parenting MONDAYS

I am reading 'Bringing Up Bebe' by Pamela Druckerman.  I am only 1/3rd of the way in and I am absolutely loving all the tips that are connecting with me as I am reading. There are some stand out parenting tips that I just have to share. I wish I had have known this when my daughter's were babies (not that they were bad sleepers) but it would have helped and I think it will help all the new mother's out there.

This book is beautifully written and has some wonderful tips to learn from and help you parent your little one.

Tip 1 ~ The Pause

Dr Cohen (french paediatrician) suggests 'for my first intervention is to say, when your baby is born, just do not jump on your kid at night. Give your baby a chance to self-soothe, don't automatically respond, even from birth.'

This is quite logical as young babies make a lot of movement and noise while they are sleeping, which is normal and fine but if parents rush in and pick the baby up every time they hear a peep they may wake him up. Just like adults babies wake up between their sleep cycles, which last about two hours. It is normal for them to cry a bit when they are first learning to connect these cycles. If a parent automatically interprets this as a demand to soothe the baby they will have a heard time learning to connect  the cycles on his own. Dr Cohen says that if a baby manages to fall asleep on his own he will have an easier time doing it again next time.

Cohen also says that sometimes babies do need to be fed or picked up. But unless we observe and pause them we cannot be sure. If the babies requests become more persistent you will have to tend to your baby. But remember to give your baby a chance to learn.

I find this tip so welcoming to learn and not to immediately go in and pick your baby up..... just watch and listen and see if they can settle themselves.