If I had a dollar for every time a parent told me they had tried to change their baby’s sleep and it didn’t work..
It takes some repetition and practise to bring about change, and an awareness of what is stopping your baby getting to/staying asleep.
Look at how you are helping your baby get to sleep and work from there. If you can identify and remove sleep associations (things that your baby relies on to get to sleep), you will be well on your way to change.
It is unreasonable to think your baby will learn a new routine (and respond to it) straight away but there are some things that will help. I often talk about the 3 Cs to bring about change – Consistency, Confidence and Calmness. You could probably add commitment.
Consistency is so important – if you make a plan, stay consistent. Repeat the routine over and over.
If you waver and keep doing different things, you are sending mixed messages to your baby which will not help them understand or practise the new routine.
Be confident in what you are doing. Make a plan and stick with it and even when you are not sure, find some way to believe. Remember, it will take a while to see change.
It is well known that if you are stressed, it is likely that your baby will pick up on that, so finally, try and remain calm. Take a few big breaths when you think things are getting hard and regroup.
It will not happen overnight, but it will happen.
May you have success.
Kathy
If you have any questions or there are any topics you would like to see in future posts please don’t hesitate to get in touch.