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Understanding the Importance of Babies Falling Asleep in Their Cot

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As parents, ensuring our babies sleep soundly is a top priority. However, the manner in which they fall asleep plays a crucial role in their overall sleep quality and emotional well-being. Allowing babies to fall asleep in their cot, rather than relying on being rocked or fed to sleep, can significantly impact their sleep patterns and stress levels.


The Science Behind Sleep Associations & When Do They Become An Issue

Babies develop sleep associations, specific cues or behaviours they link with falling asleep. While it's natural for newborns to need assistance, such as feeding or rocking, to fall asleep, these associations can become problematic as babies grow. Typically, by around 3–4 months of age, babies begin to develop more mature sleep patterns and may start waking during lighter sleep cycles. If they associate sleep onset with external aids like feeding or rocking, they might struggle to self-settle and return to sleep independently.


By 6 months of age, many babies are developmentally capable of sleeping through the night without needing nighttime feedings. However, 25%–50% continue to awaken during the night, often due to established sleep associations.


A study published in Sleep Medicine found that infants who were placed in their cots while awake were more likely to develop self-settling behaviours. These infants experienced fewer night wakings and had more consolidated sleep patterns.


Impact on Night Wakings and Stress Levels

When babies become accustomed to falling asleep only through specific actions like feeding or rocking, they may experience increased night wakings. This is because they associate these actions with sleep onset and may not know how to fall back asleep independently.


Research indicates that elevated cortisol levels, a stress hormone, can result from inconsistent sleep associations. Babies who rely on external aids to fall asleep may experience higher stress levels during nighttime awakenings.


What Parents Can Do to Help

  1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine: Implementing a calming pre-sleep routine can signal to your baby that it's time to wind down. Activities like reading a short story, singing a lullaby, or gently rocking can be part of this routine.

  2. Place Baby in the Cot While Drowsy but Awake: This practice helps babies learn to self-soothe and fall asleep independently. Over time, this can lead to fewer night wakings and better sleep consolidation.

  3. Gradual Transition: If your baby is used to being fed or rocked to sleep, consider gradually reducing these associations. For instance, you might reduce the amount of rocking each night until your baby can fall asleep with minimal assistance.

  4. Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Ensure the cot is safe and comfortable. Use a firm mattress, avoid soft bedding, and maintain a cool, quiet room to promote restful sleep.

  5. Be Patient and Consistent: Changing sleep habits takes time. Consistency is key. With time and patience, your baby can learn to fall asleep independently, leading to better sleep for both of you.


Allowing babies to fall asleep in their cot, rather than relying on being rocked or fed to sleep, can have lasting benefits. It promotes the development of self-soothing skills, reduces night wakings, and lowers stress levels. By establishing consistent bedtime routines and gradually encouraging independent sleep, parents can support their baby's healthy sleep development.

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📚 References

  1. Burnham, M. M. (2002). Nighttime sleep-wake patterns and self-soothing from birth to 12 months of age. Sleep Medicine, 3(6), 511–523. PMC

  2. Goodlin-Jones, B. L., et al. (2001). Night Waking, Sleep-Wake Organization, and Self-Regulation in Infants and Toddlers. Sleep, 24(6), 661–670. PMC

  3. Adams, E. L., et al. (2022). Sleep parenting practices are associated with infant self-soothing behaviors. Sleep Medicine, 92, 1–8. PubMed

  4. Quante, M., et al. (2022). Associations of sleep-related behaviors and the sleep environment with infant sleep outcomes. Sleep Health, 8(3), 221–229. PMC

  5. Philbrook, L. E., et al. (2014). Maternal Emotional Availability at Bedtime and Infant Cortisol Levels. Infant Behavior and Development, 37(4), 477–484. PMC

  6. Kiel, E. J., et al. (2015). Cortisol Secretion and Change in Sleep Problems in Early Childhood. Sleep, 38(3), 445–452. PMC

  7. Mindell, J. A., et al. (2006). Behavioral Treatment of Bedtime Problems and Night Wakings in Infants and Young Children. Sleep, 29(10), 1263–1276. AASM

  8. Philbrook, L. E., et al. (2016). Associations between bedtime and nighttime parenting and infant cortisol levels. Developmental Psychobiology, 58(3), 311–318. Wiley Online Library

  9. Adams, E. L., et al. (2022). Sleep parenting practices are associated with infant self-soothing behaviors. Sleep Medicine, 92, 1–8. ScienceDirect

  10. Hernandez-Reif, M., et al. (2022). Infant sleep behaviors relate to their later cognitive and psychomotor development. Infant Behavior and Development, 67, 101667. ScienceDirect

 
 
 

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