Just putting my baby in his crib is enough for him to fall asleep. A big bottle before bedtime promises a full night's sleep. A late bedtime promotes a longer night and a later wake-up. There are many myths surrounding baby sleep , but are they true or do they spread misconceptions? Ouatine & Cumulus revisits these beliefs with you and gives you explanations to better understand baby sleep.
Going to bed late promotes falling asleep quickly and waking up later in the morning 🌓
This is advice that many new parents hear: " Put your baby to bed as late as possible, so that he gets more tired, falls asleep faster, and tomorrow morning he will wake up later . " Perhaps you tested this advice before realizing that it was completely useless.
And yes, a late bedtime will not guarantee a long night's sleep, nor quick falling asleep, quite the contrary! Children like regularity; it is recommended to create routines that help them relax and understand that it is almost time to go to sleep. Trying to tire your baby out as much as possible by not respecting their needs and rhythm will result in increasing their falling asleep time and affecting the quality of their sleep.
Overly tired children tend to become restless and stimulate the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, which makes it difficult for the baby to fall asleep and leads to more frequent awakenings. Babies who stay awake beyond their capacity often experience extreme mood swings that cause them to feel emotions contrary to those beneficial for sleep. Your child's level of fatigue will also impact the quality of their sleep . The more exhausted they are, the more frequent the nighttime awakenings will be. When they wake up in the morning, they will be even more tired, as their sleep will have been less restorative.
As you can see, there's no point in exhausting your baby hoping to prolong their sleep; you'll only disrupt them.
Eliminate the nap so he can sleep through the night ⭐
Sleep is sacred for children. Therefore, thinking of eliminating their nap(s) to tire them out and hoping they will sleep better at night is a more than absurd idea. Newborns have not yet regulated their circadian rhythm, so they are unable to tell the difference between day and night ; this is part of their many learning processes.
Eliminating their nap(s) will cause periods of wakefulness that are far too long for your child to process all the information they absorb during their waking hours. This will result in overstimulation, increasing their fatigue and making them more easily irritable and restless.
The myth that eliminating naps promotes calm bedtime because your baby will be more tired is false. It actually encourages conflict and crying from your child, but most importantly, it disrupts their ability to fall asleep and the quality of their sleep, which will be more restless, with a higher risk of nighttime wakings.
As a reminder, naps are essential for children during the first years of their lives. to ensure they have energetic awakenings and well-deserved rest in light of the many things they learn during the day. Respecting this rhythm will lead to more peaceful nights!
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Stop breastfeeding so he can sleep better 🍼
" If you switch to formula, he'll sleep better at night; breast milk isn't filling enough. " If you breastfeed your baby, you've probably heard this phrase before. However, babies' sleep is influenced by a multitude of factors, not just their diet. Furthermore, breast milk contains nutrients that optimally support the baby's development, including hormones that regulate sleep and digestion. Moreover, there is no scientific evidence to show that formula milk induces better sleep.
Regardless of feeding, responding to your baby's needs during the night can strengthen the emotional bond and reassure the baby, which can, in the long term, contribute to better sleep. Stopping breastfeeding is a process that should happen when both mother and baby feel ready to take this step. Doing it in the hope of getting a better night's sleep is certainly not the best solution.
Why is the Ouatine & Cumulus cocoon essential for a newborn's sleep?
Many causes can lead to nighttime wakings, so it's important to be able to identify them. While it's true that your baby may be hungry, it's also possible that physiological reasons are waking them, such as needing a diaper change or experiencing colic. Perhaps they are also in a growth spurt ; teething, as we know, is never a pleasant time. Or perhaps emotional reasons, a need for reassurance during a change of environment or routine, may be the cause of their awakening: around 6 months, when they start daycare, the change of time in March and October, the hot summer months, or even a less consistent bedtime routine.
If I rock my baby, he'll never fall asleep alone! 🤱
The real question to ask here is: " Do I enjoy rocking my baby to sleep, or is the situation no longer suitable for me? " There is no required age for a baby to fall asleep independently; each family has its own rhythm and values!
So, remember this: what works for your friend and her baby doesn't necessarily work for you . You need to listen to yourself and trust yourself! Our babies are only little once, you know better than anyone what's good for you and for him. Rest assured, at 15 he'll sleep perfectly well alone, and you'll be the one waking him up.
In reality, many experts agree that there is no harm in putting a baby to sleep in your arms, as long as it meets a need for attachment and comfort. Babies are not able to fall asleep alone from birth, and being comforted by their parents does not prevent them from developing their independence over time. The process of gradually separating from parental arms to sleep alone happens naturally as they grow.
Eating a big meal at the end of the day helps you get a good night's sleep 🍲
While a good meal before bedtime may indeed soothe some babies and help them fall asleep, it doesn't guarantee they will sleep through the night. Infant sleep follows natural cycles , and it's perfectly normal to wake up several times, even after a bottle or breastfeeding. since the sleep pattern of babies is primarily dictated by their neurological development and physiological needs.
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Furthermore, each baby has their own sleep rhythm and nutritional needs. A large meal may also affect the baby's comfort, potentially leading to regurgitation or cramps. It is therefore important to follow the baby's cues and feed them according to their needs.
When it comes to sleep, as with all parenting issues, there's no one-size-fits-all answer! Connecting with your intuition, trusting yourself, and asking for help when you need it is the best way to experience fulfilling parenthood!
