What's Waking your Baby?
Nightly Safety Checks
With every night waking, we have been reassured that our baby is doing fine — every hour or two all night long. We get used to these check-ins; they provide continual reassurance of your baby’s safety.
“The first time my baby slept five straight hours, I woke up in a cold sweat. I nearly fell out of bed and ran down the hall. I was so sure that something was horribly wrong. I nearly wept when I found her sleeping peacefully.” …Azza, mother of seven-month-old Laila
Co-sleeping parents are not exempt from these fears. Even if you are sleeping right next to your baby, you’ll find that you have become used to checking on her frequently through the night. Even when she’s sleeping longer stretches, you aren’t sleeping because you’re still on security duty.
These are very normal worries, rooted in your natural instincts to protect your baby. Therefore, for you to allow your baby to sleep for longer stretches, you’ll need to find ways to feel confident that your baby is safe—all night long.
Once you reassure yourself that your baby is safe while you sleep, you’ll have taken that first step toward helping her sleep all night.
