Removing Emotions from Baby Sleep: The Key to a Good Night’s Rest
Removing Emotions from Baby Sleep: The Key to a Good Night’s Rest
Sleep, especially for babies and children, often becomes an emotionally charged topic. It’s understandable—when you’re battling to get your child to sleep and you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, emotions run high.
Struggling for more than a few hours of uninterrupted sleep day after day, week after week, month after month, can make anyone feel like crying. However, the more emotional parents get about their child’s sleep (or lack thereof), the harder it becomes to step back, remove the emotion, and view sleep objectively.
A Fundamental Human Need
Sleep is a natural, recurring state of mind and body characterized by altered consciousness, inhibited sensory activity, muscle relaxation, and reduced interaction with surroundings. Notice the word “naturally.” Sleep is an inherent process.
Sleep is a basic human need. We are all biologically designed to sleep, with internal sleep systems in place. Each of us has a 24-hour body clock, or circadian rhythm, that controls when we sleep and wake.
Ideally, sleep should be a straightforward, daily routine. So, why is it often so challenging?
It Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult
Baby and child sleep has become a complex and controversial topic, likely due to the emotional weight attached to it. Many sleep experts emphasize the emotional aspects, focusing on nurturing and protecting the emotional wellbeing of babies, children, and families. They advocate for “never leaving baby alone,” “never letting baby cry,” “always being there,” and “cuddling, holding, feeding, and touching your baby whenever needed” to avoid risking the bond and attachment with your child.
I view sleep differently. While I encourage nurturing, bonding, and secure attachment between parents and children, for me, sleep is about our bodies, hormones, natural drive, and basic needs. Sleep is about our environment, waking up with the sun, and going to bed when it’s dark. It’s about feeling tired and drifting off naturally.
Avoid Getting Caught Up
From my experience working with various families, those who manage to detach emotion from the situation and focus on establishing healthy sleep habits achieve success more quickly and easily than those who are emotionally entangled.
It’s easy to get caught up in emotions, especially with prevailing messages like, “Sleep training and leaving your baby to cry will permanently damage your baby,” and “If you leave your baby alone, they will never trust you again.”
However, by putting those fears aside and viewing sleep objectively, it becomes easier to understand why sleep issues occur, make necessary changes, and stick to them.
Still Unsure?
If you’re still uncertain and need further support, I invite you to explore the packages I offer. Additionally, I provide comprehensive sleep guides that you can explore here. These guides cover everything from newborns to toddlers, ensuring you have the resources you need for a good night’s sleep.
Should you have any doubts about which package to choose, I’m available for a free call that you can schedule here. Together, we can determine the best support for your child’s sleep needs and ensure a perfect fit for your family.
Feel free to reach out—I’m here to help!