Lisa Marshall's Blog
March 18, 2021
Baby Sleep Training
Baby Sleep Training: A Healthy Sleep Schedule For Your Baby's First Year (What to Expect New Mom)- UNDERSTANDING SLEEP -
Think of your brain and body as if it were a hotel room. When you leave the room for the day, housekeeping bustles in and sets the room to rights. They vacuum, change the sheets, replenish toiletries, and put a nice little mint on your pillow. You come back to a fresh, clean room. A similar process of "housekeeping" takes place when we sleep. This is why good sleep is vital for both you and your baby.
Naturally, we all have a general understanding of what sleep is. What we often forget is that sleep is a complex process that’s vital to our overall health. Your first step to instilling good sleep habits in your child is to have a deeper understanding of the underlying functions of sleep. This chapter will give you a basic overview.
- The Function of Sleep -
Just 50 years ago, science believed that sleep was a passive process, meaning that the brain became dormant during sleep and that many of our body functions slowed down. Today, science has discovered that as sleep sets in, our brains and bodies begin an amazing process of healing and regeneration.
Here are some of the things that happen while we sleep:
• During sleep, the brain works to maintain and create neural pathways that help us make memories, learn, and retain learning.
• Sleep allows the immune system to regenerate and replenish white blood cells and other substances necessary for fighting infection and disease (you may have noticed that when you go for a few days without sleeping well, you often come down with a cold). In other words, good sleep promotes a healthy immune system.
• During sleep, your body flushes out toxins that have accumulated throughout the day. It also attacks and destroys germs.
• Sleep helps regenerate neurons, the nerve cells that communicate with each other to regulate various brain and body functions.
• Sleep balances the mood and helps with stress management.
• Heart rate and blood pressure decrease during sleep, allowing the heart to rest.
• Sleep allows your body to regulate and balance blood sugar levels.
• Sleep promotes the regeneration and repair of cells and tissues throughout the body.
- The Stages of Sleep -
There are five stages of sleep through which an adult transitions during a typical night. These stages are the following:
• Stage 1: This is when you start to feel drowsy and begin to transition into sleep. This stage normally takes between 5-10 minutes, and your heart rate starts to slow down.
• Stage 2: The scientific term for this stage is non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which means light sleep. You sleep restfully with relaxed muscles but may be easily awakened by external sounds. You may also move your body frequently. This stage lasts for several hours of the night.
• Stage 3: This is the deep rest stage where you sleep heavily and your body does not move at all.
• Stage 4: This is the very deep sleep stage where you enjoy the most relaxing and restful sleep. Your body does not move at all and it's tough for anything to wake you. This stage lasts for about a quarter of your sleep time. Your heart and respiratory functions slow down and you may also dream.
• Stage 5: This is called the REM stage, where you are completely relaxed although your eyes move a lot. In this stage, your brain is working to rejuvenate itself and get rid of toxins.
For newborns and babies, these steps are different, as we will see later.
- Sleep Hygiene -
Like personal hygiene, sleep hygiene is the clinical term for our sleep habits, good or bad.
Good sleep hygiene involves many factors, including structured bedtime hours, relaxing pre-bedtime routines, sleep-promoting foods, and bedroom environment. It's simply a set of good habits and environmental changes geared towards promoting healthy sleep.
Teaching your baby good, lifelong sleep hygiene is what this book is all about.
- Why Sleep Training is Important for Your Baby -
A large volume of research conducted in the field of newborn and baby sleep has made some remarkable findings - all of which further confirms the importance of baby sleep training.
Here are some ways that good sleep hygiene will benefit your child:
• Children who are trained as babies to develop good sleep habits have higher cognitive abilities. They were also found to receive higher scores on science and math tests. This means that if you start early, you're setting your child up for academic success!
• When you teach your baby effective sleeping skills, he will be less likely to develop ADHD, ADD, and other cognitive disorders.
• Babies who are taught good sleeping habits have a calmer disposition, are friendlier with strangers, and more adaptable in general. This means that early sleep training can spare you lots of temper tantrums!
• Parents who get good rest can bond with their babies better, which is the whole aim of happy parenting.
• There's a strong correlation between sleep and a baby's development. Babies trained to sleep well develop faster and are healthier, while those with poor sleep habits are likely to be frail, sickly, and irritable. These are just some of the reasons why training your baby to sleep will pay on every level.
Plus, they are backed by science!
- 10 Facts About Baby Sleep -
1. A newborn's light sleep and frequent waking during the night is an instinctive response. He has been programmed by Mother Nature to demand sustenance every few hours, especially in the first months of growth and development.
2. Newborns alternate between light sleep and deep sleep every hour or so. This is why they tend to wake up often during the night when they're in the stage of light REM sleep. The key is to teach them to go back to sleep on their own.
3. Why do babies fall asleep faster when they're rocked? Rocking imitates the feeling of being in the womb! Another study has suggested that this is the reason children love swings as well.
4. Adults have 5 sleep stages but babies have just two: deep non-REM sleep and light REM sleep. They rotate between these two stages for the first few months of their lives.
5. There’s a reason for babies' light sleep. During this stage of REM rest, the baby's brain is active and blood flow to this area increases, promoting growth and development.
6. Babies sleep a lot, although exhausted parents will call you a liar to your face if you suggest this! But while newborns sleep for up to 18 hours a day, they also wake up frequently, which gives the impression that they are sleepless creatures.
7. Babies who sleep in a darkened room are better able to regulate their circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle) as they learn to distinguish between day and night.
8. Closed eyes don't mean your baby's fast asleep. It takes a baby up to 20 minutes to move from a light sleep stage into a deep sleep stage. 9. Contrary to what many parents think, a baby who naps often during the day will not keep you up during the night. A well-rested baby sleeps more soundly at night.
10. Leaving a screaming baby to exhaust himself to sleep can affect brain development and emotional growth. This is because the baby's distress raises cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the baby's body. This can have very negative effects in the long-term. It angers and stuns me that some parents even have the heart to put their baby through this.
Some of these facts you may already know, while others might come as a surprise. The bottom line is this: it's worth your time and effort to train your precious one to get the best possible sleep.
The result will be a healthier, happier baby, and healthier, happier parents!
Think of your brain and body as if it were a hotel room. When you leave the room for the day, housekeeping bustles in and sets the room to rights. They vacuum, change the sheets, replenish toiletries, and put a nice little mint on your pillow. You come back to a fresh, clean room. A similar process of "housekeeping" takes place when we sleep. This is why good sleep is vital for both you and your baby.
Naturally, we all have a general understanding of what sleep is. What we often forget is that sleep is a complex process that’s vital to our overall health. Your first step to instilling good sleep habits in your child is to have a deeper understanding of the underlying functions of sleep. This chapter will give you a basic overview.
- The Function of Sleep -
Just 50 years ago, science believed that sleep was a passive process, meaning that the brain became dormant during sleep and that many of our body functions slowed down. Today, science has discovered that as sleep sets in, our brains and bodies begin an amazing process of healing and regeneration.
Here are some of the things that happen while we sleep:
• During sleep, the brain works to maintain and create neural pathways that help us make memories, learn, and retain learning.
• Sleep allows the immune system to regenerate and replenish white blood cells and other substances necessary for fighting infection and disease (you may have noticed that when you go for a few days without sleeping well, you often come down with a cold). In other words, good sleep promotes a healthy immune system.
• During sleep, your body flushes out toxins that have accumulated throughout the day. It also attacks and destroys germs.
• Sleep helps regenerate neurons, the nerve cells that communicate with each other to regulate various brain and body functions.
• Sleep balances the mood and helps with stress management.
• Heart rate and blood pressure decrease during sleep, allowing the heart to rest.
• Sleep allows your body to regulate and balance blood sugar levels.
• Sleep promotes the regeneration and repair of cells and tissues throughout the body.
- The Stages of Sleep -
There are five stages of sleep through which an adult transitions during a typical night. These stages are the following:
• Stage 1: This is when you start to feel drowsy and begin to transition into sleep. This stage normally takes between 5-10 minutes, and your heart rate starts to slow down.
• Stage 2: The scientific term for this stage is non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which means light sleep. You sleep restfully with relaxed muscles but may be easily awakened by external sounds. You may also move your body frequently. This stage lasts for several hours of the night.
• Stage 3: This is the deep rest stage where you sleep heavily and your body does not move at all.
• Stage 4: This is the very deep sleep stage where you enjoy the most relaxing and restful sleep. Your body does not move at all and it's tough for anything to wake you. This stage lasts for about a quarter of your sleep time. Your heart and respiratory functions slow down and you may also dream.
• Stage 5: This is called the REM stage, where you are completely relaxed although your eyes move a lot. In this stage, your brain is working to rejuvenate itself and get rid of toxins.
For newborns and babies, these steps are different, as we will see later.
- Sleep Hygiene -
Like personal hygiene, sleep hygiene is the clinical term for our sleep habits, good or bad.
Good sleep hygiene involves many factors, including structured bedtime hours, relaxing pre-bedtime routines, sleep-promoting foods, and bedroom environment. It's simply a set of good habits and environmental changes geared towards promoting healthy sleep.
Teaching your baby good, lifelong sleep hygiene is what this book is all about.
- Why Sleep Training is Important for Your Baby -
A large volume of research conducted in the field of newborn and baby sleep has made some remarkable findings - all of which further confirms the importance of baby sleep training.
Here are some ways that good sleep hygiene will benefit your child:
• Children who are trained as babies to develop good sleep habits have higher cognitive abilities. They were also found to receive higher scores on science and math tests. This means that if you start early, you're setting your child up for academic success!
• When you teach your baby effective sleeping skills, he will be less likely to develop ADHD, ADD, and other cognitive disorders.
• Babies who are taught good sleeping habits have a calmer disposition, are friendlier with strangers, and more adaptable in general. This means that early sleep training can spare you lots of temper tantrums!
• Parents who get good rest can bond with their babies better, which is the whole aim of happy parenting.
• There's a strong correlation between sleep and a baby's development. Babies trained to sleep well develop faster and are healthier, while those with poor sleep habits are likely to be frail, sickly, and irritable. These are just some of the reasons why training your baby to sleep will pay on every level.
Plus, they are backed by science!
- 10 Facts About Baby Sleep -
1. A newborn's light sleep and frequent waking during the night is an instinctive response. He has been programmed by Mother Nature to demand sustenance every few hours, especially in the first months of growth and development.
2. Newborns alternate between light sleep and deep sleep every hour or so. This is why they tend to wake up often during the night when they're in the stage of light REM sleep. The key is to teach them to go back to sleep on their own.
3. Why do babies fall asleep faster when they're rocked? Rocking imitates the feeling of being in the womb! Another study has suggested that this is the reason children love swings as well.
4. Adults have 5 sleep stages but babies have just two: deep non-REM sleep and light REM sleep. They rotate between these two stages for the first few months of their lives.
5. There’s a reason for babies' light sleep. During this stage of REM rest, the baby's brain is active and blood flow to this area increases, promoting growth and development.
6. Babies sleep a lot, although exhausted parents will call you a liar to your face if you suggest this! But while newborns sleep for up to 18 hours a day, they also wake up frequently, which gives the impression that they are sleepless creatures.
7. Babies who sleep in a darkened room are better able to regulate their circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle) as they learn to distinguish between day and night.
8. Closed eyes don't mean your baby's fast asleep. It takes a baby up to 20 minutes to move from a light sleep stage into a deep sleep stage. 9. Contrary to what many parents think, a baby who naps often during the day will not keep you up during the night. A well-rested baby sleeps more soundly at night.
10. Leaving a screaming baby to exhaust himself to sleep can affect brain development and emotional growth. This is because the baby's distress raises cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the baby's body. This can have very negative effects in the long-term. It angers and stuns me that some parents even have the heart to put their baby through this.
Some of these facts you may already know, while others might come as a surprise. The bottom line is this: it's worth your time and effort to train your precious one to get the best possible sleep.
The result will be a healthier, happier baby, and healthier, happier parents!
