A Cheat Sheet to a Good Night’s Sleep for Baby

By April Beach, Founder & Consultant of Sweet Pea Baby Planners, www.sweetpeababyplanners.com

Your new baby has arrived, and with her the endless question, “How’s she sleeping?”   Even if your answer is “great”, you soon learn that all newborns sleep well, and this time has passed.   After questioning friends and attempting to read numerous novels on sleep approaches, you realize you’ve dozed off into one of those informative pages at lunch time, and you’re too exhausted to find a cure. 
Before reading, trying, and failing at the next sleep solution, consider this; you will not find sleep success until you adopt an approach that matches your family’s unique lifestyle and individual personalities.  Try writing down what sleep success look likes to you.  What are your goals?  For some it may be a complete night sleep, while others may choose to keep a nightly breastfeeding session, and still others like the idea of a family bed.    Consider whether you would honestly be comfortable letting your baby cry, and if so for how long.  Are you desiring a fast change or are you willing to invest a few weeks in the process. Talk with your partner, compare concerns and goals, and create a united front.   Consistency, patience and unity are the keys to your success.   Finally, hold yourself accountable.  Arrange to call a friend the following morning and share how the coaching went for the previous night.   Be honest about the ways you succeeded, as well as the areas in which you struggled.   Reassess and continue on.

A cheat sheet to finding your approach:

- If you’re looking for a consistent daily routine, set nap and feeding times, and don’t mind some crying, these two approaches do a great job at ensuring a full night’s sleep.     “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by  Marc Weissbluth, M.D.  And “Baby Wise” by Robert Bucknam,  M.D.

- If you want to continue night nursing in or out of a family bed, you don’t want to let your child cry,  and you still seek a good night’s sleep, try “The No -Cry Sleep Solution” by Elizabeth Pantley www.pantley.com

- If want your baby sleeping in her own bed, can’t handle the crying, and are willing to invest a few weeks in the process, try “Good Night, Sleep Tight” by Kim West, licensed  practicing child therapist  www.sleeplady.com

- If you don’t mind lots of crying and want a quick solution, and if your baby is over one and you have allowed poor associations to interfere with healthy sleep, try “Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems”  by Richard Ferber, M.D.  www.childrenshospital.org/views/june06/sleep.html

Consult with your child’s Pediatrician before beginning any sleep coaching to rule out illness, injury or medical conditions that can interfere with normal healthy sleep.