5 common mistakes you make when trying to get your baby to sleep

Adequate sleep is key to healthy growth in children. Studies have found that up to one-third of children suffer from sleep problems to varying degrees. The American "Baby Center" website recently published an article pointing out that parents often make five mistakes when coaxing their children to sleep, which reduces their children's sleep quality.

Error 1:

Going to bed too late. Dr. Mark Weissbluth, an American pediatrician and author of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happier Children", said that going to bed too late can easily lead to more "bedtime battles" (children argue with their parents because they don't want to go to bed). Children who are overly tired or excited may have difficulty falling asleep, and even if they fall asleep, they are more likely to wake up at night. Expert advice: Set a bedtime every day and go to bed immediately when the time comes.

Rely on rocking to sleep. Before each night's sleep, parents hold their children in their arms or rock them in a cradle until they fall asleep. However, Dr. Weisbluth says that movement stimulation, such as rocking, prevents children from getting more deep and restorative sleep. Expert advice: When a child cries or has trouble sleeping, you can comfort him by rocking him. But it is best not to form a habit, and stop rocking your child immediately once he or she falls asleep.

Error 3:

Play with toys before bed. Some parents like to use toys to coax their children to sleep. Before going to bed, they let them play with toys that rotate, make sounds or glow. The little ones will fall asleep naturally when they are tired. Expert advice: Minimize stimulation for children before bedtime. Also, keep the room dimly lit. American sociologist Dr. Jill Spivak said that if the brightness level is divided into 1 to 10, with 10 being complete darkness, then the brightness of the baby's sleeping room should be 8 or 9.

Error 4:

Skip your bedtime routine. Dr. Judith Owens, director of the Pediatric Sleep Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Rhode Island, said that giving children a bath, reading bedtime stories, and listening to lullabies before bed can help calm their emotions and improve sleep quality. Some parents may sometimes skip or omit certain steps due to busy work, making it difficult for their children to fall asleep smoothly. Expert advice: Help your child develop good sleeping habits. For younger babies, changing into pajamas before going to bed, and for older children, taking a bath, reading a book, singing nursery rhymes, etc. before going to bed are all good "sleep cues".

Error 5:

There are no rules for sleeping together. Dr. Judy Mindell, director of the Sleep Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said that when babies are fussy, many parents will lie down and sleep with their little ones. However, many parents do not set "rules" when it comes to sleeping with their children. There is a lack of consistency in the approach, which gives children the impression that they can get what they want by nagging them. Experts suggest: Set rules for where children sleep, such as they can only sleep in their own beds; parents do not need to sleep with their children unless there are special reasons such as illness or thunder.