Seeing your baby cry is perhaps the most heartbreaking moment of all.
You don't want him to cry. You want him to be happy.
And of course you want it to be healthy. But for all of this to happen, he needs to sleep properly.
It would be nice if your child could learn to sleep without crying or frustration . All parents would agree to that. Unfortunately, the truth is that all children, no matter what method you use to help them sleep, inevitably shed a few tears in the process. Let's see why.
Why do children cry when they learn to sleep?
First and foremost, children cry when they learn to sleep because they protest they don't like change. In fact, they hate change . Think about it.
Do you remember what your favorite book was when you were a kid? Do you remember wanting to read this book over and over again, even though you knew every word of it?
Or your favorite cartoon?
We all resist change, children and adults alike. It's okay to do this, and it's okay for your child to express resistance by crying. After all, tears precede words, not the other way around.
Second, when children start to learn how to sleep but haven't figured out how to do it yet, they naturally get frustrated. They no longer have mom and dad by their side to help them fall asleep, and they don't yet know what else to do. They will eventually find out. Find out more about what is called separation anxiety .
How do babies learn to sleep?
What's really interesting about falling asleep is that, although each of us is born with the inherent ability to do so, it's considered a learned behavior.
And yet you can't teach someone else how to do it, you can't just tell your child to close their eyes and go to sleep.
On the contrary, each of us must learn for ourselves what to do to fall asleep.
Of course, there are children who seem to learn to sleep almost magically, with very little effort from parents. But children are different. Each is unique.
Your child, like many others, has yet to learn this essential skill . This is why he needs you to take a step back, so that he has the opportunity to achieve this on his own.
How is he going to do it?
He can kick his legs a little, gently rock his head from side to side or grab his comforter. Or maybe suck his thumb. If he's a bit older, he might play with his hair.
The truth is, every baby is different and does different things to soothe and fall asleep, and your child will surely find a method that's just right for them. But he won't find out these things so easily if you stand right next to him or hug him. He will not have the necessary motivation to do so.
In other words, if you "help" him, he will cry even harder because the touch will feel like a teasing that will only make his crying stronger.
I hope this article has enlightened you on the subject and that the transition will be smoother. Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments.
To help baby fall asleep, we have created a Spotify playlist ( Click here to subscribe it's totally free) and you will have access to many white noise sounds, and other soothing sounds.
White noise helps babies fall asleep more easily. Click here to learn more about white noise.
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