Frequent Overnight Waking? Transform Your Baby’s Nights with This Game-Changing Tip!
Unlocking Peaceful Nights for Tired Parents: A Quick Guide
Parenting, especially when it comes to your baby’s sleep, is a journey filled with challenges. One common scenario is the immediate rush to comfort a waking baby during the night. What if a simple change in approach could make a significant difference?
PAUSE… Give your baby 5-10 minutes to have the opportunity to resettle back to sleep when they wake at night as they transition between overnight sleep cycles.
- Nightly Wake-Ups: Both adults and babies experience multiple wake-ups during the night. While adults might not recall these brief moments, babies are still learning the ropes of sleep cycles. These are occurring 4-6 times through the night therefore, it is really important to give them the opportunity to try and resettle back to sleep without intervening so quickly!
- Dependency on Sleep Aids: If your little one has always relied on being rocked, fed to sleep, use of the pacifier etc., they may need assistance when waking up at night. Breaking this dependency is a crucial step. Start layering in different associations if you are wanting to remove a crutch that is no longer sustainable long term.
- Independent Sleep Transition: As your baby learns to transition independently between sleep cycles, they might still cry out upon waking. Waiting a few minutes before intervening allows them to settle back to sleep on their own.
- Avoid Immediate Assistance: Immediate assistance, especially for some children, can lead to complete awakenings and future habitual wake-ups. Patience in those initial minutes can make a significant impact.
- Encourage Self-Soothing: If your baby continues crying for more than a few minutes, offering comfort is important. However, encouraging them to self-soothe is equally vital. Use your voice for reassurance, gently pat or rub their back, but avoid picking them up or nursing back to sleep unless it’s time for a feed.
- Transitioning Techniques: Gradually reduce full patting after 16 weeks, as it becomes more disruptive than effective. This transition is part of fostering self-soothing abilities.
Sleep well and thrive,
Sarah Oliver -Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Ready to transform your family’s sleep habits? Book a free discovery call today. It’s the first step toward a well-rested and happier household. You’re not alone – I’m here to support you on this journey.