Forum

Which blog article, magazine, or facts have you lately read regarding Sleep Specialists? Did you find it valuable? Because of what reason?.

Some experts advise keeping interaction to a minimum when little ones wake up at night so that they don’t get the idea that night-time is play time. Whatever you choose to do, using low lighting and quiet voices when your baby wakes at night can be a great way to help your little one starts to recognise that night and day are different (and night is for sleeping). When parents report that their infants are “sleeping through the night,” it isn’t that their babies are never waking up. Rather, babies are falling back to sleep, quietly, without signaling their parents. But young infants sleep very restlessly. They frequently vocalize, and sometimes even open their eyes. It is advised that a baby should stay in their own cot in the parental room until they are at least six months old. The safest way for a newborn to sleep is on their back, in the feet to foot position unless told to do otherwise for medical reasons. This is one of the most protective actions you can take to sleep as safely as possible. We know that in the early 1990s, there were thousands of babies worldwide dying suddenly and unexpectedly every year. The reason the number of deaths is much lower now is due to the new advice being followed by parents, such as lying babies on their backs to sleep. Many infants need help making the transition from being awake to falling asleep, which is really a prolongation of the bedtime ritual that conditions baby that sleep is expected to soon follow. Wondering how to get your baby into a routine for bedtime? You’re not alone. Mastering the challenges of night and day, feeding and playtime can be tough – especially when you’re running on only a few hours’ sleep yourself.

As long as baby is put down to sleep on their back, and that baby is dressed appropriately for the room temperature – not overdressed or under dressed – with their head and face uncovered, you can feel reassured that you are protecting baby from overheating. As your baby grows, they’ll need fewer night feeds and will be able to sleep for longer. Some babies will sleep for eight hours or longer at night, but not all. By four months, they may be spending around twice as long sleeping at night as they do during the day. If it’s possible, discourage your little one from dipping in out of catnaps when you’re out and about, as the nap they have is likely to be less relaxing than sleep that happens in the cot. On the whole, your little one will sleep better at home in their cot. If in your pre-baby life you’ve enjoyed getting roughly eight hours sleep a night to help you deal with the day ahead, then along comes a newborn. You’ll know that this quickly becomes a thing of the past. Sound familiar? It’s not easy but understanding what your newborn needs from sleep can at least help you to get some perspective on what you’re all dealing with and why. If you're looking for a compassionate, effective and evidence-based approach to sleep or just advice on one thing like ferber method then a baby sleep specialist will be able to help you.

The First Few Months Can Be A Bit Of A Blur

If your baby or toddler is really fighting going to sleep, stop for a second to think about how long they slept the previous night, how many naps they’ve had that day and for how long, and also think about how active they have been so far that day, it may simply be they are just not tired enough to show signs of needing sleep at the moment, so do something else calmly and quietly with your baby. Try the 'hands-on settling technique' and, as your baby calms or falls asleep, move away from the cot or leave the room. If your baby starts to become distressed, return and continue to comfort your baby using patting and calming sounds before moving away or leaving the room again. Some babies may need you to stay in the room until they are asleep. If parents understand that babies come out of the womb with “a high need to be held”, this can make a huge difference, otherwise parents think if they hold them now, they will be holding them for 18 years. Rock them, roll them, swing them, sling them, there is no such thing as bad habits – it’s all about getting through these first few months and laying a foundation as you do. A large study of evidence from across Europe found that the risk of sudden infant death was greatly reduced when babies slept in the same room as their parents. This is why The Lullaby Trust recommends keeping your little one close by for the first six months, even for day time naps. If your baby is showing signs of teething during the day — such as drooling, biting, feeding fussiness and irritability — teething pain may also be waking her up at night. Keep in mind that teething-related sleep issues can begin almost any time during the first year: Some babies get their first tooth by the time they're 6 months old with teething pain starting as early as 3 or 4 months, while others are toothless until their first birthday. A sleep consultant will take a holistic approach to create a sleeping system that you can manage and one which takes into account 4 month sleep regression as well as the needs of the baby and considerations of each family member.

A 4 month sleep regression can happen anywhere between 3.5-5 months. This is a biological shift in how your child’s brain is organizing sleep, so like any milestone; sitting, crawling, talking, etc., this one tends to happen around a certain month, but will depend on your child’s development. Avoid scheduling errands when it's baby's naptime. If your cutie does fall asleep in the stroller, car seat or swing, be sure to transfer him to the crib as soon as possible. A better understanding of your baby’s sleep cycles and patterns can help you better support them as they adjust. This can mean changing their sleep environment to meet their needs. Just like adults, the older they get, the more their sleep environment will impact the quality of their sleep. Whilst it can be tempting to rock your baby to sleep, be prepared that this may be building up problems for the future. If your baby is used to you always being in the room when they fall asleep, they may find it difficult to fall back to sleep when they wake up during the night. The sooner you teach your baby that night wakings won’t result in instant feedings, the sooner he’ll learn to sleep through the night. Just make sure that your baby isn’t truly hungry (and if he is, feed him). You can then start the process of upping the amount he eats during the day if your pediatrician says he’s ready. If you need guidance on sleep training then let a sleep consultant support you in unlocking your child's potential, with their gentle, empathetic approach to sleep.

Get Realistic Expectations About Your Baby’s Sleep Habits

Co-sleeping with baby is very much a personal choice so we would just advise you to read all the information on safer co-sleeping so you can make an informed decision. That way even if you decide not to co-sleep you can make your bed a safer place for your baby if you doze off accidentally. Placing a warm baby onto cold sheets can cause trouble. Especially in cold weather, use flannel sheets or place a warm towel on the sheets to warm them. But be sure to remove the towel before placing baby on the warmed sheets. It’s important that you put your baby to sleep on their back, unless your doctor has said otherwise based on medical reasons. Lying your baby down in that position is one of the best ways of making sure they drift off as safely as possible. If your baby can be tense or appear fretful at times, using baby massage can help ease their mood, which in turn can help them relax enough to fall more gently to sleep. Newborn babies invariably wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months, and disturbed nights can be very hard to cope with. If you have a partner, ask them to help. If you’re formula feeding, encourage your partner to share the feeds. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your partner to take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep. The gentle approach and caring manner of a baby sleep expert allows them to assist you in the most preferable way to deal with sleep regression and to assist you and your family in any way possible.

This is a great time to create a few bedtime habits. It signals to your baby that bedtime is coming, and it’s nearly sleep time. Sleep experts say it should last about half an hour – no more than 45 minutes – and take place calmly in the bedroom and bathroom. Don’t go into the playroom or living areas in case your baby thinks it’s time to play. What you do is up to you but it could include: warm bath, nappy change and pjs on, milk and story. Parents can begin to establish a “start” time each day to wake baby up. Ideally, this would be more or less the same time each morning, but it can vary by about thirty to sixty minutes. Lower melatonin levels makes it difficult for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep and can lead to early wake-ups. When your little one is still, quiet, disinterested in her surroundings, and staring off into space, melatonin is peaking in her system and it's time to go to bed. Teething is a condition when the baby develops its first set of milk teeth. In this phase, the infant might experience some pain, mild bouts of fever, diarrhea and increased sleep regression. A particularly painful teething process can mess up the sleep schedule. You might need to book an appointment with a pediatrician. While a night light might seem like a classic decor item in a baby’s room, babies aren’t afraid of the dark—and sleep experts say night lights, projectors and crib aquariums can interfere with sleep. If you do use a night light, tuck it behind something so it offers a soft glow and is less distracting. Sleep consultants support hundreds of families every year, assisting with things such as gentle sleep training using gentle, tailored methods.

Watch For The Yawns

If you haven't had a good night's sleep since your baby was born, you're not alone. Sleepless nights are a rite of passage for most new parents — but don't despair. You can help your baby sleep all night. Honestly! If your child goes to bed at a normal time and you suspect she’s waking due to morning disturbances (she’s grouchy and overly tired during the day), try these tricks: Darken the windows with heavy drapes if you think light is waking her; Use a strong white noise all night to mask distracting sounds; or Boost her daytime calories and give a dream feed at midnight to reduce early-morning hunger. Babies will sleep for around 12 to 15 hours in total after their first birthday. Most 2 year olds will sleep for 11 to 12 hours at night, with 1 or 2 naps in the daytime. Most children aged 3 or 4 will need about 12 hours sleep, but this can range from 8 hours up to 14. Some young children will still need a nap during the day. Unearth extra details on the topic of Sleep Specialists on this NHS link.

Related Articles:

Now Is The Time For You To Know The Truth About Baby Sleep Specialists
What Are Sleep Consultants And Why Is This Matter Invaluable To You?
Every Single Thing You Need To Comprehend About Sleep Specialists