4-5 times because it sometimes takes that long to help them resettle. Remember if you do this at every nap you will soon have a longer napper who feels comfortable falling back to sleep once woken from their first cycle.
You can do this from 3-4 weeks of age once feeding has been established.
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