With the birth of a child, newly minted parents radically change not only the lifestyle, but also the situation in the apartment. Special attention is paid to the crib, where the baby spends most of the time. But what if the pussy categorically does not want to sleep in it?
Advantages and disadvantages of joint sleep
Not only culture and society, but also the family in which we grow, have a great influence on our lives. Although many scholars have confirmed the innumerable benefits of sharing the sleep of parents and children, sleep has been practiced for many decades.
Ever since time immemorial, mom and dad have been considered guardians of children's sleep. The joint peace of parents and children is still widespread in Africa, South America and Asia.
Some parents take their children to themselves for the night, others are placed in a special cradle near the bed to constantly be on the alert. What are the pros and cons of general sleep and what do experts say?
According to one of the most famous experts in the field of children's sleep, Dr. Sears, joint sleep reduces the number of cases of sudden infant death syndrome.
This is a condition in which the baby forgets to breathe during deep sleep. This happens most often during the first year of life. Dr. Sears believes that it is the joint sleep of the mother with the child that levels their biorhythms and regulates breathing.
This is confirmed by another recognized expert in children's sleep, anthropologist James McKenn. He adds that in Japan, where the practice of sharing sleep is most common, the lowest infant death rate from SIDS.
However, the American pediatrician Harvey Kart notes that this is most likely due to the fact that the Japanese prefer to sleep on hard mattresses.
Opinions about joint sleep differ significantly. Today it is a very discussed and delicate topic.
Some experts say that children should sleep from birth in their crib for safety, when others say that sleeping together is normal, natural and even beautiful. Joint sleep has many advantages according to experts, namely:
- Many people say that sleeping with their mother in the same bed makes the baby more dependent on his parents, which may later affect his mental development. Psychologists, on the contrary, claim that such closeness of mother and child in the first years of life leads to a healthy self-esteem and independence of the natural development of the baby;
- children's crying secretes a stress hormone, so children who cry in their crib receive a large portion of stress, which can be dangerous for their mental development, especially in the first months of life;
- Mom does not need to get up to feed the crumbs;
- the baby will sleep deeply next to his mother;
- during joint sleep, children regulate the temperature;
- babies cry less;
- joint sleep provides children with confidence and protection;
But, despite all the advantages of sharing sleep, this practice also has its drawbacks:
- baby's safety. Unfortunately, there are often cases when a child is injured or worse - dies from strangulation by their parents;
- breast addiction. Very often, as a result of joint sleep, the baby uses the breast as a nipple;
- difficulties in moving to a new place;
Everything has its pros and cons and it is necessary to understand that each child is individual. What suits one can harm another. In any case, you need to consult with your partner and find a common solution that does not harm either the baby or your family relationships.
When to teach a child to fall asleep in his crib?
Studies show that children sleep better with their mother and cry less, because the presence of parents has a comforting effect on them. But when the baby gets older, his presence in the parental bed begins to get in the way.
Working dad and mom often complain of lack of sleep and this leads to a decrease in efficiency. Often, it is joint vacation that violates the personal relationships of parents. In this case, there are no other options than to teach the child to sleep in his crib.
The older the child, the more difficult it is to sleep alone. Keep in mind that a child will not learn how to sleep alone if he is often subjected to stressful situations. This may be the emergence of a new family member, adaptation in kindergarten, relocation, the departure of the mother to work or illness.
During the period when the child learns to sleep alone, you should not teach him any other skills, for example, to teach the pot, as this can slow down and make it difficult for the individual to learn sleep. If the child is taught from the very beginning that his mother will feed him until he falls asleep in deep sleep, the child will not learn how to fall asleep alone.
It is very important to invent evening rituals at bedtime. Usually, nightly rest is preceded by brushing your teeth, taking a shower or reading fairy tales.
It is logical that the child still does not know how to instantly fall asleep as soon as the light turns off, but the sooner he begins to learn it, the sooner he will get used to falling asleep without problems. In order for the child to sleep peacefully in his place, it is necessary to create special conditions:
- lightweight and breathable sleepwear;
- air temperature should be 18-20 degrees;
- high quality mattress;
- Do not leave a small child to sleep on his stomach.
Nuances of choice bed for crumbs
Since small children spend about 16 hours a day in a dream, it is very important to choose the right cot where the baby will spend most of the time. You need to know the following:
- a crib should be strong and stable without sharp edges and protrusions. As a rule, a bed made of beech or pine is excellent;
- main bed size 120x60 cm;
- if the bed is on wheels, it must be equipped with a wheel brake system;
- The choice of mattress is sometimes more important than the choice of the bed itself. Mattresses with natural fillings are best suited for small children;
- really good furniture should not be cheap, if you come across a cheap cot, then most likely the manufacturer saved on the quality of materials.
Do not replace the crib playpens or cradles for travel.
How to teach a month-old infant to sleep in a crib?
We must understand that the rhythm of sleep in young children develops gradually, and therefore the child’s sleep differs significantly from adults, especially during the first weeks and months of life.
In the first months of life, the baby cannot be explained why he should separate from his mother and sleep alone, but it will be important to create comfortable conditions for a restful sleep. This means the correct air temperature in the room, suitable sleepwear and a night light that will create a pleasant atmosphere.
If a child sleeps separately from his parents from his very first birthday, then he will not have to teach him to sleep independently. But if the baby is used to sleeping next to his mother, then he will have to try so that the "move" to a new place is less restless.
How to teach a one-year-old child to sleep in a crib
The child must understand that each family member has their own bed. If the baby categorically refuses to sleep in his crib and insists on lying with you, then you should think that there is a reason for this.
Such seemingly insignificant things can make a big difference for a little man. It often happens that a child is jealous of a newly appeared brother or sister who can easily sleep with their parents.
In order to teach a one-year-old child to sleep on their own, you can start with the first time to move his bed to his, after removing the bumpers. The second option is to sprinkle the baby in his crib, saying that he has a beautiful place to sleep.
Remember, if a baby keeps to bed during the day or at night at the same time, then it is easier for him to adapt to the regime and get used to the new place. Moreover, try to choose a teddy friend for your baby who will fall asleep with your child.
How to act when a child is older than 2 years?
If, at the age of 5 years, the child has not learned to fall asleep on his own, then later this may turn into a big problem. Children after the age of 2 understand perfectly what parents require of them.
Moreover, it is at this age that babies most often suffer from nightmares and other problems.
In order to accustom the crumb to independent sleep, you must follow some rules:
- provide him with a sense of confidence and calm;
- have patience;
- create evening rituals;
- choose the right mattress and sleepwear.
Remember that the style of sleep develops with age, so if you pay due attention to childhood sleep from birth, in the future you will not have any problems with the "move" to a new bed.
Recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky
Dr. Komarovsky advises starting to move to the cot at a very early age, because the later this happens, the more parents complain that their little ones become moody.
At this age it is very important to be accustomed to the regime. The baby should know that he has his own place to rest, where he should only sleep.
Before going to bed, be sure to air the baby’s room and read to the kid his favorite book. In order for the crumb to fall asleep faster, his favorite soft toy or night light can help.
Frequent mistakes of parents
Baby sleep is one of the most common problems for young parents. Often, in the pursuit of a quiet and regular sleep of a child, mom and dad make the same mistakes.
Some more useful tips on the topic of the article are in the next video.
