Our society is inundated with dictates that tell us our baby should be sleeping all night, and if he’s not it is our fault.
The parenting website Netmums questioned almost 11,000 parents about sleep issues. The findings showed that the pressure to be a perfect parent is so great that around one-third admitted to lying about their child’s sleeping habits. (And how many more lied but didn’t admit it?)
Understanding the Science of Sleep
If you know what to expect in the sleep department, you can relax and enjoy your baby fully. Having realistic expectations right up front can take a lot of pressure off you and your baby, and help you combat any bad advice thrown your way.
So, erase all the opinions and theories that you’ve heard about how babies sleep, and learn a few important facts, beginning with the five-hours-is-sleeping-through-the-night rule. The more facts you know about baby sleep, the more realistic your expectations can be.
Elizabeth Pantley is a mother of four, grandmother, and author of the bestselling book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution plus 8 other books in the No-Cry Solution Series which helps Mums and Dads through all key stages of parenting. Visit her at nocrysolution.com
