Today, I’m talking about baby sleep. My first sleep episode was focused on newborns, in this episode I am shifting my focus to talk about babies ages 3-9 months. My goal in this episode is to help you and your baby get more sleep!
What I'll cover:
- Discuss sleep regression and sleep training
- Introduce what a sleep consultant is and talk about my experience with one
- How to hire a sleep consultant
- Review my rules for sleep
- Recap resources
Sleep regression
- Definition: From the Baby Sleep Site
- As baby’s brain matures, sleeping patterns change
- Cycling more often, like an adult
- Baby's new sleep patterns produce more night waking and short naps
- Once she’s up, she will need help falling back asleep
- If your child has established a sleeping crutch like nursing or rocking, you are going to have to break them of the habit and sleep train them
Sleep training
- What it is: training your baby to fall asleep on their own and/or go back to sleep on their own
- Sleep Training Methods: this article has a great breakdown of the various sleep training methodologies, categorized by “gentleness”
- Choosing An Approach
My Experience
- Wasn't interested in Cry It Out at all
- Read several books, but it seemed confusing
- So, I hired sleep consultant
What is a Sleep Consultant?
- Person to "hold your hand" while you sleep train your child
- Work with you virtually (usually) to figure out sleep plan that is right for your family
- They walk you through as you execute the plan
- Daily text messages/emails
- Phone calls
Cost
- $200-$300 for custom sleep play + virtual support for 2 weeks
- Same price as one night at a hotel!
- It is worth it!
- Budget friendly options:
My recommendation for dealing with an infant who is having sleep issues (short naps, waking up frequently at night) is:
- Follow my Rules for Sleep for a couple weeks
- If things are not improving, consider hiring a sleep consultant
- (Or just go ahead and hire a sleep consultant right away!)
Rules for sleep
- Know the appropriate awake interval for your baby’s age.
- Don't let them take a nap longer than 3 hours during the day
- Create a comfortable sleep environment
- Create a consistent bedtime/naptime routine and do it every time
- Avoid creating sleep crutches. Don’t nurse or rock your baby to sleep (try not to, its hard when they are so little)
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