Navigating Tears When Sleep Training
As a parent, sleep is essential for both you and your child's well-being. However, getting your child to sleep through the night can be a challenge, and the process of sleep training may result in a few tears. While watching your child cry can be tough, it's crucial to remember that sleep training is a valuable tool. With the right approach and perspective, you can navigate tears when sleep training, while ALSO ensuring safe and healthy sleep habits for your child. In this blog post, we'll share some tips for navigating tears while sleep training your child.
Understand the Importance of Sleep Training
Sleep training is an important process that helps your child learn how to soothe themselves to sleep and develop healthy sleep habits. It is essential for your child to get enough sleep so that they can function at their best and avoid physical and emotional problems. Keep in mind that sleep training is a gradual process, and it takes time for your child to learn how to sleep on their own. Not only that, sleep training is important for YOU! Your sleep is important too! Don’t feel guilty if you are exhausted and just want your baby to SLEEP. It doesn’t make you a bad mom, so let go of that #momguilt
Create a Plan
Before starting the sleep training process, create a plan that works best for your family. You get to decide what your bedtime routine will look like, how much crying you are ok with, and what types of soothing mechanisms you will utilize. While there is no “right” plan, there certainly are best practices that will help you to get your kiddo sleeping through the night, if you feel totally lost about where to start with sleep training, be sure to grab my guide: 10 Tips for Sleep Training
Be Prepared for Tears
It is important to anticipate crying during the sleep training process. While it is tough to hear your child cry, remind yourself that the crying will eventually stop, and your child will learn to sleep on their own. Remember depending on the plan you create, you decide how many tears you are OK with! There are ways to check in on your child or soothe them without picking them up, which will help to alleviate your anxiety.
Stay Calm
Watching your child cry can be challenging, but it's essential to stay calm and focused on the end goal of helping your child learn healthy sleep habits. Remember that your stress and anxiety can transfer to your child, leading to more crying and stress. Instead of getting tense, take deep breaths, and use a soothing voice to comfort your child.
Celebrate Success
Once your child has learned healthy sleep habits, celebrate! You and your child have come a long way, and it's essential to recognize your efforts. Remember to stick with the healthy sleep habits you have established so that your child continues to get the sleep they need.
In conclusion, sleep training can be a challenging process for both parents and children. However, with the right approach and perspective, navigating tears during the process is achievable. Remind yourself of the importance of sleep training and the benefits it provides to your child's physical and emotional well-being. Create a plan that works for your family, anticipate tears, stay calm, and celebrate your success when your child has learned healthy sleep habits. Keep in mind that like most things when it comes to parenting, consistency is key. Be patient and stick to it, and you will be rewarded with a well-rested, happy child- and parent!
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