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If you’re a sleep-deprived parent, you might feel willing to try just about anything to get your baby to fall asleep faster and stay snoozing longer.
But what actually works? And what’s safe to try?
As it turns out, there’s a lot of bad advice out there about baby sleep. That’s why Olufunke Afolabi-Brown, M.D., a board-certified pediatric sleep medicine physician (and the expert behind BabyCenter’s Baby Sleep 101 courseOpens a new window), took some time to explain a few of the tactics she’d never recommend.
1. Use unsafe sleep strategies
Sure, you’d never knowingly put your baby in danger. But Dr. Brown points out that some of the advice you might stumble across online isn’t actually safe. This includes suggestions like putting your baby to sleep in a swing or having your baby sleep on their belly. These make your baby more susceptible to Sudden Unexpected Infant DeathOpens a new window (SUID). It’s just not worth risking such horrible consequences, especially when there are perfectly safe things you can do to help your baby sleep better (which Dr. Brown walks through in detail in her courseOpens a new window).
2. End your baby’s bedtime routine with a feeding
This is a common habit that many parents fall into, but Dr. Brown says it’s not ideal. All babies – and people – wake up several times a night, but most adults are so good at putting themselves back to sleep that they don’t even realize it, Dr. Brown explains. To help your baby also gain that skill of independent sleep, it’s important to avoid parent-dependent associations like feeding them until they drift off. Otherwise, they’ll need you when they wake up during the night.
Dr. Brown suggests moving the feeding to the beginning of your bedtime routine. If this sounds daunting, don’t worry – Dr. Brown has specific suggestions for how to do this in her courseOpens a new window.
3. Use a sleep training method that doesn’t feel right for your family
“I would never suggest one specific method of sleep training for your baby,” Dr. Brown says, noting that all babies and their families are different. “What really works in terms of sleep training is what works specifically for you, for your baby, and for your family.” Worth noting: Baby Sleep 101Opens a new window provides several options for you to choose from for this very reason.
For more information from Dr. Brown on how to help your baby sleep better at night, check out Baby Sleep 101 from BabyCenter CoursesOpens a new window. It’s just $75 – and packed with great advice for how to help your baby get the sleep they need.
@babycenterOpens a new window Share this with a parent who’s struggling with baby sleep! For more great advice from Dr. Brown, check out her baby sleep course from BabyCenter Courses (link in bio) #newparentsOpens a new window #babysleepOpens a new window #babysleepyipsOpens a new window #sleepdeprivedmomOpens a new window original sound – babycenterOpens a new window