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All parents know that getting babies to sleep is a difficult task, especially when it comes to newborns. Considering how hard it is to get them to snooze for more than an hour or two at a time, you may think your baby is allergic to sleep, which is not good news for the already sleep-deprived parents. Although newborns should not be made to sleep for long periods as they need regular diaper changes and feeds, babies must learn to sleep and stay asleep for longer periods of time as they grow so that they mirror the sleep cycle of adults. This, however, is harder to achieve than expected, and most parents turn to the internet to find tips and tricks to help themselves and their baby get more sleep. But not everything you read online about cultivating good sleep habits is true and practical, and some of them may even worsen your efforts.
Here are 5 misconceptions about baby sleep habits that you should keep in mind:
1. Myth: Your Baby Will Be Awake At Night If They Sleep A Lot During The Day
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This is not true. Babies need a lot of sleep. Most newborn infants sleep anywhere between 14 to 18 hours a day. This is normal and, in fact, recommended. The trick is to find the right balance between how long your baby sleeps during the day and night. There is a huge chance that your baby will sleep more during the night when they are well-rested, which will give you the opportunity to catch up on some well-deserved free time and sleep. An overtired baby, who has not been allowed to sleep during the day, will often throw fits and protest while you are trying to lull them to sleep. Of course, how long and often your baby sleeps is determined by their age and what stage they are in. Most babies below 6 months must be allowed to sleep for 2 hours at a time and will sleep for 3 to 5 hours during the day.
2. Myth: Short Naps Are Bad For Establishing Good Sleeping Patterns
On the contrary, taking short naps is essential for your baby and will result in them developing a healthy sleep pattern, which will eventually ensure that they sleep through the night. An overtired baby is fussy and will disrupt your sleep as they tend to stay awake through the night, and they won’t go down for naps during the day like they are supposed to. This is not good for the baby. Your baby must take short, spaced out naps around 30 to 45 minutes each during the day so they have sufficient energy to feed. This will help them sleep for a couple of hours at a time during the night. However, getting them to this point before they are 6 months may not be developmentally possible. For now, you must settle into your baby’s need for short naps and learn to pay attention to their sleeping cues.
3. Myth: Late Nights Mean Late Mornings
Sorry to disappoint those new to the parenting game but this is a hard no. Your baby is not going to wake up late simply because they finally drifted off to sleep at 4 a.m.. This is because your baby has a circadian rhythm. This is a natural internal clock that tells your body when to wake up and go to sleep. A baby’s internal clock tells them that sleeping early and waking up early is what’s best for them. So if they lose out on any sleep during the night, they don’t make up for it in the morning. Their body’s rhythm will make them wake up early, leaving them and you cranky. So, it is best to introduce your baby to an early bedtime in order to avoid this fate.
4. Your Baby Will Eventually Learn To Sleep Through The Night
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There are some cases in which this can be true. All babies are different and have their personal experience with sleep. Some of them take to sleeping on their own from co-sleeping naturally and practically overnight without needing a transition period. However, for the most part, if your baby is used to motions such as rocking or patting or a set routine before they fall asleep, it will be hard for them to fall asleep during the night without this stimulus. You will have to slowly remove the association of the action or activity to sleep so that they may become independent sleepers.
5. Sleep Training Your Baby Will Solve All Your Problems
Even after sleep training your baby, there are some instances where it may fail you. Teething, illness, and other developmental milestones can disrupt your progress and make it difficult to get your baby into their sleep pattern again. You might even have to start all over from the top.
There are several challenges that you will face while teaching your little one to sleep through the night. And all the information coming at you can be more overwhelming than helpful. It is important to keep in mind that establishing healthy sleeping patterns is gradual work which will only improve over time. In the meantime, don’t fall prey to these misconceptions about your baby’s sleep.
