How to teach your child to fall asleep and sleep on their own
How to teach a child to fall asleep on their own
One day, all parents begin to wonder how to teach their child to fall asleep on their own. After all, a child's ability to fall asleep without the participation of adults is the key to a sound and healthy sleep. It can also significantly save parents' energy, nerves, and time.
At what age should a child sleep alone?
How do you teach your child to fall asleep on their own? First of all, you should decide on the most optimal period for this. Experts believe that children can fall asleep on their own as early as 6 months of age. However, most babies are ready for this closer to 1.5 years. In this case, parents can start working on developing independent sleeping skills in advance.
How to put a child to sleep: recommendations for parents
How to teach a child to fall asleep on their own? First of all, you should be patient. Make sure you are ready to approach your child if necessary if he or she has a bad dream. If you are confident in your actions, it will be easier for your child to accept new changes in his or her life.
How to organize a child's nighttime sleep?
For some children, falling asleep can be really difficult. So how do you put your child to sleep and ensure their comfort during sleep?
Create a cozy atmosphere in the room. Turn off all gadgets in advance, ventilate the room, and make the light softer.
Follow the regimen. Make sure that the child always goes to bed and wakes up at the same time.
Physical activity. The more active your baby is during the day, the better his or her sleep will be. Take him outdoors more and play active games.
If you want, you can also try some relaxation techniques. For example, play calm music and do breathing exercises with your baby.
How do I teach my child to fall asleep on their own?
Not sure how to put your child to sleep? There are several time-tested tips.
Stay calm | The child can easily read your state and react accordingly. |
| Come up with a bedtime ritual and stick to it. | The same actions and activities should be repeated day after day. The ritual can include a warm bath, reading a book, or a massage. |
Sing lullabies | Lullabies have been used for centuries to help when a baby can't fall asleep. It doesn't matter if you can sing. Lullabies calm, drive away fears, and give a sense of security and warmth. |
If the child cannot fall asleep, then his favorite toy can also help in the process of putting him to sleep. The child will hug his teddy bear or dinosaur, and this will give him the feeling that he is not alone in the room.
Why can't a baby fall asleep?
Experts say that a healthy child over the age of 6 months is able to fall asleep on their own and sleep for at least 5 hours without waking up. However, what can prevent them from falling asleep peacefully?
If your baby falls asleep in your arms and then wakes up in his crib, he may be frightened. That's why it's important that he falls asleep in his place right away. And then you won't have to wonder how to teach your child to fall asleep without rocking.
Overexcitement. Excessively active games in the afternoon or cartoons before bedtime can overstimulate the child's nervous system.
- Missing the moment. If you don't put your child to bed when he or she really wants to sleep, it will be much harder to put him or her to sleep later. Therefore, if you notice that your baby is rubbing his eyes or yawning, then hurry up and use this opportunity.
- The need for mom. If the baby does not spend enough time with his mother during the day, he will try to make up for it before going to bed.
What to do when a baby can't fall asleep?
Not sure what to do when a baby can't fall asleep? If a young child has trouble falling asleep, there are several things you can do to help.
| Feeding. | The child will sleep peacefully and will not wake up from hunger |
| Swinging | Lullaby movements can calm the baby and help him fall asleep faster |
| Calm conversation | Tell your child about something. About his birthday or how he will go to school one day. The sound of your voice will have a calming effect on your child. |
How a baby should sleep properly
The right sleeping position is extremely important. And here are some tips on how a baby should sleep properly:
- Use a special crib with safety bumpers.
- Don't put a lot of jewelry or fluffy things in your baby's crib.
- Use a special mattress designed for babies. It will provide proper body support and safety.
Tips for parents
Putting your baby to bed is a very important procedure. It even determines the future relationship between parents and their child. So it is not surprising that the question of how to put a baby to sleep deserves so much attention.
Hugs and reading fairy tales together bring you closer together and help create that unbreakable bond that will exist between you for years to come. Be patient and in no way use falling asleep on your own as a punishment for misbehavior. And the positive results will not be long in coming.