It invariably worries me to hear that there are folks using sleep drugs for getting baby to sleep. Not just for baby's welfare but for the mums and dad's too. sleep drugs are completely unacceptable for babies and can certainly cause a lot of damage when they're older.
Getting baby to sleep is the family's primary aim when they're worn out which is why some decide to offer their child "anything to help him get to sleep". But your child may well be subjected to a lifetime of sleeping pill dependence. As an adult he may continually be burdened with a poor sleep routine.
No sleeping pill has ever been medically analyzed on a baby or young child. In fact some over the counter (OTC) sleep medicines contain histamines which can actually act as a stimulant in some infants. As you can guess, getting baby to sleep by using these remedies is next to impossible.
I'm not trying to censure these poor parents as they've probably tried everything else and failed. Parents worldwide are searching for the latest tips and techniques, hoping for some new information. They will spend hundreds of dollars to figure out just one thing - getting baby to sleep.
Parents have the following three challenges:
Baby naps all day and remains awake all night.
Their baby falls asleep easily but wakes frequently.
Their baby gets irritated and upset at bedtimes and won't settle.
If you happen to be a full time mom, you may perhaps be able to get caught up with some rest during the day. Yet for those with full time jobs, daily life can be very gruesome indeed.
There are better ways to get your baby to sleep and it's not difficult at all.
Here are some tips you can try for getting baby to sleep...
The "cry it out" approach - Warning, some parents find this hard! This approach requires you to ignore your baby's crying for an agreed amount of time before attending to him. After a few days, delay a little longer before going in to reassure him. This may sound hard hearted but it certainly works.
I know the above won't appeal to everyone. However balance this with the fact that, over time, you're setting baby up with good sleep habits.
Develop a sleep schedule - Even a simple one performs well. Give baby a bath, a hug and tell him a bedtime story and he will relate this with going to sleep. Don't include exciting activities such as games into the routine and do everything in the same order at the same time every night.
Herbal remedies - If you're a busy parent this can be the perfect option. These types of remedies are a much healthier and safer alternative to sleeping pills for getting baby to sleep.