...maybe!
But do not lose hope, dear parents. The good news is that you can learn to get your child to sleep. The not-so-good news is that there is not one solution that works for all children.
This means that as a parent, you will slowly have to experiment to find out what works for you and your child.
It can seem like an overwhelming task in a busy everyday life – with far too little sleep – and therefore Mammashop has decided to help you along the way with 5 clever tips.
Pssst. The keyword is security.
1. Make the bed a cozy place
...and therefore do not use the bed as a threat or punishment by exclaiming “IF YOU DON’T… THEN YOU’RE GOING TO BED!” Instead, teach your child to associate the bed with something nice by saying “oh, how lovely it will be to sleep” when you tuck the blanket around your little one.
2. Create a consistent sleep rhythm
Your child should be put to bed at the same time every evening, so your child gets a sense of when it is bedtime. Slow down, and create some fixed sleep rituals that do not create a need for your presence from start to finish when the little one needs to sleep. Try with a bath, a bedtime story, or a kiss on the cheek before you say goodnight and leave the room (consistently!).
3. Let your child sleep in their own bed
...preferably in their own room, mind you! This requires that the bed is a safe place, so it can be a good idea to play with your child in the bed during the day. But also remember that the bed should be boring, so remove decorations with fun and quirky motifs like mobiles and bed skirts.
4. Know the difference in your child's cries
There are two types of cries – the cry of fear and the cry of dissatisfaction. You need to learn to distinguish between them as a parent, so you know what your role is when crying occurs at bedtime. With the cry of fear, you should pick up your child and comfort them, while with the cry of dissatisfaction, you should just ensure to be present in your child's room to provide security.
5. Do not blindly follow the expert's advice
The most important advice we can give you as parents is that you should not blindly follow all the experts' advice. If what you are doing or planning to do does not feel right, then it is certainly not the right thing for you and your child. You should always listen to your heart; otherwise, it is not safe for your child – and safety is the key to your child's sleep.
As a final tip, we have one last piece of advice. Do not try a thousand things – it confuses your child. Instead, choose 1-2 sleep tips and follow them consistently. It usually takes 3-7 days for your child to learn to fall asleep on their own.
If our advice is not for you, we have made a list of three items from Mammashop.dk that can also help your child (and you) achieve better and more secure sleep at night.
Goodnight.
