Sleep training a baby- how to and what you should expect

Sleeping is an essential part of the development of the human body. And having a consistent sleeping routine can help regulate the mind and nourish the body.

It’s crucial for babies to have a well-established sleeping routine from a young age. That will help them mentally and physically in the long term, and give them a sense of security in knowing what to expect. 

At what age should I start sleep training my baby?

Start sleep training as young as 4 months old, that’s when the baby is past the 4th trimester and is starting to get used to the outside world. 

Your baby can sleep for longer hours now and feed less during the night. Bear in mind that sleep training doesn’t mean that your baby won’t wake up at all. This won’t be possible when your baby is teething or going through a sleep regression or a growth spurt. 

The idea of sleep training your baby is to give him a consistent and predictable sleeping routine. Each baby’s different and each family has different schedules and preferences, but a good time for a baby to sleep is around 7 to 8. 

That means that your sleeping routine will start about half an hour before the intended sleeping time. This will include bath time, the last feed, reading a nighttime story, dimming the lights, eliminating noises…etc you choose what’s best for you. 

How can I teach my baby to sleep alone?

Training a baby to sleep can be a hard adjustment for you and your baby. However, being consistent with your routine will make it easier for him to get used to it. 

If you want a successful experience then you need to start implementing some new habits and getting rid of old ones. 

• Don’t feed or rock your baby to sleep

Make sure your baby is well-fed before going to bed, but do not feed to sleep. As this will give your baby the habit of only sleeping if he’s feeding. When your baby gets used to feeding to sleep, he will only feed for comfort as he gets older. And whenever he’s not feeding he’ll keep waking up. This is not going to be ideal for you. 

• Make sure his nappy is dry

The last thing you should check before your baby sleeps is, his nappy. make sure it’s all clean and dry before putting him down in his crib. And the first thing you want to check if he wakes up during the night is also his nappy. Babies can wet their nappies often because their tummies are still small and they digest food quicker. 

• Make sure he’s not going through a growth spurt

In the first years of their lives, babies go through short periods of growth spurts. This can cause sleep regression, fussiness, cluster feeding as well as emotional outbursts, that’s totally normal. What you should do is stay consistent with your bedtime schedule no matter what. But be patient as your baby will need you emotionally and physically during those times. So be prepared and don’t feel discouraged.

• Make sure he’s not teething

One of the things that will make your baby wake up during the night in the first two years is teething. It can be painful and itchy as his teeth come through his gums. But there’s a solution for that. You can apply some teething gel over his gums and the pain will be gone immediately. 

• Check the room temperature 

Babies sleep best in a not-too-warm environment. You might be surprised to hear that but babies prefer colder temperatures to warm temperatures. So don’t feel tempted to dress your baby too much during sleep time and make sure the room is at a normal temperature, not too cold and not too warm, or something in between.

You may also want to read: Transitioning from one child to two- what you should know

What will happen if I don’t sleep-train my baby?

 The truth is, nothing serious will happen if you don’t sleep train your baby. However,  leaving your baby without a consistent sleeping routine will prevent him from:

• Telling the difference between daytime and nighttime. 

• It will prevent his body from producing a very important hormone called Melatonin—a hormone that is released in response to darkness. It helps regulate sleep and prevent sleep disorders along with other health benefits.

• Sleeping early is important for the development of your baby’s body and brain.

• Babies who sleep early and consistently have better emotional and physical development outcomes. 

• It will help you as a parent to gain some rest and restore your energy. Without mentioning having some “me time”.

In general, babies need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep. And if they don’t get that amount of sleep during nighttime, they’ll either sleep during the day Or not have enough sleep which is going to cause them so much stress and trouble concentrating. And prevent them from learning and absorbing information effectively.

Is it too late to sleep train my baby?

It’s never too late to start a new good habit. Adults sometimes need sleep training too. It can be harder for your child to adjust to the new routine, but eventually, he will learn and get used to the new schedule if you stay consistent with it. 

Tips for an effective sleep training

• make sure the room is fully dark
• eliminate noises- speaking loudly, loud tv, don’t use the washing machine during sleep time…etc
• Some parents swear by white noise devices, but I don’t recommend them as they can get damaged and your baby will only sleep if there’s white noise playing in the background, Not ideal!
• use a humidifier, especially during wintertime when the air is dry.
• associate your baby’s sleep with a scent, it can be a perfume that you only spray on his clothes whenever he goes to sleep or essential oil in a diffuser.
• sing a bedtime song.
• read a bedtime story.
• use affirmations and/or prayer

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