Baby Care

Sleep and the lack of it!

Sleep was something I really needed before having children so I was slightly worried about how I’d function once my first came along. I’d been lucky in life with good sleep, apart from night terrors which is for another day, and so I wasn’t preoccupied with sleep.

This changed! I became slightly obsessed with how long my new son had slept and how much I’d had. I was tired, my fantasies were now about when I could lie down instead of riding a beautiful horse on a beach! 

Looking back I realise this is fairly normal for the majority of new parents, we read an search and listen to all the tips in the hope it “fixes” our baby. It can be overwhelming especially when you’re so tired. I wish I’d hadn’t tried an evening of cry it out. I’d tried it because some advice points this way, I didn’t read the alternatives, the opposing arguments against it. I wish I had, it’s an everlasting mum guilt for me. I wish I’d known that sleep is partly driven by genetics, not that it would help him sleep because I hadn’t been great as a baby, but so I’d know it wasn’t anything I did. Ultimately I wish I could see now, the lie ins and the 3 little boys who have great sleep habits, most of the time.

The tips that made a difference for me are:
Try and keep nap times and bed time a set time. This is science, our circadian rhythms work better with a schedule. The odd slip doesn’t matter but mainly try and stick to near set time.

Feeding to sleep didn’t make a baby that couldn’t sleep without help later. If that’s how they fall asleep at the moment go with it. I doubt they’ll still want that at 10years old!

Genetics impact sleep by as much as 40%, so if you slept badly as a baby karma is here for you.

Be comfortable with what works for you as a family, that’s all that matters.

Is your baby comfortable, not too hot, cold etc. 

Do they mouth breath at night? This will affect their sleep and is not how they are designed to breath. Cranial can help with this and sometimes dietary changes that should be discussed with a Dr.

Sleep regression is hard, really hard. It’s also not regression but a leap in development. You know what it’s like trying to switch off when you have a lot going on, well they’re the same.

It doesn’t last!

 

NB: Some sleep issues are more than what is expected, in which case seek help from your Dr, health visitor or other health professionals.