The first few months after the baby is born is a tough and challenging time for both the mother as well as the baby. Infants do sleep for longer durations; however, the time is unfortunately not in favor of everyone. Babies tend to take sufficiently long naps during the day, which is why they, and by extension, their parents, have long sleepless nights. The parents have no choice but to find ways to catch up on their sleep, while also putting their babies to sleep. Sometimes they may unintentionally make some sleep mistakes.
This process is indeed a stressful time, especially for the mothers as this is the time when they wish to get cozy and comfortable in the bed and have a good sleep, but the baby instead wants a feed, a burp, and some attention so they start crying, looking for some cuddle time. Unfortunately, one cannot be awake the whole night, nor can you forcefully put the baby to sleep. Yet there are times when one must walk through the night to put the baby to sleep and this is where they end up making some mistakes that could put them in trouble later in life and that could be a cause of risk for the baby as well.
5 Sleep Mistakes New Parents Make
Given below are some of the mistakes that are done by new parents. Let us go through the mistakes and avoid making them repeatedly and have a better and smoother life with the babies.
1. Never Allow The Baby To Sleep In The Bucket Which Is Detached From The Base
It has been seen that while traveling, in case the baby sleeps, parents generally tend to pick the baby with the bucket-shaped seat and place it on the floor while finishing their remaining tasks so that the baby does not get disturbed.
However, it is crucial to note that leaving the baby on the floor is a very dangerous option. Chances are that the baby can fall in the front and get injured as well as damage the air passage which could be fatal. So it is advisable to always let the car seat be attached to the base, while the baby is sleeping in it and not only as a bucket, else attach the bucket to a pram or stroller with the adequate adapter.
2. Sleeping With The Baby On The Couch Is Asking For Danger
It is mostly seen that parents feel very relaxed when they sleep with the baby on their chest. This indeed is a great feeling for the parents yet very dangerous for the baby as he might fall, slip even choke while the parents sleep peacefully, especially because the baby could be on a pillow,
3. Never Purchase The Cute-Looking Bumper Cribs That Are Seen At The Stores
Before the birth of the baby, the parents are attracted by the advertisements or by the products that can be seen at stores. It is not advisable to buy bumper cribs as it does save the babies from bumps, and falls, especially when they are trying to crawl due to their soft and cushiony bumpers, yet they can be a cause of choking hazards. They can even lead to Small Infant Death Syndrome, also referred to as SIDS.
4. Do Not Rely On The Baby Monitor Technology
Lately, baby monitor is gaining momentum as they are extremely useful for mothers who are too busy. These monitors indicate to the parents by a beep if there is any rigorous movement with the baby. That way the parents can have a sneak peek at the video and know if the baby moved in sleep or is restless.
Since it’s technological, it could cause false alerts and anxiety in parents. Medical experts oppose inserting sensors under a baby’s mattress to ensure a safe resting environment. Getting alert notifications and other data on the gadgets is not an alternative to letting the baby be alone.
5. Never Stop The Sleep Training Primarily Due To Teething
Babies are too new to the world so they take time in adjusting, they can keep having stomach upsets, gastric troubles, colds, and with age even teething. They will always be surrounded by bacteria or recovering from the illness. In short, there is no right time to train them to sleep. The training should not get obstructed because of these reasons. Once the baby is more than four months, it is advisable to train them for sleeping on time, irrespective of the fact that the body has some problem or the other.
Some Other Common Sleeping Mistakes Parents Make
There are some more common mistakes new parents make. These mistakes will interfere with your child’s sleep and, thus, contributes to your sleepless nights. Make sure you will not make the following mistakes:
- Fixing a late bedtime for the convenience of the parents. They overlook the sleep cue of the baby. Remember, a late bedtime contributes to an overtired and cranky child.
- Relying on motions like rocking to make the child sleep. Even if this is an easy way to make your child sleep, he or she may get reliant on it. This implies they’ll take longer to fall asleep and likely wake you up at night.
- Distractions- intentional or unintentional. If you have a habit of watching TV and using smartphones and tablets, quit those practices. Any eye-catching distractions will interrupt your child’s sleep. Remove everything that even remotely amuses your child placed near the crib or even from the room itself.
- One of the typical mistakes parents make is shifting their child from crib to bed soon. Instead, it is better to follow a gradual method in this aspect.
- Failing to set up or skip a bedtime routine. A bedtime ritual not only helps your child relax and fall asleep, but also strengthens parent-child bonds.
Thus, sleep training should be done well in time. When the baby gets habitual to it, it will become easier for them to sleep. This makes things smoother for the entire family.
