Healthy Sleep: Independent Sleep

Independent sleep is one of the pieces to the healthy sleep puzzle. Without it you will see sleep struggles. But what is an independent sleeper? AND How do we achieve independent sleep?

Independent Sleep:

Sleep is a skill that needs to be learned. I know, it is one of the most important things we need in life (like food, water and love) – BUT to fall asleep and stay asleep on your own – well, we all need to learn how to do that.

An independent sleeper is one who need nothing to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. If your baby is older than 4 months of age (from their due date) – they are fully capable of this. It just may take a little guidance from you to get there.

The sleep crutch:

When our little ones first come into our lives, I think some of us are surprised that they don’t always “sleep like a baby,” as the old adage says. Often we are left tired as parents, but our little ones are left tired too! Many of us have ended up using props that end up becoming sleep crutches to help our little one to sleep. But what happens when our little one ends up needing that prop in order to fall asleep and then also needs it every time they wake up?!? Do we wake up at night and keep replacing it? How long will that last? Or should we help them to learn to sleep without it?

Read more at Orlando Mom Collective.