The Importance of Sleep Shaping and When to Begin Sleep Coaching for Your Baby

Understanding the Benefits of Sleep Coaching

One of the many questions, Julie and the team at Nurture 2 Sleep are asked is “When would be the right time to start sleep coaching with my baby?”

Thankfully we are now becoming more aware of the benefits of sleep, although we still have a long way to go to truly understand the true complexities of sleep.

Sleep is a crucial part of your baby’s development, and establishing healthy sleep habits early on can make a significant difference in their overall well-being (and yours). The answer lies in understanding both the developmental milestones of your baby and the concept of "sleep shaping."

Sleep Shaping vs. Sleep Coaching

I think it is important to recognise the difference in Sleep Shaping and Sleep Coaching. Sleep coaching typically refers to methods used to help your baby learn how to sleep independently, but before moving into formal sleep coaching, I  recommend that parents can begin with "sleep shaping" from the earliest days of your baby’s life. Sleep shaping is a gentle, holistic approach that focuses on creating an environment conducive to sleep and developing positive sleep associations.

Most experts recommend that formal sleep coaching should begin around 4 to 6 months of age, when babies are developmentally ready to learn self-soothing techniques. By this age, babies have typically developed a more predictable sleep-wake cycle, and they are capable of sleeping for longer stretches at night without needing to feed.

When to Begin Sleep Shaping

However, you can begin sleep shaping much earlier, even from birth. This involves helping your baby experience different ways of falling asleep, such as sometimes being placed in a crib while drowsy but awake, rather than always being held or fed to sleep. By varying the methods used to help your baby sleep, you are encouraging flexibility and reducing the likelihood that they will develop strong dependencies on specific sleep associations, such as being rocked or nursed to sleep.

The Holistic Approach to Sleep Shaping

During my practice as a Sleep Coach and working with families for over 30 years, I feel very strongly about my role of being our children’s advocate. One of the ways I practice my Sleep Coaching is in the most holistic way possible. Holistic sleep shaping is about creating a balanced environment that supports your baby’s natural sleep patterns. This includes using research that shows us that around the 6-week mark newborns begin to experience changes in their circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. This period is often when babies start to consolidate sleep during nighttime hours, making it a good time to introduce an earlier bedtime.

For example, one key study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that infants around 6-8 weeks of age begin to show the first signs of a more mature sleep-wake cycle, characterised by longer stretches of nighttime sleep and the gradual emergence of a more defined circadian rhythm. This shift provides an opportunity for you as parents to start establishing an earlier and more consistent bedtime routine, which can help support your infant's developing sleep patterns.

Additionally, the Journal of Developmental & Behavioural Paediatrics highlights that establishing a bedtime routine around this time is associated with better sleep outcomes as your infant grows, leading to longer and more consolidated sleep periods at night.

Supporting Sleep Shaping: Practical Tips

I hope the studies I have included underscore the importance of starting a regular bedtime routine around 6 weeks to align with the natural development of your baby’s sleep patterns.

Other factors that help to support your babies sleep shaping include:

• Dimmed light exposure from early evening: This will help to calm your baby’s brain preparation for sleeping and again support the flow of melatonin(the very important sleep hormone), once the brain is sufficiently developed( at approximately 10-12 weeks).
• Consistent Bedtime Routines: Establishing a calming bedtime routine helps signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep. This could include a warm bath, gentle rocking, or quiet time in a dimly lit room.
• Varied Sleep Experiences: Allowing your baby to sleep in different environments (like a crib, bassinet, or stroller) and with different caregivers can prevent them from becoming overly reliant on one specific method of falling asleep.
• Shared Responsibility: I often describe this practice as “many hands”, encouraging other caregivers to be involved in your baby’s bedtime routine. This will help your baby learn that sleep is not exclusively associated with the mother. This can be particularly important in preventing sleep issues related to separation anxiety.

Building a Foundation for Healthy Sleep Habits

I hope I have helped with the understanding to our initial question and have shown that starting sleep shaping early—by introducing your baby to varied sleep experiences and establishing a consistent routine—can lay the foundation for successful sleep coaching later on. By the time your baby is developmentally ready for formal sleep coaching, they will already have a strong foundation of healthy sleep habits to build on. This holistic approach not only promotes better sleep but also fosters a more adaptable and resilient sleep environment for your baby.

Book a Sleep Coaching Package with Julie Mallon

Nurture 2 Sleep offers tailored sleep coaching packages designed to address their needs. Our expert-led packages start from 3,000 AED and are crafted to enhance your child’s sleep quality and overall well-being.

Our Packages:

• Sleep Shaping Package: A gentle approach to help your baby develop healthy sleep habits from an early age.
• Sleep Coaching Packages: Focuses on teaching your child to sleep independently using effective techniques.

Julie Mallon and our team of specialists will work with you to create a personalised plan that aligns with your child’s unique sleep patterns and developmental stage.

Take the first step towards a more restful future by booking a sleep package today!

For more information and to schedule your complimentary 15-minute discovery call, please visit Nurture 2 Sleep or contact us at [email protected].