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On the hunt for the leading source of research regarding Sleep Specialists, but are not sure where to begin? We've done all the groundwork for you with our round-up of Sleep Specialists essentials.A baby sleep consultant or baby sleep coach can help demystify the process of getting an infant to sleep better and for longer stretches. Younger infants up to 6 months tend to sleep on and off around the clock, waking every 1–3 hours to eat. As they near 4 months of age, sleep rhythms become more set. Most babies sleep 9–12 hours at night, usually with an interruption for feeding, and have 2–3 daytime naps lasting about 30 minutes to 2 hours each. It’s a good idea to try to break the habit of baby falling asleep with a bottle. You don’t want your infant to become dependent on having a bottle in order to fall asleep. Plus, when a baby falls asleep with a bottle in his mouth, milk can pool in his mouth and lead to tooth decay. Parents can make the mistake of setting the wrong bedtimes, and try to force their babies to fall asleep at a time that’s out of sync with their internal clock. And sometimes parents are overly complacent about certain things — like a baby’s vampire-like, nocturnal schedule. If you assume this is something you can’t change, it can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Dream feeds are based on the idea of scheduled awakening. This means waking the baby a little before they would wake themselves, and soothing them to sleep in the normal way (which might include rocking or feeding). Over time, this can help the gaps between awakenings to increase. Both these techniques are used by parents who are breastfeeding and/or formula feeding. Not too hot and not too cold — that’s the right climate for Baby Bear’s room. Why? Overheating may make your baby too sweaty to sleep, and it increases the risk of SIDS. As for too-cold rooms, infants get chilled easily, and will likely wake up if they’re uncomfortable. It's great to try and place them down if baby is still awake or drowsy, but it's also okay to do if baby has already fallen asleep. That way, they're in a safe sleep space and can begin to get used to it. If a baby doesn't like this, the parent can just try again at the next sleep. Keeping your baby awake during the day will not help them sleep better at night. If your baby is overtired it is much harder for them to get to sleep. You should not place your baby on their front or use any type of equipment or rolled up blankets to keep them in one position when you get home, unless you have been told to do so by your baby’s doctor or paediatrician because of a medical condition. Babies aren't truly developmentally ready to sleep through the night, which is generally defined as sleeping six to eight hours at a stretch overnight, until they're between 4 and 6 months old. By 6 months, if you're lucky, your little one could be clocking a solid seven or eight hours a night. Having a baby is a steep learning curve and aspects such as ferber method come along and shake things up just when you're not expecting them.Falling AsleepSome experts advise keeping interaction to a minimum when little ones wake up at night so that they don’t get the idea that night-time is play time. Whatever you choose to do, using low lighting and quiet voices when your baby wakes at night can be a great way to help your little one starts to recognise that night and day are different (and night is for sleeping). Don’t let the phrase “sleeping like a baby” fool you. Babies sleep a lot, but it’s broken into bits and pieces throughout the day. And sometimes, just like adults, babies party too hard. They can get so excited by your home’s daily commotion that they stay up too long which makes them wired and miserable and makes it even harder for them to leave the party and give in to sleep. You can start getting your baby used to going to sleep without you comforting them by putting them down before they fall asleep or when they’ve just finished a feed. It may be easier to do this once your baby starts to stay alert more frequently or for longer. You may like sleeping in peace and quiet, but for your baby, it’s really weird! That’s because in the womb, she was surrounded by a 24/7 symphony of sensations—holding, soft touch, loud whooshing, and lots of jiggling. Sometimes, especially during the first 4 months or so, your baby may have growth spurts accompanied by periods of cluster feeding (when your baby feeds for longer or more frequently than usual). These extra feeds might interrupt your baby’s sleep or change the pattern of sleeping and feeding. If you need guidance on 4 month sleep regression then let a sleep consultant support you in unlocking your child's potential, with their gentle, empathetic approach to sleep. Around half of all parents in the UK sleep with their baby at some time in the first few months after birth. This is known as co-sleeping or bed sharing and it’s important to know how to do it safely as it carries risks. See our piece on co-sleeping for more information. During the early weeks your baby spends most of the time either sleeping or feeding – that tiny stomach can still only hold a small amount of breast milk or formula at a time, so it needs to be topped up regularly! According to safe sleep experts, the best sleeping position for your baby is on their back in the 'feet-to-foot' position. The feet-to-foot position is where your baby's feet are at the end of the Moses basket, crib, or cot. When putting your little one down to rest, always lay them down on their back. Never put your baby to sleep on their front or side. Newborns are taking in a lot of information and so much is new to them. Life in the outside world is very stimulating and they are also growing very quickly so they need a lot of sleep. It is never too early to start a bedtime routine; it is something you can start doing even before you work on other aspects of sleep training. A similar routine can also be used before naps. Whether its something specific like sleep training or really anything baby sleep related, a baby sleep consultant can guide you to find a sleep solution as individual as your baby is.Keep The Room Temperature CoolBaby sleep can be somewhat controversial, particularly with the growing number of social media accounts claiming to be experts in the field. The reality is, no-one is an expert on a baby’s sleep other than the parent themselves. Sensitive babies often wake because they’re bothered by outside disturbances (lights, sounds, etc.) or internal discomforts (teething, hunger, etc.). And they can be very picky about the white noise you choose to help them sleep, ignoring it if it’s too mellow (like ocean waves) or getting upset by noise that’s too sharp and hissy (like fans and air filters). There is an entire industry devoted to helping babies sleep. But are all infant sleep aids equally effective? Clearly not. In fact, some practices can even be harmful. For example, there is reason to think that white noise can help babies sleep. But researchers have found that many sound machines sold for this purpose can produce noise at volumes that could harm an infant’s ears. Don’t get too caught up in insisting “it’s time my baby had a nap”, watch for your baby giving you sleepy cues, like yawning, eye-rubbing, staring off into space, etc. If you're travelling, you will just need to prepare in advance and make the necessary adjustments. Bring a portable bed like a bassinet or a playpen. You will also need a room where you can do the nighttime routine and put your baby down for the night. A sleep consultant will take a holistic approach to create a sleeping system that you can manage and one which takes into account sleep regression as well as the needs of the baby and considerations of each family member.It’s safe to swaddle your baby for sleep until he can roll over onto his tummy. But once he can roll over, stop swaddling. A swaddled baby who is placed on or rolls onto his tummy while sleeping may be more likely SIDS. Swaddling is when you snugly wrap a light blanket around your baby so that it covers most of his body below the neck. Be consistent, as it’ll help train baby to connect certain activities with sleep. For example, if you sing a lullaby, sing the same one every night. They’ll eventually start to associate this melody with sleep. Don't pressure yourself to impose a bedtime routine as soon as you get home from the hospital with your newborn. After all, he has to recover from the effort of being born — and so do you! Plus, newborns don’t have enough of a sense of day and night to have any predictable patterns. Your baby might object to being on his back. If that’s the case, swaddle him before putting him down or let him get drowsy in your arms first before putting him in the crib. Avoid rocking or holding your baby until he’s completely asleep, though. This could make it harder for him to go back to sleep on his own if he wakes up during the night. Night waking is important as it helps reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sharing a room with baby helps baby wake during the night. It also helps when breastfeeding as the milk supply is developed by feeds placed between midnight and 4.00am. For gentle sleep training guidance it may be useful to enlist the services of a sleep consultant.Sleeping Through The NightSome babies sleep much more than others. Some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts. Some soon sleep through the night and some don’t for a long time. Your baby will have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it’s unlikely to be the same as other babies you know. When babies are born they need darkness to switch off because they are used to the darkness of the womb and a dark room will stimulate the sleep hormone melatonin. Sleep regressions — where babies have a hard time falling or staying asleep — are normal throughout the first year and beyond. Having a bedtime routine in place offers comfort that can help your baby get through these phases. Get further insights appertaining to Sleep Specialists in this Wikipedia link.Related Articles:Every Single Thing You Need To Comprehend About Sleep Specialists A Well Planned No-Nonsense Guide To Sleep ExpertsHere's What Industry Insiders Say About Baby Sleep Trainers

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