The baby may start sleeping alone in his room when he or she starts sleeping a full night or when he or she wakes up to feed no more than twice a night. This occurs around the fourth or sixth month, when breastfeeding consolidates and the baby begins to create his or her own rhythm.
Unicef recommends that the baby sleep in the same room as the parents, in their crib, at least until the first 6 months of life, for safety. However, for the comfort of the mother, due to breastfeeding, this date can be extended to 9 or 10 months. After this age, the baby may have more difficulty adjusting to sleep alone, as he or she may be surprised by the new room and have more difficulty falling asleep.
- It is important to remember that babies up to 2 years old should never sleep face down.
- As there is a high risk of suffocation.
- It is best to always place the baby on his or her back.
- To reassure parents.
- What can be done is to put a camera or “babyphone” in the room.
- Next to the baby.
- To listen and see if everything is going well at night.
- Without having to enter the room.
To teach the baby to sleep alone in the crib, parents can
However, there are babies and children who need the attention and comfort of their parents, and prefer to sleep on their lap, rocking chair or when parents walk around the room rocking. Each baby is different and parents should be aware of their health safety and growth needs.
Discover the other 6 steps to teach your baby to sleep alone in the crib
The baby can sleep in the parents’ room even when they deem it necessary, either for comfort because the baby wakes up several times during the night, for example, or because the baby does not have a room just for him. It is not recommended to have more than 2 adults in the baby’s room, so in the case of a house with only 1 room and 2 or more children, you should consider the possibility of a larger house, where there will be more space.
When the baby sleeps through the night, or wakes up only 1 or 2 times in the middle of the night, and parents have discovered that this has happened for at least 1 full month, you can move the baby to your room to sleep alone. .
The baby can also sleep in his room as soon as he/she comes from the maternity ward, however, in the first months of life, it is normal for the baby to wake up several times during the night to breastfeed. Parents should approach the baby each time they wake up, which can be exhausting. In addition, being close to the mother facilitates breastfeeding and also reduces the risk of sudden death.
Crying is a primitive form of communication, and the baby cries when he or she is hungry, cold, hot, uncomfortable, sick, afraid or in need of companionship, which is often preferred by parents. When the baby cries, she knows that she is attracting attention and needs something, that she doesn’t always know what it is, but is aware that crying will show up an adult.
Therefore, it is not recommended to let the baby cry for more than 5 minutes, as important brain changes can occur and because this compromises the notion of safety of the baby. Babies who, when they cry, are cared for, are calmer and more emotionally safe throughout their lives.