Building good sleep foundations is very important for children at a young age. They are just that much more accepting of your boundaries as parents, and the household in general can run that much smoother when everything “gels” well. The ever-on-going questions about “how are your kids sleeping?”, “Are they sleeping through yet?” “How do you manage?” always comes up in conversation.
Many times, the answers are “put them in bed with you, then you will get up less times”, “co-sleep with your baby or toddler”, “move into their room”, “build a bed next to your bed”. The recommendations are endless.
How do we know what the right decision is?
We look at what the studies and research tell us about the safety of sleep. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is very real, and we, as consultants, have the responsibility to educate our clients on how to make sure their baby is safe while learning to sleep. Many parents opt to share their room with their children. Often, it is for safety reasons, multiple wake-ups during the night, or when they are just not sure when to move their babies out.
South Africa does not have a controlling body to govern safe sleep, which is why we look to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), which recommends that infants sleep in their parents’ room until they are 1 year old to prevent SIDS. However, they have since “backtracked” on this statement to make way for further research, rather than it being based on expert opinion. So the choice is therefore entirely up to you.
Make it easy, comfortable, and effortless for you
When a mom tells us she would like to room share, then let’s do so. I suggest moving the cot furthest away from mom’s side of the bed, potentially even at the foot of the bed. Use white noise so that when mom and dad are coming to bed later during the night, you are not disturbing your baby. Make sure the bedroom is dark enough so that the baby will not wake too early in the morning, but also not nap too long during the day.
It remains important to respect the wishes of the parents
Babies thrive in their own environment, and mom has spent so much time and love on their brand new room; let’s use it. You will notice that your baby sleeps for longer stretches and is much less restless, as there are far fewer disturbances than when room sharing.
If a baby is still feeding during the night, then feed, change their nappy, and put them back into their cot for the remainder of the night. You would be amazed at the amount of deep, good quality sleep you, as a parent, get when no noises wake you up at night.
Safe Sleep
Always make sure that no matter where your baby is sleeping, they are in a safe space. This means that there should be no pillows or blankets in the cot. Preferably, cot bumpers should be removed from the cot. Mobiles and overhanging items should also not be reachable. As your baby grows older, they will learn to stand up in their cots and could start to pull at these items.
The ABC’s of sleep are very simple:
- A = Alone sleep
- B = Back Sleep
- C = Cot Sleep
Getting Your Toddler To Sleep In Their Own Room
Your toddler has very big emotions and will argue with you for not getting their way. Just breathe, keep your head high, and know that your coffee is stronger than your toddler. It is always fun to encourage your toddler to sleep in their own room. Independent sleep is also very important at their age. Make their room fun, reward them when they are good, and remember that disciplining your toddler is as important, even when it comes down to sleep.
They need to understand the rules of the house, and it is time to go to bed. If your toddler was room-sharing all this time, and it is now time to move them, speak to your toddler. Help them to understand that this is not because of something they have done, but rather that they are growing up, big, strong, and independent kids who need their own space.
It is even more convincing when they have a younger sibling, and you encourage them to be the big brother or sister, therefore making the move. It will almost feel as if they are choosing to make the move, rather than being told to make the move.
At the end of the day, we all want what is best for our family and for our children. It just makes life so much simpler when children are in a good routine, and sleep goes well. You, as parents, are even able to enjoy small victories like date nights and outings with friends, as you know your kids are perfectly happy and content at home in their safe and cosy sleep environments.
BabyWombWorld recognises that every family is different and should choose what works best for them. This article is intended for educational purposes only.
