11/21/2024
The fourth trimester hits differently when you’re jugging multiple sleep schedules, trying to recover physically and help everyone navigate their big feelings about the changes happening in your house.
Below are 5 tips on how to sleep train your baby without waking their older sibling(s).
1) Prepare your older children in advance
You can tell them that mommy and daddy are going to be teaching their baby brother or sister, how to fall asleep on their own and sleep all night long. Depending on their age, you can also explain why getting good, healthy sleep is so important for baby.
Tell them that they may hear some crying in the night and if that happens, not to worry or feel afraid, mommy and daddy are there to help.
2) Start on a Friday
We always suggest you start sleep training on a Friday night of a weekend where you don’t have many commitments. Doing this takes the pressure off – you don’t have to be anywhere bright and early the next morning, there’s no school, and it means you can dedicate an entire weekend to teaching your little one to sleep.
3) Stagger bedtimes
If possible, stagger your children’s bedtimes so your youngest child is going to bed first. Doing it this way means your older children won’t be trying to fall asleep at the same time as their younger sibling. Try and space out bedtimes by an hour, to start.
4) White noise
You’ll want to use white noise machines in both bedrooms, almost creating a bit of a sound bubble.
5) Have a sleepover
If possible, send your older child to have a sleepover with trusted friends or family members. Typically, the most protest happens on the first night of sleep training so, having your older child out of the house for the first night may help take the pressure off you and create a less stressful environment.
