10 Mistakes made by parents that harm their baby’s sleep

Sleeping well is critical for a baby’s healthy brain development, and insufficient sleep can lead to language and reading problems, and has links to the development of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Some parents like to bring their baby to sleep in their beds, hoping to strengthen the bond between them. And this attitude not only confuses the child, it can also be dangerous! But there are many other tips on what parents should not do if they want their children’s sleep to be healthy.

we, from awesome.club, we want all babies to be happy and sleep soundly. So, here are some mistakes that you need to avoid in order for your child to sleep well.

Establishing a bedtime routine is essential for your baby. This can help you feel peaceful and fall asleep faster. It’s important to stick to a certain schedule so your baby can learn when it’s time to go to bed. Following this habit, the child ends up getting used to sleeping at the same time, so falling asleep will become much easier and faster.

Children are just like us—the busier they are during the day, the more tired they are and the easier it will be to fall asleep. So try to involve your baby in a variety of activities. Talk to him, sing, stretch his muscles or go for a walk outside — all of which will make him more tired and ready to sleep.

Sometimes parents wait too long before putting their children to sleep, for example, until they start crying. However, there are many other signs (besides irritability) indicating that your little one is tired and needs a nap. If he’s frowning, clenching his fists, looking far away, or rubbing his eyes and ears, it may be time for bed.

Certain habits, such as rocking or massaging your baby, can help you relax and understand that it’s time for bed. Sometimes, though, it’s best to let your child try to calm himself down so he can learn to fall asleep without your help. That’s why it’s important not to respond to every little noise your little one makes while sleeping.

First, these sounds don’t necessarily mean your child is awake and needs you. They can just mean going through the different stages of sleep and you, by coming to see him, can wake him up. Second, one study found that children whose parents waited longer to respond to their wake ups were more likely to calm down and fall asleep on their own.

Some parents think that, during the day, the baby should sleep in a bright room, in order to learn to distinguish day from night. However, this is a myth. Darkness actually has a calming effect and promotes the production of melatonin — the hormone that helps regulate sleep.

Even if your baby is older or has a baby sibling on the way (and therefore the new family member will need a crib), don’t rush your child to bed. Most children move from crib to bed between 18 months and 3½ years. If you change their sleeping location too early it can be uncomfortable and confusing for your little one and you may just find them wandering around the house in the middle of the night as they are used to the confines of a crib. If the child starts to get out of the crib, take him to bed. Also, if you’re potty training your child, moving them around makes sense so they can learn to use the toilet on their own.

It is not recommended to remove all noisy distractions. If your baby learns to sleep only in complete silence, he may have a hard time falling asleep later when you can’t block out all possible sources of noise. It is sometimes recommended to use machines that produce white noise (such as a hair dryer) to help your baby fall asleep more easily, but they should be used with caution.

You might think that keeping your child awake longer will make them more tired and they will fall asleep faster and sleep longer. However, this habit can disrupt bedtime and decrease sleep. And while short naps are normal for newborns, older children should take longer naps. Therefore, sleeping for less time can make your child tired and, consequently, more irritable.

Some parents choose to sleep together with their children in bed, but this leaves them confused. And it can result in difficulty falling asleep in the crib or when you’re not around. Also, bed sharing can actually increase your risk of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related deaths.

It is normal for newborns to sleep between 13 to 15 hours a day. However, when the child grows up, he should not take naps of more than 3 hours in total, per day. Sleeping too much during the day disrupts sleep time. And the baby may end up having trouble falling asleep quickly and sleeping through the night.

Have you ever made any of these mistakes? What tricks do you know to improve your baby’s sleep? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!