“Parenthood is a full-time gig.” Of course, we all get that.
But what’s the most challenging part of becoming a new parent?
The answer is quite straight-forward: Everything that has to do with SLEEP.
Parents out there (especially first-timer) need to understand that there will be a time when literally everybody around them would want to offer a piece of advice about how to do just about everything.
Even when all the advice mom and dad receive about newborns and sleeping is certainly well-intentioned, it might not be entirely accurate, to say the least, and it doesn’t always make things easier either.
So today we’re gonna dispel some of that common baby sleep suggestions might still linger among moms.
Myth 1: Babies sleep best in total silence.
That’s just not true. Remember that time when they were still in your womb? Babies heard noise pretty much all the time because believe it or not, your womb is a pretty noisy place.
They’re used to noise, and eliminating it entirely can actually be counterproductive. So leaving a rumbly white noise on the background during all naps and nights will create a more natural environment for the baby to sleep.
Myth 2: You should stop swaddling your baby at two months old.
Utterly misleading! Swaddling is proven to reduce crying and night walking and as a matter of fact, the practice of swaddling your baby between the ages of 2-4 months can be incredibly helpful.
This is of critical importance because the stress provoked by persistent fussing and parental exhaustion is a potent trigger for postpartum depression, child abuse, car accidents, and even risky sleeping practices, associated with up to 70% of all infant sleep fatalities. You can stop swaddling, however, once your baby has learned how to roll over onto their stomach.
Myth 3: Never wake a sleeping baby
Waking your baby when he is sleeping may not be that big of a deal than you thought. In fact, there is a little technique called “wake and sleep” that gently teaches your child the important skill of self-soothing.
You can try this by tickling his neck or feet (until his eyes drowsily open) mildly after putting him to bed. Very soon after, he’ll just drift back into slumberland. Soothing himself back to sleep is the first step toward sleeping through the night.
Myth 4: Keeping babies awake during the day makes them sleep longer at night.
Although it might sound logical, keeping a tired baby awake in the day is never a good idea. Again, newborns don’t adhere to normal sleep patterns as adults do. Babies sleep whenever they are tired, and when they’re tired, they need to sleep. If you keep him awake, chances are you will have to deal with a miserable, extra fussy, overtired baby who is fighting sleep when you need him to.
On the other hand, babies given lots of sleep throughout the day are more resilient and balanced. They fall asleep faster and easier. So parents, never let your baby skip that important daily naps.
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References:
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Kennedy, J. (2019). Common Newborn Sleep Myths, Debunked. [online] Moms. Available at: https://www.moms.com/common-newborn-sleep-myths-debunked/.
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Dr. Karp, H. (2018). 12 Common Baby Sleep Myths—Debunked!. [online] Happiest Baby. Available at: https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/6-common-baby-sleep-myths-debunked.
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Kashtan, P. (2019). Common Newborn Sleep Myths Debunked. [online] Msn.com. Available at: https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/common-newborn-sleep-myths-debunked/ar-AAF3szL.
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Dr. Karp, H. (2017). Myths about baby sleep and SIDS, debunked by an expert. [online] CNN. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/30/health/baby-sleep-myths/index.html.
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https://www.johnsonsbaby.in/sites/jbaby_in/files/baby-sleep.jpg
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