Unorthodox sleeping practices
USING over-the-counter medications such as cough and cold syrups as sleeping aids for children is a growing trend with frustrated parents. But Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour, said that helping your child to sleep by using medications that are known to cause drowsiness should not be practised because it could have unintended consequences.
“Despite this temptation, it is not safe to give babies medication to induce sleep as very few of these are approved for use in children. Even herbal remedies are discouraged because safe paediatric doses have not been established and there is the risk of toxicity or poisoning,” Dr Griffith advised.
She warned that any medication given to infants must be done under the strict supervision of their paediatrician, and only the dose recommended should be given.
Dr Griffith said that sleep, as with many other aspects of parenting, requires practice, patience, and a keen eye for detail as the parents get to know the child since every child is different. She recommends that instead of pulling a fast one, parents should explore techniques to help with getting babies to sleep or to stay asleep.
“The process of getting your child to sleep or to stay asleep requires patience and consistency on the part of caregivers — not just patience with the baby, but patience with yourself as well. The same method should be used for babies who are sleep-deprived or overly tired,” Dr Griffith encouraged.
She said that there are a number of positive habits that a parent could copy such as establishing and maintaining a bedtime routine. Dr Griffith said bedtime routines also offer bonding experiences for the baby and the parents or caregivers, creating a sense of security and well-being, and leading to a happy, calmer baby. But how do you do this?
Start early. This can start as early as six weeks and involves:
• Having a regular sleep and wake time. These will not be strict in the first few months of life, but will help to encourage the infant’s body clock to become regular.
• Winding down and relaxing before bedtime. This process should be as simple as possible and can take the form of a bath along with a massage after a few minutes of interactive play. Reading and singing are comforting methods that also allow baby to unwind.
• Every baby is different. It is important to get to know your baby and learn his cues. How does he express tiredness? Does he become cranky or fussy? Therefore, by paying attention, you will know his most comfortable sleep position, the activities that make him most sleepy, and the way you hold him that is most likely to help him sleep.
• Avoid things that can overly stimulate the baby such as loud noises, and brightly lit bedrooms or sleep spaces. The use of gadgets such as tablets, cellphones and computers should be limited.
• Soft, soothing music can help with relaxation.
• Gentle rocking may assist in inducing sleep as well.
• Some infants may require sleep aids such as a blanket or pillow, a soft night light, or a favourite toy to help with the sleep process. These should be removed from the crib or bed once the infant has gone off to sleep in order to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
• Infants, once they become sufficiently drowsy, should be placed in their sleep space as part of allowing them to self-soothe and go off to sleep without the need for further assistance.
Some infants may cry on and off as they go through this transition period. There are varying schools of thought as to how this should be handled. Some psychologists suggest allowing the infant to cry it out. This allows short bursts of crying interrupted by comforting. This method discourages picking up the baby. Others suggest picking up the infant and comforting once crying begins.
Dr Griffith said that the method you choose should be tailored to your family with the goal being to train your baby to drift into a peaceful sleep.
