Dr. Komarovsky on how to teach a child to sleep in his crib

Many parents find it difficult to teach their child to sleep in a crib, but Dr. Komarovsky offers helpful tips that can help the process go more smoothly. His strategy is centered on developing sound sleeping habits at a young age and a favorable sleep environment.

We’ll look at Dr. Komarovsky’s advice on settling your child into their crib in this article. You’ll discover the value of creating a cozy sleeping environment, how to handle common sleep problems, and how to set up a regular bedtime routine. With these understandings, you’ll be more prepared to assist your child in creating healthy sleep habits.

Co-sleeping – pros and cons

Co-sleeping with mother makes perfect biological sense. In the past, women were preoccupied with raising their families and did not go to work. Many centuries ago, no one gave a newborn’s place to sleep any thought—he would always sleep next to his mother.

As civilization has advanced, parents have come to understand that sex is necessary not only for reproduction but also for personal fulfillment, and that it is imperative that parents wake up early to attend to their jobs. It’s now more practical to bed the infant separately.

Many psychologists and neonatologists have recently made the case that a child’s natural sleeping position is next to their mother. As a result, there is an ongoing invisible connection between us. One benefit they mention is that babies who sleep with their parents tend to have more stable emotional states. The mother can breastfeed her child at any time of the night without having to get out of bed, so it is very convenient for her. With everything he needs close at hand, the baby does not cry.

Here’s where the advantages stop. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, this advantage is typically overstated. Nonetheless, the drawbacks are evident to all.

First of all, a mother could inadvertently hurt a child in a dream by crushing him under her weight. Although it doesn’t occur frequently, it does occasionally happen. Second, dads frequently find it intolerable and end up taking up all the space on the family bed. They move to the sofa or the next room. If this kind of behavior persists for an extended period of time, it frequently results in divorce, the disintegration of the family, and a decline in marital harmony. Numerous families have experienced ruin as a result of doctors’ and girlfriends’ persuading advice to co-sleep.

Being close to her child all the time causes a mother to sleep "with half an eye," attentively responding to every sound and movement, and consequently not getting enough sleep. Unnoticed fatigue builds up. Such a "unfinished" had detrimental effects on the parent’s physical and emotional well-being for several months.

Even after he turns six months old—an age at which he no longer physiologically requires night feedings—a child who is accustomed to nursing at any time during the night will insist on continuing the practice. Thus, a mother’s timid attempts to abstain from eating at night usually result in a scandal, screams. The child does not want to hear about anything that deviates from his routine; he pinches, kicks, and throws his arms and legs at the weary parent.

It is up to the parents to determine whether or not to co-sleep. Nobody can stop them from giving up their interests or their nerves if they are willing to do so, provided that everyone in the family gets enough sleep. It is best not to start sleeping with the child if adults have other plans for this life in addition to raising a child.

The benefits of co-sleeping have not yet been convincingly demonstrated or refuted by any scientist, which means that psychologists’ claims that children who sleep with their mothers until school are more successful, self-assured, and composed are untrue. Nevertheless, there is no evidence to back up the arguments made by those who oppose co-sleeping, claiming that a child learns independence from the cradle when they spend their nights in a separate crib.

The appropriate age to stop co-sleeping, if it occurs, is a different matter. Pediatricians typically advise against doing this until the child is one and a half years old because it will be much harder to move them to a separate bed at that age.

How to wean off sleeping with parents?

In the unlikely event that the infant is accustomed to sharing a bed, parents will need to exercise patience and clench their resolve in order to wean him from sharing a bed. Evgeny Komarovsky suggests taking decisive action. The crib for the child and the adult should be next to each other. The bed of the child ought to be situated in closest proximity to the bed of the parent. The child is put to bed when it’s time for them to sleep. Parents’ job is to physically stop their child from trying to use any means necessary to escape and go to a familiar place.

Children are typically very obstinate in their desires, Evgeny Komarovsky cautions. If the child tries to climb out of the crib for the first time and stays out for an hour and a half or two until he gets tired and goes to sleep, nothing out of the ordinary will happen. And since this is a naturally conditioned physiological need, he will undoubtedly nod off. No matter how much the baby cries, the most important thing is to remain patient and stick to your plan.

The protest will be shorter the following day, and if the child does battle for a spot to sleep before bed in a week, it won’t last more than five to ten minutes. It is crucial that you stick to your parenting decision; otherwise, the child will quickly realize that this is a new reality that you must accept.

Even if the child does end up getting sick this week, you should not alter your plans for them to become independent at night. The process will have to start over as soon as you put him in your bed, but the baby will be insistent about going back to his spot this time.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, establishing a cozy environment, being consistent, and having patience are key to teaching a child to sleep in their own crib. He stresses how important it is to have a peaceful nighttime routine, to avoid making abrupt changes, and to resist nighttime protests. In order to reassure their child and help them gradually become accustomed to sleeping on their own, parents should be firm but kind.

How to teach a child to fall asleep independently?

Sleep disturbance is another issue that parents who are determined to send their child to bed separately may have to deal with. In his own crib, the baby may suffer for a long time, get tired, cry, sleep longer, skip the morning feeding, and make up for the lost sleep during the day if, earlier after the evening meal, the child peacefully fell asleep next to the parents. The baby’s daily schedule will consequently start to alter, sometimes not in the parents’ best interests.

According to Evgeny Komarovsky, parents should have the child falling asleep on their own in no more than three days. Get several bottles of Spartan calm and valerian ready (for yourself).

Falling asleep will be fast and stable if the child is tired. Even if the baby protested against the crib for half the night, screamed and asked to go to his parents, and fell fast asleep in the morning, Komarovsky advises waking the rebel at 6-7 am. No matter how sad it is, you need to wake up the baby and entertain him until 10-11 o"clock, until the baby is so tired that he falls asleep peacefully in his crib on his own, without persuasion, rocking and songs. He should be given no more than an hour and a half of sleep, after which you will have to mercilessly wake him up again and walk and entertain him for another 3-4 hours.

The evening’s penultimate feeding ought to be modest in order to maintain the child’s partial starvation. You can offer him more food after giving him a massage and a cool bath. The infant will then probably nod off fast and sleep soundly and peacefully through the night after being exhausted and full.

All daily tasks should be completed in a precise order to make it easier for the baby to move to his own separate sleeping area. Food, games, walks, massages, gymnastics, bathing, and other activities should all be in order, and this is meticulously followed every day.

It can be difficult but rewarding to teach a child to sleep in a crib. Dr. Komarovsky stresses how crucial it is to develop a regular bedtime schedule. A consistent routine aids in your child’s understanding of when it’s time to relax and get ready for bed. Keeping these nightly routines, whether it’s a warm bath, a soothing tale, or a soft lullaby, can have a big impact.

Persistence and patience are essential. During this shift, it’s common for parents and kids to experience some resistance. Parents should maintain composure and consistency, says Dr. Komarovsky. Provide comfort if your child is fussy, but eventually help them get comfortable in their crib. They will eventually get used to their new sleeping arrangement.

Keep in mind that each child is different, so what suits one may not suit another. It’s critical to maintain your flexibility and modify your strategy as necessary. If you follow a calm and methodical approach, your child should eventually become accustomed to sleeping soundly in their crib. Appreciate the little triumphs you achieve along the road and treasure the times you make progress.

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