Children going to sleep on their own sounds like the dream of many parents, especially those who already have many difficult evenings and even more difficult nights behind them. How can you stop your baby falling asleep in your arms and are there any ways to make them fall asleep on their own, without you spending hours in their bedroom? Unfortunately, there is no simple or foolproof method that will work for every child. You have to remember that learning to fall asleep alone is a challenge not only for the tired parent but above all for the little one. How to do it without unnecessary nerves?
Is it time for a baby to go to sleep on its own?
The first question to answer for a parent who is planning to teach their baby to go to sleep on their own is this: is the baby ready for this step? It is difficult to pinpoint a definite age by which a baby should already be falling asleep alone. Don’t introduce revolutionary changes just because your neighbor's baby has been doing it for a long time. Each child is different –in some families, infants falling asleep on their own is already standard, while in others there are one-year-olds who can do it. However, there are also two-, three- and even four-year-olds for whom it seems impossible to get there. The parent knows best what their child needs and they are sure to sense the right moment when their little one is ready to fall asleep on their own.
Stress-free learning process
How can you teach your baby to fall asleep on their own? Keep it stress-free, but be consistent. The parent must show great patience and understanding here. Let’s be honest: your little one won’t just start doing it one night. A baby, especially an infant, does not understand the sudden change that parents are trying to introduce – and, in the baby’s perception, it is not a change for good. If the baby has gotten used to falling asleep on your chest or in your arms, learning to fall asleep alone will be difficult. If the baby has always gone to sleep in their parents’ bed, doing it alone may be frightening. The key to success in helping your baby fall asleep on their own is to understand the emotions involved and respect them. This is certainly not a time for military-style drills. Instead, it needs baby steps to show your child what it means to sleep alone, but above all to make them see that it’s not scary, stressful or unpleasant. The less aggravation, the better your chance of success.
How can you teach your baby to fall asleep on its own in its cot?
When it comes to learning to go to sleep on its own, routine is crucial for your baby. Everyday rituals make the baby feel safe. Effective methods, therefore, include evening rituals worked out together with your child, such as calm play, dinner, a bath, a gentle massage, a lullaby, reading books and dimmed light. The evening routine helps to build a sense of closeness and security, which makes it much easier for your baby to fall asleep alone. The baby needs to feel comfortable and confident in their cot, so any changes you make need to be introduced gradually. If you leave your baby to cry itself to sleep, that does not convey the message that the baby is safe. Eventually, sleep will come, but at what cost? Babies who fall asleep alone are children who feel safe, so it’s much better to have plenty of patience and give them a little more time, along with more love and understanding. If we use the strategy of gradually leaving them alone, we will show them that falling asleep on their own is nothing bad –it’s normal. You can also use handy accessories to put your baby to sleep to help them calm down and drift off more quickly.
You can also play an audiobook, so your child can fall asleep with fairy:
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