Many babies can sleep peacefully in their arms but wake up once you try to put them down, this situation is referred to as “sleeping in arms, waking up when put down,” a problem faced by many mothers. How can we effectively improve this phenomenon? Let’s discuss the reasons and coping methods for babies sleeping when held and waking up when put down.
Part of the reason is that after birth, due to excessive pampering by family members, babies are often carried to sleep, leading to the habit of needing to be held while sleeping. If you try putting them down, the baby may express dissatisfaction by crying. Therefore, reducing carrying to sleep and gradually adjusting this habit is particularly important.
When a baby cries or suddenly wakes up, parents’ first reaction is often to pick them up immediately. In reality, this approach may unintentionally disturb the baby. You can try sitting beside the baby, gently patting and comforting them, helping them calm down and return to sleep peacefully. This method can help babies learn to self-soothe and fall asleep again gradually.
For babies used to being held to sleep, parents can try lying down with the baby, creating a sense of security and making them feel surrounded, similar to being held. Once the baby is sound asleep, gently leave the bed, and through practice, the baby will gradually learn to sleep independently.
Furthermore, many babies fall asleep directly after drinking milk, whether breast milk or formula. After feeding, gently pat the baby’s back to burp and prevent spitting up, then gently place them in the crib, softly caressing and accompanying them into a deep sleep state.
If a baby falls asleep in your arms and you want to put them down, wait until they are in a deep sleep before carefully transferring them to the crib. Then, gently comfort the baby without rushing to leave to alleviate their discomfort. Even if the baby shows signs of slight waking, maintain gentle movements, avoid loud or sudden actions, usually after this soothing, the baby will fall asleep again.
It’s crucial to provide the baby with enough security while not encouraging prolonged carrying to sleep. Frequent changes in carrying positions may affect the baby’s sleep quality, thereby impacting their growth and development. Therefore, establishing good sleep habits, helping the baby adapt to sleeping safely in the crib, is essential for the baby’s well-being.
