If your newborn is not sleeping, chances are you’re desperate to try just about anything to catch at least 40 winks. But beware, not all sleep advice will work. In fact, most of what you hear (and find during your middle-of-the-night Google searches) is actually a myth.
Here are the most common myths about sleep…
Myth One: All soothers are good for my baby’s sleeping habits
Unfortunately, not all soothers (dummy’s, taglet blankets, mommy’s fingers, milk) is good for your child’s sleeping habits. It depends on your child’s age and tendencies, but chances are that he can use some of these to aid in falling asleep which never allows the self soothing skill to develop.
Myth Two: The more tired my baby gets during the day, the better he will sleep
Actually it works the other way around. The better rested your child is, the more he will sleep.
Myth Three: Some children are just bad sleepers and they will grow out of it eventually
Did you know that studies have shown that adults who tend to have insomnia and bad sleeping habits were actually bad sleepers as children? Sleeping is actually a skill we need to teach our children, just like walking, eating and drinking. Your baby will not grow out of it. The earlier you address it the better…
Myth Four: I can wait to start teaching my child the skills to sleep when he is older or on solids
Fact: we, as parents interfere with our children’s healthy development of good sleep cycles. There is so much that we can do better from the day they are born to implement healthy sleep associations and awake-sleep cycles.
Myth Five: The only way I can teach my child to self soothe is to leave him to cry-it-out
Teaching your child to self soothe is not just a matter of leaving him to cry. There is so much that you can do as parent to follow a structured sleep plan that will teach your baby this skill. Sleep is influenced by so many things; stimulation, routine, feeding habits, bedtime, health, discipline, and a trained professional can help you to implement changes in your child’s life that teaches him the art to self soothe. Remember that crying is your child’s way of protesting change, and not all crying is bad.
Myth Six: It is selfish of me to want to have my child sleep through the night
Remember that teaching your child self soothing strategies are not about you. Consolidated, uninterrupted (11 to 12 hours) sleep is what your child needs. By taking the necessary steps to achieve restful, consolidated sleep for your child, you will be giving them a skill they will carry with them throughout their lives. And this is truly a gift.
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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