{"id":6168,"date":"2011-09-18T21:02:02","date_gmt":"2011-09-18T21:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parentingtoday.com\/anew\/?page_id=6168"},"modified":"2024-05-27T12:58:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T19:58:55","slug":"baby-sleep-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/childdevelopmentinfo.com\/ages-stages\/baby-infant-development-parenting\/baby-sleep-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Preventing Your Baby from Sleeping Through the Night?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Elizabeth Pantley<\/strong>
\nAuthor of The No-Cry Sleep Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s something that may really surprise you: As much as we may want our babies to sleep through the night, our own subconscious emotions sometimes hold us back from encouraging change in our babies\u2019 sleeping habits. You yourself may be the very obstacle preventing a change in a routine that disrupts your life. So let’s figure out if anything is standing in your<\/em> way.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Download Our Ages & Stages Chart: Birth to 5 Years Old<\/a><\/p>\n

Examine Your Own Needs and Goals<\/h3>\n

Today\u2019s society leads us to believe that \u201cnormal babies\u201d sleep through the night from about two months; my research indicates that this is more the exception than the rule. The number of families in your boat could fill a fleet of cruise ships.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt our last day-care parent meeting, one father brought up the fact that his two-year-old daughter wasn\u2019t sleeping through the night. I discovered that out of 24 toddlers only six stayed asleep all night long.\u201d \u2026Robin, mother of thirteen-month-old Alicia<\/em><\/p>\n

You must figure out where your own problem lies. Is it in your baby\u2019s routine, in your management of it, or simply in the minds of others? If you can honestly say you want to change your baby\u2019s sleep habits because they are truly disruptive to you and your family, then you\u2019re ready to make changes. But if you feel coerced into changing Baby\u2019s patterns because Great Grandma Beulah or your friend from playgroup says that\u2019s the way it should be, it\u2019s time for a long, hard think.<\/p>\n

Certainly, if your little one is waking you up every hour or two, you don\u2019t have to think long on the question, \u201cIs this disruptive to me?\u201d It obviously is. However, if your baby is waking up only once or twice a night, it\u2019s important that you determine exactly how much this pattern is disturbing to you, and decide on a realistic goal. Be honest in assessing the situation’s effect on your life. Begin today by contemplating these questions:<\/p>\n