sleep are harmful to this process.
Sleep Props Hinder Continuous Nighttime Sleep
The typical infant has both the natural ability and the capacity to sleep
through the night sometime within the first nine weeks of life. It is an
acquired skill which is enhanced by routine. Sleep deprivation in infants
and toddlers has much less to do with nature than with nurture. Since
sleep is a natural function of the body, the primary cue for infant sleep is
sleepiness.
Sleep cues are influenced (often negatively) by a variety of sleep
association props. Some sleep props, such as a special blanket or a stuffed
animal, are harmless, while others are addictive. For some parents, the
problem is getting the child to fall asleep initially. For others, the
challenge is getting the child to fall back to sleep without a prop once he
or she is prematurely awakened. Let’s examine three of the most common
negative sleep props.
Intentionally nursing a baby to sleep
Rocking a baby to sleep
Sleeping with your baby (shared sleep)Intentionally Nursing Your Baby to Sleep
The scenario is all too familiar. A mother nurses her baby to sleep.
Slowly raising herself from the chair, she eases toward the crib. While
holding her breath, she gently lowers the precious bundle and allows
herself to smile. Then, frozen in time, she anxiously awaits peace to settle
over the crib before backing to the door. She wonders, what will it be?
Freedom or failure? Hoping to escape, mother knows if baby fusses it’s