Ahhh Sleep!

It is the end of the day and I am petering out…I am hoping for a restful night! The baby was up last night – teething. I tiptoed in with an Orajel laced fingertip and quickly swiped his bottom gums. Out I went as quickly as I came. I think I startled him – Who was that and what the heck is in my mouth? He cried for a couple of minutes. I was okay with that.

This was not always the case. I have learned to let my babies settle. It is unrealistic to think that your infant won’t ever cry during their attempt to sleep through the night. Around 4-6 months of age it is best if you start putting them down, awake, on their back, and in their own crib. Call me crazy, but I think everyone sleeps better in their own bed. Let your baby start to settle themselves without a breast or bottle, and he will soon be sleeping better. Most babies take a couple of days to really learn. Once they can learn to fall asleep, they will then put themselves back to sleep when they awaken naturally. Always make sure your baby is safe. And do not attempt to sleep train a sick infant.

Do not ruin the process by a stop/start approach. In medical school, students are taught that the quickest way to reinforce something was intermittent reward. It is similar to a casino’s slot machine. One can never predict when the slot machine will pay out, so we just keep pulling the lever! As we get an occasional win, we are driven to keep pulling, certain that the next reward is around the corner. The lesson? Be consistent and your baby will learn. This is a concept that repeats itself with all aspects of parenting!

Remember to keep the end goal in mind. It sounds simple but one has to ask “What’s the goal”? And “How am I going to get there”? And then just do it!

Happy dreams…

Dr. Sheila Cason