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Am I the only one who struggles with short-term sleep?
No! In fact, one of the most common questions Moms on Call receives is about sleep! A short nap, to be exact. If you are a bit sleepy, your questions will look like this below.
- I have a hard time sleeping for 30-45 minutes. Is there something I’m doing wrong?
- Why does my child wake up every 30 minutes during nap time?
- My baby is only sleeping for 60 minutes; should i move sleep?
At Moms on Call we want to meet families where they are so we’ve created resources to answer questions like these! We recently updated our online course to include new short stories with questions from parents like you.
How can I get my baby to sleep at night?
We can’t! However we can be sure that we have a few things (see below), to control what we can control, to give them a good chance to sleep well (or two) a day! And the good news is, we usually see some temporary changes that are not covered and easily rolled over (between 5-6 months).
What can I use to ensure success?
- A habit
- Consistency is key (where possible)!
- Follow Moms on Call’s ‘Typical Day’ schedules in the Moms on Call Books and Scheduler App. Check out *Crazy Date Tips to get through those hard-to-follow dates!
- Many times we have felt that moving in a different direction is necessary. Check with your counselor to see if moving is right for your child!
- Nature
- We recommend that children sleep in a cot in their room. The bed should be free of toys, blankets, pillows, and other stimulants.
- Blinds can be left slightly open to let in natural light (but make sure the hanging cords are cut out of the reach of babies or small children).
- Pure noise!
- A sound system can make all the difference. White noise is similar to the noise that babies hear in the womb.
- The white noise machine should be turned up so that you can hear it on the other side of the door.
- Under 12 years old, go right, it’s tight, tight, tight! Watch the Moms on Call Swaddling Video for great swaddling tips!
- For those over 12, we recommend footed pjs.
Is it okay for my baby to wake up after 30 minutes of sleep?
Yes! Sleeping for 30-45 minutes is part of normal sleep, where we see 10-15 minutes of waking up, and then the child falls asleep. We recommend using a cooling cycle for 10 minutes. Therefore, until 14 weeks (when we drop the cloth at bedtime), we give the baby the opportunity to sleep on their own, practice breathing, go fast, check the correct cloth, and make sure you are using a sound machine and work until the 15-25 minutes are over.
This is what the comfort cycle looks like:
- Start at 10 minutes (or less, depending on your comfort level)
- Log in, turn off the sound system for 2-3 seconds, then turn it back on.
- Check the swaddle- change it if needed (only the diaper before 3 months).
- Change the diaper if it comes out.
- Please, take a little, and rub it on the stomach.
- Get out!
- Then give the child time to think and start over
- Every day, add a few minutes, and before you know it, baby will be back on track!
- When we finish tossing the cloth in the middle of the night, we use the same techniques to do the same thing at bedtime around 14 years old.
How do I know if I need more help?
This can take time, and some days are harder than others.
Try our online training, especially the short nap session first. We’ll help you deal with age-specific guidelines.
If you have reached a point where the bad sleep days outnumber the good sleep days, then we highly recommend working with a counselor to get you the help you need.
You are strong and confident. The baby is safe and loved, and you can get through this!
Moms on Call has helped thousands of families (and counting) get the sleep they need! Follow our best sleep guide by 12 weeks (and beyond)! For more information from Moms on Call, check out our free resources and our Knowledge Center on all things baby to toddler!