The 9 Best Reasons to Sleep Train
Some mom’s are surprised when talking with other parents when they realize that not all babies are horrible sleepers. It’s true! Over 50% of babies can figure out the whole sleep thing on their own - right from the start. They happily go to sleep at bedtime and only wake when they’re hungry…or sometimes the unicorns sleep straight through the night from a really young age ;)
Some families believe in a more attachment-parenting approach and they prefer to co-sleep or bed share. Some parents don’t want their child in their bed, but they DO want them in their room. Some families feed on demand, while others prefer to stick to a strict feeding schedule. Whatever it is, likely your family has your own rhythm.
And just so you know - there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of these approaches as long as your sleep situation is working for you.
The reason people hire a sleep consultant is when their sleep approach is NOT working for them. They’re tired, the baby is cranky, no one is getting enough sleep at night, and they really feel like change is what is needed.
Creating these healthy sleep habits take time, patience and consistency. Working together gives us an opportunity to have a personalized experience and a step-by-step sleep plan that is focused on your baby’s needs, and has an extremely HIGH chance of success if it’s followed consistently over the 2-3 week period. But - change is hard and so is being consistent. That is one of the main reasons people hire a personal trainer for getting back into shape…someone to keep you accountable! The same can be true for sleep.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN WHO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?
1. Sleep helps babies grow *1
Growth hormones are primarily secreted during periods of deep sleep. Babies need to spend about 50% of their time in deep sleep for adequate growth.
I’ve worked with lots of babies who develop big skills after learning how to sleep all night long. Crawling, sitting up, walking, talking, etc. The body/brain NEED that rest period to grow and develop.
2. Sleeping helps prevent obesity *2
Babies who learn to soothe without feeding are less likely to be overweight and have lower rates of childhood obesity. Well-rested children are also typically more active, which helps them burn off calories and develop muscle tissue.
While we know the majority of babies under 6 months old still require night feedings, this rings true for older kids who are persistently waking through the night for a snack or comfort milk.
3. Sleep helps boost the immune system *3
While we sleep, our bodies produce infection and stress-fighting proteins known as cytokines. The less sleep we get, the fewer we produce, and the more prone we are to developing infections and illnesses.
4. Rested babies are less injury-prone *4
Kids who don’t get enough sleep are clumsier and more impulsive than those who do. Getting enough sleep significantly reduces the risk of injury.
5. Sleep helps babies learn *5
Adequate sleep has been shown to increase creativity and cognitive ability in newborns and infants. In fact, a 2010 study showed that newborns actually learn while they sleep.
WHAT ABOUT THE ADULTS?
Babies aren’t the only ones who benefit from a good night’s sleep. I can guarantee that once your baby starts sleeping well and through the night, you are likely enjoying the advantages of getting some consolidated shut-eye and you can FEEL the consequences if you don’t.
1. Sleep keeps you healthy *6
Adults who get less than 8 hours of sleep a night are at an elevated risk for a whole laundry list of health problems, including hypertension, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depressive disorders.
2. Well rested parents are more alert *7
Getting a good night’s sleep helps to keep you focused and aware of your surroundings. A recent study from the AAA showed that even getting 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night can double your chances of getting into a traffic accident.
Even without the driving aspect - imagine not feeling groggy when you woke in the morning because you actually slept good!!!
4. Sleep boosts memory *8
Learning new skills, memorizing schedules, and establishing routines are abilities that are going to come in very handy for new parents. Getting enough sleep at night will go a long way to helping you adapt to your new role as a parent, or even your role as an employee if you’re heading back to work soon.
4. Sleep helps you stay fit *9
Sleep debt affects your metabolism and glucose tolerance, as well as your energy levels, which can lead to weight gain and all of the health issues that go along with it.
Babies, as you are no doubt aware, require a tremendous amount of time and attention. Sleep allows people to be the parents they want to be, happy, attentive, patient, and on the ball, rather than just surviving day to day dependent on coffee to function.
This transition may appear to cause some short term stress for babies, but the research shows that it has no negative psychological impact, or effect on the relationship and bonding between parents and their children. *10
I do want to say that - whichever method or style of parenting you choose, stay consistent. If you’ve come far and decide you want to change, YOU CAN. But once you make those changes, stick with them so that your child can develop consistent behaviours as well.
If you need help or want to chat about some healthy sleep options, book a call with me below!
To happy families!
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