Ep158: Sleep Training and Co-Sleep: Cultivating Healthy Sleep Habits with Dr. Jade Wu

OVERVIEW

You can help your child to build up a bedtime routine that introduces a couple of very consistent, very predictable sleep cues so that by the time you reach the end of that 10 minute, 20 minute bedtime routine, their brain fully knows that it's time to sleep.

Are you wondering if your baby's sleep can improve after the baby is over 6 months old? It's a common worry for parents as proper sleep for your baby is important for their emotional and mental health. In today's episode of the Deep Into Sleep podcast, Dr. Yishan Xu, sits down with board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Jade Wu to discuss how to get better sleep. The two experts focus on topics such as co-sleeping and sleep tuning. They answer important questions such as whether sleep training can be traumatic for babies and don't hesitate to let you in on their secrets - that is, the co-sleeping habits of babies and the importance of consistent bedtime routines.

Dr. Wu mentions that Chinese parents often practice what is called ‘co-sleep’, which entails babies sleeping with their parents until an older age. Dr. Wu shares her opinion on the matter.

Tune in to the podcast to learn about baby sleep, strategies for improving it, and Dr. Wu's take on 'co-sleep.' Here are a few tips for parents striving to improve sleep in babies over 6 months old:

1. Stick to a predictable and consistent sleep schedule.

2. Make sure the baby’s sleep environment is comfortable and calming.

3. Monitor and assess the baby’s sleep patterns and seek professional help if needed.

4. Check in on the baby’s sleep quality and interruptions, and adjust the sleep schedule as needed.

5. Reduce noise and distractions, and create a calming sleep environment.

6. Encourage relaxed bedtime rituals with the baby and, if needed, seek help from a professional.

If you teach your brain to associate the bed with sleep, every day, then you're gonna get sleepy when you get into bed. - Dr. Jade Wu

If you are having difficulty falling or staying asleep, check Dr. Yishan’s Sleep Improvement Course here!

WHAT WILL WE LEARN

[00:00:00] Improving Sleep Quality with Dr. Jade Wu

[00:03:51] The Effectiveness and Safety of Sleep Training Methods on Infants

[00:07:51] The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Parenting and Mental Health

[00:11:34] Co-Sleeping and Self-Soothing in Babies

[00:15:35] How to Stop Co-Sleeping with Your Baby

[00:19:15] Developing a Bedtime Routine for Better Sleep in Children

[00:23:03] Improving Sleep for Parents and their Babies

[00:26:44] Improving Sleep Quality

Are you so sleepy that you cannot focus? Are you tired of getting through the day drinking coffee? Are you worried how your poor sleep may impact your health? Checkout Dr. Yishan Xu’s Insomnia Treatment Course!

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