Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Parental Advise "on Becoming Babywise"

By Rosella Campbell


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 various steps offered are simple and easy to follow. The child can be slowly readied for the process of sleeping many hours through the night. Mom and Dad will gain control so the household in not run on the whims of an infant. The home will become more restful and organized and everyone will get their required rejuvenation and rest.

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.

Parents are advised not to coddle their babies when it comes to bedtime and meals but to have set and firm times for feedings, naps and nighttime sleep at about the two-month mark. They should not be rocked to sleep, driven around the neighborhood in a car, or walked around the house to get them to slumber but should learn how to fall asleep on their own.

Your child may cry briefly when put down when first starting the new routines but will soon recognize that this is a sign that he needs to sleep. Every effort should be made to place him in a consistent place such as his own crib. He should not be sleeping with his parents, in his car seat, bouncy chair or playpen. This consistency is what gives him the signal that it is bedtime.

Some may criticize this parenting system. They feel that the child will not get enough "cuddle time" with Mom or Dad during the late night feedings. Other detrimental effects that have been brought up include the possibility of dehydration or poor weight gain but nothing has been documented to help 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.

It is the new parents' choice as to whether to follow the principles in this book. There are many who believe that this very first exposure to a structured environment will assist the child for life. For those who enjoyed reading "Babywise, " "Babywise II" is now available for further study.




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