Up All Night? Getting Your Infant Back to Sleep

So you have just settled back into a peaceful sleep and there it is again-your baby’s loud, strident cry. You push yourself up full of exhaustion and wonder how you will get your little bundle of joy back to sleep this time. If you are a sleep deprived parent take heart you are not alone! There are several ways to help your baby get back to sleep. The key is to do your research before facing this dilemma in the middle of the night. Be sure to consider your baby’s age, health and temperament and then select an approach that fits you, your baby and your needs. Here is some information to get you started if you are up all night and wondering how to get your infant back to sleep.

•Make sure that before beginning any program if you are working with a partner that both of you are in agreement before instituting a change. It does not do any good if one person is trying an approach for baby if the other partner will not support the move or will actively sabotage it.

•Variations on the “crying it out” theory abound. Be sure that you understand what each program entails and then choose the one that works for you and your baby.

•Understand what your motivations are before beginning any change for you and your baby. Is this the right time for you to be doing this? Are you feeling pressured to put your baby to bed a certain way? Consider your feelings and have a clear picture of what you want to accomplish before moving on.

Now that you have established that you want to make a change in your baby’s sleeping habits here are some basic guidelines.

•Try to eliminate late afternoon naps(after 3 pm)

•Keep a relaxing and loving bedtime ritual night after night.

•Do not breastfeed or rock your baby to sleep. Try to put your baby down while he is awake. Reassure him that you are there but let him know that he can fall asleep by himself.

•Be prepared that a young baby will wake at least every four hours. When he or she cries out, got to him quietly. Try not to stimulate him by picking him up or rocking him. Focus on soothing him or her and quietly reassuring your baby.

•After you have mastered this step do not go directly to the baby. Instead call out to him and reassure him, suggesting he snuggle with his teddy bear or other security object. Again, when you’re comfortable, wait fifteen minutes before responding to his cries and then repeat the above step.

There are other steps to try should you need some additional help during this transitional period.

•Consider why your baby is waking and crying at night. While experts may tell you this is only an attention mechanism do not feel pressured to try something you are not comfortable with. If you have determined that your baby is crying for only attention try to listen to his cries and reassure him.

•It often helps to share the comforting duties. Often a breastfeeding baby really wants Mom at night, even if he no longer needs night-time feedings. If Dad can be part of the night-time plan, the baby may learn to be comforted by him, and then to stop needing anyone when there’s no food coming! This becomes very helpful as well when it is time to wean the baby.

•Don’t be afraid to offer your baby a comforting stuffed animal or blanket. This can help him make sleep associations with it. There is no truth to the fact that a young child should not become attached to a nighttime object and the reality is that this often helps a reluctant sleeper become a better sleeper.