Common mistakes in sleep training to avoid: Help your baby sleep better. Follow
Sleep training is among the essential moves a parent can make towards healthy sleeping for a baby. In general, sleep training has many long-term benefits. Still, the actual process remains a source of frustration for most parents and babies. In their haste to help a baby sleep, most parents commit common mistakes which either delay or destroy the entire process. This article aims to discuss common sleep training mistakes and help you with practical tips on how not to do them so that your baby would develop good sleep habits and you get proper rest, too.
Table Of Contents
Starting Too Early Or Too Late
Probably, the most frequently committed mistake in sleep training is when parents start too early. Since every baby is unique, there is no one-fit approach. If started too early or too late, it is definitely going to make the sleep training complicated.
- Sleep Training at Too Young an Age: Newborn babies and even older babies are not developmentally ready for sleep training. They wake up frequently at night time to be fed, comforted, and bond with their parents. How stressful it can be for the baby and parents when the attempt is made at this age. It is better to wait for when your baby has matured enough to sleep for a longer span of time.
- Too Late: Starting sleep training too late will make it difficult to break unhealthy sleep associations, such as being rocked or nursed to fall asleep. The longer that these associations have been allowed to continue running, the tougher it will become for a child to learn how to fall asleep on his own.
- How to Avoid It : The best time to have a sleep training is at 4 to 6 months. At this age, a baby will be most consistent in sleeping patterns and can be taught to self-soothe when awake. You can feel your baby is ready when she sleeps for longer stretches overnight or wakes up for longer periods in the day.
Inconsistency With Sleep Training Methods
This inconsistency in sleep training may confuse your baby and slow down the process. Babies rely so much on predictability, so if you start with one method, such as the “cry it out” approach, but then change your approach by picking your baby up every time they cry, then you are confusing mixed signals. This can make it far more difficult for your baby to understand what is expected of them.
- How to Avoid It: Once you have chosen a sleep training method, stick with it. Whether you have more gradual methods such as the Ferber method or the chair method, or you just like a softer approach, consistency is everything. If you are unsure what will work best for your baby, you might want to speak with your pediatrician to gain more insight.
Lack Of Consistency In Bedtime Routine
One crucial aspect of sleep training is an established bedtime routine. The failure of a soothing and predictable bedtime routine makes it more likely that the baby has a difficult time relaxing and can thus suffer problematic bedtime resistance or nighttime interruptions. For example, rushed or inconsistent bedtime routines are often overstimulating to a baby, so they cannot easily settle down at night.
- How to Prevent It: Create a soothing nighttime routine that might include a warm bath, a bedtime story, dimming the lights, or singing a lullaby. Make sure that these things are consistent every night so your baby learns that it’s time to sleep. This predictable routine will give your baby an idea that it’s time to calm down.
Overreacting To Crying Too Fast
It is very instinctive to want to go to your baby when they cry. However, rushing to his or her side a little too quickly undermines the sleep training process. If you always pick up your baby every time they cry, then they will not learn how to settle or fall asleep on their own. Some time for them to settle themselves may help them develop independent sleep skills.
- How to Avoid It: Give your baby some minutes to settle before you answer to his cries. Gradually increase the time before you respond, which will help your baby learn how to self-soothe. This is one of the necessary components of sleep training and will enable your baby to get used to falling asleep independently.
Being Too Harsh Or Too Soft
The other mistake is to be either too strict or too lenient in your approach. Some parents could get over-strict, forcing the baby into independent sleep too soon and becomes stressful for both the baby and parents. Conversely, if they are too lenient, the baby may not learn the appropriate skills to sleep independently.
Strike the right balance by being firm yet empathic. If you use a control crying method, be sure to comfort your baby in advance of leaving him to his crying fit. A gentle approach simply requires that you stay consistent enough so your child learns it’s coming each night. Be consistent and empathetic towards your child’s need, hence making the whole process an easy one in achieving desired results on sleep training.
Overstimulation At Bedtime
Bed time overstimulation is hard to sleep for your baby. Your baby is sensitive to outside stimuli, and exciting activities before bed time will make it difficult to sleep. Loud noises, bright lights, or active play will overstimulate your baby and prevent them from sleeping.
- How to Avoid It: End the day gently and peacefully. Avoid exciting activities such as playing or screen use, loud noises, or too much excitement. Use the time for gentle activities like reading, some gentle rocking, or soft lullabies. This would help your little one unwind and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Waiting For immediate Result
Such training does not take place overnight, and most first-time parents expect that their babies will start sleeping well right from the first night. It cannot happen this way because babies do not know how to change sleep habits. A few weeks may go by before your baby knows when to fall into a good sleep and to fall asleep alone. Many end up sleep training because they feel frustrated and cannot see results quickly. This leaves confusion in babies.
- How to Prevent It: Be patient and realistic. No matter which approach you select, it takes time, and you must follow it for weeks before things really start to fall into place. Stick to it, and let time pass; your baby will adapt to his new sleep routine.
Conclusion
One of the most important tools to be used in helping your baby develop healthy sleep habits is sleep training. However, common mistakes can delay progress. If you start at the right time, are consistent with your approach, establish a soothing bedtime routine, and are patient, you can help your baby learn to sleep independently, and both you and your baby will have better sleep. Every baby is different. So it’s good to keep that in mind: flexibility is key in finding what works best for your family. And then you wake up one morning, and time and perseverance pay off, and both you and baby are sleeping peacefully throughout the night.
FAQ’s
What’s the toughest day of sleep training?
The hardest days are the first few, especially day 2 or 3 when one does feel that both parents and baby are still trying to settle down. This consistency really helps to set up a routine.
What age is too late to conduct sleep training?
There is no upper age limit, but the best time is between 4 to 6 months old. There is still a possibility to train older kids provided you adapt routines for them.