Sleep has always been one of the biggest concerns for first-time parents. We witness first-hand the effects of what a missed nap or a delayed bedtime can do to our babies, and with so much information to process, we can’t blame ourselves if we get caught up in bedtime myths.
Here are a few common bedtime myths that you may not have known could be solved by trouble-free remedies.
1. “My baby is just a poor sleeper. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
There is no such thing as a ‘poor sleeper’. The trick is to help your baby get more familiar with bedtime. According to several sleep experts, one of the most effective ways is by establishing a bedtime routine.
JOHNSON'S®: recently came out with the first scientifically-proven bedtime routine, which consists of three simple steps: Bath, Massage, and Quiet Time. When used with the official line of Bedtime™ products—made with NATURALCALM™ aromas and a NO MORE TEARS® Mildness® formula—it guarantees your baby an additional one hour of sleep, after just seven days.
2. “Babies wake because they are breast fed.”Plenty of factors could affect a baby’s sudden waking in the night—it could be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental age, environment, or even a previously introduced sleep habits. Avoid feeding and rocking your baby before putting him/her to sleep because this may also enforce an unnecessary habit that he/she may carry with him/her when growing up.
3. “If I get my baby tired enough, she’ll be able to sleep through the night.”
Babies actually benefit from sleep more than we think, so it’s important that we don’t deprive them of these by trying to desperately get them to sleep. According to Dr. Agnes Tirona-Remulla, ENT-Head and Neck Specialist, who sub-specializes in Sleep Medicine and Surgery, babies gain three things from sleep: physical, emotional, and cognitive development—stronger immune system, proper weight regulation, improved social skills and mother-child interaction, enhanced learning and memory.
4. “Don’t give your baby a bath at night! He’ll catch a cold.”
This is probably one of the most common bedtime myths Filipino moms hear; but contrary to what our elders say, giving our babies a bath in the evening is actually a good way of preparing them for sleep.
The warm bath loosens up their muscles and helps them relax, signaling them that it’s almost time to go off to dream land.
5. “I’ll wait until my baby is a toddler to help him sleep better.”
It’s no easy task to teach your baby how to sleep, so why delay it when you can start early? As Dr. Remulla said, the best thing about establishing a bedtime routine is that it instills good sleeping habits, as well, as a good sleep schedule. This in turn, guarantees both you and your child a longer, more restful slumber in the long-run. For more tips on how to better sleep train your baby, you can visit www.johnsonsbaby.com.
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