she is six months old, your baby should be receiving three meals a day
with a nursing period or a bottle just before bed. If you have been in the
habit of rocking or nursing your baby to sleep at naptime, now is the time
to eliminate that practice.
- Review chapter 8, “When Your Baby Cries,” and be prepared for
some crying. You are moving from a high-comfort style of sleep
manipulation to basic training in sleep skills. Initially your baby will not
like this change, but it is necessary. In moments of parental stress, be
comforted in knowing your baby won’t feel abandoned because you have
decided that the best thing for him is learning how to fall asleep on his
own. Continue to think about and look toward the long-term benefits.
Your proactive response is best for the baby and for the entire family. - Don’t feel the necessity to check on your baby every five minutes
while he or she is crying. If you go into your baby’s room, try to do so
without being seen. If necessary, move the crib so you can see the baby
but the baby can’t see you. If you feel you must soothe the child, go in
briefly and pat him or her on the back. With a soft voice, say, “It’s all
right,” then quietly leave. As a result, your baby will do one of two
things: be comforted and fall asleep or roar even louder.
If your baby chooses the latter, don’t be discouraged! The crying only
means he or she has not yet developed the ability to settle himself or
herself. That goal is precisely what you are working toward. - Be patient and consistent. For some parents, success comes after
one night; for others, it comes after two weeks. The norm, however, is
three to five days.
Summary
Retraining is always more difficult than training correctly from the start,
but it needs to be done. Parents who love their babies give them what they
need; young children need a good night’s sleep.
Moms who have made the transition from sleepless nights to peaceful
sleep report that their children not only gain the advantage of continuous
nighttime sleep, but their daytime disposition also changes. They appear