Advice History

TRANSITIONAL OBJECTS

It helps to get your baby attached to a transitional object that they will associate with sleep. If you haven't done this from birth, it is definitely never too late. Here is how you do it:

 

1. Choose a transitional object e.g. a stuffed bear or a baby blanket

2. Parent/s should walk around the house for three days with the object, cuddling with it and occasionally saying within earshot of your child. "Oh, I love my soft blankie, or bear." Yes, you will look insane if a neighbor comes by but it is worth it!

3. By the fourth day (latest!) your child will be obsessed with the object.

 

 

If your kid just can't seem to stay in bed without you, after reading to them and turning out the lights, let them know you will lay with them for five more minutes. Then count down each minute they have left with you. This helps calm them and makes them know to cherish these last moments with you. After five minutes, give them a kiss and tell them it's time to sleep. Another strategy is to let them know that you will check on them in a few minutes. Sometimes they will stay up to make sure you come back other times just knowing you will come back is enough to make them fall asleep easier.

However.....

The key to this sleep issue is to start from the beginning - the very first day you bring your baby home from the hospital.  You need to put your baby to bed while still awake.  Resist the temptation to hold, rock or feed him until he falls asleep.  This seems to go against some sort of maternal instinct.  But, this just creates his dependence on you in order to fall asleep.  If you do this, you will have a child who loves to go to bed and may even go to bed without you telling him to!

More Tips and Tricks

1. Make sure your child is waking up early enough. You can't expect a child who slept in until 9 or 10 to go to bed at 7. Avoid late afternoon naps, too.

2. Give baths at night. Start your bedtime ritual with a soothing, warm bath to help transition your baby from day time (awake time) to nighttime (sleep time).

3. Establish your bedtime routine when your child is still a baby. Repeat the ritual every night without fail, even when some nights don't result in your child immediately going to sleep. Eventually, he'll get the hang of it and your hard work will be rewarded.