Wednesday 28 January 2015

How to Lengthen Day sleep

The dreaded cat nap! Is it possible to lengthen my baby’s day sleep? is a frequent question I hear.


The answer can be yes… and it can be no! 

Basically see what your baby needs. Some may be quite happy to have a number of shorter sleeps in the day. Others very obviously need to have at least one longer sleep because of their behaviour.
If your baby is cranky or unhappy a lot of the time in the day it may be that he or she needs more sleep even if he or she is getting some sleep already.

Here are 3 tips to help lengthen your baby’s sleep time:


1. Catch early tired signs:
 If your baby is going to bed already overtired it is harder for him or her to get to sleep initially and then to stay asleep. This is because they feel yucky from being overtired.  Think about when you are overtired.  It  usually takes a long time to go to sleep, by time you do you feel even more cranky and frustrated because you just want to sleep.

2. Watch what,if any, sleep associations your  little one needs for sleep:
A sleep association is something your little one needs to go to sleep.  As adults we may have a favourite pillow, need a blanket on etc to sleep well.  These are all sleep associations that are helpful. If your baby has a sleep association that is not there when he or she comes into a light sleep, it may prevent him or her from going back to sleep in the next cycle. For example a young baby falling asleep with a dummy and then losing it.

3. Be persistent:
If you can see that your little one needs more sleep, keep at it. Your little one is too immature to decide this for him or herself.  This is where as a parent, it is up to you to seek out ideas, tips or strategies to help, to implement them and to stick with it. Your baby’s age will affect how long it will take to teach something new. A younger baby may not have habits ingrained as much as an older baby. It takes time to form a  new habit which is basically what we are doing. We are teaching something new.  A lot of parents give up too soon.  Keep at it and it will change.

Helping your baby to get more sleep will bring it’s own rewards.  Your baby will be so much happier. In addition you will enjoy him or her even more and you will feel happier that your little one is happier. Babies thrive when they are well rested.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Peaceful baby sleep & getting rid of the dummy

Peaceful baby sleep and getting rid of the dummy



Baby sleep and dummies.

 

So many parents struggle with how to get rid of their baby’s dummy.
It’s a question I answer almost weekly. If you are wanting to ditch the dummy don’t worry!
It can be done, probably more easily than you think!

Using a dummy to help soothe your baby can be helpful when your baby is little. However, a dummy can go from being helpful to becoming a problem  for baby sleep as your baby grows. By this time the baby can be very dependant on his or her dummy.

Anything we do repeatedly becomes an ingrained habit for babies, toddlers and children. Repetition is a useful way to learn. It gives little ones that sense of security because they know what to expect. Changing what they know can be a hard task. A change to any habit is usually met with resistance, particularly by young babies because they cannot put into words what they may thinking or feeling.

Most babies will scream when any changes are made to habits and expectations that are really ingrained.It’s their only way of protesting.  Most parents, understandably, avoid this situation and inadvertently make unhelpful habits even stronger. Don’t be afraid of crying. You can support help them to work through their feelings.

A dummy is used to soothe. When you are getting rid of the dummy it is essential to show your baby other ways to soothe. A firm, calm cuddle is one of the best ways to soothe your baby.

Some techniques and principles to assist in getting rid of the dummy:
  • clear communication
  • plenty of emotional support
  • planning and alternatives
  • expecting and working through resistance

With careful planning and a concerted follow through getting rid of your baby’s dummy can be achieved with relative ease. You can also enjoy peaceful baby seep again.