Many parents dread the infamous sleepless nights with newborn baby; they look at it as a doomed part of parenthood. However, the first few months of restless nights and bags under the eyes are a needed and special part of parenting. It allows parents and baby to bond and learn to trust each other. By establishing healthy sleep habits, AskDrSears states that babies can "create a healthy sleep attitude that lasts a lifetime." Experts agree that it is important not to begin any strict routine until at least 6 months of age, so baby is able to understand the desires of the method.
Flexibility
The key to "nighttime parenting" is flexibility. Pediatricians at AskDrSears suggest that there is no right method to parenting in the day or the night, and they remind parents that "sleeping, like eating, is not a state you can force baby into."
Sleep Methods
There are hundreds of products available promising to get baby to sleep through the night, and many parents would pay a lot of money for such a result. The problem is that many methods are so strict that they take the parent's own judgment out of the equation and force parents to implement a rigid routine for themselves and baby.
Although methods differ, babies, especially in the first six months, need to have their needs met immediately. The time-tested parenting book, "What to Expect The First Year," explains that "studies show pouring on the comfort now---by picking her up within a couple of minutes whenever she cries and catering to all her needs---not only won't turn out a spoiled brat, it will turn out a happy, more self-reliant child who in the long run will cry less and demand less attention."
Daytime Habits
Helpful habits to adopt in trying to induce sleep at night include making sure baby eats during the day. Don't allow them to snack here and there, but encourage your baby to eat full meals to keep the tummy full through the day. Teaching her to eat when food is available may also help her stomach stay full throughout the night. It's also important to cuddle and nurture baby throughout the day so that she begins to have a deep trust in her environment and parents. This security will help her find comfort in everything, including sleep.
Nighttime Habits
A bedtime routine is another helpful habit to adopt; establishing a routine of various activities like bath time, reading, lullabies and cuddling will help baby associate these activities with winding down and sleeping. Some methods encourage mom to lay baby down while drowsy but not sleeping, and others allow mom to cuddle until baby is fully asleep. Parenting is personal and therefore it is important to keep parenting style in mind when "following" a certain method. Some say it's easier for a baby to learn to fall asleep on her own, and others think a baby is better nestled in mom's arms until being transferred to her bed.
Remember that the first few months with baby are fleeting and should be enjoyed as much as possible. If that means cuddling baby to sleep every night, so be it. Just know that this is the routine being established with your baby and she will come to expect it.
Long-Term Goals
The primary question parents should ask themselves when trying to help baby sleep is, "Does it feel right?" Many programs, according to Dr. Sears, "involve the risk of creating a distance between you and your baby and undermining the mutual trust between parent and child...you cease to value your own biological cues, your judgment." Sleep routines are not something to be checked off a to-do list; helping baby establish healthy sleep patterns can take months. It is natural to go with the flow and use different methods or parts of methods that fit baby's and parent's temperament and lifestyle. When it gets stressful, remember that your baby will not be a baby for long. Soon the sleepless nights will be a distant memory and, in hindsight, not as stressful as imagined.
