The Most Common Baby Sleep Questions in 2021
Hello lovely parents! We’re coming up to the midway point of 2021 (scary, I know) so I thought I’d put together a quick post addressing some of the most common baby sleep questions I’ve been asked throughout the year so far. If you have any other questions that aren’t answered here, of course, feel free to contact me. I’m always happy to help, even if you’re based on the other side of the world. Sleep Sweet Sleep Deep isn’t just here for Aussie parents; it’s a service to help anyone who reaches out! Now, let’s take a look at the top 3 baby sleep questions I’ve seen this year…
How do I get my child to sleep through the night?
This isn’t just one of the most common baby sleep questions in 2021, this is one of the most frequently asked questions OF ALL TIME. Everybody wants their baby to sleep through the night, but how do you make it happen?
The best thing you can do is to help your little one gain valuable self-sleeping skills! Now, I don’t mean leaving them to cry it out and figure it out themselves. I mean gently giving them the means to help them feel comfortable, safe and happy in their sleep environment, so you can leave and sleep through the night yourself.
For some tips surrounding gentle self-sleep skills and self-settling click here!
What is sleep regression in babies?
Now, I prefer to use the term “developmental progression” rather than “sleep regression”. Why? Because looking at this time of your little one’s life negatively is only going to make things more difficult.
Putting a positive spin on the reasons your baby is having trouble sleeping can often do wonders to how you approach the situation. When your child is going through sleep regression, it is actually a very important part of their life. As your baby grows, they will hit certain progressive milestones that show us just how amazing they are. It’s something to be celebrated, even if we do lose a little sleep in the process.
Learn more about sleep regression / developmental progression here!
How to deal with changes to baby’s sleep routine?
Of course, this is a common baby sleep question in 2021! We’ve all gone through a LOT of changes over the past year and a bit. Some of these changes may have affected your little one’s sleep routine. The best thing you can do when changes are happening to your life and your schedule that affect your baby’s sleep is to try and keep their lives as close to what they’re used to as possible. Some examples…
If you’ve moved home, try to set up their room in the same way as you did in your old home. Make sure any scents or sounds you use are replicated in the new sleeping space. This helps keep a sense of familiarity and stability.
If your work hours are going to change and disrupt baby’s regular sleep patterns, try to gradually change the sleep routine, rather than in one big hit. So, if baby’s wake up time is changing from 7am to 6am, try to start waking them up 5 or 10 minutes earlier each day before the change needs to happen. By the time the change day arrives, bub will be all set after the gradual, incremental sleep shifts.
I hope this has helped answer some common baby sleep questions you’ve had throughout this year. As always, sleep sweetly and deeply all night long! x