The Sleep Sense Program by Dana Obleman

For many parents, seeking infant sleep help is a necessity. Infants are not born with good sleeping habits. They do not recognize the difference between night and day. This alone can be enough to wear out sleep deprived new parents. Luckily there are professionals that are trained to help parents enable their babies to develop good sleeping habits.

As a rule, babies are natural sleepers. Unfortunately most infant sleep patterns are not compatible with everyone else in the home. Baby sleep specialists are professionals with experience in early childhood development. Their experience will help parents decipher if their infant’s sleep problems are true problems or if they are correctable habits. These professionals will meet with parents and develop a sleep training program that will work best for the baby and the parents. When choosing a specialist, be sure to research their philosophy. Their techniques need to be compatible with your parenting style or the training will not work.

There are also many specialists that have written books with their techniques outlined for parents to implement on their own. Although books will give techniques for parents to try, only a one-on-one consultation can provide a customized plan specific to your situation. Another benefit to a one-on-one consultation is that your specialist will also be available for telephone consultations when other issues come up.

There are documented infant sleep disorders that new parents need to be aware of. Enlisting the help of a sleep specialist can help parents determine if their child has a true sleep disorder or if sleep training is needed. Parents play a very important role in determining if there is a true problem. Parents need to listen to their instincts. If you suspect that there may be an underlying problem, get your infant sleep help right away.

There are some medical conditions that manifest themselves as sleep disturbances that parents need to be aware of. By alerting your pediatrician of any changes in your baby’s sleep patterns, you can get your infant medical attention that may be needed to return him back to restful sleep. Food allergies, ear infections and gastroesophageal reflux are examples of medical conditions that can cause sleep disturbances in infants. While some sleep disturbances have a medical cause, not all do. It is better to be safe than sorry and report all changes to your baby’s doctor. Most medical conditions can be treated and normal sleep patterns restored.

As a parent, you know your baby better than anyone else. You are the first one to notice if there are any changes in his sleeping that can indicate a problem. Trust your instinct. There is infant sleep support available for a variety of sleep problems. If you suspect a medical condition, be sure to contact your pediatrician. Sleep specialists can also help you determine if there is an underlying problem or if sleep training is needed. Parents also need to understand that they are not expected to know all the answers. When dealing with your infant’s sleep problems, seek assistance from a professional trained in infant sleep help techniques.