A few things that make teaching independent sleep easier

There’s no greater joy than welcoming a baby. That gorgeous newborn scent, the sweet smiles and the little coos make up for every bit of tiredness that comes with motherhood. After a while, though, as much as you love being with your baby day and night, you realise you also need some time for yourself and proper rest. That is when the idea of helping your baby learn to fall asleep independently appears. For a baby to nod off on their own takes steady effort and a few practical helpers. Here’s what can make the process smoother.

Why is it worth teaching a baby to fall asleep independently?

A baby brings a huge amount of happiness into family life. We’d happily cuddle and kiss them all day long. It’s natural to do everything for them, to watch their every little movement and not want to put them down for a moment.

For babies, feeling safe is the most important thing. You can provide that safety by paying attention to their signals and responding to them. In time you’ll know exactly why your baby is crying, when they are hungry and when they are cold. At bedtime you stay close so they can feel your presence and hear your heartbeat, which is very soothing for them.

There comes a point, however, when the question of independent sleep arises. Please don’t think of yourself as selfish or inadequate if you feel you need more rest. By introducing independent settling you help both your child and yourself. Your baby learns they are safe even on their own, which builds confidence, and you get more sleep, so you are less impatient and scattered.

The foundations for calm bedtimes

A heads-up: supporting independent sleep takes a lot of patience and consistency. Don’t give up if after several weeks, or even months, you feel progress is slow. The key is to follow the same routine at every bedtime, so your little one learns what comes next. They will recognise when sleep time is approaching and gradually learn to fall asleep on their own.

How can you help the process? What should you watch for?

Start by creating the conditions for peaceful sleep. Pay attention to every small detail that might affect your baby’s comfort: the room temperature, blackout curtains, a comfy sleep space, and popping their favourite soft toy or comforter into the cot.

Experience shows that the sleep set-up and sleepwear matter. It isn’t ideal if they overheat and sweat, but it’s not good if they are chilly either. To complicate things further, young babies can’t reliably use a duvet: they either kick it off or it can twist around them while they sleep. This is where bamboo toddler sleeping bags with legs come into their own.

How does a bamboo toddler sleeping bag help with independent settling?

One of the biggest preconditions for independent sleep is that your baby is deeply relaxed by the time bedtime arrives. As adults we no longer rely equally on all our senses, but babies do. For them, smell and touch are just as important in understanding the world.

So aim for your baby to sense safety with every fibre: a warm bath, the fresh smell of the nursery after airing, and a soft, snuggly sleep outfit are all part of the evening ritual.

Our bamboo toddler sleeping bags are ideal for night-time because they are exceptionally gentle on delicate skin. Their soft feel makes babies happy to wear them, and the prints are beautiful and eye-catching.

Because these pieces are made from bamboo, they have temperature-regulating properties, so your baby won’t overheat and get sweaty. With sleeveless toddler sleeping bags, we recommend LiaaBébé bamboo bodysuits as the base layer.

Using a set like this gives you a better chance that your little one will enjoy sleep and learn to drift off independently sooner. Order our soft bamboo babywear and we’ll treat you to 10% off your first purchase. Come and follow us on Instagram too!

Source:

The Lullaby Trust — “Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents”