Your job is to set him up for success by getting all of the external factors right. You and your baby work together on this: the routine is parent-directed while the independent sleep skills have to come from the baby. Sleep training has two parts: getting your baby on a developmentally appropriate sleep schedule and teaching your sweet baby to fall asleep on his own. You might even see your infant start to meet her milestones at a faster pace. You will see a more alert and content infant who cries and fusses considerably less. Good sleep has more benefits than begetting more of itself too. Even a four-month-old can barely make two hours before it is time to put her down. Many people do not realize how short a time babies are meant to stay awake before napping. Night sleep will come in longer stretches. A baby who was fully restored at their last nap will sleep soundly and happily through their next sleep. A Well-Rested BabyĮnsuring that your baby falls asleep before the stress hormones roll in makes all the difference.
The primary goal of sleep training is a well-rested baby. This cycle of over-tiredness is why we cannot just let little ones sleep when they want to. No one wants to live with all that stress, especially if you can solve the problem with such a simple solution: nap time! It’s a vicious cycle…and a really unpleasant one for both your little one and you. Meanwhile, the stress hormones keep him more and more alert. If he continues to miss out on restorative sleep, his body becomes exhausted. His body experiences stress and the increased energy makes it even more difficult for him to fall asleep. The difference is that it’s much harder for a baby to handle. This is what happens to a baby who misses the right time to go down for a nap. You did not go to sleep when your body clock said it was time. Your body produces them because it senses that something is wrong. Have you ever stayed up later than usual and experienced a second wind? That surge of energy is from the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. To understand why this is true, let’s take a look at what happens when a baby is not well rested. What Happens When a Baby is Sleep Deprived? In fact, one of the most important factors in sleeping through the night is a well-rested baby. Keeping a baby up longer during the day will not tire them out for a good night’s rest. We’ve all heard people say things like, “Better not let them nap too much if you want sleep tonight”…but maybe we need to re-think that!īabies who take good naps will actually sleep better overnight (and babies who take good naps have parents who get more sleep at night, too!). What is it, you ask? Babies who nap well during the day will sleep well during the night. After all, if baby isn’t sleeping, neither are Mom and Dad.īut many parents don’t know this one simple secret trick to having a baby who sleeps better at night. Babies who get enough sleep are happier….and have parents who are happier, too.