Fact or Fiction? – 3 Myths About Getting Baby to Sleep Through the Night
Myth #1 - Putting Baby to Bed Late Will Help Baby Sleep Late Into the Morning
As much as this should make sense, it’s actually the opposite when it comes to babies. Late to bed means early to rise in most cases. Putting baby to bed late in the evening increases their chances of being overtired when they are laid down which can result in more crying, greater resistance to going to sleep and less quality of sleep. Babies sleep better, longer and are more rested when put to bed earlier than later.
Myth #2 – Giving Baby Rice Cereal or Solids Before Bed Will Help Them Sleep Through the Night
This is classic and I think all new parents hear this piece of advice at least once in their attempts to get baby to sleep through the night. While this may have worked for some babies, it certainly is not recommended. For one, if baby is not old enough for solids it can cause serious issues for their little tummies. Babies that are ready to eat solids can still wake throughout the night. After the first few months babies do not wake in the middle of night from hunger, but from a lack of skills that allows them to get back to sleep on their own.
Myth #3 – Baby Wakes In the Middle of the Night Because They Are Hungry
Again, after the first few months babies are able to get through the night without eating. They receive enough nutrition during the day to last them the 8 to 12 hours they sleep at night, especially when they begin to eat solids. While it may seem as though baby is hungry at night when they wake up, it’s simply because nursing or having a bottle is the only way they know how to get back to sleep.
As much as this should make sense, it’s actually the opposite when it comes to babies. Late to bed means early to rise in most cases. Putting baby to bed late in the evening increases their chances of being overtired when they are laid down which can result in more crying, greater resistance to going to sleep and less quality of sleep. Babies sleep better, longer and are more rested when put to bed earlier than later.
Myth #2 – Giving Baby Rice Cereal or Solids Before Bed Will Help Them Sleep Through the Night
This is classic and I think all new parents hear this piece of advice at least once in their attempts to get baby to sleep through the night. While this may have worked for some babies, it certainly is not recommended. For one, if baby is not old enough for solids it can cause serious issues for their little tummies. Babies that are ready to eat solids can still wake throughout the night. After the first few months babies do not wake in the middle of night from hunger, but from a lack of skills that allows them to get back to sleep on their own.
Myth #3 – Baby Wakes In the Middle of the Night Because They Are Hungry
Again, after the first few months babies are able to get through the night without eating. They receive enough nutrition during the day to last them the 8 to 12 hours they sleep at night, especially when they begin to eat solids. While it may seem as though baby is hungry at night when they wake up, it’s simply because nursing or having a bottle is the only way they know how to get back to sleep.
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