It’s tough being a parent. You’re constantly making decisions that you hope will be best for your child—and often, it’s hard to know what those right decisions are. One of the most common questions new parents have is whether or not they should sleep train their baby.
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard of sleep training. It’s one of those things that everyone seems to have an opinion on—and there are a lot of different ways to go about it.
If you have a baby and you’re struggling to get them to sleep, you might have heard about the benefits of sleep training. Sleep training can be a very helpful tool for parents who are struggling with getting their babies to sleep, but it’s not for everyone. Here are some things every parent should know about sleep training and baby sleep coaches:
Babies are incredibly cute, but they’re also incredibly difficult to deal with. They cry, they poop, and sometimes, they just don’t sleep. But the good news is that Nadia Edwards, Baby sleep consultant and children’s sleep coach, has some ideas for how you can make your baby sleep through the night—and it doesn’t involve drugs or other risky methods!
What should you know about sleep training and baby sleep coaches?
Not mandatory
Sleep training is not mandatory for every child. Only some require it, and it’s important to know the signs that your child needs your help in this area.
If you’ve been rocking your baby to sleep every night and have just started to notice that they’re waking up more frequently than usual, then it’s time to consider sleep training.
If you’ve been giving your baby a pacifier at bedtime but they’re still waking up at night and not settling back down easily, then it’s a sign that they need some extra help falling asleep on their own.
But if you’re breastfeeding and want to continue nursing while teaching them how to fall asleep on their own, then there are ways to do this as well!
Not unhealthy
Source: kauveryhospital.com
Sleep training doesn’t mean your baby is unhealthy or abnormal. It’s a myth that a baby who sleeps through the night is healthier than one who doesn’t. There’s no evidence that sleeping through the night is better for babies in any way.
The only thing that matters is whether or not your baby gets enough sleep—and this can vary from child to child, depending on their temperament and needs.
If your baby isn’t getting enough sleep, they may be waking up because they need more food or have gas pains or have a stuffy nose (which can cause them to wake up). If this happens, talk to your pediatrician or doctor about what you can do to help your baby get the rest they need without disrupting your sleep cycle.
Sleep deprivation
Sleep training may be a controversial topic, but there is nothing wrong in seeking sleep training if your baby is sleep deprived. If you are a parent of a newborn, then you will know how difficult it can be to get them to sleep. Your baby might wake up every few hours and cry for food or comfort. This can be very frustrating for parents who want some sleep after working all day long.
However, there are ways that you can help your baby get used to sleeping alone at night by using sleep training methods. The truth is, there is nothing wrong with seeking sleep training if your baby is sleep deprived.
The issue comes in when parents feel like they have to choose between using sleep training and loving their babies. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
If you’ve tried everything else and your baby still isn’t sleeping well, there’s no shame in asking for help. You can get all the support you need from a professional, and when you do, you’ll find that it’s actually easier than you thought it would be—and it works!
Break the taboo
Sleep training is a hot topic. The fact is, sleep training works—but there’s still a taboo around it in our culture. If you’re tired of feeling tired, or if you’re tired of your baby waking up at night, you need to break the taboo around sleep training and seek help from sleep coaches.
The truth is, babies don’t just “grow out” of sleep issues on their own. If you’ve tried everything else (naps, swaddling, white noise) and nothing has worked for your child, it might be time to consider sleep training.
A professional sleep coach can help by using proven methods that have been vetted by experts in the field. They’ll work with you one-on-one to figure out what works best for YOUR baby and YOUR lifestyle so that everyone can get the most rest possible!
Understand
Source: arasmattress.com
Babies are precious. They’re also very small, and they don’t have the capacity to communicate their needs. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have needs! Babies need sleep—lots of it. This can be difficult if you’re not sure what’s making your baby restless or why he or she isn’t sleeping through the night.
Sleep coaches come from all kinds of backgrounds—they might be pediatricians, nurses, or even psychologists who’ve had special training in sleep disorders and how to treat them. No matter what their background is though, they’ll be able to help you identify what’s causing your child’s sleeplessness and give you some great advice on how to solve the problem without having to resort to medication or other methods that may not be necessary (or even safe).
Conclusion
Sleep coaches are trained professionals who know how to identify the underlying causes of your baby’s sleep troubles, so you can get restful sleep for both of you. They’ll work with you and your child individually to develop a personalized plan that meets all of their needs. Your child will receive one-on-one attention from someone who understands what they’re going through, which means they’ll be more likely to follow through on the plan developed with their coach.