Waking Bub At The End of a Sleep Window
Author: Jen Hamilton, Mothercraft Nurse & Founder of WOTBaby
If we could only teach our babies what time is. A thought that I’m sure has crossed all new parents' minds. Well, the good news is they can. Babies learn through our actions and consistency. It’s through consistent management and the way you do things that your baby will learn what time it is and begin to expect what is coming next. When your baby knows what is coming next this is when you can safely say that this is the foundation of establishing a routine.
The way you manage getting your baby up at the end of a sleep window either in the morning after a night of sleep or at the end of a daytime nap is important when creating a healthy routine for you and your baby. If your baby is not getting enough sleep during their sleep window, showing them all the signs that it isn’t quite time to wake up helps them resettle back to sleep. Which in turn assists with the good restorative sleep they require.
When creating a routine, you need to show your baby what bedtime looks like and show them what time it is. Just as important as the cues you give your baby to let them know it’s time for sleep are the cues you give them when it’s time to get up. When it’s time for babies to sleep they need guidance to help them wind down before sleep and it is up to you to eliminate stimulation etc. and provide sleep cues. When it’s time for them to get up after sleep its best to provide a different vibe and provide light, energy, and communication. And everything in between is simple sleep guidance.
Whether you need to wake them, or you have attempted to resettle your baby without success, or they have woken naturally and are laying constantly in their cot/bassinet, implement consistency in the way you get your baby up and you will create a routine for your baby.
When you show them consistently what the beginning of sleep looks like, what the end of sleep looks like and stay consistent with managing what should be happening inbetween, you will find your baby will become very good at sleep as they become more familiar with the process. They will learn through the consistent way you show them when it’s time to get up and they will learn to resettle when they are not getting the ‘up time’ cues from you during the sleep window. They will also begin to sleep well and expect that playtime and feed time are coming next. 🤗
Follow the Windows of Time (WOT) guidelines for all the information you need on why the way you get your baby up at the end of a sleep window is important. And better still… WOTBaby and The Windows of Time can show you how. 🙌🏼
