...
By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The secret to getting your baby to sleep anywhere has been revealed by a leading childcare expert.
Tami Wornham is a baby sleep consultant for Hubble Connected and founder of The Baby Days, a sleep consultancy that specializes in toddlers and babies. "There are several mistakes parents often make when trying to get their babies to sleep," she told Newsweek.
In 2019, a study published in the scientific journal Sleep, found that new parents face as much as six years of sleep deprivation following the birth of their first child.
Read More
Internet Backs Teen Vetoing Stepmom’s Favorite Baby Name—’I Hated It’5 min read
Woman Not Allowing Mother-in-law to Meet Newborn After 16-hour Drive Backed5 min read
Why You Can Understand What Your Baby Is Trying to Say4 min read
Researchers in the study found that sleep satisfaction and duration was at their worst during the first three months postpartum, with mothers losing around 40 minutes of sleep a night over the course of the year following a baby's arrival.
However, while it's one thing to experience sleep issues in the months immediately after a child's birth, the stark reality is that many parents continue to struggle to get their children to have a full night's sleep.
There are steps that can be taken to improve things, though, according to Wornham. She has helped thousands of parents and children to get back into a better sleep routine and knows the most-common mistakes all too well.
Common Mistakes New Parents Make
Wornham said there were many errors made: "For example, they might miss sleep cues and end up putting their baby to bed too late, when they're already overtired. Important sleep cues to look out for include yawning, staring blankly, losing interest in activities, and red eyebrows.
"On the other hand, parents might rush their bedtime routines when they have lots of things to do," Wornham added. "Babies usually pick up on their parents' stress, so doing this can cause difficulties. If your baby mirrors your anxious emotions, they won't settle."
Wornham said parents should avoid letting their child nap too much or too close to bedtime. "This will mean there's not enough sleep pressure (the amount of time awake between naps) on the baby, and they won't be tired enough," Wornham added.
Create a Bedtime Routine
She also said how important it is to create a bedtime routine that is both consistent and calming to help the young child realize that it is time to sleep. An uncluttered room that is quiet and dark, with a temperature between 16 and 20 degrees Centigrade, is crucial to this.
Even so, in her experience, Wornham said it is important not to have unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved. "For example, most newborns won't be put into their crib awake and go to sleep straight away," she added. "They need feeding or rocking and, if a parent's expectations are too high, they could struggle and become anxious when this isn't the immediate outcome."
...
Get Your Baby to Sleep Anywhere
However, while getting your baby into a good routine is important, parents also need to establish routines and practices that will enable their young child to sleep anywhere and everywhere.
In Wornham's experience, it all boils down to one thing: practice. "The secret to getting your baby to sleep anywhere is lots of practice from a young age," she said. "Get them used to sleeping in different places: in their pram, sling, cot, relatives' houses; anywhere you're wanting to visit."
Timing naps to coincide with journeys and using white-noise machines and snooze shades in the pram to further promote sleep during this time can also be of huge benefit.
Though it might seem counterintuitive, Wornham said doing things like having the radio on at home while the baby is trying to sleep in the day can be of huge benefit in the long run. "This will help your baby understand that naps don't need to be in complete silence," she added. "In turn, they'll become more adaptable when sleeping on the go."
Similarly, Wornham said encouraging your baby to nap in a lighter room will help ensure they "don't become dependent on sleeping in the dark during the day."
Spending a Night Away With Your Baby
Though parents of young infants might be put off by the idea of spending the night away from home with a baby, Wornham said that it is just about maintaining consistency.
"Try to create a similar environment to the one they're used to at home," she added. "This will be aided by maintaining a consistent bedtime routine when possible; doing all you can to have them nap at similar times; and using a sleep cue whenever you're putting them down like a phrase or song."
Ultimately, Wornham said it's important to understand that things can go wrong and that it is important to seek out assistance if and when needed. "Every baby is different; don't be afraid to ask for help," she added.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines