Whether you are a new or a seasoned parent, one of the biggest issues with babies is getting them on a schedule and training them to sleep through the night. One of the best reference books that pertains to this very subject is "On Becoming Babywise" by Garry Ezzo and Robert Buckman. This volume teaches parents how to gain control of their child's schedule and how to get the infant to sleep through the night at about seven to nine weeks of age.
The steps offered include early training where the infant is readied for the process of sleeping through an entire night so parents and the remainder of the family can also get their required rest and rejuvenation. It gives Mom and Dad control so the household is not governed by the demands of an infant. This makes for a more peaceful and organized household. As the authors of this book so clearly state that "While parents cannot change their child's genetic inscription or their child's temperament, they will influence the home environment and thus shape their child's destiny."
Parents are advised to take their time in getting to know their infants in the first few days. They can be coddled and fed on demand while they get used to the strange new world that they have been thrust into. Slowly, parents can start introducing them to a schedule of napping and meals until they establish an internal clock. Eventually, parents will know what their infant's cries mean just by looking at the clock.
Coddling and giving in to demands at bedtime and mealtimes is discouraged. The point is to be firm about feedings, naps and sleep schedules when the infant is about two months old. Rocking him to sleep, walking around the house with him until he gets drowsy or even riding around the town in your car until he falls into a slumber are all exercises that should be eliminated so that he learns to sleep on his own.
Your infant may fuss or cry at first when put down in the crib but over a certain length of time will begin to recognize that this is his time to sleep. Always place the infant in his own bed and not in the parents' bed. Napping in car seats or other baby seats or playpens should be discouraged.
Some criticism of the method is that it does not give the new baby enough one-on-one time with the parents. Experts state that the infant may suffer detrimental effects such as poor weight gain or even dehydration from this somewhat regimented program. No evidence has been documented to support these claims.
Having the luxury of a good night's sleep before spending the day with a vigorous and demanding infant can go far in improving parent/child relationships as well as other relationships within the family. Spouses, other children in the home and friends will gain from a parent who is not strung out and tired all the time. Working parents will have more sleep time and will therefore perform better on the job.
In the end, it is the parents' choice to weigh the pros and cons of this unique system. Some believe that this first taste of structure will help children for a lifetime. For those who intrigued by this parenting book, "Babywise II" is also available and expands on this subject.
The steps offered include early training where the infant is readied for the process of sleeping through an entire night so parents and the remainder of the family can also get their required rest and rejuvenation. It gives Mom and Dad control so the household is not governed by the demands of an infant. This makes for a more peaceful and organized household. As the authors of this book so clearly state that "While parents cannot change their child's genetic inscription or their child's temperament, they will influence the home environment and thus shape their child's destiny."
Parents are advised to take their time in getting to know their infants in the first few days. They can be coddled and fed on demand while they get used to the strange new world that they have been thrust into. Slowly, parents can start introducing them to a schedule of napping and meals until they establish an internal clock. Eventually, parents will know what their infant's cries mean just by looking at the clock.
Coddling and giving in to demands at bedtime and mealtimes is discouraged. The point is to be firm about feedings, naps and sleep schedules when the infant is about two months old. Rocking him to sleep, walking around the house with him until he gets drowsy or even riding around the town in your car until he falls into a slumber are all exercises that should be eliminated so that he learns to sleep on his own.
Your infant may fuss or cry at first when put down in the crib but over a certain length of time will begin to recognize that this is his time to sleep. Always place the infant in his own bed and not in the parents' bed. Napping in car seats or other baby seats or playpens should be discouraged.
Some criticism of the method is that it does not give the new baby enough one-on-one time with the parents. Experts state that the infant may suffer detrimental effects such as poor weight gain or even dehydration from this somewhat regimented program. No evidence has been documented to support these claims.
Having the luxury of a good night's sleep before spending the day with a vigorous and demanding infant can go far in improving parent/child relationships as well as other relationships within the family. Spouses, other children in the home and friends will gain from a parent who is not strung out and tired all the time. Working parents will have more sleep time and will therefore perform better on the job.
In the end, it is the parents' choice to weigh the pros and cons of this unique system. Some believe that this first taste of structure will help children for a lifetime. For those who intrigued by this parenting book, "Babywise II" is also available and expands on this subject.
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