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5 benefits of creating a routine for your baby

Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:33:47 +0000

Creating a routine for your baby simply means that you will perform his or her activities at the same time each day. In other words, your baby will;

Go down for naps at the same time each day
Feed at the same time each day
Have awake time in which he or she plays and takes part in activities at the same time each day

Benefits of creating a routine

A baby who sleeps well in the day, will sleep well at night. A well-rested baby is a happy baby who is alert and can engage in developmental activities.
A baby tends to thrive and has no problem meeting milestones once a routine has been implemented – this links back to a well-rested baby being a happy baby.
For you as a parent, a routine helps you to plan your day as you know what time baby needs to eat and sleep.
Having a routine makes it easier for other caregivers to step in if you need the help. Plus, because your baby is in a routine, he or she should not react negatively to the change in environment.
Toddlers who have been in a routine since baby days are less likely to throw tantrums as they know what to expect out of their day.

A flexible, age appropriate routine will no doubt ensure a happy and healthy baby.

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Is your baby a cry baby?

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 09:48:33 +0000

Most, if not all parents are cry sensitive

When I was a first time mom, I believed that babies only cried when they were close to dying. Hence the reason I was in a complete panic when I first took my baby home and he did not stop crying!

I soon learned that babies cry. Period. Studies suggest a newborn cries for an average of two to three hours each day!

All babies cry. They cry because they are wet, uncomfortable, unhappy or hungry and sometimes just because they are babies.

Crying baby equals a crying mom

If we know this, then why does our baby’s crying bothers us so much?

According to Dr. Aletha Solter in her book, Tears and Tantrums: “Children’s tears and tantrums elicit strong feelings in adults”. A survey in the US asked new mothers to describe their feelings when they were unable to quiet their crying infants.

The mothers explained feelings of exasperation, being afraid, anxiety, being unloving as well as feeling resentful and confused.

Biologically our heart rates and blood pressure increase when we hear our children cry. We have been designed to react when our children cry. It is intrinsic to the beautiful way in which we’ve been created.

Why does a baby’s crying bother us so much?

Because it is loud! Very loud! The Decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the loudness of a sound. A baby’s cry is measured at around 110 dB.

To put this into perspective, an alarm clock is around 80dB and an ambulance siren is just slightly louder at 120dB! So when your baby cries it is like putting an alarm clock next to your ear.

Crying is a safety mechanism

The point is that babies cry. They cry loudly and they cry often. It is unnatural to “like” it when your baby cries, nobody does. However, there is such a thing as “good crying”.When your child is sad, he or she should be allowed to cry. Scientists believe that crying can be considered to be a safety mechanism because it aids the body in releasing stress-related toxins.

Furthermore, if your toddler plays with a dangerous object it is in the best interested of your child to remove that item from him. If you’ve ever dealt with a two year old, then you’d likely know that he will cry loudly when you do this. But should we then rather give him back this dangerous item because he becomes emotional about it? Of course not! You are the parent; you know how to protect your child.

The same can be said about sleep. Sometimes your child will protest because you do not allow him to drink a bottle or breastfeed five times during the night, or because you force him to go to bed at seven pm.

We are parents for a reason, and we cannot always allow our children to have what they want, even though they might cry about it.

About the Author: Good Night is a child and baby sleep consultancy that specialises in helping parents with children who struggle to sleep soundly. For more information, visit: www.goodnightbaby.co.za

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Sleep training: What you need to know before you start!

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 08:10:39 +0000

Most sleep deprived parents will be ready to try anything to get a good night’s sleep. Most likely you are holding onto the hope that you can change your little ones unhealthy sleep habits without resorting to letting him cry.

The good news is that sleep training does not have to mean leaving your baby to cry for hours on end on his own.

All methods of sleep training entail some fussing and crying. You are teaching your baby a new skill and breaking old expectations.

While some crying is unavoidable the ‘Crying it out’ method is not advisable, as it can make your baby feel abandoned and emotionally insecure.

The goal of sleep training is not only to teach your baby to sleep through the night but, to teach your baby to fall asleep independently and to put himself back to sleep should he wake during the night.

Because babies pass through light sleep states every 45 minutes at night (up to an hour in toddlers), it is not possible to prevent your baby stirring at night (due to sleep cycles) but it is possible for you to teach your baby to go back to sleep without your assistance.

This means that you will give him a chance to see if he can put himself to sleep (or back to sleep). By not leaving your baby on his own for long periods of time and by portraying a message of consistency and confidence your baby will feel secure not abandoned.

When controlled crying for sleep training is done in the correct manner to meet your child’s needs on all levels, especially his emotional needs, there should be no negative effects whatsoever – in fact a well-rested child with well-rested parents plays an important part of creating a loving and secure home.

Have the courage to be firm, without guilt or fear that your baby will resent or love you less.

Before you start:

Decide on an appropriate time to begin
Rule out medical causes of night waking
Ensure your baby’s diet is adequate for his age, with sufficient milk and age appropriate solid food
Your baby’s sleep zone must support sleep and be a consistent and calming environment.
Encourage a comfort object (dummy, soft toy)
A consistent bedtime routine is an excellent way of preparing your baby for sleep.
If you are both working, arrange for a days leave on either end of your weekend, to allow consistent time to change the unhealthy sleep habits.
Try to rest during the day as it essential that you are rested for the night ahead. If you are not prepared, you will be more likely to give up or be inconsistent out of sheer exhaustion.
If possible, take shifts with your partner to allow you to have some undisturbed sleep somewhere along the line to recharge!
If you have other children or demands, try to elicit help and support from other care-givers for the first few days, so that you can invest sufficient time and energy into the programme. Reassure your other children that you will make it up to them later – don’t forget to do this!
Earmark a reward for yourself at the end of it all

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