Just when you’re about to rename yourself as the “sleep whisperer” for settling your child into a perfect bedtime routine, something comes along to turn your whole system upside down. And it feels as if all your hard work, perseverance and determination have been for absolutely nothing. But, instead of succumbing to the possibility that your baby may simply be resistant to any kind of sleep training (we’ve all thought that at one point or another), think about the major changes happening to your little one and consider if they may actually be the culprit in this sudden change.
Here are a few developmental milestones that could be to blame for your baby’s sudden restlessness:
1: Rolling Over
If your baby has recently mastered the art of rolling over (usually between 4 and 6 months), you may notice her waking more than usual. Your baby may have learnt how to roll from her back to her tummy, but she probably does not yet grasp how to turn back over. The result? Getting stuck and crying out in frustration.
How you can help
Practice lots of supervised “tummy time” during wakeful hours to help strengthen your baby’s core muscles.
2: Standing up:
As soon as your child starts seeing the world from a standing position, they’ll be so thrilled that they’ll want to do it over and over again, at any given opportunity. And yes, this means even at 3am when the thought of tucking in your little Jack in the Box ONCE AGAIN seems more exhausting than climbing Everest!
How you can help
Encourage plenty of standing time during the days while also teaching your little one how to sit down from standing. Practice makes perfect and in no time your baby will want to sit back down in her crib and lay down to sleep.
3: Talking
From the first “coos” to the first “mama” and “dada”, hearing your child’s little voice is heart melting…unless it’s 2.00am! Soon after your child learns that they can make a noise, they also learn how loud they can bellow that noise! And of course, they’ll want to show off and practice their newly acquired skill at any time during the day and night! You may even hear your baby attempting a conversation with her teddy bear or baby comforter (bless!).
How you can help
While you may be tempted to alternate “earplug” night with your partner, the key is to be patient and to stay consistent with your schedule. If your child is awake and happy in her sweet little blabbering world, then ignore the noise in the early hours (if you can). When your baby is a little older, you can discuss the importance of staying quiet in bed. For now, however, let her enjoy her new found voice. The early-hour racket will soon pass.
You can read how our happy clients have overcome their babies’ sleeping issues here with the help of our award winning Sleepytot baby comforter.
