Social Sleep is Sleep

Too many mothers have told me over the years they would really like to come along to a meet but that's nap time so they can't leave the house.

That is a pathway to social isolation and a risk factor for postnatal depression.

As a breastfeeding counsellor and babywearing educator it is frustrating to see people denying themselves access to the face to face help they need because someone has told them it is crucial to follow a sleep routine to the letter for every single sleep their child has. In their cot in their own room, blackout blinds in place and exactly at the designated time.

This rigid approach doesn't allow parents to leave the house for more than brief periods for MONTHS! It sets babies up to need those conditions to sleep.

Humans are a carrying species. We are designed to sleep amongst the noise and activity of the community we live in. Carried on their mother, siblings or other family member or laying on or beside their mother as she sits preparing food, babies sleep naturally. They do not need darkness and silence.

When babies sleep routines control the household it limits social connectivity for parents. It reduces opportunities to interact and socialise with other children and observe natural child development.

One of the greatest impacts of covid lockdown has been the cancellation of parenting group activities, replacing face-to-face with video connections. Everyone agrees that is not the same and babies and toddlers have missed out on important socialisation.

Parents need support to be flexible about where babies sleep to support their own mental health and social needs.