Ha. Ha. Ha.

Now I have actually met a few babies who do this – but they are the VERY RARE exception to the sleepless rule of most babies.

Ah, sleep. How I love thee. And now that my children are 10 & 7 (that’s my baby boy as a newborn), I do blissfully sleep through most nights. But the memory of the last decade is still fresh in my mind, and seeing many babies in my practice, I talk to exhausted parents every day.

My kids did not “sleep through the night” until they were 2.5 years old. Yep. And that is fairly normal and common, I’m afraid. These are the things we often don’t tell expectant parents because we do want to ensure the continuation of the human race.

The first few months of parenthood are unlike any sleep deprivation you have ever experienced. To some degree, I can’t help you with that- it’s very normal for babies to wake at night and happens for biological reasons- they’re supposed to feed frequently.

But I often do see babies sleep better after undergoing care in my office. Chiropractic care calms the nervous system- that’s what we’re all about- and that often does lead to babies sleeping better. Here is a great article on infant sleep:

Should my baby be sleeping through the night?
https://kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/sleep/

Every baby is different and there is no magic method to make all babies sleep better. These books were helpful to me as well – they are available in our lending library at the office:
The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
Good Nights by Dr. Jay Gordon
Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family by Diane Wiessinger

Please follow your gut and do what you feel is right for your baby. Letting a baby “cry-it-out” never felt right to me. Babies aren’t capable of manipulation – they’re just expressing their needs.

This, too, shall pass.

What are your favorite sleep tips for exhausted parents?

❤️ Dr. Sarah Radabaugh