[ad_1]
DENVER (KDVR) — Many experts agree the once popular “cry it out” method is not ideal for helping an infant get to sleep.
“It’s generally not a method we use or recommend with families,” said Dr. Katherine Wesley, a pediatric sleep psychologist with Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Wesley recommends responding quickly to an infant’s cry until they are at least six months old. At that point, if a family is ready to encourage sleep, caregivers can try spacing out response times in short increments.
“It’s a very gradual approach, we would let parents leave the room very briefly and then come back every 30 seconds or a minute to check on their child,” Wesley said. “So, we’re building that tolerance.”
Wesley adds that it’s important to rule out any health concerns that could be tied to sleep issues, as well.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that infants should sleep on their backs in a crib with nothing else in it.
Children’s Hospital Colorado recommends using the Pediatric Sleep Council at BabySleep.com as a key resource for parents and caregivers.
A free resource called the Fussy Baby Network Colorado can also be a useful tool. They will send a sleep specialist to your home to help address concerns.
A slightly varying method that some parents are turning to over “sleep training” is referred to as “attachment style” parenting. Experts said there is no data supporting one strategy over the other.
“We’re seeing a big shift in parents following their instincts,” Katie Crankshaw, an influencer and holistic infant and toddler sleep specialist, said. “They [infants] need to borrow our calm.”
In addition, Crankshaw said there is research showing that responsive parenting is brain-building.
[ad_2]
