Baby sleep is the golden goose for every parent. It doesn’t matter if you have a 2 month old or 2 year old- when your baby doesn’t sleep, you don’t sleep.
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Sometimes the very best advice comes from- wait for it- other moms. Unsolicited advice is annoying, but when you’re running on fumes and ready to crawl into a cave out in the middle of the woods away from all signs of life (not that I’d know anything about that), advice from a mom friend is just what you need.
Sleep Advice from Seasoned Mommas
Allow me to introduce you to some of my mom-friends. Their kids are great sleepers!
- “Consistency is key,” says Mollie, mom of four. “Put them down at the same time, the same way, every time. Don’t compromise for a late night party or nap time birthday party. You have to prioritize good sleep habits if you want good sleep!”
- Kayla, mom of one toddler and expecting her second in December, says she used a sleep training program. “If someone else has it figured out, I’m willing to pay a little money for online classes and tools. We had really great success with sleep training instructions.”
- “They’re only little for so long,” sighed Christy, mom of 2. “If they’re having a tough night and need to hold your hand a little longer, or beg you to rub their back a few more minutes, it won’t hurt anything to give in and give them what they need.”
- Megan, a mom of two, soon-to-be-three, recommends doing what works best for your family & situation. “My kids sleep with us and that’s how we all get a good nights sleep. That’s what works for our family.” Meghan, another mom of three, agrees. “We moved our little ones into their own room around 2 months because we were all sleeping poorly in the same bedroom. The experts recommend 6+ months of room-sharing, but that didn’t work for us.”
- “Create a calm environment for your baby,” suggests Louise, mom of one. “We chose to paint our nursery blue, even though we were having a girl. Blue is calming and we wanted whatever leg-up we could get when it came to sleep. We also read calming books, turn on her sound machine, and speak quietly during our bedtime prep.”
- “Find a bedtime routine that works and stick to it,” says Erica. “If baths are calming for your child, give them a bath. Maybe sing them a song, read them a book, say a prayer together, or crawl into bed and cuddle. Tweak that schedule to whatever your kid responds best to. A consistent routine is very important, though!”
When I feel like I’m in the parenting trenches, it’s always my mom friends that hop down in there with me and lift me out. If you’re struggling with sleep and don’t have a friend to call, use some of my friends’ advice and “join” our village.
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Audrey Mattevi, Reporting