06/29/2024
I say this all time. Babies don’t have sleep problems. Our culture has a problem with how babies sleep.
" 'Training'⠀
⠀
Night waking is biologically normal. Night weaning does not ensure no wake ups. Sleep training does NOT ensure a good sleeper.⠀
Sleep is a biological function, it cannot be forced. Just as if someone sat you on the toilet and demanded you p*e right then.⠀
"Just give him rice cereal before bed. He's almost 3 month's, he'll be fine."⠀
"Put them in bed, close the door, don't go back in until morning."⠀
"If they are so upset they throw up, go in and change the sheets. Don't make eye contact or speak to them."⠀
"She's getting too used to being comforted every time she wakes."⠀
"Get out of the house when you put him in his crib, this way you won't hear his cries."⠀
"Let them cry, they're just manipulating you."⠀
Complete. And. Utter. BS.⠀
Not to mention, DANGEROUS.⠀
And many women believe that their baby, that only wakes a few times a night for nourishment and/or comfort, has a problem that needs to be solved.⠀
Waking frequently is a protective measure against SIDS, and also helps to maintain breastfeeding. ⠀
It's expected that they need feeds throughout the night. (Have you ever doubled your weight within a few months before? Or had rapid brain development and growth, so much so that you can't even rest?)⠀
It's unrealistic to expect babies to sleep BETTER than adults. ⠀
Why do we need studies, and facts, and statistics to show how it is or is not damaging. How it is or is not ok to hold your baby to sleep, nurse your baby to sleep, rock your baby to sleep.⠀
What happened to following our instincts? What happened to parenting from and following what you feel is right and good in your heart?⠀
If you need to p*e, do you wake? If you need to adjust the covers, do you wake? Do you wake when you're thirsty, had a bad dream, need to roll over?
Let's normalize normal behaviors.⠀
Babies and children don't have sleep problems.⠀
Society has expectation problems.⠀
Needing comfort isn't a problem that needs to be fixed. It's part of being human."
(Reposted 📸✏️: )
