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There are many cases where parents are confused when their babies put them down on the bed and cry, refusing to sleep. To deal with this condition, nurse and author Tracy Hogg shares how to gently put babies to bed without waking them up. Have you ever heard of the method of sleeping picked up and put down?
1. Introduction to the “Pick up and put down” method
The method of picking up / put down ("Put up / put down" - PUPD) is one of the methods to train babies to sleep well by whispering in the book "best seller" Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by nurse / author. fake Tracy Hogg.
Just like the name of the method, pick up and put down means that if the baby cries while sleeping in the crib, parents should pick up the baby and comfort him until the baby is sleepy and put the baby back in the crib. If the baby continues to cry, the parent patiently repeats this until the baby falls asleep.
2. Practice daily sleep habits for children
Usually parents can apply the method of picking up and putting down babies from 3 months old. Before starting, it is necessary to prepare the following 3 important steps:
Maintain bedtime: Based on observing the child's daily biological clock, parents should watch for signs that the child is sleepy (eg. for example: blinking continuously, eyes closed, pulling ears, yawning or dark circles under eyes...) and when the child has these signs. From there, teach children a few simple sleep habits. It is important for parents to maintain a certain bedtime so that children know when to go to sleep. Build healthy sleep habits: Building a sleep routine is meant to help your child know it's nighttime and it's time to go to sleep. Habits may include: limiting noise, turning off lights, singing softly lullabies, not talking to your baby much... these habits can help your baby know that he or she needs to fall asleep. Put your baby down on the bed when he's sleepy, not when he's fallen asleep. See now: Should electric cribs be used to improve children's sleep?
Cha mẹ cần biết cách đặt trẻ xuống giường nhẹ nhàng mà không khiến bé tỉnh ngủ
3. How to practice the lifting-up-and-down sleeping method
When the child is ready, follow these 7 steps gradually:
Step 1: When putting the baby down, if the baby starts to cry, gently place your hand on his chest and reassure him with soft whispers that you always use to put them to sleep, for example: “Sleep baby”; Step 2: If the baby is still crying, pick him up and repeat the whispers. Step 3: When the baby stops crying but is still awake, put the baby in the crib, if the baby cries, pick him up again; Step 4: Repeat this process until the baby shows signs of stability (eg, the crying is fading); Step 5: When the baby calms down, stop holding the baby and put the baby in the crib. Place your hand on the child's chest and repeat the whispers. Step 6: Exit the room. Step 7: If the baby cries again, go back and repeat the process several times until the baby falls asleep. The method of sleeping up and down is usually suitable for 3-month-old babies, if applied persistently, children will be able to sleep well on their own. However, if the baby is older, there should be some adjustments as follows.
3.1. For a 4 month old baby
If the baby is 4 months old, parents should take the following steps:
Hold the baby up to 5 minutes only. If the baby still doesn't show signs of holding back, put him down and pick him up again if he cries; Between each pick up and put down, pat the baby gently while the baby is in the crib; If the baby is still crying, pick him up again; Put your baby down as soon as she stops crying or when you've held her for 5 minutes.
3.2. For children from 5 - 6 months old
For children from 5 to 6 months old, parents adjust the method in the following direction:
Observe the baby's signs of sleepiness. If your baby arches his back, this could be a sign that he wants to lie down and rest even though he's still crying; Do not hold the baby for too long so that the baby understands that when crying will be held. So say “let me hold you” or “let me put you down” every time you perform the action; Reduce holding time to up to 3 minutes, then put the baby down even if the baby is still crying; This process can be repeated until the baby sleeps well.
Không nên bế trẻ quá lâu khiến trẻ hiểu rằng khi khóc sẽ được bế
3.3. For babies 6 - 8 months old
For babies from 6-8 months old, the method of picking up and putting down needs to be adjusted according to the following steps:
Do not pick up the baby immediately. Instead, parents should hold out their hand for a while to see how the child reacts. For example, reach out your hand and say: "Let me hold you", then if you see the child approaching, then pick the child up; When holding your baby, whisper familiar voices, but don't look or rock. Then put the baby back in the crib; When your baby shows signs of silence, continue to speak in soft whispers. Parents can put their hands on the baby's chest or back, but some babies like some babies, so parents should observe to customize the action.
3.4. For children from 8 months to 1 year old
From this stage, it is easier for babies to stop crying when lying in the crib. Therefore, unless the child is really upset, parents should not pick the baby up. Instead, pay attention to observe:
If the child stands up or picks himself up, gently put him down; Use voice to remind your child that “it's time for bed”; At this age, parents can already combine the method of picking up and putting down and the method of gradual retreat to practice sleeping for babies. For families with children who cry, have trouble sleeping, and often cling to their parents, the method of sleeping up and down, if applied correctly and persistently, will clearly see an improvement after only a few days, an average of approx. 5 days. Newborns are like a blank sheet of paper, will be obedient and easy to sleep if parents do not miss the time to forge good sleep habits. Sleep is not only important for the development of children, but also important for the health of parents. Therefore, you should choose the right way to coax your baby to sleep so that the whole family can have a good night's sleep.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
