Sleeping problems in babies
For a parent, having a baby is one of the most critical milestones in their life. The baby is a source of joy and celebration for both the family and the community at large. For the first few months of the baby’s existence, all that the baby will do is sleep for most of the time. However, the baby grows and disturbs their parents by interrupting their sleep at night due to inbuilt tendencies like being rocked to sleep. Therefore, parents need to sleep coach their babies, whether they be first time parents or they already have children (Sears et al.). Sleep coaching can be done through a variety of holistic methods such as the gentle approach, the Ferber method, the extinction method, among others, based on a variety of factors. These factors are, therefore, useful in determining the most efficient sleep coaching approach that an individual should pursue, as discussed below.
Sleep coaching, according to Kim West, refers to the process of training a baby on how to fall asleep independently without ingraining some sleep associations, such as the use of a pacifier that is hard to break. However, before starting the sleep coaching process, various factors need to be considered. One of these factors is the parent’s preference for the method to be used. For example, for a first-time mother, it is not easy to convince her that letting her baby cry without attending to it is a good idea. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a method that is compatible with the parent’s values and philosophies. Also, the method to be used needs to be one that can be followed consistently, as inconsistency makes the baby easily irritable, therefore making it hard to achieve the purpose at hand (West). The age of the infants and their developmental stage is also significant in deciding on the type of sleep coaching to undertake. The family context is another factor to consider, such as whether the baby is from a first-time mother, or they are second-time parents.
One of the sleep coaching methods is the gentle approach. The gentle approach is a sleep coaching method that enables children to be led through a series of bedtime rituals that are predictable and pleasant. Through these bedtime rituals, the baby can associate the bedtime routine created with feeling drowsy and will, therefore, fall asleep easier. To achieve this, the parent has to learn the sleeping patterns of the baby and ensure that the baby gets enough sleep (Adams & Vaughn). After learning the sleeping patterns, the parent then has to introduce soothing habits for a period of ten to fifteen minutes before bedtime. In so doing, the baby can associate these soothing activities with drowsiness, making it easier to fall asleep. After that, the parent starts paying minimal attention to the baby. Whereas at first, the parent used to lie down with the baby till he or she fell asleep, the parent may start distancing themselves from the baby until eventually the baby is used. This gentle approach is best applicable to second-time parents, as the presence of the second child makes it easier for the parents to enforce the sleeping habits on the baby.
The Ferber method, also known as the graduated extinction method, is a method that was introduced by Dr. Richard Ferber to solve sleeping problems in babies. In this method, the baby is initially prepared for bed through activities such as feeding, bathing, etc. After that, the baby is placed in the crib while still awake but drowsy, and the parents leave them there. The baby is left alone to cry for a set amount of time before the mother or parent gives the baby comfort. In this method, after the baby is put to bed, the parent leaves the room, returning to provide the baby with comfort at intervals that are increasing progressively (Pantley). The aim of this is to build trust with the baby such that he or she understands the parent is not abandoning him or her and will be back. Subsequently, the parent continues to increase the time intervals until, eventually, the baby can sleep throughout the night. Such a method is recommendable to first-time parents as it is a progressive method that takes time to take effect on the baby.
The extinction method is a method closely related to the Ferber method, with the significant difference being that in the Ferber method, the baby cries for a designated period before being comforted. In contrast, the extinction method advocates for letting the baby cry it out. In this method, once the parent leaves the room, they do not go back in again (Pantley). The baby is left to figure out falling asleep on his or her own, for, however, many nights, the baby will take to adapt. The method is considered harsh and takes a toll on both the mother and baby and, more so, the mother (Narvaez). Still, if done right, it helps the baby fall asleep independently, effectively achieving the purpose of sleep coaching the baby.
Based on the above arguments, therefore, it is evident in the importance of sleep coaching babies. Besides enabling the parents to sleep peacefully, it grants the baby independence from relying on sleep tendencies such as the use of pacifiers or being rocked to sleep. Through this, the baby can get enough sleep by learning to fall back asleep in the case that they wake up during the night (Weissbluth). The above methods, however, work on different age groups of infants. The advised time to start sleep coaching is after four months since by then, the baby is not yet used to depending on sleep tendencies to fall asleep (West). Other ages, however, such as six months and greater can also be sleep coached, although the tendencies will have to be broken first before they can be sleep coached.
Therefore, before choosing a sleep coaching approach, the parents have first to list down the conditions they are willing to adhere to. These conditions include following a schedule in terms of day and night activities of the baby, watching the baby’s health and nutrition, and sleeping patterns. After that, based on their beliefs and philosophies, it will depend on whether they are first-time parents or second-time. If they are first-time parents, graduated extinction or extinction are advised to ease the burden on the parents besides sleep coaching the infant. If they are second-time parents, depending on the age of the second child, the gentle approach is recommended as it helps to break old tendencies while sleep coaching the baby.
Conclusion
Sleep coaching is a crucial element in the life of individuals who want to start a family. It enables the newly born baby to learn to fall asleep independently. Some of the methods that can be used to sleep coach include the gentle approach, the Ferber method, and the extinction method. These methods are effective based on the age of the infant at the time of application. The methods, however, follow strict guidelines which, if not adhered to, may lead to unsuccessful attempts at sleep coaching, as discussed above.