Gentle Beginnings: Nurturing Your Baby's Sleep Journey from Day One
Are you considering waiting until your baby is 4 or 6 months old before delving into the world of sleep?
Let’s chat about it.
Understanding the difference between teaching your baby how to sleep and traditional sleep training is key.
In those initial days of getting acquainted with your little one, both you and your baby are embarking on a journey of learning. From the first meeting, you’re learning to navigate this new chapter of life together. As you find your rhythm, your baby is learning from you—connecting through breastfeeding, bonding, and experiences like never before.
Did you know that babies absorb more in the first 4 months than at any other stage in their lives? Every day is a canvas of learning, filled with connections, recognizing patterns, behaviors, and associations. By 4-6 months, they’ve already developed strong associations with behaviors around their daily routine, feeding, and sleep. If these associations are unclear or negatively impacting sleep, you might find yourself considering sleep training to establish new patterns.
But imagine if you began creating positive associations around daily activities from just a few weeks old? By understanding five simple steps you can incorporate daily, both you and your baby will become more confident, consistent, and connected. As they grow, these associations become familiar, and you both become better at reading cues.
Some days are smooth sailing, while others may present challenges. On those days when your routine doesn’t quite work, stay in your pajamas, savor the cuddles, and try again tomorrow. Wash off the day with your bath and bedtime routine, and remember, tomorrow is a new day.
Learn and grow together so you never need to undo negative associations later.
By three months, you and your baby have found a groove. You recognize their hunger or tiredness because of the established routine, creating a comforting flow to their day.
At four months, a significant developmental leap occurs in both cognitive and sleep cycle development. Your baby realizes their separateness, and their sleep cycles become more adult-like. The 4-month-old sleep regression might bring some restlessness, fussiness, and difficulty settling, especially for babies with external sleep associations.
Creating positive associations before this time proves invaluable. Your baby might experience some restlessness during the night, but with your support, they can navigate through it. Night feeds gradually phase out, day naps become more consistent, and sleep consolidates.
As you continue this dance of life with your little one, my mission for the past 20 years has been to help parents feel confident in parenting THEIR baby, enabling them to thrive during this special time. Don’t wait to sleep train—start with the right tools and grow together. My Nurtured Beginning Program or consultation is here to provide simple guidance and support you on this beautiful journey.
