Our top 9 reasons to sleep teach your baby
Ensuring your child gets a good night's sleep is vital for your mental well-being. Experts unanimously agree that dealing with sleep deprivation is challenging, and prolonged lack of sleep is a major trigger for postnatal depression (PND). A restful night can significantly enhance your outlook and enable you to navigate daily challenges more effectively.
Effective communication with your child is crucial. Exhausted children may resort to grizzling instead of expressing themselves verbally or through sign language. However, with adequate rest, their speech and language skills are likely to improve.
Attentiveness to your child's subtle signals is key for understanding and communicating effectively. This proactive approach helps discern whether they're tired, hungry, or simply in need of comforting cuddles. This attentiveness not only reduces fatigue but also fosters greater patience, making the parenting journey more enjoyable for both you and your child.
Quality sleep plays a role in regulating your child's appetite. Tired toddlers often become less selective eaters, while older babies tend to develop healthier feeding habits, whether nursing or bottle-feeding.
Prioritising sufficient rest is essential for the overall well-being of children. A good night's sleep promotes happiness, cheerfulness, and a reduced likelihood of tantrums, irrespective of age. We're all familiar with the grumpiness that follows inadequate sleep—babies and toddlers experience the same, minus the 4 pm coffee pick-me-up.
Adequate sleep contributes to growth, as babies experience growth during their sleeping hours. Many parents have reported improved weight gain in their infants after addressing previous concerns.
Noticeable reductions in separation anxiety are likely when your child is well-rested. Their ability to cope with brief separations, like stepping out to do chores, improves, reducing the likelihood of meltdowns.
Improved marital satisfaction is a common theme among parents addressing sleep challenges. While not claiming expertise in marriage counselling, many couples report strengthened bonds and reduced stress after establishing better sleep patterns for their baby. This allows them to prioritise their relationship in the evening.
The potential for family expansion is a positive outcome. Beyond the obvious benefits mentioned earlier, the months or years of sleep deprivation often lead some parents to question their parenting abilities or reconsider the idea of expanding their family. It's heartening to hear that improved sleep for their child often rekindles the desire for additional children.