The Top Five Sleep Props
The Top Five Sleep Props
The Top Five Sleep Props
What is a Sleep Prop?
A sleep prop is anything your child (or even you) rely on to fall asleep. This could be something you need to settle into sleep at bedtime or to return to sleep if you wake up during the night. As adults, we usually don’t have many major sleep props, but we may have small preferences—like how we snuggle under the covers, the firmness of our pillow, or maybe we like to sleep with a mask or one foot sticking out. These could technically be considered sleep props, too. While we may sleep better with these preferences, as adults we’ve learned to fall asleep without them when necessary. We may not get the best rest in a hotel or at a relative’s house, but we can usually adjust and get enough sleep.
Common Sleep Props for Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers, however, are still learning how to sleep on their own. They often rely on sleep props like pacifiers, being fed, rocking, or being snuggled to fall asleep. While these props are not inherently bad, when a child becomes overly dependent on them, it can make falling asleep—and staying asleep—much harder. If they can’t fall asleep without their prop, they’re likely to stay awake even when exhausted. And if they wake up during the night, they’ll want that same prop to get back to sleep.
So, What Can You Do?
Whether your baby is still very young or approaching toddlerhood, there are things you can do to help them sleep more independently without over-relying on sleep props. Start by identifying the main sleep prop your child depends on. For many babies, it’s often a pacifier, feeding, or rocking. Then, come up with a plan to gradually reduce or eliminate the need for that prop.
- For pacifiers: Decide whether you want to take it away completely or just make it optional. If you take it away, be prepared for some tough nights, but know they’ll eventually adjust. If you make it optional, your baby can fall asleep with it, but if they wake up, don’t immediately give it back. They’ll either learn to fall back asleep without it or figure out how to replace it themselves.
- For feeding to sleep: Keep your baby fully awake during feedings, and try feeding outside the bedroom to avoid associating feeds with sleep. Lay your baby down in the crib while they’re still awake. After naps or in the morning, try to delay the first feed by 10–15 minutes so they don’t rely on feeding as the trigger for sleep.
The key here is consistency. Children thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Stick with your plan as best as you can.
What to Expect?
Expect some resistance in the first few nights. There might be tears (from both you and your little one). But remember, this is an important step in teaching your child to sleep independently—a life skill that will serve them well as they grow. Stick with it, and they’ll thank you later!
The Top Five Sleep Props
What is a Sleep Prop?
A sleep prop is anything your child (or even you) rely on to fall asleep. This could be something you need to settle into sleep at bedtime or to return to sleep if you wake up during the night. As adults, we usually don’t have many major sleep props, but we may have small preferences—like how we snuggle under the covers, the firmness of our pillow, or maybe we like to sleep with a mask or one foot sticking out. These could technically be considered sleep props, too. While we may sleep better with these preferences, as adults we’ve learned to fall asleep without them when necessary. We may not get the best rest in a hotel or at a relative’s house, but we can usually adjust and get enough sleep.
Common Sleep Props for Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers, however, are still learning how to sleep on their own. They often rely on sleep props like pacifiers, being fed, rocking, or being snuggled to fall asleep. While these props are not inherently bad, when a child becomes overly dependent on them, it can make falling asleep—and staying asleep—much harder. If they can’t fall asleep without their prop, they’re likely to stay awake even when exhausted. And if they wake up during the night, they’ll want that same prop to get back to sleep.
So, What Can You Do?
Whether your baby is still very young or approaching toddlerhood, there are things you can do to help them sleep more independently without over-relying on sleep props. Start by identifying the main sleep prop your child depends on. For many babies, it’s often a pacifier, feeding, or rocking. Then, come up with a plan to gradually reduce or eliminate the need for that prop.
- For pacifiers: Decide whether you want to take it away completely or just make it optional. If you take it away, be prepared for some tough nights, but know they’ll eventually adjust. If you make it optional, your baby can fall asleep with it, but if they wake up, don’t immediately give it back. They’ll either learn to fall back asleep without it or figure out how to replace it themselves.
- For feeding to sleep: Keep your baby fully awake during feedings, and try feeding outside the bedroom to avoid associating feeds with sleep. Lay your baby down in the crib while they’re still awake. After naps or in the morning, try to delay the first feed by 10–15 minutes so they don’t rely on feeding as the trigger for sleep.
The key here is consistency. Children thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Stick with your plan as best as you can.
What to Expect?
Expect some resistance in the first few nights. There might be tears (from both you and your little one). But remember, this is an important step in teaching your child to sleep independently—a life skill that will serve them well as they grow. Stick with it, and they’ll thank you later!
The Top Five Sleep Props
What is a Sleep Prop?
A sleep prop is anything your child (or even you) rely on to fall asleep. This could be something you need to settle into sleep at bedtime or to return to sleep if you wake up during the night. As adults, we usually don’t have many major sleep props, but we may have small preferences—like how we snuggle under the covers, the firmness of our pillow, or maybe we like to sleep with a mask or one foot sticking out. These could technically be considered sleep props, too. While we may sleep better with these preferences, as adults we’ve learned to fall asleep without them when necessary. We may not get the best rest in a hotel or at a relative’s house, but we can usually adjust and get enough sleep.
Common Sleep Props for Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers, however, are still learning how to sleep on their own. They often rely on sleep props like pacifiers, being fed, rocking, or being snuggled to fall asleep. While these props are not inherently bad, when a child becomes overly dependent on them, it can make falling asleep—and staying asleep—much harder. If they can’t fall asleep without their prop, they’re likely to stay awake even when exhausted. And if they wake up during the night, they’ll want that same prop to get back to sleep.
So, What Can You Do?
Whether your baby is still very young or approaching toddlerhood, there are things you can do to help them sleep more independently without over-relying on sleep props. Start by identifying the main sleep prop your child depends on. For many babies, it’s often a pacifier, feeding, or rocking. Then, come up with a plan to gradually reduce or eliminate the need for that prop.
- For pacifiers: Decide whether you want to take it away completely or just make it optional. If you take it away, be prepared for some tough nights, but know they’ll eventually adjust. If you make it optional, your baby can fall asleep with it, but if they wake up, don’t immediately give it back. They’ll either learn to fall back asleep without it or figure out how to replace it themselves.
- For feeding to sleep: Keep your baby fully awake during feedings, and try feeding outside the bedroom to avoid associating feeds with sleep. Lay your baby down in the crib while they’re still awake. After naps or in the morning, try to delay the first feed by 10–15 minutes so they don’t rely on feeding as the trigger for sleep.
The key here is consistency. Children thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Stick with your plan as best as you can.
What to Expect?
Expect some resistance in the first few nights. There might be tears (from both you and your little one). But remember, this is an important step in teaching your child to sleep independently—a life skill that will serve them well as they grow. Stick with it, and they’ll thank you later!
The Top Five Sleep Props
What is a Sleep Prop?
A sleep prop is anything your child (or even you) rely on to fall asleep. This could be something you need to settle into sleep at bedtime or to return to sleep if you wake up during the night. As adults, we usually don’t have many major sleep props, but we may have small preferences—like how we snuggle under the covers, the firmness of our pillow, or maybe we like to sleep with a mask or one foot sticking out. These could technically be considered sleep props, too. While we may sleep better with these preferences, as adults we’ve learned to fall asleep without them when necessary. We may not get the best rest in a hotel or at a relative’s house, but we can usually adjust and get enough sleep.
Common Sleep Props for Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers, however, are still learning how to sleep on their own. They often rely on sleep props like pacifiers, being fed, rocking, or being snuggled to fall asleep. While these props are not inherently bad, when a child becomes overly dependent on them, it can make falling asleep—and staying asleep—much harder. If they can’t fall asleep without their prop, they’re likely to stay awake even when exhausted. And if they wake up during the night, they’ll want that same prop to get back to sleep.
So, What Can You Do?
Whether your baby is still very young or approaching toddlerhood, there are things you can do to help them sleep more independently without over-relying on sleep props. Start by identifying the main sleep prop your child depends on. For many babies, it’s often a pacifier, feeding, or rocking. Then, come up with a plan to gradually reduce or eliminate the need for that prop.
- For pacifiers: Decide whether you want to take it away completely or just make it optional. If you take it away, be prepared for some tough nights, but know they’ll eventually adjust. If you make it optional, your baby can fall asleep with it, but if they wake up, don’t immediately give it back. They’ll either learn to fall back asleep without it or figure out how to replace it themselves.
- For feeding to sleep: Keep your baby fully awake during feedings, and try feeding outside the bedroom to avoid associating feeds with sleep. Lay your baby down in the crib while they’re still awake. After naps or in the morning, try to delay the first feed by 10–15 minutes so they don’t rely on feeding as the trigger for sleep.
The key here is consistency. Children thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Stick with your plan as best as you can.
What to Expect?
Expect some resistance in the first few nights. There might be tears (from both you and your little one). But remember, this is an important step in teaching your child to sleep independently—a life skill that will serve them well as they grow. Stick with it, and they’ll thank you later!
